Acrylic paint is a non-toxic, easy-to-use, and fast-drying type of paint and is considered the go-to choice for most arts and crafts. It works well for most surfaces and can easily be cleaned up afterward. However, you may wonder whether it is permanent, especially in areas that need to withstand heavy use.
Is acrylic paint permanent? Once you let it dry completely, acrylic paint will become permanent. However, since it’s not completely waterproof, the paint can still chip or peel off after some use. If you want the paint to be more durable, you can use a primer and a sealant to enhance the paint’s performance.
This article will help you learn more about acrylic paint and what you can do to protect and enhance the paint’s performance.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent?
Acrylic paint is made from pigments (colors) suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. When the emulsion completely evaporates, the pigments will bind to the surface, allowing the paint to become permanent.
Some people wonder whether acrylic paint is permanent because when it is still wet, it can easily be thinned and washed away using water. This is because acrylic paint is a water-based paint, so water is an effective and accessible paint thinner for acrylic paint.
However, this doesn’t affect the paint’s performance. Once the water base is completely evaporated, the remaining pigment on the surface will become hard and even water-resistant, making the paint permanent.
However, depending on the project and the surface, acrylic paint can still chip or peel off after some time. For example, acrylic paint may not stick well to non-porous surfaces like glass or plastic, so it may chip off.
Since acrylic paint dries hard, it’s also not very flexible. If you use it on flexible surfaces like fabric or canvas, acrylic paint may crack when the material moves around. Wood also tends to contract and expand depending on the temperature and humidity, which is why acrylic paint tends to crack on wood as well.
In short, although acrylic paint dries to become permanent, how the paint performs can largely depend on the surface on which it is applied. In the next sections, let’s take a look at how you can use acrylic paint on some common materials.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Clothes?
Acrylic paint can be used to paint fabric, and the paint will show up beautifully.
However, since acrylic paint will dry hard, it will crack on the surface because your clothes will move around with your body during the day. Washing your clothes can also damage the acrylic paint due to the friction that happens inside the washing machine.
To fix these issues, you can mix the acrylic paint with a fabric medium (we love this one from Liquitex) to strengthen the paint’s bond to the fabric’s fibers and add some flexibility to the paint so that it won’t crack after wearing or washing.
After the paint is completely dry, you can also iron over the paint to seal it with heat. This will allow the paint to bond permanently to the fibers, and it won’t be washed off in the wash.
If you accidentally get acrylic paint on your clothes, don’t worry; it’s not permanent if the paint is still wet. You can simply wash out the stain with soap and warm water, and the paint should be completely gone. Speed is the key here because the paint will become permanent when it is completely dry!
If you’d like to try painting clothes with acrylic paint but are afraid it will wash off or crack, here’s a great video from Darlacreative on YouTube explaining some tips on what to avoid!
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Shoes?
If your shoes are made of canvas or leather, you can paint them using acrylic paint, and the paint will become permanent when it is completely dry.
Your shoes are subjected to a lot of wear and tear, so while the paint will look good right after it’s dry, it will soon crack after you wear the shoes.
That’s why it’s highly recommended that you use a primer to prime your canvas or leather shoes before painting so that the paint will have a better chance of sticking to the surface.
For leather shoes, you should find a primer made specifically for leather. If you have canvas shoes, you can use Gesso to prime the surface for painting. If you are painting canvas shoes, you should also use a fabric medium to enhance the paint’s flexibility.
After the paint is dry, you can also use a sealer for leather or fabric to add another layer of protection to the paint. A sealer will help the paint become waterproof and protect it from any damage as you wear your shoes.
For a visual tutorial, check out this video from Jamela Payne on YouTube.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Wood?
Wood is a porous surface that can absorb paint very well. However, since wood can expand and contract when it is exposed to temperature and humidity fluctuations, your paint may crack or chip because it won’t be able to expand along with the wood.
The best way to protect acrylic paint on wood is to use a primer before you apply acrylic paint. Make sure that any leftover paint or stain is removed before you prime the surface to ensure that the wood will absorb the paint correctly.
After priming, you can use acrylic paint on wood, but we recommend using a sealant after painting to waterproof the entire surface. That way, the wood won’t be able to absorb more moisture, which will keep the wood in shape and allow the paint to last longer.
These steps are especially important for outdoor wood since the outdoor is subjected to drastic temperature and humidity changes, so the wood can expand and contract massively throughout the day. Without proper waterproofing, the wood can quickly become warped, and the paint will chip.
Most woodworkers don’t recommend using acrylic paint on outdoor wood. However, if acrylic paint is your only option, we recommend applying at least two to three coats of a waterproof sealant to protect both the paint and the wood.
For a visual tutorial, take a look at this video from Pypah’s Art on YouTube.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Glass?
Glass is a non-porous surface that can be quite difficult to paint because the paint won’t be able to have a decent grip on the material. While you can certainly use acrylic paint on glass, the paint can be easily scraped off after it’s dry.
We recommend using a primer before painting on glass to create a good surface grip for the paint.
If you are using glass paint, you don’t have to seal the paint afterward. However, if you are using regular acrylic paint, make sure to seal the paint, either by heat setting or applying a clear top coat to protect the paint.
You can heat set the paint by baking your painted glass at 350°F for 30 minutes. After completely cooling the glass, your acrylic paint will become permanent and highly durable. We also recommend using a dishwasher safe sealant like this one by Mod Podge for long lasting results.
For a visual tutorial, take a look at this video from Renjitha Anoop on YouTube.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Metal?
Like glass, metal is a non-porous surface that can be tricky to paint. That’s why we recommend using a primer (like this one from Rust-Oleum) on a clean metal surface to prepare it for painting.
After painting, you can also use a sealant on top of the clear coat to protect the paint from wear and tear.
For some tips on painting metal with acrylic paint, here’s a great video from RLD Studio on YouTube where he compares several different techniques and explains the best process for priming and sanding.
Is Acrylic Paint Permanent On Plastic
Plastic is another non-porous surface that you must thoroughly prime before painting with acrylic paint. If you have hard plastic, lightly sanding the plastic first can also add some grip to the surface, which allows the paint to bond better to the surface.
Similar to glass and metal, we also recommend using a sealant on top of the paint to protect the paint and make it last longer.
Here’s a great tutorial for using acrylic spray paint on plastic from Commando Designs on YouTube.
What Type Of Sealant To Use With Acrylic Paint?
You can seal acrylic paint with either a clear topcoat or a varnish, depending on the project (we can’t recommend Liquitex enough for acrylic projects). The type of sealer that you use will vary depending on the material that you’re painting. You can also choose a brush-on sealer or an aerosol spray (Rust-Oleum is the king of spray sealants).
There are many benefits to sealing your project with a clear sealant. Since acrylic paint is not waterproof (only water-resistant), a sealer can completely waterproof your paint, which will enhance its performance, especially on things like shoes or outdoor wood.
A top coat can also be formulated to protect your paint from sunlight, which will prevent your paint from fading or yellowing over time. A clear top coat can also create a smooth surface that is easier to clean.
There are also a lot of sealer options for acrylic paint.
For household arts and crafts projects, we recommend using Mod Podge acrylic sealer. Mod Podge is a clear coat sealant/adhesive that can easily be applied using a brush to waterproof the paint. It’s non-toxic and highly accessible as well.
For wood, we recommend using a sealant that is made specifically for wood, such as Shellac or lacquer. These clear top coats have excellent waterproofing abilities and can protect wooden surfaces from weather elements.
For other materials, you can also use an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers are available in liquid form as well as in spray bottles, and they are formulated specifically for acrylic paint to add durability to the paint.
Related Articles
How To Make Acrylic Paint More Opaque
Can You Use Acrylic Paint On A Guitar?
