Acrylic Finishes

Acrylic finishes are clear coats that you apply over dry acrylic paint to deepen colour, even out sheen and protect your work from dust, scuffs and handling. In the Acrylic Finishes collection at Art Noise you will find gloss, satin and matte options that work beautifully over studio paints in our Acrylic Paint collection, including our in house Art Noise Acrylic Paint. For a deeper look at when and why to seal your work, you can also read our Art Noise Handbook article Mystified Mediums: Acrylic Finishes and Top Coats.

The main difference between gloss, satin and matte finishes is how much light they reflect and how they make colours appear. Gloss products in our Acrylic Finishes collection give a deep, rich look that makes darks and transparent colours pop, satin gives a soft low sheen that hides minor surface flaws, and matte gives a velvety, glare free look that works well for detailed pieces or works shown under strong lights. You can experiment over different paints from the Acrylic Paint collection and adjust sheen further with compatible gels and mediums from our Acrylic Mediums collection.

Technically you can leave acrylic paintings unsealed, since acrylics form a permanent flexible film on their own, but a clear finish gives you an extra layer to protect the paint film and makes cleaning, framing and transport easier. Many artists choose a gloss, satin or matte option from the Acrylic Finishes collection for any work that will be handled, framed without glass or displayed long term. For help deciding when varnish is essential and how to plan your layers with products from our Acrylic Paint collection and Acrylic Mediums collection, have a look at our guide Acrylics: The Definitive Guide Before You Buy.

Most acrylic finishes are compatible with any fully cured water based acrylic paint, so you can use the products in our Acrylic Finishes collection over Tri Art, Art Noise and many other acrylic lines as long as the underlying layers are water based and fully dry. They work well on canvas, panels and mixed media surfaces from our Substrates collection, and on suitable papers in Paper and Pads when the surface is strong enough to handle moisture. Always test on a small area first if you have used unusual grounds or mixed media.

For best results, apply finishes from the Acrylic Finishes collection in thin, even coats with a clean, soft synthetic brush or a suitable spray, working in one direction and avoiding over brushing while the product starts to set. Make sure your painting surface from Substrates or Paper and Pads is flat and dust free, and use good quality brushes and tools from our Painting Accessories collection. Our Art Noise Handbook article Mystified Mediums: Acrylic Finishes and Top Coats includes extra tips on application and troubleshooting.

Most acrylic paintings only need one to three thin coats from the Acrylic Finishes collection, depending on how much protection and depth of sheen you want. It is usually better to build several light coats rather than one thick layer, allowing each coat to dry clear and touch dry before you add the next, and then giving the whole piece extra time to cure before heavy handling. For guidance on drying times and layering over different paints from our Acrylic Paint collection and Acrylic Mediums collection, you can refer to the product labels and our Acrylics guide.

Some acrylic varnishes are designed to be removable for conservation purposes, while others form a permanent clear coat, so it is important to check the specific product information in our Acrylic Finishes collection. As a general rule, treat sealed acrylic paintings gently, dusting with a soft dry cloth and avoiding harsh household cleaners, solvents or scrubbing, especially on works created with softer paints from the Acrylic Paint collection. Our Art Noise Handbook article Mystified Mediums: Acrylic Finishes and Top Coats explains how removable and permanent coatings fit into long term care.

A complete acrylic setup often includes paints, mediums, supports and finishes that all work together. You can build your colour palette from our Acrylic Paint collection or Art Noise Acrylic Paint, adjust texture and flow with products in the Acrylic Mediums collection, then protect your finished work with choices from the Acrylic Finishes collection. Pair these with canvases and panels from Substrates, papers from Paper and Pads, and tools in our Art Supplies collection, and explore more techniques and ideas in the Art Noise Handbook.