How I Finish & Seal an Acrylic Painting

[@tracyhickman1359]

Thx for your generosity in sharing your knowledge!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

My pleasure!

[@debrabridgeman8439]

Very nice

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you!

[@Donnadrury100]

Thank you, as always, for your generosity ! The evolution of your work is a real inspiration. Sublime pièce !

[@softspokensociety]

Very helpful, very great for how I will use the tactics with my own art, thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rivenestor1404]

Thank you Louise, so helpful...love your teaching style and adore that piece!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome and thank you for your kind words!

[@kamaladennin7969]

I love everything you do,thanks to makes me happy.Bless you.😊😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome

[@juliawillmer2528]

Beautiful piece!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you very much!

[@polson8084]

Thanks for showing all kinds of different things, pieces, parts in the art process!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You bet!

[@elsatroubetzkoy7467]

Thank you again for sharing, here the finishing touch of your paintings!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@leonormartinez6378]

This was great to watch Louise. Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@karenlipman79]

Thank you so much! This info will add to my confidence 🎨

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You got this! ♥

[@leesimmons8029]

Very helpful. Thanks Louise

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juliebabb3365]

Thanks, great ideas about the finishing process. new information for me. thanks!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KayInMaine]

Your paintings are gorgeous!!!! Just found you and Alice on Stitcher. Great podcast. Thank you, ladies!

[@simoncrump9106]

Thank you Louise! Very useful indeed. I love painting my edges but have to admit I then just slap a coat of satin varnish over the top. Your video has made me think more carefully about the important finishing process. 👍

[@loridavis-sandoval2878]

I too get overcome with excitement and go for the paint! Yes sanding is a pain... but fine

[@beccogiallo]

Very useful. Thank you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juliecroston8130]

Thanks so much for sharing all this info Louise! This video is so helpful. I love your paintings!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I'm so glad!

[@svanwyk51]

Thanks so much Louise. Yes, it was a very helpful video.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@janemcintosh8693]

Thanks Louise. Love this piece. Stunning. Thanks for sharing your process for finishing. I like the boards you use. I need to try and find some in my area.

[@helenemilette5229]

Thank you for this information. You are right to say that the colors are magnified with a gel gloss (your reds are beautiful on this picture). I really like the gloss finish, but I find the work difficult to photograph because of the reflections, and difficult to look at when it is on the wall. The reflections make it difficult to appreciate the work. What do you think about it?

[@queststonesllc8853]

Hello:) I paint abstract and use a lot of art crayon marks after. What do you recommend for varnishing technique. I'm in very humid climate in Florida. I always worry Matte will destroy my artwork. However, I love the look of matte. Just scared of a foggy white mess. Do you use a fixative spray first to make sure no marks move around? I would love to try cold wax! that sounds interesting. Loving your podcast...I listen ALL the time while painting.

[@susanhepburn6040]

This is so useful, Louise - thank you very much.

[@janewalker9403]

Hi Louise, thank you that was really helpful but am I missing something? After levelling gel (if used) do I use satin varnish before or instead of cold wax. Sorry, am sure am being dim

[@ThisPaintingLife]

one or the other, not both x

[@pamelagilmour8060]

What is your surface….a board? Thank you! Love all your information and inspiration!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes - wood panel :)

[@peggybekeny6101]

thank you louise

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are welcome!

[@conniesolberg]

When you put the spacers (or cardboard, or whatever) around the front side of the frame, and then you have to turn it over, I have found that they don't stay in place. They, at least, need to be flush with the frame and not be sticking up so the painting falls out. OR, do you have time to hot glue the back and THEN turn it over and center the painting with the spacers?? Thanks!

[@reginadunn8525]

Hi Louise, I am just finding your page. First one and loved every moment. I have been doing and abstract art/mixed medium on and off for over 20 years. Only as a hobby 🥴 Sold pieces here and there. Thank you for this detailed video about finishing. Great tips and very helpful. Also trying to find information on making prints preferably giclees...still searching options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

[@jazminalvarado8433]

Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You're welcome!

[@annhall8498]

Thank you so much for sharing, this is just the information I was looking for 👍🏼

[@Observeandlearn994]

You said something about 'Jackson's boards', what are they please?

[@claireb3255]

I've only just watched this a year after you and am looking at comments.... you probably found out ages ago but Jacksons Art Supplies is a UK company and so I think Louise bought her 'cradled board' from Jacksons :)

[@aleksandramirjanacrossan4442]

How do you avoid getting brushmarks when brushing on the gloss medium?

[@joysmith6729]

Hi I’m wondering on an acrylic painting that has charcoal mark making and graphite pencil markings and sometimes oil stick pastel markings if you would have to use a spray fixative first before the wax? And I’m assuming you don’t need to put the gloss varnish on if you just Want the waxed finish? Thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I do fixative, then levelling gel, then wax

[@joysmith6729]

@@ThisPaintingLife Thank you so much. I think I will do the fixative the gloss varnish and then the Dorland’s wax because I don’t use leveling gel.

[@sazmaj6252]

this was great! Thank youu 😊

[@viviannedelavega605]

Thank you. Brilliant !

[@lynnspencer7753]

Do you have a photo of your label you put on the back where you write in the name of the painting?

[@AylaZA]

I used gloss medium for a painting and when I went back to work on the painting it was peeling off. Did I not leave it long enough to dry?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Wow I don't know. It shouldn't peep, off even when it's not dry. It sounds as though you had something waxy or oil-based underneath so it couldn't adhere

[@khromecowgirl57]

Louise, loved your video. Quick question, you only used gel gloss, leveling gel and then cold wax. You had mentioned varnish. I have had the worst luck with varnish and resin. Been watching several cold wax techniques. I’m hoping you didn’t use varnish, because I loved your finished piece. Thank you, really hoping I don’t ruin anymore of my pieces.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

No varnish x

[@foreverjoy9334]

Can you put cold wax finish on a acrylic on canvas painting. I thought I had heard not to use the cold wax on canvas?

[@gertanckaert3023]

thank you🙏💗🧘‍♀️

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Welcome!

[@thehappypotter9612]

Do you paint on solid wooden boards, or thin boards mounted on frames?

[@thehappypotter9612]

Okay, I gather that's it, from your reference to "cradled Jackson boards". I jumped in with the question too fast...

[@140pro]

Hi, alternatively, you'd be better off using a rubber or silicone edged tilers grouting float instead of using a metal plasterers float to save damaging your art. This float would also help save the excess varnish by scraping it into a bowl and then poured back into the tub. Every liitle helps.

[@BarbaraAnne51]

In Canada and the US, the frames are called Floating Frames.

[@giselesalamouny6177]

what kind of sealing u are using thx

[@SuePyperArtist]

I prefer signing mine on the back too. I just don’t like defacing my work with a signature. Lol

[@7pal101]

wondering if you can use clear polyurethane?

[@SuePyperArtist]

It goes yellow overtime so it’s not ideal

[@7pal101]

@@SuePyperArtist Thank you

[@lili1740]

@@SuePyperArtist should be ok if it is water based polyurethane.

[@SuePyperArtist]

Lili it will still yellow over time. Most commercial polyurethane varnish water based or not will yellow.

[@lili1740]

@@SuePyperArtist many thanks, Sue, it is good to know❤️

[@j.watson9060]

I see you seal your paintings on canvas but do you also seal your small pieces on paper?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

No need as they get framed behind glass x

[@mrsleannejh]

Can you please list the products used in order? THANKS!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Sorry no ... I work on these free of charge and put a lot of time in. I can't do more,

[@anitacarter3549]

that was great. Thank you. But I didn't understand about the "spacers" What they look like. Will they know what it is at hardware store?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes - I believe glaziers use them

[@sallyannsims4691]

Thank you Louise for sharing this process. What is your thinking about varnishing (or not) a painting like this? In other words, do you need varnish as a final seal if you're using self leveling gel? If you're not using self-leveling gel, would you recommend a varnish? If so, which kind? Thanks.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

This is how I seal - as you can see, no varnish :)

[@lenmey1]

So funny I watched to find out how to wax an acrylic painting but you left that out lol

[@myrnakomar2283]

She doesn’t show it but does go through how she does it

[@brianh5075]

Yes I agree with Lenmey. I would have liked to see the framing method demonstrated, not just explained. Otherwise.... this is a great video !