Acrylic paint is a fun and versatile type of paint. Being water-based, acrylic paint should be left to air dry, or cured in an oven. Kilns are a great tool for many artists, but not all paint can be dried by it.
So, can acrylic paint be fired in a kiln? Unfortunately, acrylic paint will never do well in the kiln, and many people have even reported that it catches on fire due to additives in it.
You can however, put pottery in a kiln that hasn’t been painted yet. You will want to let the pottery dry, then pull it out of the kiln, and then begin to paint it. This seems to be the best option for the majority of people, but do bear in mind that putting pottery into a kiln is going to give it a glaze. You will need to prime it before you apply any type of paint on it.
Is Acrylic Paint Fire Resistant?
Acrylic paint is fire resistant. This is because it does not have any oils or anything in it, and it a water-based paint.
That being said, you do have to remember that different colors will have different pigments added into the mix. This means that some paints may be less fire-resistant than others.
My favorite and top pick is always Arteza Acrylic Paints. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Arteza Paints for all my projects.
Even though acrylic paints are fire resistant, you shouldn’t really be exposing them to fire wherever possible. You should only be using fire-resistant paint for that. Your average acrylic paint is never, ever going to be labeled as fire-resistant.
I do want to point out that the risk of fire in a kiln with acrylic paint is quite low. However, the risk is still going to be there, even if acrylic paint is fire resistant. This means that you would never take the risk.
Do I Need to Prime Acrylic Paint?
I always recommend priming any area you plan on painting. It lets the paint adhere better to the surface, and also most people will do so because it creates a better finish.
If you are going to prime the surface before you do any painting, then make sure that the area is completely free of any dust. If you are using wood to paint on, then you may want to sand it back as much as possible in order to get a completely flat surface that you are able to paint onto.
I use this Gesso Primer to prime my acrylic paint surfaces. It also works for other paints like oil and gouache.
You will want to ensure that the primer is fully dry before you apply any paint to it. If you don’t, then you will just end up with mixed paint, which is never going to be ideal! Ideally, you should wait a few hours for it to fully dry.
How Do You Seal Acrylic Paint on Clay?
As we said before, there are still some people that will put their acrylic paint in the kiln, even though it doesn’t really offer any benefit, and can actually lead to the destruction of your artwork if you are not careful.
Thankfully, you can get the same ‘sealed’ look on clay without going anywhere near the kiln. All you need to do is purchase some varnish. Make sure that this varnish is water-based. This way you do not mess up the rest of the paint.
I always use and recommend Krylon Sprays. They protect the paint from flaking and chipping, as well as UV rays! Another cool thing about Krylon, is that they come in a glossy or matter finish, so you can give your project it’s own unique look.
Once the acrylic paint has completely dried, you can apply the spray varnish on it. You will to have a decent amount of coverage, so 1-2 layers will suffice. After you’re done, let the varnish dry for a few hours. You will want to apply it in a well ventilated area, as the fumes tend to be pretty strong.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Pottery?
If you are painting onto glazed pottery, then no, you can’t. Since acrylic paint is water-based, it doesn’t really stick to the glaze all that well. This means that it will just dribble down the side of the pottery and create an unsightly look. Sadly, if you want to paint glazed pottery, then you may have to look into oil-based paints.
If you are painting unglazed pottery, then you should be fine using acrylic paints. Although, you may have to seal the pottery afterward. Just remember to follow the tips and recommendations above, and you will be good to go!
That being said, I don’t really recommend the use of acrylic paint on something that will be used for food on the inside. A mug or glass cup is fine, as long as the inside of it is free of any paint.
If you are painting a bowl or mug, make sure to seal it with a spray varnish, like the one above, and never eat or drink out of a painted area.
Anything that has been painted with acrylics shouldn’t be going in a dishwasher either. In fact, you probably wouldn’t want to be washing it too much with water anyway. Even if it is properly sealed, you are going to be running the risk of it causing damage to the paintwork.
Final Thoughts
There does seem to be a bit of a disagreement about whether you can put acrylic paint in a kiln or not. Some people do it, while others have had bad experiences and steer clear. In my opinion, you probably should be avoiding putting acrylic paint in a kiln. It is something that dries so fast naturally there isn’t really any need to speed it up.
Some alternatives include, baking it in the oven, or using an arts and crafts handheld heat-gun to dry it.
Don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!