Watercolor paints are water-based, so they can reactivate when they become wet. If you want to protect your watercolor painting and have it last for a long time, it is highly recommended to seal it. Adding a sealer to watercolor will alter the outcome of the paint, so be sure to prepare yourself for that.
So, can you use Mod Podge to seal watercolor? Yes! You can definitely seal watercolor paintings with Mod Podge. You will need to make sure that the watercolor is completely dry to avoid any smudging. Also, you should avoid brushing the same spot more than once, so you don’t reactivate the paint.
When you apply a sealer to a watercolor painting, it becomes permanent. You won’t be able to make any additional changes to your painting after the sealant is added, so be sure that your picture is completely finished before adding any kind of sealant, especially Mod Podge. In this article we go over everything you need to know to properly seal your painting with Mod Podge, and much more. Let’s read on!
How Do You Seal Watercolor with Mod Podge?
Sealing watercolor paint with Mod Podge is a pretty simple process. It will work as a protective layer and keep dirt, dust, and sunlight away from the painting. You have to apply the Mod Podge very carefully to avoid reactivating your watercolor.
If you apply the Mod Podge before the watercolor paint is dry, you will end up with a large watercolor blob in the place where your painting once was. This will be extremely frustrating, so you need to do what you can to prevent this from happening.
My favorite and top pick is always Mod Podge Sealer Spray. They also have a brush-on sealer, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Mod Podge for all my sealing projects.
It is highly recommended to wait several hours for your watercolor paint to dry before adding anything on top. For the best results, you might even want to wait until the following day to apply Mod Podge. This will ensure that you don’t lose all of your hard work.
As you apply the Mod Podge, you need to do so extremely carefully. Pick some of the product up on a paint brush and lightly drag it across the paper over your art. Don’t apply too much pressure or too much product in one spot.
You will need a special brush to apply the sealer, and I recommend this Mod Podge Applicator Brush. Using the right kind of brush is super important, because you may end up ruining your painting, or leaving bad varnish strokes on it.
When you are moving the paintbrush across the paper, move in one direction. For instance, start on the left side of the paper and move right or start at the top of the paper and move down. This will ensure that you don’t go over the same spot on the paper more than once.
If you want to avoid brushing over your watercolor paint, you can opt for a spray Mod Podge instead, like the one I recommended above. This will still provide you with a strong coating on your paper without having to worry about it impacting your painting.
A spray Mod Podge will also resist fingerprints and dust from making themselves visible on your painting. This will be great if you painted with children who want to constantly look at and carry around their masterpiece. It also works great for preventing fingerprints as you are putting the painting in a frame.
Do You Need to Seal Watercolor Paintings?
Watercolor paints don’t need to be sealed, but there are benefits to adding a sealant. Adding a sealant to your watercolor painting can help protect against a painting’s worst nightmare: fading. Watercolor paints are not immune to fading when they are left unprotected.
If you want to seal a watercolor painting, it is best to use a spray sealant. Using a spray sealant will still add a protective layer to the painting without the risk of ruining any of the paint in the process. When you apply the spray sealant, you just need to spray two even coats and you’re finished.
Professional artists that use watercolor paints will usually not use a sealant on their watercolor paintings. This is because a sealant will alter the final outcome of the color and it won’t look how you expected it to look. It will not do any harm to your painting to not add a sealant.
My favorite and top pick is always Arteza Watercolor Paints. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Arteza Paints for all my projects.
If you want to protect your watercolor painting without adding a sealant to it, there is always the option of framing it with glass. While this won’t help as much with the fading, it will protect against dust and dirt. To prevent fading in a frame, keep the painting away from direct sunlight.
It most cases, the best choice of frame to use for a watercolor painting is a museum grade glass. This glass will prevent sunlight from reaching the painting and has very little glare, making it easier to see the painting.
Is Mod Podge Sealer Waterproof?
It is important to understand that Mod Podge is not waterproof. It is an art supply that contains several different ingredients, one of those being vinyl acetate. This ingredient will produce a somewhat water-resistant layer, but it will not be waterproof by any means.
If a few drops of water were to end up on your Mod Podge seal, you can easily wipe it off without any issue. These few drops won’t ruin your painting and it won’t rip the Mod Podge away from the surface of your painting. It will become a problem if this happens repeatedly as the Mod Podge will start to peel off the surface.
There is a Mod Podge that’s Dishwasher safe, and that can be applied to items that will get wet, but it’s really up to your preference.
Regular Mod Podge won’t hold up against large amounts of water. It is not formulated to be exposed to water for long periods of time or submerged in water consistently, unless you purchase the dishwasher safe Mod Podge. For instance, you shouldn’t put something with Mod Podge in your bathroom where there is a shower and a sink.
When water sits on Mod Podge for too long, you will notice that it will start to look cloudy. This cloudiness can be permanent or temporary, but it is best to keep it away from water to be safe. Mod Podge is not permanent, so it does have the potential to come off your painting.
If you want to seal your watercolor painting with something that is going to be waterproof, then I would go with he dishwasher safe one. You can also use Sax True Flow Varnish, if you need a water resistant sealer.
The best sealant to use that will be waterproof is an archival varnish in a spray can. It is best to apply three coats to your painting to prevent any future bleeding or streaking of the painting. Some people might even recommend hair spray as a waterproof sealant, but it is not waterproof at all and will ruin your work.
Final Thoughts
Painting with watercolors is fun and easy. Watercolor is risky to paint with because it can be reactivated with the slightest contact of water. To prevent this, you will want to seal your watercolor painting. It is not required to do so, but you will notice many benefits of adding a sealant.
Mod Podge is a simple sealant to use for your watercolor and it even comes in a spray can. This will be the best to use because it doesn’t run the risk of ruining your watercolor painting like a brush on sealant would.
If you apply a brush on Mod Podge, you need to do it very gently. Avoid brushing over the same area more than just one time. This can reactivate the watercolor and ruin your entire painting in just a few seconds.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your watercolor painting turns out great. Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!