How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Leather?

Thinking of adding some artsy touches to your leather biker jacket? Let me help with ideas: how about framing a “burning wheel” on the back with acrylics? Aah, just imagine that cool and classy leather jacket!

People might say that you can’t use acrylics on leather. But that’s not true. The thing is that you need to seal the paint to protect your precious artwork from chipping. But do you know how to seal acrylic paint on leather?

No worries, I got your back. From this article, you will get to know pretty much everything about sealing acrylics on leather. Keep reading to gather some interesting and useful info to brush up on your creative skills.

Also Read: Sealing Acrylic Paint on Glass

Why Do We Need to Seal Acrylics on Leather?

Before we get started with sealing acrylics on leather, let’s find out why we are using acrylics for leather and why we need to seal it.

As I said before some people might say ‘it won’t be a good idea to use regular acrylic paint on leather’. They might also add ‘why not leather paints’? ‘Aren’t they the best paint for leather?’

The answer for both statements would be: firstly, acrylics are not that expensive, so you can save money on paints. Secondly, acrylic contains a wide range of vibrant color shades. Thirdly, they are very popular and you can easily find them in art and craft stores near you.

Sometimes paints tend to chip or flake off due to various reasons such as bad preparation, weather conditions, improper surfaces, and so on. And this might happen to your acrylic paints on your favorite leather surfaces too. So, to protect your precious and timeless artwork from peeling off you need to seal the paint.

Another thing is: nothing lasts forever and your acrylic artwork is no exception. But you can make it last comparatively longer if you can protect it from the things that might cause harm to it. So, to protect your painting from those risk factors, you need to create a barrier between them and the paint by applying a sealant over the paints.

And lastly to protect your artwork from fading or discolorations, sealant helps a lot. So, to turn dusty old leather surfaces into masterpieces that stay young and vibrant for a long time, all you need is some acrylics and proper sealing techniques.

How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Leather?

Now you know why we need to seal acrylic on leather, it’s time to learn how you can seal the paint on leather. Let’s begin with the basic steps to seal acrylic painted leather surfaces.

Step 1: Preparing the Surface

This is one of the most important steps for sealing acrylic paints on leather. A bad prep can easily ruin your beautiful artwork.

First, make sure the leather surface is completely dry. If you have just finished painting the surface, don’t rush to apply the sealant. Give it some time to dry properly. Do not use sealant over wet paints.

After you make sure the surface has dried properly, it’s time to wipe off all the dust, debris, dirt, and the likes. Never seal your paint without cleaning it properly. If you skip this step you will end up getting dust and dirt trapped inside the sealant.

And trust me you don’t want to see your beautiful masterpiece look like the neighborhood of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street! So, to achieve a museum-quality masterpiece, be serious while preparing the leather surface.

Step 2: Sealing the Acrylic

When it comes to sealing acrylic paints with sealants, you have 2 options in hand; spray or liquid sealant.

Sealing with Spray Sealant:

If you are a busy person and you want everything to be as quick as possible then I would suggest you go with spray sealants. Coating the surface becomes comparatively quicker with spray sealants. They are clear and allow you to choose from a range of satin, matte, or just regular glaze.

Now, let’s check how you can seal the acrylic paint with a spray sealant.

• First, choose a spray sealant that works on leather.
• Before starting to apply, read the packaging carefully. Follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
• While working with spray sealant, it’s best to work in an open area. If you don’t have any open areas in your place, make sure you apply them in a well-ventilated room.
• Now you are ready to apply the sealant. Spray it while keeping a little distance from the artwork. Cover every detail of paint using a back and forth spraying style. To evenly spray the sealant, don’t spray in a particular spot for a long time.
• It’s time to give some time so that the first coat of your sealant sits properly. The drying time may vary from brand to brand. So, it’s necessary to read the instructions from the back of the sealant’s packaging. Apply the second coat after the manufacturer’s recommended waiting period is over.
• If your art piece needs more coats, apply the sealant in the same manner.
• After you are happy with the final coat, keep it in a safe place and let the item rest for a long time.

Sealing with Liquid Paint Finisher:

If you are not always in a hurry, rather you take your time and reach your goal like a pro, plus you like to keep things “old school”, then this one is for you. Let’s begin.

First, take a look at the things you will need:

• A bowl
• Water
• Wool dauber
• Liquid paint finisher

Now, here are the things you need to do:

• Take the paint finisher and mix it with water. Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
• Use the wool dauber to apply the mixture to the leather surface. Make sure you keep the coat light and don’t soak the leather surface.
• Wait for some time to ensure the first coat sits properly. Follow the waiting time provided by the manufacturer.
• If it requires more coats, apply it in the same manner.
• Finally, let the seal rest for a proper amount of time.

Step 3: Finishing Off With Waterproofing Spray

Applying a waterproofing spray makes the acrylic sealant complete its work. This is for further durability and protection against moisture and other substances that might damage the paint.

The waterproofing products come in two forms; sprays and brush-on liquid. Both of them work well but make sure you choose the right type of product that goes with acrylics. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and apply the product over the painted area. After you are happy with the final application, let it rest for 24 hours or a bit more.

Okay, now we are done with the basics of sealing acrylics on general leather surfaces. Now it’s time to check the sealing procedures of some specific leather products. First, let’s take a look at how to seal acrylic paint on shoes?

How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Leather Shoes?

The sealing process of a leather shoe is almost the same as the basic leather surfaces. But in the case of leather shoes, you need to ensure a little extra protection for the paint because it will have to withstand the damages due to excessive usage and harsh weather conditions. Though it won’t be that much close to waterproofing sprays it’s worth using.

Depending on your arts on the shoes, you can pick a variety of finishes from satin to matte. But no matter which one you pick, never forget to check if it is compatible with leather or not.

Now for the application, do this:

• Take a sponge brush and the sealant.
• Start applying the sealant with the help of the sponge brush. Make sure you are applying it in thin coats.
• Cover the seams properly to achieve a nice and polished leather surface.
• Let the sealant rest for at least 24 hours.

How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Leather Jackets?

Ever wondered where to find those cool custom biker jackets? Chances are: you might never find one exactly as you saw on the road! This is probably because that was a one-of-a-kind hand-painted jacket! But don’t worry, you can paint your leather jacket and make it a masterpiece that catches people’s eyes too.

Here is what you need to do:

• After you finish painting your design let it rest for a while, make sure the paint sits properly.
• After the paint is dried properly, remove all the dust and debris.
• Now apply the finisher with a brush. The techniques are quite the same except for the workpiece you are working with. So, apply it with confidence.
• Finally, after you are done with the application, let the sealant rest for roughly 24 hours or more.

After you gain a little confidence, you are ready to complete your total outfit. You can paint and seal acrylic on your leather wallets, leather laptop bags, hats, and even belts.

So, instead of falling into an infinite loop of watching cat videos compilation for hours and hours, you can spend some time on your creativity and turn old leather surfaces into masterpieces.

Learn How to Seal Leather With Acrylics:

Final Thoughts

For implementing and displaying your creative ideas I can’t think of a better duo than leather and acrylics right now. The problem with acrylics on leather is that your artwork may lose its beauty with time.

To preserve the beauty of your timeless artwork and make it look new even after a long time, sealing the paint is a must. Keeping this guide in mind, you can easily seal your painting ideas on general leather surfaces.

So, what are you waiting for, grab your leather jacket and start preparing it for the next bike trip to surprise your biker bros.