What Repels Acrylic Paint - 14 Ultimate Resists For Acrylic Paint

Do you like to experiment with different mediums and paints as part of your mixed media artworks? Are you looking for the perfect resist for acrylic paint? If so, you’ll want to read on! In this blog post, we’ll discuss what repels acrylic paint and provide a list of the ultimate resists for acrylic paint. So, whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, be sure to check out this post!

Acrylic paint is a versatile medium that can be used to create a variety of different artworks. However, there are some things that acrylic paint will not stick to, and this includes certain surfaces and materials.

Let’s explore a range of different resists including varnishes, sealants, and more.

The ultimate list of resists that repel acrylic paint

There are plenty of ways to repel acrylic paint, and I’ve compiled a list of the ultimate resists for your convenience ranging from every materials such as glass and plastics to chemicals to beauty products.

Let’s go!

Material: Varnish

Varnishes are one of the most popular ways to repel acrylic paint. You can purchase varnish from most art supply stores or online. All you need to do is apply a thin layer of varnish to your chosen surface and allow it to dry. Once it’s dry, you can begin painting over the top with acrylics. The varnish will act as a barrier and prevent the paint from sticking.

What surface/substrate will it work on: All

Effectiveness: High

Material: Oil-based paint

If you’re looking for a resist that’s sure to repel acrylic paint, then oil-based paints are a good option. These paints are designed to repel water, so they’ll definitely be effective at repelling acrylics. You will see that the acrylic paint will separate when applied to the oil-based surface.

You can purchase oil-based paints from most art supply or hardware stores or online. Just make sure to apply a thin layer and allow it to dry before painting over the top with acrylics.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, thick paper, oil paper etc

Effectiveness: High

Material: Oil pastels

Like oil paint, oil pastels are also effective at repelling acrylics if the acrylic paint is more watery than usual. You will see that the acrylic paint will separate when applied to the oil-based surface. Oil pastels are available in a wide range of colors, so you can use them to create interesting effects in your paintings. To use oil pastels as a resist, simply draw over the area where you don’t want the paint to stick. The oil in the pastel will create a barrier between the paint and the paper, making it easy to remove the paint later on.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, thick paper, oil paper etc

Effectiveness: High

Material: Wax

Another common resist material is wax. You can purchase wax in a variety of forms, such as crayons, candles, and blocks of wax. Simply color or melt over the area you want to protect with the wax, then paint over the top with acrylics. The wax will create a barrier and prevent the paint from sticking. To remove the wax, simply heat it with a hair dryer or apply a solvent.

Parrafin wax is a type of wax and also related to plastics.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, thick paper, watercolor papers etc

Effectiveness: High

Material: Tape

Scotch tape or any tape with a clear surface works the best. Masking tape or painter’s tape will work if you are planning to peel the tape away after you’re done painting.

Tape is another great way to keep your paint where you want it. Simply apply the tape to the area you want to protect, then paint over the top. Again, this works best when the acrylic paint is diluted a little more than usual.

When you’re finished, peel off the tape and admire your clean lines!

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, thick paper, watercolor papers etc

Effectiveness: High

Material: Soap (solid soap works best)

Believe it or not, soap can also be used as a resist! Just create a design with soap on the surface you’re painting, then paint over the top. The soap will repel the paint and leave your design intact.

It will work in a similar manner to wax but it can be washed away without using heat.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, anything that won’t absorb the soap if it is in liquid form.

Effectiveness: Medium

Material: Masking fluid

Acrylic or watercolor masking fluid is specially formulated to be used as a resist and can be easily removed once your painting is dry using the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

You can apply it with a brush or applicator bottle to create any design you like.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, watercolor papers etc

Effectiveness: High

Material: PVA glue (also known as wood glue)

PVA glue can also be used as a resist! Simply brush it onto the area you want to keep free of paint and allow it to dry. Once it’s dry, paint over the top as normal. The PVA will repel the paint and your design will remain intact.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, glass, metals, papers

Effectiveness: High

Material: Flow improver for acrylic paint

Adding a flow improver to your acrylic paint will help to create a barrier between the paint and the surface you’re painting on. Simply mix a small amount of flow improver into your paint and apply as normal. The barrier it creates will repel the paint, allowing you to create interesting effects and patterns.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Canvas, board, paper, anything absorbent

Effectiveness: Medium – High

Material: Polyethylene & polypropylene

These are a type of plastic, usually the kinds that make up plastic bottles. Have you ever noticed that when you try to paint some plastics, acrylic paint needs a couple of coats to cover the beaded away areas? That’s because acrylic paints struggle to adhere to these kinds of plastics.

To use these, you will need to cut away the plastics and glue them or stitch them to your canvas or board.

What surface/substrate will it work on: These are actually the surface/substrate and will need to be glued onto the canvas.

Effectiveness: Low to Medium

Material: Silicone

Silicone is a material that is actually used to create molds, because it doesn’t stick to anything. You can find this in the form of sheets, but they can be pricey.

How to use it: You will need to lay the silicone sheet over your painting surface and then start painting.

Alternatively, you can use silicone from a hardware store and apply it to the surface either using a brush or plastic applicator. Acrylic paint will bead off when applied to dried silicone.

What surface/substrate will it work on: all

Effectiveness: High

Material: Shiny non-porous surfaces such as steel, glass, plastic

These are more a surface/substrate rather than a material that you can use to repel acrylic paint but I will include it in this list for the sake of completeness.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Any surface that is non-porous.

Effectiveness: High

Material: Teflon (brand name) or Polytetrafluoroethylene (generic name)

Teflon is a brand name for a material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This is the same material that is used to make non-stick cookware. You can buy this in spray form from hardware stores.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Any surface.

Effectiveness: High

Material: Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)

Petroleum Jelly is a common household product that can be used to repel acrylic paint. It is effective but needs to be applied quite thickly.

What surface/substrate will it work on: Any surface.

Effectiveness: Medium to high

So there you have it – many simple ways to repel acrylic paint and create interesting effects in your paintings! Give them a try and see what works best for you.

What Repels Acrylic Paint — Feel free to share this infographic!

What is acrylic paint?

Acrylic paint is a synthetic polymer made of pigment suspended in acrylic resin. It is fast-drying, water-soluble, and can be used on a variety of surfaces.

What is meant by repel?

In this context, to repel means to cause a substance to not adhere or stick to a surface.

There are a few different ways that you can repel acrylic paint including using varnishes, sealants, and other products.

What is meant by resist?

A resist is a substance that helps to create a barrier between the surface and the paint. This can help to prevent the paint from adhering to the surface or to create interesting effects.

Some of the most common resists include:

Varnishes
Sealants
Oils
Waxes
Tape (shiny tape not masking tape)

When considering what surfaces acrylic paint will resist or not stick to, the general rule of thumb is that if there is even the slightest ‘tooth’ on the substrate/surface then acrylic paint will stick to it. The less porous or less tooth on the surface the more likely it is that acrylic paint will not stick to the surface.

Why would you want to repel acrylic paint in art?

There are a few reasons why an artist might want to use a resist with acrylic paint. Some of the most common reasons include:

To create interesting textures and patterns
To prevent the paint from adhering to a surface
To create a barrier between the paint and the surface
To protect the surface from the paint.

How to do Acrylic Resist – with Artist Bill Buchman

What Repels Acrylic Paint – Wrap up!

So next time you are wondering what repels acrylic paint, remember that there are a variety of ways to repel acrylic paint. Some of the most common methods include using varnishes, sealants, oils, waxes, and tape. By using a resist, you can create interesting textures and patterns, prevent the paint from adhering to a surface, or create a barrier between the acrylic paint and the painting’s surface.

I hope you learned something new in this post and if you have another idea that we can use to repel acrylic paint then drop me a note and let me know.

Sources

Cover Image by Ralph from Pixabay

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Joseph Colella

Joseph Colella is a frustrated artist with over 40 years experience making art (who moonlights as a certified Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience in tech). While he holds a Diploma in Information Technology, in true wasted talent style he spent years trying to get into various Art degrees from the Accademia di Belle Arti (Napoli), and failed to get into the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) at the University of Western Sydney. His goal is to attend the Julian Ashton School of Art at The Rocks Sydney when he retires from full time work. In his spare time, he writes for the this blog, WastedTalentInc, where he shares practical advice on art, making art, and art materials. Joseph’s art has been sold to collectors all over the world from the USA, Europe and Australasia. He is a trusted source for reliable art and copyright/fair use advice and is committed to helping his readers make informed decisions about making them a better artist.
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