How To Make Tempera Paint Waterproof!

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With tempera paint being such a quick, easy, and cheap way to keep children entertained on their arts and crafts sessions, we have noticed more and more people reaching out about how they can go about getting the most out of their tempera paint. One of the more commonly asked questions that we see time and time again is how to make tempera paint waterproof.

With the number of people asking about how they are able to make their tempera paint waterproof increasing with each month that passes, we have decided to publish this article. We hope that we will be able to help as many of our readers as possible make their tempera paint waterproof and help ensure that it will last you for as long as possible.

As we see a number of other questions being asked from the community about making their tempera paint waterproof that are loosely related, we wanted to answer them in this article too. Due to this, we have decided to add our table of contents below to try and help you quickly navigate our article.

Is Tempera Paint Waterproof?

Normal tempera paint is water based and not natively waterproof and will usually run once exposed to water. This is due to the water re-hydrating the tempera paint and causing the paint to run.

This is true for all decent tempera paint products on the market as tempera paint has been designed from the very start to be child friendly for their arts and crafts sessions. Although some of the cheaper, low-quality tempera paints may not re-hydrate when they come into contact with water, they will tend to crack and simply fall off the paper.

Thankfully, there are steps that you can take if you want to that will help to add a protective layer above your tempera paint and make it waterproof. Although this will depend on your specific situation, it can be a quick and easy way for you to get that waterproof protection for your tempera paint.

How To Make Tempera Paint Waterproof!

The best way to make your tempera paint waterproof is to use a sealing agent that will sit above the paint and protect it from water. Both brush and spray applied sealing agents are good enough to get the job done and off your tempera paint this waterproof protection.

In our opinion, the Krylon sealant is the best option for sealing your tempera paint and adding a layer of waterproofing to it. The spray is quick to act, easy to use, and very cheap considering how much of it you actually get.

It is applied via a spray system and you simply hold the sealant around six inches away from the surface that you have used your tempera paint on and then spray once the paint is dry. Try to get a nice even coat of the sealant onto your tempera paint and let it dry. Once the sealing agent has dried it will offer a protective, waterproof layer above your tempera paint.

Using Mod Podge To Waterproof Tempera Paint!

You can use Mod Podge to add a waterproof layer to tempera paint and it can act as a cheap sealing agent to protect your paint. Keep in mind that Mod Podge is only suitable for indoor use and should never be used outdoors as wind, rain, snow, and UV light from the sun take their toll on it.

There are a number of different Mod Podge formulas on the market these days but any of them should be able to get the job done with the red or yellow label Mod Podge usually being considered the best option. You will need a small bush to apply your Mod Podge on top of the tempera paint but the process is as easy as it sounds, dip the brush into the Mod Podge and then apply it to the tempera paint.

A very common mistake that we always see people making when using products such as Mod Podge as a sealant is that they simply apply too much. You usually only need a thin layer of Mod Podge for it to be able to protect your tempera paint and offer it some protection from water although it is closer to water resistant than fully waterproof.

How Long Will Waterproof Tempera Paint Last?

Once you have sealed your tempera paint with a decent sealing agent it can potentially last you for many years if not decades when kept in ideal conditions. You will have to keep in mind that there are a number of variables that will come into play with this though that will effect the effective duration.

If you are using a decent tempera paint with a decent sealing agent then you usually stand the best change of your paint being waterproof for many years. That said though, the conditions that you keep your tempera paint artwork in will also come into play too.

For example, any surface with tempera paint on it and a sealing agent that is kept indoors will usually last considerably longer than if it had been kept outdoors with constant exposure to the elements. This will depend on your specific situation though and you will have to factor in things like this when planning how long your paint will be able to last.

Conclusion

That brings our article going over how to make tempera paint waterproof to a close. We hope that you have found it helpful as tempera paint is not as easy to waterproof as some other paint types as it was never designed for use in this way. Provided you use a good sealing agent on top of your tempera paint though, you can make it waterproof and ensure that the artwork will be able to last you for many years to come with ease.