Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Glass? 9 Best Sticky Acrylic Paints for Glass!
Acrylic is highly versatile and works for almost any project, including glass, windows, and even stained glass. You can paint acrylics on glass, but it won’t be as easy as canvas painting. Unfortunately, acrylic paints will stick to glass only if you’re using a special medium and prime your glass surface properly.
Acrylics stick the best to a porous surface, like canvas or wood, and may peel off the non-porous non-absorbent surface like glass. However, you can use acrylic paint on glass, seal it and enjoy a piece for years and I’ll show you how in this post. I’ll share 9 acrylic paint for glass in this article.
Lately, the manufacturers have also introduced acrylic markers or pens that also work with glass. I will list bestselling high-quality markers below, as well as acrylic paint you can use on glass.
Acrylic paint absolutely can be used on glass – it is a versatile medium. But it needs some preparation and special paint (like Folk Art) that will stick to a smooth glass surface without peeling. You will also need to seal the paint on the glass to make sure it won’t wash off and will stick to the glass permanently.
When you paint acrylic on glass there are some important things to keep in mind. First, acrylic paints are not compatible with glass surfaces without proper priming and using the right paint and medium, and will tend to slip down and/or stick loosely on the surface, making them difficult or impossible to clean up.
Secondly, from a painting point of view, glass is a non-porous surface that is difficult to seal and acrylic paints will not adhere well to it, leading to the acrylic paint film peeling off after a short time. Why? The answer is simple – glass is non-porous, so the paint doesn’t soak into the surface and only sits on top. Without sealing you can just scrape the paint off the glass.
Third, acrylic paint was not designed as food safe or 100% skin safe. As decorative medium acrylic paint and glass will work perfectly. So be careful with glass kitchenware and painting glass surfaces that will directly touch food.
Still, if you’re painting acrylic on glass, keep in mind the following.
Read the label. Acrylic paint is water-based. However, acrylics may also include other ingredients such as latex, water, and preservatives. The label will also tell you if the paint is slow-drying, opaque or transparent, and any other important details.
Some paint manufacturers will mention if the paint is great for any specific surface. Look for “glass”.
Brand and quality matter. The acrylic paints that contain higher quality acrylic are more durable than cheaper acrylic paint brands. Also, be sure to check if you can get a sample or check color chart before choosing the acrylic paint that you need. For craft projects, student-grade acrylic paint may work too.
Type of paint. Enamel paints are acrylic-based, but will stick better to the glass and it is easier to seal the surface using clear varnish or glass protector spray.
Drying time. Acrylic paint is fast-drying. Some brands will be dry to touch in 10 minutes, but some brands, ie. Golden Open paint will take longer to dry – up to 1 hour. Normally, all acrylic and enamel paint is completely dry in 24 hours.
Finish. There are 3 most common finishes: matte, satin, and gloss. The gloss finish is the regular and nicest one, but many paints are matte. Choose based on your preferences.
Lightfastness means how well the paint will resist UV over time, simply meaning how fast the paint will fade. There are 4 levels of lightfastness: levels 1 and 2 are excellent. But craft paint and student-grade paint doesn’t usually mention lightfastness, only artist-grade paint like Liquitex.
Consistency. Fluid paint will be easy to paint with glass. The thicker the paint is, the harder it will be to work with on glass. To thin your paint properly please follow a simple thinning guide I published here. In fact, some people even do acrylic pouring on glass vases and glasses using the dipping method and achieving the needed consistency with Floetrol or other pouring mediums.
Best acrylic paint for glass
Here I used Artistro acrylic markers over gesso on a glass bottle
There are not a lot of good acrylic paint for glass on the market but I’ll list 9 acrylic paint brands and 4 acrylic paint markers for glass painting.
The Arteza acrylic paint set of 20 bottles with liquid paint. Arteza is one of the biggest paint supplies brands on the market. This set is made for exterior projects and surfaces like glass, wood, and ceramics.
However, Arteza is considered student or craft grade paint and may not be the perfect fit for fine art.
Folk art acrylic paint is a versatile brand – you can use this acrylic paint on wood, glass, canvas, ceramics, or fabric. This paint was created using non-toxic formula specifically for painting glass and ceramics.
The set includes 16 – 2 oz bottles of craft paint. The colors in this kit include Wicker White, Yellow Light, Pure Orange, Parisian Pink, Lipstick Red, Perfect Purple, True Blue, Calypso Sky, Turquoise, Lime Green, Evergreen, Coffee Bean, Burnt Umber, Licorice, Silver Sterling, and Gold.
The perfect paint for beginners who will use acrylic paint with glass.
Apple Barrel paints are universal craft paints for small projects. The brand itself produces paint since 1976.
The set contains 18 bottles of 2 oz each with the following colors: White and Black, Yellow Flame, Bright Yellow, Bright Magenta, Fuchsia, Jack-o-lantern, Flag Red, Purple Iris, Parrot Blue, Bimini Blue, Bright Blue, Too Blue, New Shamrock, Holly Branch, Nutmeg Brown, Melted Chocolate, and Pewter Grey.
Liquitex is one of the two most trusted paint brands. Liquitex Basics are created as high-performant student grade paint for versatile projects.
This paint has a thick creamy consistency and needs to be thinned while working. The set includes 12 basic colors with different opacity and lightfastness.
Pros
high-quality paint and trusted brand
great coverage
satin finish
vivid colors
Cons
may be too thick for beginners. Need thining
quite pricey for small set
was not specifically designed for glass
I would recommend buying Liquitex on Blick as it is cheaper than Amazon.
Craft smart acrylic paint is a universal craft paint that was not actually made for glass or for professional artists. It is cheap and great for beginners and small projects.
Magicfly Acrylic Paint Set is designed for diverse painting surfaces including glass. The set includes 20 colors, all paint is liquid. It also contains 3 small brushes.
Be careful with this paint – it dries too fast! Never let the bottles open or the paint will dry in the bottles.
Pros
trusted bestselling set for glass painting
very affordable: great value for money
fast-drying
water resistant when fully cured
Cons
still craft paint quality
may occur drying too fast
some batches were chalky
paint chart is not accurate
paint is too water-based, the coverage is not as great as it should be.
Magicdo paint is acrylic paint made for painting stained glass, windows, and glassware. The set includes 12 colors: Violet, Crimson, Deep Blue, Orange Yellow, Light Green, Cerulean Blue, Black, Rose, Viridian, Burn Umber, Mid Yellow, Titanium White.
For best color lightfastness it is recommended to cure the painted glass in the oven at 176℉ for two hours.
Pebeo offers high-quality paint for professional artists. Pebeo Vitrea 160 is glass paint created for painting on glassware, vases, lamps, and windows. The paint is fluid, easy to use, transparent, non-toxic, and thermo-hardening.
The colors available in a set of 10 tubes are Sun Yellow, Paprika, Pepper Red, Lazuli, Turquoise, Sandalwood Green, Emerald, Earth Brown, Veil White, and Ink Black.
Vitrea product line also offers a Frosted medium to create frosted or etched effects and an Iridescent Medium that can make colors change under light.
Pros
permanent high quality paint designed for glass
can be baked in oven
dishwasher safe
whole product line with Frosted, Iridescent mediums, and thinner.
Crafty Dab Window Writers Paint is a temporary paint for glass with great coverage. It works great for large areas and will be easy to remove after. You can paint your windows for Christmas with this paint or car windows for weddings.
Krylon Paint for glass is spray paint for painting on glass. 14 colors all can be purchased only individually. Every bottle contains 12 oz. Krylon paint is semi-transparent and has a powdery finish.
With Krylon paint, you can make window frost spray style painting that you can remove. But if you are looking to make a PERMANENT window frost spray that won’t come off, you should use Rust-Oleum window frost, people say it doesn’t want to come off whatever they do!
Pros
permanent
durable with strong adhesion
Cons
it will be expensive to buy a whole set, as every bottle costs around $10.
semi-transparent
only sold individually
hard to buy
Best acrylic paint markers for glass
Acrylic markers for glass can be used for finely detailed work and craft projects.
Arteza Acrylic markers set of 40 pens was created for painting on rocks, glass, plastic, wood, fabric, and more.
Pens are great for fine work (tip is 0.8-1.2mm), are fast-drying and UV-resistant, and have better ink flow. The colors include 37 vivid and 3 metallic pigments.
Acrylic Paint Marker Pens by Emooqi are waterproof pens for glass, ceramics, wood, clay, metal, fabric, and even eggs. 12 colors are permanent including silver and gold pigment.
Tips are not for fine work, they have medium tips – 2-3 mm.
Pros
bestselling markers with 4,000+ positive reviews
UV resistant
opaque
glossy finish
great value for money – only $13
Cons
they are not really waterproof but slightly water resistant
Niutop Colors Acrylic Paint Set includes 24 colors for glass, stone, wood, fabric, metal painting. 8,000+ reviews prove this set is one of the bestsellers.
An extra thin tip is created for detailed painting.
Pros
fast-drying
nylon tip 0.7 mm for fine and detailed work
smooth flow paint
weather resistant
comfortable to hold
cheap
Cons
sometimes not so easy to use: either stay dry or leak.
The absolute leader among customers is this brand – Artistro. They offer premium quality, opaque vivid colors, glossy finish, and extra-fine line – 0.7 mm.
Pros
premium quality
versatile: from paper to glass and clay
fine lines and detailed work
great gift for beginners
Cons
maybe more expensive than alternatives but they are worth it
rarely the finished product is ruined in the dishwasher or oven
oven to cure the finished products or an acrylic sealer
latex gloves, tape and trash bag to cover your workplace and glass for skin oil
*acrylic medium to make the paint stick to the glass
sandpaper
Step 1 – Prepare the glass surface for painting
Before you start using acrylic paint on glass, you’ll want to make sure that your surface is ready. Put gloves on to make sure your skin doesn’t leave oil traces.
Clean the surface with soapy water, let it dry, then wipe it with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar and let it air dry again.
Tape areas you want to protect from paint.
Coat the glass or the area where you will paint with a layer of gesso. It will prepare the surface for the paint to stick to the glass. The layer of gesso will also make the paint more opaque.
To enhance the adhesion you can also sand the glass before applying gesso.
Step 2 – Prepare the paint – How to thin acrylic paint for glass
Thin down the acrylic colors before painting on glass or use fluid paint. Some artists use just water, some prefer using special acrylic mediums I’ve described here.
If you’re still not sure that the paint will stick to the surface, you can mix paint with Liquitex Acrylic Glass Medium. Premix this medium with the paint in ratio 10% of paint to 90% of the medium. The Liquitex medium can be also baked.
Step 3 – Painting with acrylics on glass
A good choice for acrylic painting on glass is an artist’s flat sable, synthetic, or bristle brush, all of which are designed to hold more acrylic than other types of bristles.
Use acrylic paint that is compatible with the surface you’re painting on. Acrylic can be used for glass, but it might not stick. The best acrylic paints are acrylic enamel which has been specifically designed as food safe or 100% skin-safe decoration acrylic paints for diverse surfaces.
Paint your acrylics onto the surface using even strokes trying to avoid brushstrokes.
Paint from one edge to another, but don’t paint too closely into corners or creases. This will produce clean lines and smooth surfaces if you’re using acrylic paints for glass painting. If you’re taped areas you want to keep clean, be careful with painting over them.
Prepare the sketch on the paper and transfer it to the glass.
Keep your acrylics on a flat surface such as an acrylic palette with wells. You can also use disposable palettes made of acrylic, which are great for acrylic painting on glass. Don’t pour too much paint, as acrylics are fast drying.
Paint the acrylics onto your surface into thin layers to create depth and shadowing effects. Moreover, painting in layers helps paint dry properly and avoid cracking. Let each layer dry before applying the next color or another design element on top of it.
Change up the color intensity by alternating between shades just as you would in acrylic paint on paper. Try adding a little bit of white acrylic paint to your blue acrylic paints for example, or use the same color but put less pigment into it. A white underlayer will always add more opacity.
Step 4 – Seal acrylic on glass
There are two ways to seal and protect acrylic paint on glass: sealing it with a special medium and baking it. Most decorative projects can be sealed, but if you want to make a glass piece dishwasher safe you should bake it in the oven.
How to seal acrylic paint on glass
Acrylic paint acrylics can be sealed with a varnish or glass protector spray to help maintain the acrylic’s appearance for years. The acrylic will not react chemically with these sealants, and they are compatible with most types of acrylic paints.
Seal acrylic paint for glass with a varnish or gloss acrylic sealer to protect the acrylics from yellowing and cracking over time. Be sure to read the instructions on how long you should wait before sealing acrylic paints, as some products require more than one coat of acrylic sealant while others only need one.
I recommend using acrylic sealing mediums Aleene’s or Krylon.
How to bake acrylic paint on glass in the oven
Almost all acrylics are bakeable and I created the Bakeable Acrylic Paint Guide for painting and baking ceramics and glass.
Baked painted glass will be microwave safe and dishwasher safe.
After you finish painting the glass, put your piece into the cold oven.
Set it to 350 degrees F and let it bake for 30 min.
Turn off the oven and let the piece cool for 45 min.
A piece will be fully cured in 24-72 hours.
Step 5 – Cleaning
Clean up brushes and all tools immediately after using acrylics with soapy water. Wet them and then squeeze out any excess liquid between two fingers before storing them away until you’re ready to work with them again.
Can acrylic paint be removed from glass?
To remove acrylic paint from your work, try using turpentine mixed with mineral spirits and cotton swabs. Rubbing alcohol can also be used as a cleaning solvent for acrylic paint.
Notes on Painting on Perspex
Perspex aka acrylic glass is a brand that produces transparent (and colored) plastic material that is used instead of glass or plastic. It is actually considered to be stronger and more cost-efficient than glass. But we are only interested in painting on perspex, right, we won’t go into details on how it is manufactured and used.
Similar to plastic and glass our main concern while painting perspex is to make sure the paint sticks – we must clean, degrease the plastic sheet and dry it. Perspex themselves say that the best paints for painting on perspex are acrylics and oils. Same as for wood or other surfaces, you can lightly sand the perspex with a 220-grit sandpaper if you feel like it, but degreasing should be enough.
Good-quality acrylics won’t require a primer.
The same painting tips apply to most plastic sheets and plexiglass!
Acrylic paint for glass Ideas
Acrylic paint for glass bottles
Wine or water bottles can be a great creative surface.
Acrylic paint for glass jars
dot painting on glass candle holder
Glass window painting ideas
We can do the painting for Halloween or Christmas or just make it a fun day for kids when they actually paint on windows and well, maybe, walls… Some paint just animals, trees and leaves, deer and snowflakes, flowers and birds, but if you feel confident you can paint even a landscape or create a painting with glowing in the dark paint! However, please test the paint on the windows (how it adheres and most importantly cleans out) that are probably looking over the backyard.
If you want something permanent – vitrays and flowers are one of the most popular glass window painting ideas then!
Painting windows or writing on them is super easy with paint markers, just grab paint makers nearby in store or order online – ARTIQO pens for glass (and other surfaces) are one of my favorites, they are universal, smooth, have nice colors and are water and weather-resistant.
Window painting idea for Christmas, Uploaded by Antonia Botes to Pinterest
I made some windows drawings for my friend’s bakery last Christmas using Artiqo markers:
Acrylic paint for glass vase
Acrylic paint for glass FAQ
Which glass is best to paint on?
Basically, the glass used for kitchenware and windows is good for acrylic painting because it is thin and flexible. In general, the glass itself is not the best surface for acrylic painting, but absolutely doable. There are 6 different glass types:
Float glass.
Toughened glass.
Painted glass.
Patterned glass.
Solar control glass, and
Laminated glass.
Basically, you can paint on any glass, but keep in mind that if you want to bake your glass piece, you need to know its coefficient of expansion (COE). This coefficient shows how flexible this glass is.
Regular glassware is suitable for acrylic paint and baking – it is flexible and quite thin.
I guess, for your home projects you will not use laminated or solar control glass – they are thicker and have industrial use.
What kind of acrylic paint do you use on glass?
Enamel acrylic and acrylic paint that has a clear sign on the label that it is suitable for glass. You can also mix any acrylic paint with a special Acrylic glass medium and use it onto the glass. I recommend using Folk Art paint for glass.
Does acrylic paint wash off the glass?
Acrylic paint is water-based and it’s not too difficult to get acrylic paint off the glass.
Plus, acrylic paint cured on glass in the oven will be water-resistant.
Is acrylic paint for glass dishwashers safe?
Acrylic paint on glass is safe to wash in a dishwasher, but do not soak or scrub it as you can scrape the paint off.
Would like to paint on different surfaces? Check my guides!
