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Stop Alcohol Dyes from Fading on your Gourd

How to Stop Alcohol dyes from fading on your gourd is a problem . Here is my answer to keeping those colors awesome! 

gourd with dye

Sealing Alcohol dyes

 You spend all that money on dyes and pour them over your gourd making colorful splashes of color. I just love those beautiful colors of this dye, but it won’t last forever!

All brands of alcohol dye fade and yellow over time. But, there are specific coatings that are better than others and certainly ways to slow the fading process and protect your art gourds from yellowing quickly.

To help, I reach for three clear coatings from Krylon. All are available from other brands but other names. These three are compatible with each other. I give you a little disruption of each in case you want to compare it to what you already use.

karmar can

How to Stop Alcohol dyes from fading on your gourd 

Karmar Varnish

Kamar varnish is acid-free, and vital in protecting your alcohol inks from interfering with any other product and it is non-yellowing. So it always goes on first.

Apply it in thin, even coats, making sure to dry well (according to product directions) between each layer. That gourd covered with dripping alcohol beauty will need a good protective coating of at least 3 or 4 coats of the Kamar varnish.  Fewer coats if it only in a few areas,

By the way, I also use it over color pencils and markers to protect it from running or melting when I apply the final gloss coating.

spray can

UV- Resistant Clear

This is the spray that saves the color brightness on your gourds!

It protects against fading, dirt, moisture, and discoloration and is used for all fine-art surfaces. I always buy the matte finish. It goes on all my gourds because I live in the desert! 

Works on acrylic paints, watercolor pencils, and dyes. It takes about 10-15 to dry but needs about 2 hours to handle. Don’t spray this too close or it will clump up and bubble

spray can

Krylon Acrylic Crystal Spray

For the final coating of protection, I like Crystal Clear. It is an acrylic coating spray that provides a permanent protective gloss coating that will not yellow with age. Moisture resistant and smudge-proof.

 Like the others, it works with photography, watercolor, charcoal pencil, painted surfaces, and woodcrafts.

The spray dries clear and matte, there is no added shine or glimmer aside from any that was there before application.

 A warning though, like many other similar products, the smell is very strong and can linger in close for some time after. Highly recommend you use it outside.

I always use this for the third stage in method one, but you can use whichever non-yellowing clear coat you like. I use this one because so far for me, it’s kept its promise.

I have used this for pencil art, color pencil, ink, watercolor, gouache, alcohol-based markers, acrylic, and even the occasional oil.

How to Stop Alcohol dyes from fading on your gourd  My 3-step method

This always feels like a process that takes forever, but remind yourself that this part is about making your art look great for years. If it’s a gift or sale item then you want it to look great for a long time!

  1. Always start with the Karmar. On a lot of dye surface, I would use 3 layers, letting it dry between them.
  2. Then spray several thin, even layers of the UV protection over that, drying between each layer according to spray directions. Spray too close to the gourd and it will clump up and bubble. Too far and it will dry before reaching gourd.
  3. The final spray is the Crystal Clear acrylic .   Usually one or two coats will give it the shine you want.

Now for the Exceptions

For those with respiratory problems you should consider Low Odor Clear finish. Or use this are teaching a class.

spray can

If you want a high gloss finish with depth or the gourd will be in the elements then the final spray should be the Thick Clear Glaze coat for a glossy finish.

Or if you want it to shine and make it nearly unbreakable then consider.

 

ArtResin for a super glossy finish with real depth. This is a two-part resin process that makes the gourd surface hard and beautiful.

bottle

You can also do the final coat by brushing it on. DuraClear Varnish is a polyurethane varnish that forms a tough, flexible finish that is clear and non-yellowing. It is weatherproof and can be used on most hard craft surfaces, both interior, and exterior. Dries to a clear finish. Water-based. Non-toxic.

I often use this on a smaller piece like my shard jewelry. I feel like I am wasting less product if I brush it on. I will use this instead of the Karmar.

 

I recently found this product in a color-shifting finish. DecoArt’s Iridescent DuraClear Varnish! The durable, transparent, iridescent varnish is available in three colors: Blue, Turquoise, and Violet. That might look great over an alcohol dye monochromatic color combination. The turquoise over various shades of blue! If you have tied it let us see it on the Facebook Group page!

How to Stop Alcohol dyes from fading on your gourd 

Now for my final tip!

These spray grip handles are a must for me. Different paint brands make them, but they all work about the same. They sure save my fingers and feel I have more control over the direction the paint goes.

The glue world and the spraying world has always been a mystery to me. Most of these sprays are acrylic base so they work with each other. I do know they won’t work on an enamel base, but that is not a material gourd artist use.

grip handle

If you have your method that works, then please share it with us. That’s how I found this one!

Share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page. 

Return to the Blog page for other articles.

Pinterest users can help me spread the word about my posts and jewelry by re-pinning your favorites from my Pinterest page.

 

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Bettie Lake

I am a former art educator and gourd art master helping new artists understand how to succeed with gourd art. I use my blog posts and our Facebook Group Page to communicate with my followers. Hopefully you learn some new things from this post and will return to read others.

This Post Has 23 Comments

  1. Becky Woodward

    Thanks SO much Bettie! I’ve never layered the finishes and can’t wait to try this.

    1. bettie.lake

      Thank you for your positive comments. Remember some of the larger posts can be downloaded from the store. Join mt Facebook Group Goard Art Talk to share ideas and gourd pictures.

  2. Terry Noxel

    Use of a Fixative spray is also helpful at “securing” color while still working on your gourd project (before the final varnish).

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