"Mixed Media" Decoupage

How to Mix Oil and Water Media in Decoupage

I have used an oil based stain and now want to add a photo to the box. What are the names of products to use for a glue and sealer to coat the picture?

Thanks.

CC

Well ... it took me over a week to get back to you, but in this case, that's actually a good thing ;-) You know the saying "oil and water don't mix"? That applies to when they are in their liquid states.

You can combine many oil- and water-based paints and sealants if you allow each coat to cure before applying the next.

I don't mean dry-to-the-touch; I mean completely cured.

Drying and curing times are difficult to quantify since they depend on several factors: humidity; temperature; air circulation; and thickness of application. You can generally apply new coats of similarly-based media when the prior coat is dry to the touch.

However, do not apply a water-based medium over an oil-based one (or vice versa) until the undercoat has completely cured. If the undercoat has not completely cured when you apply the topcoat, you are sealing off the air required for the undercoat to complete its curing process.

Water-based media cure by evaporation. Water leaves the surface of the media and joins the surrounding air as long as there are spaces where the water molecules can go (less than 100% humidity).

Oil-based media cure by oxidation. Oxygen in the air is attracted to the oil molecules and chemically combines with them. The oxidized particles rise to the surface and dissipate into the air.

At room temperature and average humidity, oil-based stain or paint will dry to the touch in about a day, but take two to four weeks to cure.

I assume the wood was properly primed and you don't have oil from the wood itself seeping to the surface. Mahogany, for example, is notorious for bleeding red oil through any overcoat - oil or acrylic - unless it is primed.

Mod Podge is a very good product for gluing and sealing decoupage images.

More and more professional decoupage artists are switching to Acrylic Polymer (AP) formulas because they reach a harder cure. Liquitex and Golden Gel media are the most frequently recommended.

P.S. I don't recommend you use the original photo. Copy weight paper is better for decoupage. I use ink jet copies and seal the ink with two coats of clear acrylic spray like Krylon Crystal Clear. If you use toner-based copies either from a laser printer or a copy center, there is no need to pre-seal.