Resin’s glassy layer can make colors snap and add a sense of depth you don’t get with flat paints. Artists reach for it when they want their work to pop in a way that looks almost wet. The thing is, working with actual resin takes a careful setup—ventilation, mixing, curing times. Mess one thing up, and a piece can turn cloudy, sticky, or worse. Then comes the issue of fumes that sting the nose and head. Not everyone has the patience, budget, or space for the full resin process.
That’s where acrylic paint steps up. Acrylic dries fast, costs less, and you can clean up with soap and water. Plenty of people want to know how to fake resin’s finish with what they’ve already got in their paint box. The good news—a few reliable tricks get you close.
Start with quality acrylic. Cheap paint won’t deliver rich color once it dries under a faux resin finish. Go for professional or student grade. Let your colors dry fully between coats. Damp paint underneath will keep things from sticking or dry unevenly, and the shine won’t look deep the way resin does.
Artists often mix in a gloss gel medium made for acrylics. This thickens paint and gives it more body, helping light bounce off the surface. Many art supply brands offer mediums that resist yellowing—even years down the line. Mix medium into paint at about a 1:1 ratio for maximum shine, though a little goes a long way. For the last coat, use a clear gloss medium without any color mixed in.
Pour it gently across the canvas and tilt to spread, or brush it on in a thick, even coat. For a glassier feel, add a second or third layer once each coat dries completely. Artists sometimes let the painting sit flat overnight, so the medium cures without drip lines or bumps that catch light the wrong way.
After the paint fully dries, the next step comes in with a gloss varnish. Not all varnishes give the same effect. Look for “waterborne polyurethane” or “acrylic polymer” on the label. These won’t yellow and carry less smell, making them safer to use indoors. Spray varnishes cover more evenly but require good ventilation. Liquid varnishes, brushed on with a soft brush, can build up a thicker coat, matching that resin look.
Multiple thin coats build up depth much better than one thick flood, which often traps bubbles or leaves streaks. Some top brands even offer “resin finish” acrylic varnishes, formulated specifically to mimic that glassy surface folks want.
Art made this way stands up to daily life better than real resin in some ways. No amber cast sneaking in over time, and the finish stays tough enough to wipe dust away with a damp cloth. Just keep these pieces out of direct sunlight—a hard lesson for any painter is the way UV will fade the brightest paints as the years go by.
In the end, acrylic paints and mediums open the door for nearly anyone to chase after that coveted resin finish. With the right products, a bit of patience, and a careful hand, artists can enjoy the shine and depth without the fuss, risk, or high price of true resin.
