Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Leather Jackets?

Feeling bored looking at your old leather jackets? If it bothers you, then why don’t you paint it fresh? But is acrylic paint suitable for this enjoyable project? 

I have the same doubt that you have. But take it easy. As a result of my research, which I am prepared to share with you.

Can you use acrylic paint on leather jackets? Absolutely, you can use standard acrylic paint on leather jackets of all kinds. But there is always room for perfection. In this case, you need to consider the surface of the jacket and the material of leather. Also, consider the density of paint and sealing the paint on leather mostly. If you need a better result you need to work patiently with acrylic paint on a leather jacket.

Keep reading the entire article to unfold all the exciting information. These will definitely help you to decorate leather jackets with acrylic.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Leather Jackets?

Will Acrylic Paint Stay On The Leather Jacket?

Acrylic paint is quite popular for the decoration and customization of leather jackets. They work on leather pretty well, and they stick well too. 

But for that, you need a primer on the jacket. This will create a surface to let your acrylic stick on leather. Some leather may have a silicon coating to make it waterproof. 

If you cannot stick acrylic on such leather, then deglaze the silicon and sand it to make a smooth surface for acrylic. 

But try to avoid washing your clothes in the washing machine. This can cause cracks in your paint and mess up your design. Try to seal your work instead.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Any Type Of Leather Jacket?

When using acrylic on your leather jacket, you need to consider the material. Wondering why? Because some types of leather are highly water-absorbent. They usually get stiff or shrink after drying, so using acrylic on them might be risky.

If you have Leather Coat, Biker Jacket made of cowhide, bison, and lambskin, then you can work on them with acrylic. They are strong and durable that allows acrylic to dry well on the surface. 

However, synthetic leather like Faux is non-porous that allows acrylic to stick to it.

There is such evidence, but according to my knowledge, you may apply acrylic on Racer Jacket, Flight Jacket, Moto Jacket, or Leather Blazer. They are made of cowhide, bison, and goatskin which are strong and durable. 

However, pure sheepskin or lambskin is permeable. So, if you process them, then they can easily create a base for acrylic paint to stick long. 

But if you already know you have a Suede Leather Blazer then it is better not to use acrylic on it as they are porous. Thus you may ruin the material by applying acrylic paint on it.

How Do You Use Acrylic Paint On Leather Jackets?

Using acrylic on leather jackets is not that easy. You need to follow some process to make it stay for a long time.

Grab Your Tools

For some magic on your jacket, grab everything that you need, like:

  • Paint brush
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Leather deglazer
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Cotton bud
  • Masking tape 
  • Acrylic paint 
  • Thinner
  • Primer
  • Acrylic marker

Jump to the next step if you have all the stuff that you need.

Prepare Your Leather Jacket

Prepare Your Leather Jacket

Now you have your plain leather jacket on the desk. Clean the surface with an alcohol pad or isopropyl to remove debris and grease. This will allow your acrylic to sit smoothly. 

If there is a silicon layer, just use a deglazer and sand the area. Thus you are good to go for some acrylic painting on your jacket.

Paint Over The Jacket

Paint Over The Jacket

You can now have your acrylic paint and thin it with a thinner if it is too dense. Apply with a paint brush if you want a clear result. Give some time to dry the first layer before applying details with an acrylic marker. 

Painting Over The Jacket

To make your artwork stand out, try to use vibrant colors and draw outlines.

Dry The Paint

When you have completed your work, it is time to let it dry. You can keep it in an open space but not under direct sunlight. Give it 24-48 hours to dry for a better result, and then seal it with a finisher.

How Long Does It Take To Dry Acrylic Paint On A Leather Jacket?

After you complete the painting, let the paint dry on the leather jackets because there are different sorts of leather that have different absorbing qualities.

It will take longer to dry out if you’re working with top-grain leather, such as the thin kinds. But don’t expose them to direct sunshine to hasten the drying process. This could make the paint fade.

But if you have thick leather then it will take almost 24-48 hours to dry. They are mostly full-grain leather like Cowhide and Calfskin. 

However, if you’ve decided to use suede for this project, remember that it will take the longest to dry, even after priming. 

Because it has a property that is extremely absorbent and delays the process, however, you can quicken the process by using a hair dryer on a low setting.

Can You Seal Acrylic Paint On A Leather Jacket?

Can You Seal Acrylic Paint On A Leather Jacket?

If you want to keep your acrylic paint on a leather jacket for long then you can use a sealer on it. You should use a sealer that is specific to your leather. Or else the cloth material will not stay like before. 

When you forget to seal your acrylic over leather, then the color may fade with regular use too. 

And if you have a bad habit of scratching, then you may mistakenly peel off the paint. So, it is better if you can seal the paint after it dries entirely.

Suggested Materials You May Need

#1 Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint : (Recommended Acrylic Paint For Leather Jacket) 

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint is specially designed for your leather jacket. It does not fade easily and you can dry them with no peeling or cracking. 

I personally recommend this product to give a stylish look to my leather jacket. Most of its users love the vibrant color and the viscosity of the paint. They find it super easy to apply on a leather surface with a brush.

If you are already planning to do some craft on leather, then this will be your best option.


#2 Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint Matte Finisher : (Proposed Sealer)

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint Matte Finisher is a supreme sealer for your leather outfit because it keeps the paint intact for a long time with a clear finish.

The sealer has a very mild odor which means you can work with it indoors. In addition, some of the customers love using this product as it does not feel sticky after drying. Moreover, it keeps the color of acrylic as it is. 

Grab this amazing product at a very reasonable price and add to your fabric material corner.


Over To You

To sum up my discussion, acrylic paint serves the best result on your leather jackets of all types. If you know how to control the leather paint, you are good to go. 

I have tried to explain everything above to help you. Yet if you notice I have missed something important, please let me know in the comment section below. It will help other readers too.

If you have any other queries, then do not hesitate to ask. I will be more than happy to solve your doubts. 

Further Readings

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On A Leather Jacket?
8 Different Types Of Leather Jackets
How To Paint A Leather Jacket

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