I probably sound really naive, but...

Apparently my mom has this idea that if I don't give my acrylic paintings with fixative, the paint will fall off or something. I don't really think one has to spray paintings with fixative, but I'm asking because I don't want to wake up one morning with my paintings disintagrating. I don't have to give them a coat of anything, do I? Once I'm done painting, I'm done?

Purple,

I am not the greatest acrylic person in the world but it can get very hot where I am so I often use a LOT of water and/or a painting medium that changes the viscosity of the paint . I use "Atelier mid viscosity" at the moment. And when I am finished I sometimes want a shinier finish than what I've gotten so I will wait until completely dry and the coat with "Atelier Gloss Medium & Varnish", you can add this into the paint too, but I like to do a clear coat at the end.

Hope that helps.

Sue

PS - had a look at your acrylics and I like your indtruments best - especially the piano keys.

I use acrylics with an airbrush on many different surfaces. I tend to clear all my finished paintings. Depending on the type of painting and surface will determine the type of clear. For most fine art/illustrations on canvas or illustrarion board I use Krylon Matt clear in a spray can. Normally 2 or 3 coats. This give the painting a flat even sheen that lets the painting come through without glare and protects the paint. If you plan of framing behind glass it is not really needed. Turly once the paint is set it is realy not needed, but it does smooth out the shine. Not sure if this is what they do in the world of brushed on acrylics.. but I don't see why it would be different.

I use acrylics a lot, and can tell you that this will not happen. Sometimes I will cover my paintings though with enamel, or acrylic varnish, which I only use to make it shiny and the colors stand out. Actually it makes the acrylics look like oil. I will use at least three or four layers depending on the painting.

BUT if you don't do this you'll be ok. Haha you really don't have to worry about them disintegrating. Once the paint is there it's there!

Ive done a lot of acrylic paintings and I have never had this happen. There is a type of spray that you can spray over the acylic that puts a type of shiny coat on it and helps protect it. Thats about all I use and my paintings are still fine after all of these years.