I"m doing a mural on a wall behind a sink. It's just drywall, not tile or stone, etc.
I am using acrylics/latex paints.
I'm thinking it needs to be sealed with something so that it can be scrubbed when splattered with food, etc.
My first thought was polyurethane. But in researching that, I've discovered folks who insist that even if it says NONyellowing, that it does in fact yellow. And even a source or two that insist that polyurethane EATS acrylic/latex paints, as in peeling/cracking! <shriek>
Does anybody have any experience or advice for me?
Thanks!!!!!!!
T

I have done murals in the past and have didn't seal them at all, but then again, they weren't in an environment that was subject to being washed.

I did a quick search for other sealers besides polyurethane and found little in the way of alternatives besides oil and wax coatings. You might like to find some experienced tile artists online and see if they can provide you with some names of products they use and are satisfied with.

Here is a Q&A from Liquitex that might be of some help.

http://www.rexart.com/appmuralprep.html

I will also add my comments that polyurethane does yellow after a time. I don't know about it "eating" acrylic paints though. I painted a design on our outdoor wooden swing with outdoor acrylic paints (the type used by Disney World - non-toxic & liquid but very flat with no shine. They are usually used for mural & sign work.) I coated it with a good quality water clear polyurethane to protect it from the weather. It did not eat the design but it did yellow slightly. We had painted the swing with latex house paint & I only coated the design itself with the polyurethane but extended it a very slight bit so the design was sealed. Actually the yellowing was not apparent except where it extended onto the swing itself. I'm sure the colors of the design (twining leaves & pinkish flowers) affected the perception of whether the finish yellowed much though.

J

That's great advice- THANK YOU!
You've got me thinking- it may not MATTER in this case that it yellows a bit- it's supposed to be a view outside and the photo reference I'm using has LOTS of gold in it anyway. The only place it might be noticeable would be maybe the window woodwork, as I'd planned for it to be white. I may backtrack on that and make it beige or just woodtones.

I did a fairy on a bathroom wall .. and used indoor paint for walls they can be washed and everything .. the fairy is still there and i did it like 4 years ago . this is the painting .. now i am not real good at painting but I tried and they were very pleased with it .

Whadya mean "not real good"?! She's cute! A bit risque, but definitely well done- I'm guessing this wasn't a kid's bathroom ;-)
Thank you for sharing your experience- that is encouraging. I generally use exterior latex for the things I use alot of- blue, green, white. But I'm still a bit worried that if this gets food splattered on it and she has to scrub it off, then it might be damaged.
I dunno what I'll do. I'll probably bring some polyurethane and just ask the customer what they prefer. On regular murals, I tell them they can seal it if they want, but that it isn't absolutely necessary. But I've never worked outdoors or on a kitchen prep area before.
Thanks again-
T

It was a teen bathroom lol .. and I used high gloss ...wipes down nice .