Outdoor Finishes for Decoupage - Part One

A local fundraiser provides [paint] palette shaped pieces of plywood (3ft x 4ft) for area artists. The artists create as they see fit and the completed palettes are displayed outside local businesses all summer with the items auctioned off on Labor Day weekend.

I've been in collage/decoupage phase for a couple of years now but I've never used a wooden support or made anything that had to withstand the elements.

My plan was to prime then paint the surface with white exterior latex. On this I could use fluid acrylics for a colored background and then I'd glue all the magazine cutouts I want to use. On indoor projects I've always sealed with matte medium and/or Mod Podge.

I'm now aware of the Outdoor Mod Podge but others have suggested that shellac would be a better sealer for this project. My concern is that people tend to bid very generously due to the fundraising nature of this auction. I don't want my artwork to fall apart after the fact. If need be I could just so an acrylic painting ... but that's not what I'd prefer to do.

Any suggestions you could make would be appreciated.

Dale

We get many questions on the issue of Outdoor Decoupage Finishes and have done a lot of research and testing.