Paint question

[intarsiabox]

I've used most types of paint and they all seal the wood. Oil based paints penetrate deeper but require a few coats, smell bad and need turpentine or varsol to clean up. Latex/acrylic paints are water based so clean up is just soap and water and fumes are much less but it doesn't penetrate the wood as deep. Of course after you paint the canopy which ever method you choose you can always throw on a couple of coats of clear Varathane for extra sealing power. My two cents worth anways.