Since at least the 7th century A.D. oil paint has been used to create beautiful works of art.Oil paint can take days or even weeks to fully dry, even though it is applied in layers to create the illusion of depth.There are ways to speed up the drying process.
Step 1: Oil paints made from iron oxides can be used for earth tones.
Some minerals in oil paints dry quicker than others.Earth tones can be used to complete a painting in a short period of time.Iron oxides can dry up to several days faster than other colors, which is why many earth colors use them.ivory black and cadmium are very slow to dry.
Step 2: Paints made with lead and cobalt can be used for other colors.
Lead and cobalt are known to oxidize quickly.The drying time of your painting can be sped up by using colors made from these metals.
Step 3: There are paints made with linseed oil.
Depending on the oil used, the drying time of oil paints can be different.Linseed oil dries quicker than walnuts.Most art supply stores have linseed oil paints that can speed your painting's drying time.
Step 4: The canvas needs to be sealed with chalk glue.
To prolong the life of the painting, a primer called Gesso is applied to the canvas first.Glue chalk is good for oil paintings because it helps the painting to dry faster by absorbing some of the oil from the base layers.Apply a primer or sponge brush to the canvas with a thin layer.Before moving on to oil paint, allow it to dry thoroughly.
Step 5: You can combine the oil with the paint.
If you want to speed up the drying time of your painting, you can mix a little extra linseed oil with the paint on your palette.
Step 6: Turpentine or Liquin can be used to mix your paint.
Thin oil paint can be helped to dry faster with a number of products available.Turpentine is the most popular drying medium.You can experiment to see which one is better for your paint.Follow the instructions on the label and handle these products with care.
Step 7: Paint a flat surface.
When you paint on a textured canvas, the oil paint can build up in the crevices, creating a thicker layer that takes longer to dry.Look for a canvas with a smooth surface or paint on a board.If you're looking for a creative project that won't dry quickly, apply oil paints to a copper pot.Oil paints oxidize more quickly on copper, so it will give a slightly green look to your painting.
Step 8: A base layer is applied to the paint.
All the rest of the painting can be dried more quickly if you use a fast-drying paint for your base layer.Paints with metal irons tend to dry more quickly.If you're painting a desert landscape, you could use red iron oxide as your background color.
Step 9: Paint quickly using thin layers.
If you apply a thick layer first, you can increase the drying time for each layer.You should build your painting from the lightest layers to the most thick.If you have a cat in your painting and you want to use thick paint to make its fur look more realistic, you would apply that last.
Step 10: The number of layers you use should be minimized.
If you're in a time crunch and need your painting to dry fast, choose a simple subject that you can paint by applying just a few thin washes, or layers, to the painting, with detail added at the end.The longer the paint needs to oxidize, the more layers you apply.
Step 11: The painting should be finished with a heat gun.
You can use a heat gun to bake the oils in your painting.The paint may crack if the heat is too high.Keep the heat gun set to no more than 130 F.If you want the heat gun to penetrate the paints, hold it a few inches away from the painting.The heat gun's nozzle is very hot so don't touch it or allow it to touch the painting.
Step 12: Allow your painting to dry in a well lit room with low humidity.
Oil paints need time to oxidize, which is a process in which the paint reacts with air.oxidation is a change in the paint's chemistry when the water in it evaporates.It's best to oxidize in a room with lots of natural light, low humidity, and good air circulation.
Step 13: It's a good idea to use a dehumidifier.
Dry air oxidizes oil paint quicker.If you live in a humid climate, place a small dehumidifier near your painting.The excess humidity in the air will help speed the drying of the oil paint.
Step 14: Use a fan to circulate the air in the room.
Having good circulation in the room will help the oxidation process to happen more quickly than if you point a fan at the painting.During oxidation, oils take oxygen from the air and give it to the paint to dry.A low or medium setting is what you should use for a ceiling fan.
Step 15: The room should be kept warm.
Oil paints dry quicker in warm weather.The temperature in the room where your painting is drying should be at least 70 F, but the warmer you can get the better.If you want to keep track of the temperature in the room, you can use a thermostat.It's not too hot for oil paints to cause a room to be too warm, but try to keep the room as warm as you can.