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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Selecting paint and drying agents
• Method 2 of 3: Apply oil paint so that it dries faster
• Method 3 of 3: Provide the right environment for the painting

Oil paint is a versatile medium that has been used to create beautiful works of art since the 7th century. The paint is applied in layers to create the illusion of depth, but it can take days or even weeks for the layers of oil paint to dry completely. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can speed up the drying process.

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Method 1 of 3: Selecting paint and drying agents

1. For earth tones, use oil paint that contains iron oxide. Certain minerals in oil paint dry faster than other minerals. If you want to finish a painting in a short time, use earth tones. Many earth tones contain iron oxide, which dries a few days earlier than other pigments.
   • Do not use paint with pigments such as ivory black and cadmium, as they dry very slowly.
2. For other shades, choose paint that contains lead and cobalt. Pigments made with lead and cobalt are known to dry quickly. By using paint made from these metals, your painting may dry faster.
3. Look for paint made with flaxseed oil. How quickly oil paint dries depends on which oil is used for the paint. Linseed oil dries faster than walnut oil, which in turn dries faster than poppy oil. Paint based on linseed oil can make your painting dry significantly faster. You can buy this paint at most art supply stores.
4. Treat the canvas with gesso made from glue water and chalk. Gesso is a kind of primer that is applied to the canvas before painting to seal it and to ensure that the painting remains beautiful for longer. Gesso made of glue water and chalk is very suitable for oil paintings because it absorbs some of the oil from the base layers, allowing the painting to dry faster. Dip a primer brush or sponge brush into the gesso and apply a thin layer of gesso to the canvas. Let the gesso dry thoroughly before applying oil paint.
5. On your palette, mix flaxseed oil with your paint. Flaxseed oil dries faster than other oils, so mixing a little extra flaxseed oil with the paint on your palette can help your painting dry faster.
6. Mix your paint with a solvent such as turpentine or Liquin. There are various products for sale that are specially formulated to thin oil paint and allow it to dry faster. Turpentine is a traditional drying agent, but alkyd-based agents such as Liquin are also popular. The different drying agents all give the paint a slightly different texture, so experiment to see which one you prefer.
   • Solvents can be dangerous, so be sure to follow the directions on the packaging and use them with caution.

Method 2 of 3: Apply oil paint so that it dries faster

1. Paint on a flat surface. If you use a textured canvas, the oil paint can build up in the cracks. This creates a thicker layer of paint that dries more slowly. Look for a canvas with a smooth surface or paint on a different surface such as wood.
   • If you're looking for a creative project that dries quickly, apply oil paint to a copper pan. Oil paint oxidizes more quickly on copper, although your painting will have a slightly green tint.
2. Apply a base coat of quick-drying paint. Using quick-drying paint for the base coat will also dry the rest of the painting faster. Paints that contain metals such as iron, lead, cobalt and copper usually dry the fastest.
   • For example, if you are painting a desert landscape, you can use paint that contains red iron oxide for the background color.
3. Paint quickly and apply thin coats. Oil paint is best applied in layers. However, if you apply a thick layer first, the subsequent layers will also dry more slowly. Instead, build your painting from thin layers that keep getting thicker. For example, if you have a cat in your painting and you want to use thick paint to keep its coat looking more genuine, apply that coat of paint last.
4. Apply fewer coats of paint. If you are really short on time and your painting needs to dry quickly, choose a simple subject that you can paint by applying just a few coats of paint, painting the details at the end. The more coats you apply, the longer it will take for the paint to oxidize.
5. Finish the painting using a heat gun. A heat gun can help fry the oils in the painting so that the paint dries faster. However, if the heat gun is too hot, the paint may crack and turn yellow. For the best results, set the heat gun to a maximum temperature of 55 ° C.
   • Hold the heat gun a few inches from the painting and move it slowly so that the heat can absorb into the paint. The end of the heat gun gets very hot, so don't touch it or touch the painting with it.

Method 3 of 3: Provide the right environment for the painting

1. Let the painting dry in a large, well-lit room with low humidity. Oil paints take time to oxidize, which is a process where the paint reacts with air to harden. Other types of paint dry because the water in the paint evaporates, but oxidation involves a change in the chemical composition of the paint. The oxidation process works best in a room with lots of natural light, low humidity and good air circulation.
2. Use a dehumidifier if there is high humidity. Oil paint oxidizes faster when the air is dry. If the weather is very humid, buy a small dehumidifier and place it near your painting. This helps to get the excess moisture out of the air so that the oil paint dries faster.
3. Provide air flow in the room by using a fan. By pointing a fan at your oil painting, it will not dry faster, as is the case with a watercolor. However, good air circulation in the room will cause the paint to oxidize more quickly. This is because the oils extract oxygen from the air during the oxidation process, so by ventilating the air, the paint gets the oxygen it needs to dry. You can use a table fan or a ceiling fan. A low to medium setting should be enough.
4. Keep the room warm. Oil paint dries faster in a warm environment. Make sure the temperature in the room where the painting dries is at least 21 ° C. However, the warmer you can make it the better. Monitor the temperature in the room by checking the thermostat or by placing a digital thermometer near your painting.
   • There is no temperature too high for oil paint, but try to keep the room as warm as possible without making it uncomfortable for you.