Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Choosing paint and drying method
• Method 2 of 3: Applying oil paint for faster drying
• Method 3 of 3: Storing the Painting Properly

Oil paint has been in use since at least the seventh century AD and is a versatile means of creating beautiful works of art. Oil paint is applied in layers to create the illusion of depth, but it can take days or even weeks to dry completely. Fortunately, there are ways you can speed up the drying process.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Choosing paint and drying method

1. 1 For earthy tones, use iron oxide oil paints. Some elements used in oil paints dry faster than others. If you need to finish a painting in a short time, use earthy tones. Many earthy tones are composed of iron oxide paints that dry several days faster than other pigments.
   • Avoid pigments like elephant black and cadmium, which dry very slowly.
2. 2 For other shades, look for lead and cobalt based paints. Lead and cobalt pigments are known to dry quickly. Using paints made from these metals will speed up the drying of the whole picture.
3. 3 Look for linseed oil paints. The drying speed of oil paints depends on the oil used. Linseed oil dries faster than walnut oil, which in turn dries faster than poppy seed oil.Linseed oil paints are available at most art supply stores and can dramatically speed up the drying time of a painting.
4. 4 Treat the canvas with chalk gesso primer. Gesso is a primer that is first applied to the canvas to extend the life of the painting. Gesso primer is ideal for oil paintings and will allow the painting to dry faster by absorbing some of the oil from the base coats. Dip a brush or sponge in gesso and apply a thin layer to the canvas. Let it dry completely before applying the oil paint.
5. 5 Mix linseed oil with paint on a palette. Since linseed oil dries faster than other oils, adding a small amount of linseed oil to the palette will speed up the drying time of the painting.
6. 6 Mix the paint with a solvent such as turpentine or Liquin. A variety of products are used to thin oil paint and speed it up. Among these, turpentine is considered the most traditional, but alkyd products such as Liquin are also popular. Since solvents may change the texture of the paint slightly, try a few and find the one that works best for you.
   • Solvents can be hazardous to health, so be sure to follow label instructions and handle them with extreme care.

Method 2 of 3: Applying oil paint for faster drying

1. 1 Draw on a flat surface. When paint is applied to a textured canvas, oil paint can accumulate in the grooves, creating a thicker layer that will take longer to dry. Choose a canvas with a smooth surface or paint on another flat surface.
   • If you're thinking of something creative that can dry quickly, try applying oil paints to copper dishes. Oil paints oxidize faster on copper, but at the same time give the painting a slightly greenish tint.
2. 2 Use quick dry paint as a base coat. Quick dry paint will speed up the drying of other layers of paint. Lead, cobalt and copper based paints generally dry the fastest.
   • For example, if you're painting a desert landscape, use a red iron oxide pigment as the background.
3. 3 Paint quickly in thin layers. It is better to apply oil paint in layers, but if you apply a thick layer first, then each subsequent layer will dry longer. Therefore, paint should be applied from the thinnest layers to the thickest. For example, if you are depicting a cat and want to make its fur more realistic with thick paint, add it to the canvas last.
4. 4 Reduce the number of coats as much as possible. If you are on a deadline and need to get the painting dry as soon as possible, draw something simple, applying only a few subtle fills or layers to the canvas, adding details at the end. The more layers you apply, the longer the paint will oxidize.
5. 5 Blow hot air over the painting. A heat gun will bake the oils in your painting, making it dry faster. But at high temperatures, the paint can crack or turn yellow. For best results, keep the temperature set at 54 ° C or less.
   • Hold the hair dryer a dozen centimeters away from the painting and move it slowly so that the heat seeps into the paint. The nozzle of the hot air gun is very hot, so do not touch it or touch the painting with it.

Method 3 of 3: Storing the Painting Properly

1. 1 Let the painting dry in a large, well-lit room with low humidity. Oil paints take time to oxidize, during which the paint reacts with air and hardens. Other paints dry out when water evaporates from them, but oxidation is a change in the chemical composition of the paint. Oxidation works best in a room with plenty of natural light, low humidity and good air circulation.
2. 2 If you live in a humid climate, use a dehumidifier. Oil paint oxidizes faster in dry air. If you live in a humid climate, take a small dehumidifier and place it next to the painting. It will absorb excess moisture from the air, making the oil paint dry faster.
3. 3 Ventilate the room with a fan. Although the fan does not affect the drying speed of oil paints as much as it does with water-based paints, oxidation will be much faster with good air circulation. Since oils absorb oxygen from the air during the oxidation process, thanks to the air circulation, the paint will be saturated with the amount of oxygen necessary for drying. Use a floor or ceiling fan at low or medium setting.
4. 4 Keep the room warm. Oil paints dry faster in a warm environment. The temperature in the room where the painting is drying should be at least 21 ° C, but the warmer it is in the room, the better. Monitor the room temperature on a thermostat or place a digital thermometer next to the painting.
   • Although oil paints are not afraid of high temperatures, try not to heat the room to the detriment of your comfort.