Do oil paints really take this long to dry?

Question

I started a painting last night and stopped around 8pm. Now it is noon and it is still wet. Is this normal? When will it dry?

Yea this was my first time using oils and i love them! they blend so nice!

Answer 1

Oil doesn't "dry" by evaporation, it oxidizes, a chemical process that is affected by temperature, as high temp makes chemical reactions go faster, and colder temps slow things down. If you have the air-conditioner on, that'll slow down the process. If you put a heat lamp near your painting, it'll speed it up

The actual drying time depends on the type of pigments contained within the paint, or to simplify, the colors that you use. For example titanium white dries slow, as it contains pigment derived from titanium oxide. Conversely, flake white dries very rapidly, as it contains pigments derived from lead.

You can see a chart here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/ArtSchool/Oils/DryingTimes/

Alkyd resin- like Galkyd from Gamblin or Walnut Alkyd Medium from M. Graham, is a quick-drying formula that when mixed with your oil paints, allows you to paint on a dry surface in a day or two. Watch out to make certain you're mixing the medium evenly, or you'll end up with a painting that has an uneven finish- some flat/matte, some glossy.

Answer 2

That's the beauty of oils... more time to work with them.
Actually they take a lot longer than other paints. My senior project in college was 12 oil paintings. The school had them in the gallery for 6 months. When I picked them up I noticed that I had paint on my hands. After 6+ months they were still wet! There are some oils that dry faster but they do not dry like acrylic. The only downfall is that colors can be overworked and will turn to mud!
Have fun!

Answer 3

It depends on the paint. Oils take longer to dry than other paints, that's why I like to use them, it allows for alterations the next day. Most of the brown colors dry within a day, black usually dries quickly, but white takes a day or two and some blues and greens take two days. Stick with oil if you can, it's the only painting medium I know of that doesn't change color when it dries-acrylic dries fast but it's annoying to get just the color you want when it's wet and then see it get darker or lighter the next day!

Answer 4

That makes oil paint so versatile and easy to be used by beginners. You can remove it (use a rag with turpentine and wipe it off carefully) even on the following day and re-paint the part you are not happy with. Thick layers of fresh paint can also be removed by scraping it off with a palette knife.
For my art club for children (and some adults) I use paper for quick sketches with oil colors, first a wash with diluted paint(dries pretty fast), followed by thicker paint which will also be dry (drawn up by the paper) soon. But this is only suitable for practice as the paint will appear dull and the paper will eventually (after a few years) rot. One can also varnish the picture to preserve it better. Kids love it, and as the paper does not warp (as it would be the case with paint using water as a medium)
the results can be attractive. ...and it is very economical as it is not necessary to use canvas boards or stretched canvas.
If you are interested to see some results, feel free to contact me.
Experience a lot...
Good luck

Answer 5

It truly relies upon. yet considering the fact which you used it right this moment from the tube it is going to take a minimum of a few days to each week to dry. it can be a smarter option to apply fabrics paint, yet once you're truly pressed for time I propose basically making use of acrylic paint. basically flow run to a craft keep and get a small tube, you does not decide to run a rally in a shirt with oil paint that has no longer dried, its gonna get messy.

Answer 6

Not uncommon. You can use various mediums to speed the drying time of oil. You can also thin the paint to a wash that dries faster, but then you lose the impasto. With a little research and experimentation you will find the drying time you need for your work. I typically mix my oil(depending on color) to dry within a three day period.

Answer 7

Yes oils paintings do take time to dry, thats why some paintings take months or weeks to be finished. Oil painting gives you a longer time to work on them, add something you want or fix something you dont like. That's whats so great about them. IF you want something that drys fast try acrylics.

Answer 8

Perfectly normal.
With a medium layer of paint (think icing on a pop-tart) you're looking at 24 hours drying time under normal conditions.

If the air is humid or it's raining outside, your looking at a few more hours added to the drying time.

Though, if you want it to dry quickly, paint in thin layers and let the surface dry in warm, low moisture areas-- my friend likes to blow-dry the back of the canvas, but without practice, that can get messy.

Answer 9

Oils take up to a year to fully dry when put on thick. But from my experience when you put on thin wshes no more than 2-3 days. Good luck . by the way there are additives that you can add to oils to make them dry faster.

Answer 10

Yes.Sometimes they dry even for 24 hours or more.Especially if you paint on a glass.You may speed things a bit if you use turpentine as a thinner instead of oil.