Sunday, February 21, 2010

Why does acrylic paint dry quickly? Why does oil paint dry slowly?

I've been having a lot of questions regarding paints, do different paintsdry faster in colder or warmer temperatures and why? Does the temperature affect the dimensions of the painting, whether it is lumpy or smooth?Why does acrylic paint dry quickly? Why does oil paint dry slowly?
Oil paint dries slowly because it dries by oxidation, not evaporation. This occurs molecule by molecule, and can't really be speeded up except by mixing a drying agent into your painting medium.





Acrylic and watercolor and other water-based paints dry when the water evaporates out of the paint. Humidity and cold can of course retard the drying time of water-based paint, and if it's getting close to freezing, you'll have a very hard time.Why does acrylic paint dry quickly? Why does oil paint dry slowly?
helene is right.


there are advantages to working with either. oil stays pliable longer so you can mix it, move it and work with it longer, but acrylic will dry quickly and is pretty opaque so you can paint over it easily.
helen is right. If you decide to go with acrylics, they sell extenders to slow the drying time if it's too fast for your style.
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