How Long Does Acrylic Paint Take To Dry On Canvas?

Most acrylic paints need from 10 to 20 minutes to dry once they are applied on canvas (if it is just one thin layer or several thinner coats, for example, it would likely take less time than if you had used thicker paint or left a thicker film). However, some acrylics might need hours to completely dry, especially if you are painting in layers and using various styles of paint application. Or if you are painting on top of a not porous surface. Also, you should consider the environmental conditions in which you paint. 

How Long Does Acrylic Paint Take To Dry On Canvas?

Artists and painters tend to opt for acrylics when they start a new painting project since they are known to be cheaper and dry fast, unlike oil painting. However, if you have worked with different kinds of acrylic paints on different surfaces, you might have noticed that not all of them dry for the same amount of time, and that the dried acrylic paint behaves differently depending on these factors. So, how long does it take for regular acrylic paint to dry when it is applied on canvas? 

If you are a rookie for acrylics, then the information provided in this article will be of great help. Here, I will talk about the drying time of acrylic paints once they are applied on canvas and which factors play a significant role in this process. In addition, I will provide some tips and methods that will enable your acrylic paintings to dry faster, without worrying that you might damage them in some way.

When it comes to the drying time with acrylic painting, you need to consider several factors. Firstly, the brands differentiate from one another, so they do not include all the same substances, meaning that some paint textures might need a longer period to dry out while others will require way less. 

Secondly, you need to make a difference between dry paint to the touch and fully cured paint. The former refers to dry paint when you touch it, but it can still endure some damages although it is not wet paint. On the other hand, fully cured paint refers to paint that has completely dried out, meaning that you cannot damage the colors even if you pass through the canvas with your whole hand. This means it is completely dried paint.

Thirdly, you have to think about the weather and environmental conditions in which you place your canvas for drying. This is very important considering that many acrylic paints react differently to different conditions to which they are imposed. So, it is not always about the type of paint but also about the factors around the paint. 

Fourth and last, you will need to think about the painting style you use while working on your painting. For instance, if you are adding many layers, you should expect more time for drying. Also, you need to think about the style of your painting method and what you want to achieve with it. 

Therefore, depending on various factors, you will determine how long it would take your painting to dry out completely. Acrylic paints are known for quick-drying. However, the drying time might be significantly prolonged if you use different methods in your work. 

The Drying Time Of Different Acrylic Paint Brands

As I already mentioned above, acrylic paint is known to dry very quickly, and with most acrylic paint brands, it would take around 10 to 20 minutes to dry out. However, many brands offer different textures of acrylics, meaning that they consist of different substances that may need some more time to dry completely. Usually, manufacturers include the needed drying time on the package of the paints, so you can see that it is not always the same with every type of acrylic you come across. 

Generally, when manufacturers do not state the drying time on their packages, it is supposed not to take much time to dry the paint completely. However, some brands might need significantly more time, and the drying time is usually included on the paint tubes. 

Nonetheless, if you need to slow down the drying time of the acrylics, you can always mix them with a little bit of water. Some projects require the paint to be wet so it could be workable. In that case, you can always add some water and continue your work without worrying that the water will damage the paint in any way. 

In other words, it can be said that usually, it will need 10 to 20 minutes for the acrylic paint to dry on canvas. However, that does not mean that it is fully cured but dry to touch. You should remember that paintings on canvas would need way more than 10 or 20 minutes to be dry to the point where no damage could be done to them. 

The Difference Between Dry To The Touch And Fully Cured Acrylic Paint 

As I briefly explained above, if the paint is dry when you touch it, that does not mean that it is not workable anymore. If you achieve the fully cured state of the painting, you will know that no more changes can be done to it, and you cannot damage it in any way, even if you touch the canvas with your whole hand. 

As you might know, acrylic paint dries out through the process of evaporation, meaning that as the water evaporates from the paint, the paint slowly starts to dry and becomes firmer and firmer. When you touch a paint, and it seems dry, you should not immediately assume that the complete drying out has been achieved since the paint might still be in the process of it. In the “dry to the touch” phase, the paint is more sensitive, making it more prone to damage. 

For instance, if you are adding another layer over the paint, you might see some significant damage if you are not careful and paint aggressively. This also applies if you are adding varnish instead of paint. If the paint is dry to the touch but not fully cured, even varnish can damage it in some way and make it cloudy. 

You should consider that slow-drying acrylics might need way more time to completely dry, especially the ones that have been mixed with retarders. Therefore, it is recommended that you be patient with your paint and give it enough time to cure to prevent further damages fully. 

Different Conditions That Affect The Drying Time Of Acrylic Paint 

Weather and environmental conditions play a significant role in the drying time of acrylics. Although you cannot control the weather, you can control the environment where you place your paintings for drying. However, you need to know which factors affect the drying so you could control and adjust them. 

Temperature

If you expose your paintings at high temperatures, the water in the paint will start to evaporate quickly, resulting in fast frying of the acrylic paint. This might be really challenging if you are working outdoors on hot days. If this is your case, you might want to use a wet palette that will slow down the drying out of the acrylics. 

Humidity

Humidity plays a crucial factor in the pace of the drying out of acrylic paint. If your working place is high in humidity, that means that the paint will dry slower. On the other hand, if there is little or no humidity in the air, it is a certain thing that acrylics will start drying out quite fast. If you live where humidity is not present, you might find it difficult to paint outdoors on summer days. 

If you are working indoors, you will have more control over the humidity level present in the room. The heating system and air conditioners have the ability to dry out the air, i.e., to decrease the level of humidity in the room. On the other hand, some heating systems have humidifiers that moisturize the air, so you can easily use this feature whenever you need some more humidity in the room. 

Airflow 

If you are working outdoors, you might be challenged by the weather conditions, such as wind. When there is a faster airflow, i.e., wind, acrylic paint starts drying out quickly. So, if you need some slower pace of paint drying, it is not recommended that you work outside on windy days. 

The air flow works in the same way as an air conditioner, sometimes even more intensely. Therefore, make sure that you should try painting indoors on these days or find the place where the wind is blocked and cannot affect the paint so much. 

Different Painting Styles That Affect The Drying Time 

As we already discussed the different brands of acrylics and how they can affect the drying time, the same can happen with your different styles of working and applying paint. For instance, if your project demands multiple layers of acrylic paint, you should know that that will slow down the pace of the drying. One layer of acrylic paint can dry out in a minute, but the same cannot be said about several layers. 

Also, if your layers are quite thick, that will additionally slow down the drying time. When the paint is thick, it takes significantly more time to dry out, so you will need to be extremely patient, especially if your project requires this type of style and work. 

Furthermore, if you use water to dilute acrylic paint, drying out will be slow. The water evaporates fast; however, when there is an additional amount in the paint, the drying starts to be significantly slower than usual. 

How To Make Acrylic Paint Dry Faster? 

Many times, painters require the paint to dry out slower to work some more time on their paintings. When the paint is wet, it is more workable, and you can apply changes easily. However, sometimes your project requires the paint to dry faster, so you can use some different techniques. 

You can always try some ways to make acrylic paint dry faster. Some brands might be challenging to allow this, but with most, it will be successful. So, if you need to speed up the paint drying process, you can try the methods below. 

Open A Window Or Use A Fan 

Acrylic paints can dry faster in well-ventilated spaces. Therefore, if you are working indoors, you can open a window to allow the airflow to enter the room where you are painting. If you do not have access to a window, you can ventilate the room with a fan. 

Both ways will help you speed up the process of drying out acrylic paint. So, once you are finished with applying paint on the canvas, leave the window opened or leave the fan turned on. After a while, you will see that the paint has started drying quicker than usual. 

Lower The Humidity Level

As I mentioned before, the paint will dry out really slow in spaces where the humidity is high, especially if you use wet acrylics. On the other hand, when there is little or no humidity, the acrylics will dry significantly faster. Therefore, if you need your paint to dry rapidly, you can use a dehumidifier that will dry out the air and make the acrylics dry faster. 

Apply Thin Layers Of Paint 

If your painting does not require thick layers of paint, then do not use them. While applying paint, make sure that your layers are thin and diluted with a little bit of water. The water will make sure that the evaporation starts quickly while at the same time making the paint coats you apply on canvas thin.

Final Words

In conclusion, we can say that acrylic paint dries out relatively quickly, which in some cases can be a good thing, while in others, not so much. Depending on the project you are working on and the style you are using for your paintings, you will know whether you need acrylics that dry fast and use some techniques to slow down the drying. 

For more details, the next video will help you understand and control the drying time of your acrylic paintings.

Sources

• How Long Does It Take for Acrylic Paint to Dry?
• Painting with Acrylic: How Long Does It Take to Dry? – To Canvas
• How To Make Acrylic Paint Dry Faster: Easy Tips & Steps