In the world of paints, oil paints fall on the other side of the spectrum compared to watercolors and acrylics when it comes to dry time. Notoriously known for being very slow-drying, oil paintings need to be left alone for a long while before you can varnish and frame them.
The paint itself will be dry to the touch in 12 to 24 hours. But if you are wondering how long should an oil painting dry before framing, the answer gets a bit trickier.
If you wait for the final varnish before framing, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. But not everyone has time for that. You can also use Volara tape to frame the painting much earlier.
Keep reading to learn how long you should wait, and how to manipulate oil paint drying times!
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How Long Should an Oil Painting Dry Before Framing?
Be it a glass frame or a floater frame, you should check if your picture is ready to go inside first. This depends on when you want to frame the portrait – before it is fully cured and varnished or after. Here are the things you can do in either scenario –
Framing After Varnishing the Oil Paint
This is the ideal scenario you should be aiming for. You should let the picture fully cure before you can go in with the varnish.
How a painting made from oil paint dries differs from other common types of paints. Acrylics or watercolors have water in them, which evaporates as the paint dries. But oil paints do not contain any water in them to evaporate.
Instead, the oil and the pigments of the paint react to the oxygen in the air and slowly oxidizes, which is known as the curing process. The paint is fully cured when this oxidization process is complete.
Unfortunately, this is a rather lengthy process that can take anywhere between 6 to 24 months, depending on the type of pigment, brand, paint layers, and the environment. All of these factors change oil paint drying times.
Once the portrait is fully cured, you should definitely varnish it
before framing it up for final presentation.
Framing Before Varnishing the Oil Paint
Let’s be real, not everyone has the patience or capacity to let a portrait sit for so long before they can frame it. What’s the alternative, then?
Well, you can very carefully frame the picture, ensuring that the frame is not touching it. Then, you can leave the unvarnished painting to dry. To achieve this, you will need to get some Volara tape.
Volara tape is a thick foam tape that protects the painted surface of the canvas from the frame by creating a cushion. With this tape, you can ensure the security of the stretched canvas surface while still being able to frame it unvarnished.
However, you need to make sure the painting’s surface is fully dry to the touch before you attempt this method. A heat gun can help quicken up the process. Also, don’t forget to varnish the painting after it is done curing! If you intend to sell it, inform your customer to get it varnished in a year.
Factors That Affect the Drying Time
The dry time of a painting varies by several factors. Here’s a brief description of each –
The Pigments
The color you choose to paint with can affect the dry time. Some pigments, such as white and yellow, dry very slowly. Colors containing mineral pigments, such as reds, browns, and oranges, dry quicker than any other color.
This happens because the pigment composition of some colors is naturally thicker, thus affecting its drying time. The general rule of thumb is that all earth tones dry the quickest, so go for those in a hurry.
The Painting Techniques
How you make the painting will also determine how long it will need to be dry. For example, the Flemish method of oil paint requires each layer to fully dry before you can go on with the next, which drastically increases the dry time.
By contrast, the Alla Prima method does not require any drying at all between the layers. So, it requires much less time to dry.
Generally, thick strokes of paints and textured oil paint require longer drying times. Use thin layers for faster drying.
The Quality
Are you using beginner-level paint or professional-grade ones? Which brand are they? The brand of paint directly correlates to the quality of it. This is because oil paints can be made with a wide array of oil mediums – poppyseed oil, linseed oil, walnut oil, and more.
The price and quality of the oil paint vary by the oil used – which also affects the dry time. Walnut is one of the slowest drying oil paint mediums, but it produces nice results.
The Environment
The place you put your painting to dry will also impact the drying time. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, direct sunlight exposure, dust, and dirt – everything can and will impact the dry time of your painting. Usually, hot or humid weather is not ideal for oil paints.
So, do not go for ballpark figures of dry time. Instead, let it dry a bit more than advised, and then thoroughly check if it is dry before you proceed.
Another important thing to remember is that sunlight speeds up the degradation of oil paint that occurs naturally. So, never keep it under sunlight for a quicker dry time.
What Makes Oil Paint Dry Faster?
You can make drying oil paint faster or slower with different mediums. A few popular ones used to impact oil paint drying times are as follows –
Oil Mediums
Oil based mediums are the oils the paints are made of. Popular ones include linseed, poppyseed, walnut, and safflower oil medium. They are natural, so you will not encounter any strong odors like some of the other products.
These can both lengthen and lessen the drying time of your painting, so feel free to use them as per your need. Depending on what you choose, these mediums can impact the dry time, texture, and gloss of your painting. They are also great to preserve your brushes.
Thinner and Chemical Solvent
As opposed to oils, these are chemical products meant to thin out and make oil paint dry faster. Some of these chemicals contain strong odors, but odorless versions are also available.
These strong chemicals are not good for your brush hair, so use them sparingly. However, they are very good at cleaning out hard and messy brushes. Solvents are popular for creating washes of underpainting.
Non-Toxic Solvents
If you want the same performance as chemical solvents but without harshness, you can go for natural alternatives instead. For example, spike lavender oil has been used as a solvent for centuries.
Gamsol oil is another popular choice. Citrus fruits contain a high concentration of citric acid, which is another natural solvent great at cleaning grease and oils. So, try citrus oils too.
Acrylic Gesso and Primers
These are products you use on the canvas before you start painting, and also in-between layers of paints. They can help with speeding up the dry time, apart from creating a smooth base. These products are a must for the Flemish method we mentioned earlier!
Alkyd Medium
Alkyd mediums utilize oil-modified resin to speed up the drying time of oil paints. The resin both dries and hardens up the paint faster than normal. Resins are also famous for being glossy, so your painting will have a glossy finish to it.
These mediums are also great for building up layers, getting smooth brush strokes, and a level paint. Steer clear if you want textures, however.
Final Words
After reading through the entire article, you should have a clear picture regarding how long should an oil painting dry before framing. Oil paint takes a lot of patience, but the wait is worth it.
For the best results, it is advised to let the paint cure completely before you varnish and frame. Hope we were able to help with your questions. Now, gather your supplies and get to painting oil portraits of your dreams!
