The Water Mixable Oil Paint Drying Time, Important Factors
Shojib Hoq
Feb 16, 2023
Water mixable oil paint average dry time 2-3 days; complete cure takes around 6-12 months or more.
However, different brands water mixable oil paint dry time is different. It depends on brand, paint thickness, wind, weather, canvas preparation, and more.
Let’s understand the technical part. After applying the water mixable oil paint on a canvas, it becomes oxidized, and this oxidation process continues forever essentially. A few days later or a week, it will be dry to the touch, but it doesn’t mean the paint is completely dry.
The paint takes six months to cure for the thinner layer completely, but for the thick layer, it can take a year or more.
Comparison of Drying time of Different Brands of Water Soluble Oil Paint
| Dry to touch | Completely dry (thin layer) | Completely dry (thick layer) | Grade | Note | |
| Cobra artist water mixable oil colour | 3-10 days | 6 months | 12 months or more | Artistic | Populer water mixable paint |
| Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color Paint | 2-5 days | 6 months | 12 months or more | Artistic | Propler brand and paint |
| Holbein Duo Aqua Water-Soluble Oil Color Studio Set | 3-10 days | 6 months | 12 months or more | Artistic | More premium and strong color pigment |
| DANIEL SMITH Water Soluble Oil Color Paint | 3-7 Days | 6 months | 12 months or more | Artistic | Good paint |
| Grumbacher Max Water Miscible Oil Paint | 3-10 Days | 6 months | 12 months or more | Artistic | Good paint |
| Lukas Berlin PRO Water-Mixable Oil Color | 5-10 days | 6 month | 12 months or more | Student grade | Cheap but good alternative |
I already explain similar topics in different articles, you can check
Factors that Affect Drying Time of Water mixable Oil Paint
The paint has its own natural dry time. However, it can be affected by different factors.
Paint thickness
Thin paint dries faster, and thick paint dries slower. Because the watery chemicals need to evaporate in order for the paint to dry. When applying a thick layer, there is more water trapped inside the paint. And also, thicker layers retain more heat, which will slow down the dry process.
Wind
Wind speeds up the paint evaluation process. When the wind blows, it carries away the evaporating liquid chemicals, which makes the paint dry faster.
On the other hand, there are cons. Too much wind causes dust or particles to land on the painting, which causes dry unevenly and unwanted marks.
Weather
High humidity – slow down the drying
High Temperature – makes dry faster
Worm/dry weather – make dry faster
Cold weather – make dry slower
Canvas
Gesso primed canvas makes the paint dry faster. Gesso has absorb ability, so it absorbs the watery chemicals from the back side, which makes it dry faster.
Also, canvas material plays a significant role for dry painting. For example, a stretched canvas made of cotton or linen will generally be more absorbent than a canvas made of synthetic fibers.
Paint pigment
Different color pigments have different dry time. If pigments are heavy and dense, they dry slower, and the pigments that are lite and porous, dry faster.
Paint brand
Different brands manufacture the paint with different mediums and ingredients. So it creates little distance between each brand’s dry time. For example, any brand can use linseed oil, and another brand can use walnut oil, which makes the length dry.
How to test if water mixable oil paint is fully dry
Detecting paint cured is easy. Following the different methods, you can identify them.
Touch test
Touch painting with your fingers. If the paint is not sticky, the paint is dry to the touch.
Scratch test
Scratch painting with your fingernail. The stretch should not disclose any wet paint underneath if the paint is properly dry.
Cut test
Cut a small amount of paint from the painting with a razor. Then rub the paint with two fingers. If the paint dries, it will break down like dust, or if the paint looks like line hair, it is not correctly dry yet.
Solvent test
You can put a small amount of solvent or medium in the corner of the painting. If it does not dissolve, the paint is dry.
Visual inspection test
Properly inspect the painting. If the paint completely cures, it should have a matte finish. It should not have any oily and shiny areas.