How Long to Wait Between Applying Colors on Canvas — Art is Fun (2024)

FAQs

How long to wait between coats of paint on canvas? ›

Semi-gloss: Takes roughly 1 hour to dry and 2 hours before applying the second coat. Matte Paint: 30 minutes to an hour for drying and 1-2 hours before applying the second coat. Eggshell paint: 1 hour to dry and 2 hours before applying the second coat. It's important to know what type of paint you have before applying.

Allow to dry between coats. Cure for 24-48 hrs. before use. Covers in one to two coats depending on color of surface and color of paint.

This is called toning the canvas.

It establishes a base so sections of white gesso that smooths and protects the canvas don't peek through. The tone can serve to unify colors somewhat. It's generally a good idea to start with a middle value, so the artist can easily add darks and lights to build the composition.

What happens if you apply a second coat of paint too soon? Applying the second coat of paint before letting it dry will result in peeling, clumping, and bubbling that can be time-consuming and expensive to repair. It can also result in an uneven colour, ruining its appearance.

After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.

The drying time of acrylic paint depends on various factors, including humidity, temperature and the thickness of your layers, but it's usually dry to the touch in about 30 to 60 minutes. The paint will fully cure in 3 to 4 days, but you can add layers once the paint is dry to the touch.

The GOLDEN Varnish Application Guideline suggests to “Make sure paints are sufficiently dry. For acrylics and other water-based media, if the painting is composed of thin layers, waiting a day or two before applying the isolation layer, followed by another two days to a week before varnishing, is recommended.

To cover the painting completely will take a minimum of two coats, even with artist quality paint. To paint sections will take longer because you won't have the coloured ground to fall back on. You will have to cover every area of the canvas.

The Two Drying Stages of Acrylics

This is the time that it takes for acrylics to "dry to the touch". At this point, the flow of water towards the surface is no longer sufficient to keep the paint film wet. Very thin films can feel dry within seconds, while thick films may take a full day or more to skin over.

The application of heat is a tried-and-true method to accelerate the drying of acrylic paint. Using a hairdryer or heat gun on low heat, keep it at a safe distance from the painting surface. This technique is particularly useful for artists working on canvases or smaller projects.

Should you always paint a canvas white first? ›

Painting your canvas with a solid colour of paint before you start painting can help you judge colours and values better. When you start with a white canvas, the white of the canvas makes the other colours around it all seem darker than they are.

The first technique I always teach in painting (and a technique I use on 99% of my work) is to cover the white canvas with one solid paint colour which is called a ' toned ground'. This is short for 'toned background' and is No. 1 of my painting principles.

As mentioned, underpainting is most effective when painted in monochromatic tones. Many artists use darker tones, such as burnt sienna, raw umber, or ultramarine blue to achieve the most significant effect.

The drying and recoating times for oil-based paints is about 24 hours, while latex or water-based paints need one to two hours to dry and four to six hours before it's safe to apply the next coat. Flat or matte paint sheens will dry faster than higher gloss finishes by up to a couple of hours.

Painting on canvas that is to be stretched later

If you plan to stretch the canvas later, be sure to leave 1.5 – 2 inches of extra canvas around the image area to wrap around the stretcher bars.

Every painter knows that feeling of failure when a painting “dies” on you. If you work thickly in oil and the picture dries, there's not much you can do. But once you've accepted the artwork is a failure, you can completely paint over the canvas.