January 19, 1999, Author: WetCanvas Editors
| One of the most common questions asked by novice oil painters is "how long does it take for my painting to dry?" Generally speaking, oil paints will dry to the touch between 1-2 weeks after application. The actual drying time depends on the type of pigments contained within the paint, or to simplify, the colors that you use. For example titanium white dries slow, as it contains pigment derived from titanium oxide. Conversely, flake white dries very rapidly, as it contains pigments derived from lead. Oil paints dry due to oxidation. In other words, exposure of the pigments and binding oil to air. You can refer to this simple table to determine the drying times for most major colors: |
Estimates: Fast=2 days, Medium=5 days, Slow=5+ days
| Category | Color | Drying Time |
| Whites | Flake | Rapid |
| Zinc | Slow | |
| Titanium | Slow | |
| Blacks | Ivory | Slow |
| Mars | Fast | |
| Lamp | Slow | |
| Yellows | Cadiums | Slow |
| Naples | Fast | |
| Ochre | Medium | |
| Hansa | Slow | |
| Mars | Medium | |
| Cobalt | Fast | |
| Indian Yellow | Fast | |
| Yellow-Red | Cadmium Orange | Slow |
| Reds | Cadmiums | Slow |
| Alizarin | Slow | |
| Mars | Medium | |
| Earths | Umbers | Fast |
| Siennas | Fast | |
| Purple | Cobalt Violet | Medium |
| Manganese | Fast | |
| Mars | Medium | |
| Blues | Ultramarine | Slow |
| Cobalt | Medium-Fast | |
| Cerulean | Slow | |
| Manganese | Fast | |
| Phthalo | Fast | |
| Prussian Blue | Fast | |
| Greens | Viridian | Slow |
| Terre Verte | Slow | |
| Phthalo | Fast |