Room Temperature For Oil Paintings

Right now i have a cheap set of acrylics and oils that have been heretofore kept at room temperature for a few years.

Room temperature for oil paintings.

Avoid high temperatures and humidity extreme changes in humidity and temperature can make the canvas and wood stretchers supporting the painting expand or contract. For example at an ideal temperature of 75 degrees f you can usually recoat after four hours. But when the temperature is about 50 degrees f the recoat time may be extended to six hours. The key reason that the surface of acrylic paintings remains softer and more flexible at room temperature is because of their chemical makeup.

Use tissue paper breathable sheets or foam to protect your oil paintings while you store them. Size the panel first before applying an alkyd lead oil ground. This paint contains coalescing agents that bolster paint curing attributes during low temperatures. Moisture can destroy and warp a painting and its frame so it s important that you store paintings carefully.

The reason for this is the oil paint will eventually rot your canvas. Storing a painting in the dark will cause the oil painting to become darker over time. I paint on wood braced panels i make myself. I don t recommend painting on stretched canvas.

Painting in cold weather using alkyd or oil paints requires even more time in some instances more than 48 hours before recoating. Some sources say even 50f 10c is too risky. If you do be sure to size your canvas first before you paint. Store your paintings in a dry room wrapped in tissue paper.

Although acrylic paintings dry faster than oil paintings oil paintings have a harder surface once they dry. Will the cold or temperature fluctuations damage the paints or paintings. If you must paint in lower temperatures purchase the specially formulated latex paint made to perform in temperatures as low as 36 degrees f 2 2 c. Oil based paint between 45 90 degrees.

The type of paint is also important when it comes to temperature and humidity. By way of example temperatures above 45 degrees fahrenheit are recommended when using oil based paints. If acrylic paintings are stored at really low temperatures 40f 4c or below the paint film will become brittle which could result in damage. However latex and acrylic paints work much better in temperatures that exceed 50 degrees fahrenheit.