Drying time guide
Typical times, not promises. Heat, damp, paper and paint thickness all change them.
| Medium and layer | Touch dry, about | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watercolour, thin wash | 5 min to 15 min | Wait until the shine has gone before a second wash, or it will lift and bloom. |
| Gouache, thin layer | 10 min to 20 min | Re-wets easily, so wait until fully dry before glazing over. |
| Gouache, thick layer | 30 min to 1 hr | Thick paint can crack if overworked while damp. |
| Acrylic, thin layer | 10 min to 20 min | Plastic skin forms quickly. Full cure takes a day or more. |
| Acrylic, thick layer | 1 hr to 4 hr | Dry to touch in about one to four hours, cured in a day or more. |
| Ink, thin line or wash | 1 min to 5 min | Waterproof inks still need time before washes go over. |
| Ink, pooled | 15 min to 30 min | Pools dry slowly and can smear. |
| Oil, thin layer | 1 day to 3 days | Typically one to three days between layers. |
| Oil, thick layer | 3 days to 7 days | Typically three to seven days. Varnish only after about six to twelve months. |
Pencil, Charcoal, Pastel, Digital have no drying time, so there is nothing to wait for. Fixative and varnish are the exceptions, and the maker's label wins.
Typical, varies with room and paint.
Painting into a layer too soon is behind many faults: see all drying-time mistakes.