Easy Way To Keep Oil Paint From Drying Out

I finally did it! I made a studio tip video! Ok, it's not the best, but after several hours of technical difficulties, garbled lines, me repeating myself, and editing out all the weird faces that I apparently make.....I'm calling this video done!

Keeping Oil Paint From Drying Out On The Palette

First off, kudos to everyone who has ever made a YouTube tutorial video. It is not easy. Talking to yourself is one thing, videoing yourself talking to yourself is completely another. My goal was to have this done by lunch. Nope. Even this edited version is not my favorite, but sometimes you have to go with what you got. And, watch till the end, I left a little "blooper" in!

In the video I explain how I cover my palette between painting sessions. I made a picture frame to fit over the palette, but you could use other things, such as a baking sheet. I would still use the weather striping to help seal the bottom edge, and if the baking sheet was light weight, put something heavy on top (the frame I made is plenty heavy enough).

Different paints have different drying rates. I use Windsor and Newton oils. Because oils dry by oxidation, contact with air and the ambient room temperature will effect drying rates. In a relative cool room (around 65 degrees F), this is how long you could expect to keep paints open and workable with clove oil and the palette covered:

• Flake White                     -    2 to 3 weeks
• Titanium White                 -    4 months or more
• Windsor Yellow               -    3 weeks
• Cadmium Yellow Light     -    4 to 8 weeks
• Yellow Ocher                   -   2 months or more
• Cadmium Red                  -    3 weeks
• Alizarin Crimson               -    2 to 3 weeks
• Dioxazine Purple              -    4 months or more
• French Ultramarine Blue   -    4 months or more
• Cerulean Blue                   -    4 months or more
• Burnt Umber                     -    Less than 18 hours
• Ivory Black                       -    2 to 3 weeks

At the end of the video, I show how you can save your paints on a piece of glass sealed in an airtight container with the clove oil.   I didn't show what I really use in this case.  I have a tiny tabletop refrigerator that used to work, which was awesome. Keeping oil paints cold extends their drying times. Unfortunately, the electrical failed, so I just use it as an airtight container.

Some people place their palettes in their home refrigerators, alongside with their food. I don't care how sealed it is, I don't want my palette with lead and cadmium anywhere near my food. On rare occasions, I have placed my palette outside in the winter. It works amazingly well.

Now when I'm working,

Example of my pre-mixed palette

I've noticed that these pre-mixed strings dry faster than an unmixed pile of paint. Especially if I used Flake White or Burnt Umber at all in the mixes. If I need to save pre-mixed strings any longer than overnight, I'll use my tiny broken refrigerator as it seals fairly air tight.   

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to E-Mail me. I'm trying my best to explain things clearly, but if I have failed, I'll do my best to clarify!