Acrylic Paint Pouring: Drying vs Curing
There are
two very different stages that occur when acrylic paint is drying. We have the ‘drying stage’ and the ‘curing
stage’.
The first is
the ‘dry to the touch’ stage which is a relatively short period of time. This could take from a few hours to a couple
of days. At this stage it is only the
top layer of the paint that is dry.
The second
stage takes much longer than the first one.
This is what is known as the curing stage. Here, the entire thickness of the film of
paint is drying. This stage can take
several weeks. All water and solvents
must completely evaporate, for a painting to be completely cured. Many paint
pouring artists leave a painting to cure for around four weeks before
varnishing.
Varnishing
is like sealing a painting. If the painting
is not completely dry when varnished, it can cause cloudiness and even mold
because any liquid left in the paint is trapped.
There are
factors that influence the drying process.
Temperature, humidity and airflow are environmental factors that
influence drying. Temperatures of 70 to
85 deg F and humidity of 75% are ideal for drying, while a moderate airflow in
the drying area is favorable for thorough drying.
We would love to hear your opinions on this subject in the comments below.
Let's colour the world
Marianne
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