Very helpful! Thank you. It's frustrating when I spend two or three hours mixing colors for a painting only to have them dry out in a couple days. Even more frustrating when using expensive top shelf oil paints. I've tried other methods without any luck getting them to work for more than 24-36 hours. I've often wondered if it's a proponent of my studio. I have a large air purifier which keeps the air circulating 24 hours per day. I also keep the temperature of around 73°. Thank you for the in depth information on the drying characteristics of different colors.
Thanks for this video. You've given me some ideas to work with. Already have the clove oil, and a Masterson Sta-Wet container but the lid is almost impossible to get off, so am looking for a good alternative. Still thinking it over.
Great tips! I have been trying to figure out how to make a cover, and the one you've made is perfect for my needs. The info on the paints is also very helpful. Thanks for making this video!
WOw Rae Whalen, thanks for the Clove oil tip. I do have clove oil and almost forgotten why I bought it? Just keeping in a small container helps color remain usable is very nice tip for me. I had seen at some other link to add linseed oil to make color somewhat like buttery...but it does make sense that it will take longer to dry on canvas, especially when we want to work on a commissioned work that has time limit! Thanks for the tips.
Great tip! I keep my palette in the freezer and that helps keep my paint workable for a few weeks but I have to wait for the paint to defrost before opening my container so water doesn't accumulate on my paints which can be a pain. I will be trying the clove oil trick.
Thanks! This method is much safer than freezer storage. Some oil paints are toxic and you wouldn't want them near food. Besides, there will be more room for ice cream :)
Thank you for sharing your experience of saving paint integrity with us. I found this you tube several hours ago, and already have my paints safe and sound under your sealed glass frame setup. Thanks much.
I built my framed glass cover based on this video. It actually looks just like the one you have, Rae. It doesn't work too bad. It keeps paint mixtures good for several days. Some of my paints will stay fresh for a week or 10 days. However, some times they start taking on a tacky quality after the 10 days is up. They get a skin of sorts on some of the paint...and others get sort of a tacky, shiny-oily quality about them that I don't like. I'm not sure what causes this shiny-oily quality. I'm guessing that is part of the drying process...or maybe it's related to the clove oil. Most of my paints do well if I can scoop them up and put them in the fridge on a piece of glass over night.. I'm testing my Ivory Black and Prussian Blue to see how well they do in the fridge for several days. Rae, my question is: Do you know what causes this shiny-oily and somewhat tacky quality in the paint left under the air tight glass for extended periods of time? Is it the drying process...or is it the exposure to the clove oil? I'm glad I made the air tight glass container...but I'm just trying to understand fully was it can....and cannot do. Thanks Rae...
It's tough to say. It sounds like the paint is oxidizing (drying). It could be the temperature of the room the paint is kept in (a warmer room will speed up drying time). Also, certain pigments dry faster than others. Clove oil slows the drying rate but does not prevent paints from drying out. Please be careful placing oil paint in your fridge. Some pigments are very toxic. You could always make ice packs and store your palette in a dedicated cooler overnight. I've done this from time to time. Best of luck to you!
Thank you Rae for you response...and a very quick one at that. Ohh....I was wondering about toxicity of paint in the fridge. Okay...the paint comes out of there. I have food in there. Thank you for your response. I was thinking that sticky-oily texture to the paint after a week or so was partial drying of the pigment. I think that's right. I may also try what I just saw on another video; a spray bottle with linseed oil and mineral spirits...a light spritz on the paint pile itself.
THANK YOU that is great. I thought I was crazy for obsessing about how to prolong open time on expressed paint. Everyone seems so wanton about squeezing paint everywhere
I thought about it, but I would have to find two bins large enough for my palettes. Also, I worried about spilling the water, and drying the palette out before I could start painting. This way, when I'm ready to paint, I just remove the frame and store the clove oil in a small container. I've had ultramarine blue, cad yellow, dioxazine purple etc. last several months under the frame. Thanks for the suggestion though!
Clove oil prevents oxidation which prevents oil paint from drying. The fumes alone from the oil slows drying times. Temperature also helps slow the process, which is why some artists put their palettes in the freezer. I find this practice dangerous as some of the pigments I use are toxic. The clove oil method works best for me. Hope this helps 😊
Very helpful! Thank you. It's frustrating when I spend two or three hours mixing colors for a painting only to have them dry out in a couple days. Even more frustrating when using expensive top shelf oil paints. I've tried other methods without any luck getting them to work for more than 24-36 hours. I've often wondered if it's a proponent of my studio. I have a large air purifier which keeps the air circulating 24 hours per day. I also keep the temperature of around 73°. Thank you for the in depth information on the drying characteristics of different colors.
Thanks for this video. You've given me some ideas to work with. Already have the clove oil, and a Masterson Sta-Wet container but the lid is almost impossible to get off, so am looking for a good alternative. Still thinking it over.
Great tips! I have been trying to figure out how to make a cover, and the one you've made is perfect for my needs. The info on the paints is also very helpful. Thanks for making this video!
WOw Rae Whalen, thanks for the Clove oil tip. I do have clove oil and almost forgotten why I bought it? Just keeping in a small container helps color remain usable is very nice tip for me. I had seen at some other link to add linseed oil to make color somewhat like buttery...but it does make sense that it will take longer to dry on canvas, especially when we want to work on a commissioned work that has time limit! Thanks for the tips.
Great tip! I keep my palette in the freezer and that helps keep my paint workable for a few weeks but I have to wait for the paint to defrost before opening my container so water doesn't accumulate on my paints which can be a pain. I will be trying the clove oil trick.
Thanks! This method is much safer than freezer storage. Some oil paints are toxic and you wouldn't want them near food. Besides, there will be more room for ice cream :)
Best video, ideas, and information I've ever seen on this subject. Thank you...
Great information. Thanks so much. I really like the frame idea
Thank you for sharing your experience of saving paint integrity with us. I found this you tube several hours ago, and already have my paints safe and sound under your sealed glass frame setup. Thanks much.
great tip! I didn't know the fume of the clove oil keeps the paint wet! thanks!
My gosh and amazing teacher and beautiful thank you for all your advice and tips
I built my framed glass cover based on this video. It actually looks just like the one you have, Rae. It doesn't work too bad. It keeps paint mixtures good for several days. Some of my paints will stay fresh for a week or 10 days. However, some times they start taking on a tacky quality after the 10 days is up. They get a skin of sorts on some of the paint...and others get sort of a tacky, shiny-oily quality about them that I don't like. I'm not sure what causes this shiny-oily quality. I'm guessing that is part of the drying process...or maybe it's related to the clove oil. Most of my paints do well if I can scoop them up and put them in the fridge on a piece of glass over night.. I'm testing my Ivory Black and Prussian Blue to see how well they do in the fridge for several days. Rae, my question is: Do you know what causes this shiny-oily and somewhat tacky quality in the paint left under the air tight glass for extended periods of time? Is it the drying process...or is it the exposure to the clove oil? I'm glad I made the air tight glass container...but I'm just trying to understand fully was it can....and cannot do. Thanks Rae...
It's tough to say. It sounds like the paint is oxidizing (drying). It could be the temperature of the room the paint is kept in (a warmer room will speed up drying time). Also, certain pigments dry faster than others. Clove oil slows the drying rate but does not prevent paints from drying out. Please be careful placing oil paint in your fridge. Some pigments are very toxic. You could always make ice packs and store your palette in a dedicated cooler overnight. I've done this from time to time. Best of luck to you!
Thank you Rae for you response...and a very quick one at that. Ohh....I was wondering about toxicity of paint in the fridge. Okay...the paint comes out of there. I have food in there. Thank you for your response. I was thinking that sticky-oily texture to the paint after a week or so was partial drying of the pigment. I think that's right. I may also try what I just saw on another video; a spray bottle with linseed oil and mineral spirits...a light spritz on the paint pile itself.
Nice tip, I'm going to try the picture frame. Thanks.
THANK YOU that is great.
I thought I was crazy for obsessing about how to prolong open time on expressed paint.
Everyone seems so wanton about squeezing paint everywhere
Interesting idea, approximately how many drops Rae?
Muito obrigado!
VERY helpful video! Thanks!
so you soak a cotton ball with oil and leave it inside your palette?
Thank you so much!
very very helpful tip, greatly appreciated!
Great idea! Thank you!
That was very helpful, thank you!
Very helpful. :) Thank you.
have you tried storing the paint underwater?
I thought about it, but I would have to find two bins large enough for my palettes. Also, I worried about spilling the water, and drying the palette out before I could start painting. This way, when I'm ready to paint, I just remove the frame and store the clove oil in a small container. I've had ultramarine blue, cad yellow, dioxazine purple etc. last several months under the frame. Thanks for the suggestion though!
thnx... I must try that...
What is the clove oil for?
Clove oil prevents oxidation which prevents oil paint from drying. The fumes alone from the oil slows drying times. Temperature also helps slow the process, which is why some artists put their palettes in the freezer. I find this practice dangerous as some of the pigments I use are toxic. The clove oil method works best for me. Hope this helps 😊
*hears US apache helicopter* 😂😂
Ha! I just listened to it again and can't hear it, but I'm not doubting it. We used to have military helicopters fly by all time.