How do you dry acrylic paint faster?

Acrylic paint dries fastest when it is applied thinly and the air around it is moving. Keep your layers thin rather than loading the brush heavily, and work in a room with good ventilation. A little warmth helps too, but gentle airflow is usually more effective than heat.

A hairdryer on a warm setting, held 20 or 30 cm away, will speed things up. Keep it moving and avoid hot air close to the surface, as that can make the paint crack. Between layers, let each one dry until it feels firm to the touch before adding the next.

If you are working on one of our kits, the pre-printed numbered linen canvas and numbered pots of acrylic paint behave in the same way. Thin layers also help keep the printed numbers and outlines visible, which makes the finished picture easier to follow.

For a longer break, see our method for reviving a dried paint pot. Our adult paint by numbers range has over 1,300 designs, and we also offer kits for children and beginners or your photo as a paint by numbers.