How long does acrylic paint take to dry?

A thin layer of acrylic paint is usually touch dry in 15 to 30 minutes, while a thick layer can stay soft for several hours. Allow around 24 hours for a full dry before varnishing. If the paint stays tacky, the layer is probably too thick or the room too damp.

In practice, work in thin layers and let each one dry before adding the next. Acrylic dries faster than oil, so keep the pot closed when you are not using it and rinse your brush promptly. A warm, well-ventilated room helps; a cold or damp one slows drying and can leave a tacky surface.

With our kits, the numbered pots are ready to use, so there is no mixing to judge. Load the fine, medium or wide brush lightly rather than flooding an area, especially on the pre-printed numbered linen canvas, where a heavy layer can obscure the numbers and take much longer to set. The paper colour guide is useful for planning which areas to paint in one session so that each can dry undisturbed.

If you are working across one of the larger canvas sizes, paint in sections and let them dry in turn. Once the whole design is fully dry, it is ready for varnish if you choose to add one.