Hello MITRA folks. My question is about the use of oil painting mediums that speed drying time, i.e. alkyd mediums. Does proceeding with each next layer when the previous layer is just “touch dry” (and all layers are relatively thin) mean that, essentially, the painting layers will all be drying at the same time, similar to an Alla Prima approach, and there will little likelihood of crazing, cracking or wrinkling in the topmost layer later on? I see oil painters who use Galkyd and similar mediums in many, many layers in relatively quick succession, and always wonder about drying and curing hazards… Thank you for your thoughts.
Thanks, Matthew…very helpful!
I don’t think what you are describing is functionally the same as alla prima, because the paint is applied in layers, and adhesion between the strata is something that would not be a factor in a single-layer, one session painting. I often recommend that artists not get too preoccupied with the “perfect” time to apply the next layer, though. When I feel ready to paint over yesterday’s work, if the surface is touch-dry, and the paint is of thin to moderate thickness, I normally proceed, unless there is some obvious reason to wait (e.g. skinned-over impasto or very “fat” colors in the touch-dry layer). This is unscientific advice based solely on what I do at my easel, however.
