Oil painting and effective procrastination

Each new layer needs more oil than the one below it because oil paint dries through oxidation, not evaporation, and leaner layers dry and stiffen faster than fatter ones. Painting fat over lean keeps every layer flexible while curing, so the surface won't crack or flake apart later.

Oil paint dries through oxidation, a slow chemical reaction with air, rather than by water simply evaporating away. That's why a thick layer can stay workable for days, letting you blend colors and rework passages without the surface skinning over too soon. Thinner layers with more solvent speed the process up a little.

Wet-on-wet, or alla prima, means applying paint while the layer beneath is still wet, so colors blend directly on the canvas instead of drying between coats. Painting in layers builds up separate, mostly dry stages over time instead. Wet-on-wet suits quick, spontaneous work, while layering supports more deliberate, built-up detail.

Glazing builds up thin, transparent layers of color over a dry base, so light passes through each one and bounces back off the layer underneath. That layering effect creates a depth and glow that a single opaque coat can't match, since the color seems to come from within the painting rather than sitting on top of it.

Yes, completing this lesson adds a certificate to your Nibble learning record, so you have something to show for the skill you just practiced. It's a simple way to track your progress across lessons and note what you've picked up, without needing to remember every technique on your own.