If you scan any organic textbook you will encounter what appears to be a very large, often intimidating, number of reactions. These are the tools of a chemist, and to use these tools effectively, we must organize them in a sensible manner and look for patterns of reactivity that permit us make plausible predictions.
Oil paints take longer to dry, to recoat and to cure. The first coat will take 12 to 24 hours to dry enough to apply a second coat. Oil paint also cures by binding with oxygen. I have read if you thin your oil paint, you can paint 2 thin layers instead of 1 or 2 thick layers. The thinned paint dries in less time.his isnât the same as it being cured. Latex paint can be painted with a second coat after about 6 hours. It takes about 30 days for the paint to fully cure; meaning that you can wash spots off your wall without damaging your paint finish.
There is nothing you can do with a painting that is finished except wait. It should harden in a few days, but it will take about 4 -- 6 months to be truly dry. Store in a dust-free location and wait until then to apply varnish or whatever finish coat you use. Whatever you do, don't use a hair dryer or put it in a slow oven.