Storing paint

JosephDurham

I know there are different opinions out there in regards to storing the paint off of your palette. The most popular that I have seen has been to place your easel into the freezer. Well, unfortunately, I don’t have room in my freezer for a palette of paint.

So, my question is, what about those small plastic paint jars? Or the glass ones? I only get to paint about twice a week due to my work schedule, and therefore I am stingy with the paint in my palette, because let’s face it, paint isn’t cheap. But will the jars have any I’ll effect on the oil paint? How long will it last? What if I keep it stored in a cool dark place?

I appreciate ALL your input!

Joseph

Sunnylady

Oil paint cures/polymerase when in touch with air. Light is a factor to drying too, but as soon you do not use black light in your studio like in disco, effect is not that bad. So any small jar with a lid will work.Also freezing slows down polymerization because low temps slow down chemical reaction. However with your rate of painting normal fridge will do fine. Freezer is for longer breaks like 2 -3 weeks. Please kindly note that brown colors dry fast apx in 2-3 days so if you have it on your pallet after painting this is color that needs cold treatment in a sealed jar. The rest of colors will have a week before forming a film. Another trick you can add safflower oil to your paints and it will increase drying time even more. Few drops will be good to go.

wybnormal

I have leftover custom mixes in small plastic cups with plastic wrap on top in the freezer 🙂

Sunnylady

wybnormal I think it was you who shared the wonderful advice to store leftovers in the small plastic takeaway containers from soy sauce. This was a brilliant idea!

wybnormal

We have/had a place here called Flame broiler which had the perfect size cups. I found them on Amazon for a very good price. Chef Select Plastic Disposable Sampling Cups with Lid, 2 Oz, 50 Count - Portion Sauce Container, Condiment Holder, Jello Shots. 8 USD for 50 or see if they will donate some to the cause the next you stop in for lunch. There is a 1oz also that I use.