Yes, you can freeze oil paint, but it requires a specific temperature to effectively freeze the oil binder.
How Freezing Oil Paint Works
According to methods for storing oil paints, covering your palette in plastic wrap and storing it in the freezer is a viable option, particularly when you are actively using the paint and want to preserve mixes between sessions.
The key detail is the temperature requirement: the freezer must be at -20°C for the linseed oil to freeze. Linseed oil is the primary binder in many oil paints, and reaching this specific low temperature is necessary to solidify it.
Practical Application of Freezing
Freezing oil paint is typically a short-term storage solution aimed at keeping paint mixes fresh and usable between painting sessions, rather than a long-term preservation method for tubes of paint.
Practical tips based on storage methods include:
- Covering your palette: Seal the paint on your palette tightly with plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.
- Temperature matters: Ensure your freezer can reach and maintain -20°C for the freezing of the linseed oil.
- Consider alternatives for longer storage: For storing unused paint from tubes or for longer periods, transferring paints to air-tight containers is another recommended method mentioned in storage guidelines.
By using the freezer at the required temperature, you can pause the oxidation process that causes oil paint to skin over and dry, making it a useful technique for painters working on projects over several days.
