Why Acrylic Paint Dries Too Fast in Winter (And What Helped Me)

Painting with acrylics in the winter can be frustrating — especially when your palette dries too fast. Cold air and dry indoor heat can cause acrylic paint to skin over quickly on the palette, even when you’re already using open or extender mediums.

In this video, I share a simple studio adjustment that made a huge difference for me. Despite using open medium and extender (and painting with oil-inspired techniques), my paint was still drying far too quickly. Adding localized humidity near my palette completely changed how my acrylic paint handled.

I walk through:

Why acrylic paint dries faster in winter

How palette dryness affects paint mixing and brushwork

How I’m using a small desktop humidifier near my palette

Which setting worked best for me

A few limitations to be aware of (especially if you paint around pets)

This isn’t about buying new paint or changing your technique. Sometimes the issue isn’t skill — it’s the painting environment.

🖌️ Related video:
If you’d like to see how I set up my acrylic palette using open and extender mediums, I’ll link that video below.    • How to set up and save your palette  

🔗 Product mentioned:
I’ve included a link to the humidifier I’m using in the description.
https://amzn.to/3Nh07su

If you’ve been struggling with acrylic paint drying too fast — especially on your palette — I hope this helps make painting enjoyable again.

#AcrylicPainting
#PaintingTips
#PaintDryingTooFast
#PaletteDryingTooFast
#WinterPainting
#ArtistStudio
#AcrylicTips

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