Paintings need time to dry, especially if you are working with oil paints. It can take several weeks to months for an oil painting to completely dry.
So, how do you dry all of the paintings that are created at paint and sip parties? That is easy. You can buy one, or you can make your own.
Depending on how many layers you have painted, it could take a couple of hours for an acrylic painting to dry.
Many artists find themselves facing the same issue: where to put their paintings to keep them safe while they are drying.
You can find many different drying racks available online and in art supply stores. But, these can be quite costly. Are there any alternatives?
There are many alternatives for drying racks that you can make yourself. This is going to save you quite a bit of money, and you will have the pleasure of taking pride in the fact that you were able to come up with something yourself.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to make your own drying racks at home.
Why Do You Need a Drying Rack?
Whether you like to host paint and sip parties, or you just like to do a lot of paintings yourself, you will need to have a place for your paintings to sit until the paint has dried.
If you are hosting a paint and sip party, chances are that there will be at least 15 or more paintings that will need to dry before guests can take them home. A drying rack is ideal for this, and it will keep them out of the way so no one bumps into them and damages the wet paint.
You can make drying racks in any size, and most of them can be moved around so you can put them in another room while they are not in use.
Build a Drying Rack
If you are handy with tools, you may want to build your own drying rack using wood, wire, and some scrap material. It will take some effort, but the end result will be worth it.
This is just a quick rundown on how to build a drying rack. You can find many YouTube videos that will provide you with detailed instructions.
For this project, you will need some plywood, six 1” X 4” wood beams, screws, L brackets, eyelet screws, and picture wire. You can also use some fabric to make curtains to go around the rack to keep dust away from your paintings.
Use the beams to create a frame that is at least six feet in height. Once you have created a basic frame, use the plywood to create shelves. Make sure the shelves are far enough apart to be able to accommodate paintings of various sizes.
Use one piece of plywood to give your drying rack a “roof”. Mark the areas where you would like to add drying slots on the roof and the top of the first shelf.
Place the eye screws on the areas you have marked. Next, attach the picture wire to the screws. You now have drying slots.
If you want to make a curtain, simply use a few yards of any heavy cloth. I suggest getting some stick-on Velcro. Place one side of the Velcro onto the top of the drying rack, and the other side on the fabric. This makes the fabric easy to move and remove as necessary.
Turn a Wardrobe Closet Into a Drying Rack
Do you have an old wardrobe in your home that isn’t being used? This can easily be turned into a drying rack for your paintings. You can also use an IKEA wardrobe closet, which comes complete with adjustable shelves and glass doors.
Place the shelves according to the sizes of your paintings. I suggest having shelves of varying heights, so your drying rack can accommodate small and large paintings easily.
To keep the inside of the wardrobe from getting covered in wet paint, use brown craft paper to cover the walls, and a piece of rubber shelf liner for the floor of each shelf. Use some masking tape to hold the paper and rubber liner in place.
You can also add a small shoe rack for drying smaller paintings.
Make a Drying Rack From a Bookcase
Most bookcases have adjustable shelves, and they can be ideal for use as drying racks. All you need to do is adjust the shelves so they will accommodate paintings of various sizes.
You can use eye screws and picture wire to create slots so your paintings won’t lean against one another. If you would like to add a curtain, you can do this with a piece of fabric and some Velcro.
Other Paint Drying Rack Ideas
Here are a few more ideas you can use to create drying racks for your paintings.
#1. Metal Wire Racks
Most metal wire rack organizers are adjustable, so you can use them for paintings of most sizes. All you need to do is arrange the racks so they will accommodate your paintings.
Then, wrap the picture wire around the racks to create drying slots. Hold the wire in place with strong tape, such as duct tape. Add a curtain with fabric and Velcro.
#2. Storage Cubes/Milk Crates
Storage cubes or even old milk crates can be stacked to create a drying rack for smaller paintings. Use picture wire to hold the cubes together.
You can make rows, and then stack more rows on top of the bottom row. If you want to create slots, wrap some picture wire around each create, holding it in place with duct tape.
Again, you can use fabric and Velcro to create a curtain to keep dust off your drying paintings.
Conclusion
No matter what type of paint you are using at a paint and sip party, the paintings will require some time to dry before the guests can take them home. A drying rack is a great way to keep paintings out of the way so they can dry.
Building y drying rack is easy. Any of the ideas mentioned in this post will work, and you can build a rack that will be large enough to accommodate 15 to 20 paintings, and still not take up too much space in your home or studio.
If you would rather buy a painting drying rack, I suggest checking out the many racks that are available at Amazon. Remember, if you are a Prime member, shipping is free. Even if you are not a Prime member, you can still get free shipping for orders over $35.
I prefer building myaown drying racks. Not only do I save money that way, but I also get to play around with another project.
Sari Green is a semi-professional artist and professional writer. She has been hosting paint & sip parties for the past couple of years, and truly enjoys helping other people to create their very own masterpieces. She loves to create, and you never know what she’s going to come up with next!