Beginners guide to acrylic paint pouring
By now, you’ve most likely been exposed to the fun and facile world of fluid art! For those that are intrigued but hesitant to start or evolve such a creative journey, I am going to take you back to the beginning!
How did fluid art come to be?
Fluid art is not a new idea! The materials and techniques have changed and evolved to meet the and methods of today’s artists. But where did the idea originally come from? David Alfaro Siquerios conceived a style of painting in 1930 referred to as “accidental painting”. By layering different paints that had varying densities and using non-traditional art materials and methods, he was an early influence on American abstract Artist, Jackson Pollack! #themoreyouknow
Safety in your studio!
Don’t let the word studio intimidate you, I often work from my kitchen table or garage! The important thing is that you work in a well-ventilated area. Most products that you purchase for your paint pouring adventure will include instructions and safety recommendations, read them! You will need the following essentials:
- Safety glasses
- Protective clothing
- Latex gloves
- Respirator
- Carbon Monoxide alarm
- Fire extinguisher
Prepping your studio!
If you’re working on a table, make sure that your work surface is both steady and covered. A drop cloth, plastic sheeting or shower curtain liner will do the trick! Paint runoff will happen! Having a shallow tub or bin with a lip to catch the paint run off is ideal. Fortunately, paint pour set-ups can be inexpensive! Using two types of aluminum pans (see photo below) is just as effective as using a wire rack flipped upside down with freezer paper underneath.
Substrates and paints
One of the most common substrates to paint pour on is canvas, new or recycled. Though there are many other great options such as wood panel, hardboard, mixed media paper, ceramic tiles, furniture, etc. Whatever substrate you chose to work on, two coats of gesso or paint primer should be applied prior to paint pouring.
When it comes to paints, you aren't limited in your options, even if you have a smaller budget. All craft stores carry a variety of inexpensive craft and student grade acrylic paints that are perfectly acceptable to use in paint pours! You can also use soft or heavy-bodied acrylic paints. There are paints that are made specifically for fluid art such as fluid acrylics and high-flow acrylics. If you’re covering a larger surface or just have some leftover, you can also use latex house paint (flat).
Mediums and alternatives
Pouring mediums improve how smoothly your acrylic paints pour as well as their consistency. It acts as both a diluting agent and a binder. While there are many products out there specifically for paint pouring such as Liquitex Pouring Medium and Floetrol, inexpensive alternatives such as Elmer’s Glue (non-archival) and Bookbinder’s Glue (archival) can be used.
Prepare your paints
The consistency of all of your paints is the essential element in assuring a successful pour. While I encourage each artist to experiment and find a “recipe” that suits them, I am here to make life simple. I have personally achieved the proper fluidity that gives me (as well as my students) consistent results on varying budgets and I will share that further down!
- Pouring cups- 5oz cups or larger for individual colors
- 9oz cups or larger for dirty pours (layers of paint poured on top of each other in the same cup)
- Jumbo craft sticks
- clear measuring cup (with ounces)
Let's talk about cells!
The satisfying process of two layers of media separating from each other to create cells! It’s all about the fluidity of each individual color and how they react with each other. Silicone, alcohol and dimethicone aid in cell creation though they are not a requirement for cell creation.
We’ve talked about safety, studio set-up, substrates, paints, and cell creation. What’s left? All of the fun! Below you will find my own mixing ratios.
Understanding acrylic paint density, what colors are more opaque, translucent, and transparent is part of the journey (and an entirely separate blog post)! I do recommend using a color wheel (can be found online and purchased in stores) to get a grasp of color theory. Using a color wheel will improve your color selection for each painting as you’ll begin the concepts of balance and harmony in creating art.
Let's pour!
There are multiple ways to pour your paint onto your substrate, for this blog post I will explain the dirty pour. I usually start by pouring white (Zinc or Titanium White) into every cup, followed by a color or two. I spray silicone (optional) in the cup followed by more colors, more white, and silicone. White is the heaviest paint and will sink to the bottom once the cup has been flipped onto the canvas. This creates many interesting effects including lacing, webbing, and cells!
Manipulating
An easy way to manipulate your paints and cover your surface is by tipping and moving your canvas, letting the excess paint run over the edges (onto your drip tray). This gives your artwork that popular “flowing” appearance.
There are other “tools” that you can use to create different design elements:
- Painting knife, spatula, knockdown knife (for wide path swiping)
- Trowels (for skimming and making designs in the paint)
A swipe can bring new life to a paint pour that went sour. Maybe the colors became too muddy? If the colors are muted and drab, I will choose white to pour over my already poured on canvas. I will then use my knockdown knife and gently pull it down the length of the canvas. This takes patience and practice but the effects it creates can save your artwork! I have some students that will only use this swiping technique! There is more about this technique and many other techniques in my book Fluid Art Mastery .
Drying and protecting
Dry your masterpiece on a dust-free, level surface for 2–3 days before touching it. Storing it somewhere with a cooler temperature and low humidity is ideal. You can apply a varnish or resin to add a sheen to your artwork, as well as protect it after it has had time to dry. This is optional. Each type of varnish (brush-on or spray-on) has its advantages and disadvantages. Brushstrokes verse fumes. Follow the directions thoroughly for any product you chose.
The possibilities and options are endless, I have explored most of them! Look forward to future blog posts. Until then, the links below will further explain (and show you) the beginner’s process and how I work!
Dollar store budget paint pour
My Fluid Mastery Book (with more details, information, and ways to create)
Last but not least…
