I started acrylic pouring with little knowledge and few resources, but with just a bit of research, I found many ways to work with what I had and that there isn't much to it, but to delve in to it. I wanted to share this creative outlet I've dabbled in during quarantine and maybe inspire someone to create as I was inspired to try this.
Materials: Canvas, Acrylic Paint, Floetrol, Acrylic Oil, Silicone Spray, Plastic cups (preferably with measurements), a rack, a pouring station (I used a tarp and cheap shoe racks), scale, gloves.
I started with a 15" x 30" canvas. I had to make the colors I wanted to use for this; I made 6: A dark and light blue, purple, and pink. I will also use white.
... I've got my 7 colors, now. I take 7 cups and I used 30g(mL) of each color and put in it's own cup. I mix with 90g(mL) of Floetrol. Mix well. (Floetrol:Paint = 3:1)
**If you don't have floetrol, you can substitute with water. You want to use 2/3 paint and 1/3 water, add four drops of acrylic oil, and mix extra well. The less water the better, pour water in increments, some colors are thinner than others, keep an eye on consistency in thickness.
**If you don't have floetrol, you can substitute with water. You want to use 2/3 paint and 1/3 water, add four drops of acrylic oil, and mix extra well. The less water the better, pour water in increments, some colors are thinner than others, keep an eye on consistency in thickness.
I add 3 drops of Acrylic Oil to each color cup except for white. White paint is quite thin to begin with, and I found it works as a great undertone for colors in acrylic pours.
Now that my colors are all well mixed with the proper additives and oils, I can start making my pouring cups. At the size of my board, I only needed 3 cups, but I didn't want to NOT have enough paint to fill my canvas, so I added a fourth. The last thing you want to happen is not have enough paint. I've got my empty plastic pouring cups ready. I suggest spraying your cups with silicone spray for an easier pour. You could even substitute with non stick spray if you have that on hand. I had neither, and my painting turned out fine, but that would have been a nice touch. I start with putting a nice bit of white paint in each pouring cup, then I pour each color in little by little into each cup with a pattern of light - dark - light - dark - light - dark to give a cohesive blend effect in the end.
Notice how the colors don't just blend and mix into each other, the floetrol really helps with that.
I've got my four pouring cups ready now, and now's the time to grab the canvas. I flip the four cups over fast onto the canvas, each one spread evenly away from each other. I let the cups sit upside down for a few minutes. This is where the silicone spray or non stick spray on the cups comes in handy, the paint slides down the cup easily.
Now's the time to pick up the cups. I give the cups a tilt & swoop flick of the wrist motion horizontally on my canvas. **A tilt instead of just picking it up prevents a big paint pocket of color. Now tilt your paint around corner to corner by tilting your canvas. This is the MESSIEST PART. I've seen people use large plastic buckets to catch the paint, I've seen others who can contain it to a table with newspapers. I'm clumsy, I put a tarp on my floor and used a shoe rack to let it dry on. See picture below of the pouring process...
Know when to stop moving the paint around. You don't want stretch your shapes too much. I left mine alone once I felt the colors flowed the way I wanted them to flow. I let it dry for 24 HOURS. At the size and amount of paint I used, it needed a full day to dry.
It's common I noticed to give these kind of paintings a glossy finish, but I went with a matte varnish. I like the effect it gives the painting, it gives a texture to it and makes the canvas pop with a slight sheen giving it a museum like finish.
** I like to let the paint fall down the sides of the canvas. It can get messy, but the results are worth it. I put masking tape on the back of the canvas to keep from having a nasty, messy back. Another trick would be to paint the sides and back solid black, it gives it nice finished effect. Or I would suggest to use a color you used in the painting.
I'd suggest sticking to different shades of the same color your first pour. A light, dark, medium, white and black is a good start.
Pour your hearts out :)
