The Art of Paint Pouring: Tips, techniques, and step-by-step instructions for creating colorful poured art in acrylic

by Amanda VanEver

Overview

Learn the creative, innovative technique of making art by pouring paint with The Art of Paint Pouring.

Featuring easy step-by-step projects, practical tips, and beautiful art from an established paint-pouring expert, this book helps artists of any skill level make colorful, textured art by pouring acrylic paint onto a canvas.

There are many techniques for making poured art, and this book details them all. You will learn to swipe, pour, and more using the manyhow-to projects provided in this book. Also included are chapters on the following:

• Tools and materials, including affordable options for items that will help you create poured art
• Basic color theory and how to choose paint colors that will create pleasing mixtures
• Eye-catching full-page artwork
• Tips for creating the paint consistency that you want
• Instructions for keeping your work area clean, even while working with a potentially messy technique

Written and illustrated by a well-recognized paint-pouring artist, The Art of Paint Pouring is a comprehensive reference that eliminates the need to search online for multiple videos that you would continually have to pause and re-watch. If you are new to paint pouring, you will love the beginners’ tips and instructions that allow anyone to master this contemporary craft.

Start creating stunning works of poured art with The Art of Paint Pouring.

Also from the Fluid Art series, refresh your paint-pouring skills and learn new techniques with: The Art of Paint Pouring: Swipe, Swirl & Spin and The Art of Paint Marbling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633227378
Publisher:	Walter Foster Publishing
Publication date:	05/21/2019
Series:	Fluid Art Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	437,407
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Amanda VanEver is a self-taught artist; a librarian in Dayton, Nevada; and the author of The Art of Paint Pouring and The Art of Paint Pouring: Swipe, Swirl & Spin (both from Walter Foster Publishing). Amanda enjoys the versatility of acrylic paint and the vast array of techniques that can be used with fluid art. She credits her abilities to the artists willing to share their tricks, tips, and techniques for different styles of fluid acrylic painting. She learned to create poured art using Facebook groups and YouTube videos. Every week, Amanda films her processes and answers questions on her YouTube channel, Amanda’s Designs. She sells her artwork locally in Carson City, Nevada, as well as through her Etsy shop.
 

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Painting Projects

Dirty Pour

The dirty pour is the very first paint pouring technique I tried, and it is one of the easiest to learn. Simply add your paints to individual containers, pour them into a single cup, and then pour the mixture onto your canvas.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Canvas
• Cups
• Pouring medium
• Wooden stir sticks
• Water

Optional tools for creating cells:

• Liquid silicone or dimethicone

• Kitchen or butane torch

STEP 1

Lay a sheet of freezer paper over your working surface. You can also use a plastic bag, newspaper, or a tablecloth — anything that keeps your working area clean of paint.

Rest your canvas on top of cups. I used four — one for each corner of the canvas. Elevating your canvas allows the excess paint to run off the sides.

USE A LEVEL TO CHECK THAT YOUR CANVAS IS COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL IF YOU PLAN TO LEAVE IT ON THE CUPS TO DRY.

STEP 2

Add each paint color to a separate cup. Then add your pouring medium following a ratio of about 2 parts pouring medium to 1 part paint.

I used Sargent Art Gloss Medium, which is white but dries clear. Your paint will appear lighter while wet and then darken once dry, without any discoloration from the pouring medium.

STEP 3

Use stir sticks to mix the paint and medium, ensuring that there are no lumps. Lumps in the paint will be visible when you pour it onto the canvas.

Then slowly add water until the paint mixture reaches a consistency that's ideal for pouring. I like to add water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix until well-blended, aiming for a thickness similar to honey or heavy cream. If your paint is too thick, it won't move well on the canvas, and if it's too thin, the colors will blend and turn muddy.

STEP 4

With your paint mixtures ready and your canvas set up, you are ready to begin pouring!

Grab an empty cup, and start adding paint to it for your dirty pour. You can pour the paints in any order and volume that you like.

ONCE YOU'VE POURED YOUR PAINT COLORS INTO THE CUP, YOU CAN USE A STIR STICK TO GENTLY MIX THEM. DO NOT OVERMIX OR THE PAINT WILL TURN MUDDY. MIXING THE PAINT CAN CREATE A MORE BLENDED COLOR PALETTE.

STEP 5

Now it's time to pour your paint! You can pour it in any design you like: diagonally across the canvas, in a circular motion, or in one large puddle in the middle.

STEP 6 Pick up and tilt the canvas in any direction you wish. Keep areas of your artwork that you like, and tilt off what you don't like.

If you don't like what you've poured and tilted, don't worry! Add paint to your cup and pour a little more onto the canvas. Because the paint stays wet for a couple of days, you can take your time and manipulate the paint any way you want. There is no need to rush the process.

STEP 7

When you are satisfied with your design, rest your canvas on a flat surface or on the cups to let it dry. Check the sides and the edges of the canvas to make sure they're completely covered with paint. If you can still see parts of the canvas, use leftover paint to touch it up by hand.

IT MAY TAKE YOUR ARTWORK 1 TO 3 DAYS TO DRY. TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY LEVELS WILL AFFECT THE DRYING TIME.

Flip Cup

The flip cup technique is another simple, popular paint pouring technique. With this method, you mix your colors individually, add them all to one cup, flip the cup onto the canvas, and then pull the cup away to reveal the paint. You can do this method with or without adding silicone, depending on whether you want to form a lot of cells in your artwork.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Cups
• Canvas
• Paint pouring medium (I used Floetrol, which helps create cells)
• Water
• Stir sticks

Optional tools for creating cells:
• Torch
• Liquid silicone or dimethicone (I used a hair serum that works well for creating cells)

STEP 1

Cover your flat working surface with a sheet of freezer paper. For this technique, I used an 8" x 10" canvas, which I propped up with four cups so that the excess paint would run off the sides.

DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF YOUR CANVAS, YOU MAY NEED TO USE MORE CUPS TO KEEP IT LEVEL. ALSO, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CUPS REST ON THE WOOD FRAME, NOT ON THE CANVAS. IF THE CANVAS MATERIAL RESTS ON THE CUPS, THEIR INDENTATIONS MAY BE VISIBLE ONCE THE ARTWORK DRIES.

STEP 2

Select your paint colors and add each color to a separate cup. For this painting, I used purple, white, and pewter.

Add your pouring medium, following a ratio of about 2 parts medium to 1 part paint.

IF YOU ADD TOO MUCH WATER AND THE PAINT MIXTURE BECOMES TOO THIN, YOU CAN ADD A SMALL AMOUNT OF PAINT TO THICKEN IT BACK UP. PRACTICING WITH DIFFERENT CONSISTENCIES WILL HELP YOU DETERMINE HOW THICK OR THIN YOU LIKE YOUR PAINT.

STEP 3

Thoroughly mix the paint and the medium. Then slowly add water until your mixture reaches the consistency that you prefer for pouring. I like to add about 1 tablespoon at a time, mix it in, and check to see if I need more water.

STEP 4

Add a small amount of silicone or dimethicone to your paint mixture. I added one or two drops of silicone to the cup and then gently stirred.

ONCE YOU'VE POURED YOUR PAINT, IF YOU SEE CRATERS OR AREAS OF THE PAINT PULLING AWAY FROM THE CANVAS, YOU MAY HAVE ADDED TOO MUCH SILICONE, OR YOUR PAINT MIXTURE COULD BE TOO THIN. REMIX AND TRY AGAIN!

STEP 5

When you've mixed the paint to your desired consistency, grab an empty cup and add the paint colors in any order and amount.

STEP 6

Now for the fun part! Place the canvas on top of your cup of paint. Hold the canvas in one hand and the paint cup in the other, and flip both over.

LIFTING THE CUP FROM THE PUDDLE OF PAINT MAY RUIN YOUR DESIGN. BY PULLING AWAY THE CUP, YOU PREVENT THE PAINT FROM DRIPPING.

STEP 7

Place the canvas back onto the resting cups that you laid out during step 1. You can briefly leave the cup on the canvas, or immediately remove it. Pull the cup away from the puddle of paint on the canvas; do not lift it.

STEP 8

Before tilting your canvas, you may use a torch to create cells. By torching first and tilting second, you can create cells and then tilt them to form larger cells across your canvas. If you prefer smaller cells, tilt the canvas first, and then apply the torch.

TO AVOID BURNING YOUR PIECE, REMEMBER NOT TO KEEP THE TORCH TOO CLOSE TO THE CANVAS OR IN ONE PLACE FOR LONG.

STEP 9

Once you've created a design that you like, touch up the sides and edges of the canvas, and then lay it on the four cups or another flat surface to dry.

Puddle Pour

When I was learning to pour paint, I first tried some of the most basic techniques, and then branched out to see what other styles and designs I could create. One of my favorite slightly more advanced techniques is the puddle pour, in which you pour paint into a puddle on the canvas, and then tilt the canvas to create a beautiful design.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Cups
• Wooden surface
• Pouring medium
• Water
• Stir sticks

Optional tools for creating cells:

• Silicone or dimethicone
• Torch

STEP 1

Lay a sheet of freezer paper flat over your working surface. Place four cups on top of the freezer paper, and then lay your wooden surface on the cups.

STEP 2

Pour your paint colors into individual cups. I used white, brown, pewter, and blue. I created a light blue color by mixing white with dark blue.

WHEN MIXING COLORS, ADD A SMALL AMOUNT OF PAINT AT A TIME AND INCORPORATE IT COMPLETELY. TO CREATE A DARKER SHADE, ADD MORE OF THE PAINT COLOR. FOR A LIGHTER SHADE, ADD WHITE.

STEP 3

Add pouring medium to your cups of paint. I used 2 parts medium to 1 part paint. Mix thoroughly and slowly add water until the paint reaches your desired consistency.

STEP 4

The puddle pour technique is different from some of the others in this book because it doesn't require mixing the paint colors before pouring them. Instead, you'll leave each color in its own cup and mix directly on your painting surface.

Pour your first color onto the wooden surface. You can create a single puddle of paint or pour your paint into multiple puddles.

STEP 5

Choose another paint color and pour it onto your first puddle(s) of paint. Repeat with your other paint colors, adding them in any order and amount that you like.

Now is also the time to use a torch, if you choose to do so. See here for torching instructions.

STEP 6

Once you've poured all your paint colors, begin tilting your wooden surface.

BEFORE TILTING THE SURFACE, YOU CAN USE YOUR FINGER OR A STIR STICK TO GENTLY MOVE THROUGH THE PAINT. THIS WILL BREAK UP THE COLORS AND CREATE INTERESTING DESIGNS.

STEP 7

Once you've tilted your piece and created a design that you like, rest your surface flat on a table. I've found that if my wooden surface isn't supported, it can warp during drying. Laying it flat on a table, instead of on cups, provides equal support across the entire surface.

YOU CAN USE A LEVEL TO MAKE SURE YOUR DRYING SURFACE LAYS EVENLY. IF IT'S UNEVEN, YOUR PAINT MIGHT MOVE DURING DRYING.

TRY THIS TECHNIQUE BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT MOVING YOUR FINGER OR A STIR STICK THROUGH THE PAINT PUDDLES TO SEE THE DESIGNS YOU CAN CREATE. YOU CAN ALSO ADD SILICONE TO SOME OF YOUR PAINT MIXTURES TO CREATE CELLS WHEN LAYERING PUDDLES OF PAINT.

Tree Ring

This technique creates a beautiful ring pattern. We'll go into more details in the project, but the basic process simply requires acrylic paint and a cup, which you'll swirl as you pour. You can vary the technique by pouring once or multiple times onto a single canvas.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Cups
• Canvas
• Pouring medium (I used Sargent Art Acrylic Gloss)
• Stir sticks
• Water

TO CREATE EVEN RINGS IN YOUR FINAL PIECE, DO NOT ADD SILICONE TO YOUR PAINT MIXTURE. SILICONE CREATES CELLS AND BREAKS UP THE RING PATTERN.

STEP 1

Lay a sheet of freezer paper over your working surface. Place four cups facedown on the paper, and rest the canvas on top.

Add your paint colors to cups, and then mix in the pouring medium of your choice. I used a rainbow of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, plus 2 parts pouring medium to 1 part paint.

Slowly mix in water until the paint reaches the consistency you want for pouring.

FOR THIS TECHNIQUE, I LIKE TO KEEP MY PAINT MIXTURES THICKER SO THEY WON'T BLEND TOO MUCH WHEN ADDED TO THE POURING CUP.

STEP 2

Gently pour each paint mixture into a single pouring cup. I like to layer my paint colors so that they stay somewhat separated when poured.

To keep the paint separated, pour it against the side of cup, ensuring that the paint rests on top of the colors already in the cup.

STEP 3 Start pouring your paint. To create a tree ring effect, swirl the cup in a circular pattern as you pour.

Here, you can see the rainbow of colors I produced because of the way I poured the paint into the cup.

STEP 4

Gently tilt the canvas to spread the paint, and let it dry on a flat surface before displaying.

IF YOU'RE HAPPY WITH YOUR PATTERN BUT STILL HAVE AREAS OF BARE CANVAS, USE A PAINTBRUSH, A PALETTE KNIFE, OR YOUR FINGERS, PLUS LEFTOVER PAINT OR ANOTHER COLOR — LIKE BLACK OR WHITE — TO COVER THE BLANK SPACES.

Dip

The dip technique is one of my favorites; I just love how the paint blends, creating a very different outcome than pouring. It can be accomplished using a couple of methods. The one I will show you involves pouring paint onto a flat surface and then dipping a canvas into the paint. You can also create a similar pattern by pouring paint onto one canvas and dipping another canvas into that paint.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Cups
• Pouring medium (I used Sargent Art Acrylic Gloss)
• Water
• Stir sticks
• Canvas

Optional tools for creating cells:

• Silicone
• Torch

STEP 1

Place freezer paper over your working surface. For this technique, you do not need to rest your canvas on top of cups.

I used three paint colors: purple, light rose gold, and white. Create your own pouring mixture using a ratio of about 2 parts pouring medium to 1 part paint. Slowly add water and mix until you're happy with the consistency of your paint.

Optional: If you want to use silicone, add one or two drops now, and gently mix it into the colors.

STEP 2

Because this technique involves pouring paint on the freezer paper and then dipping the canvas in the paint, it's helpful to mark the area of the canvas onto the freezer paper. This will ensure that you pour the right amount of paint onto the freezer paper.

STEP 3

Now, pour your paint into a cup. Then pour the paint onto the freezer paper as a dirty pour (see here). Another option is to pour the paint colors separately onto the freezer paper in any pattern you like.

STEP 4

Dip the canvas into the paint poured onto the freezer paper. Air may be trapped under the canvas; gently press down on the center to ensure that the entire canvas touches the paint.

Then grab an edge or a corner of the canvas, and gently pull it away from the freezer paper.

STEP 5

Cover the sides of the canvas by dipping them into the paint. Then touch up any blank areas of the canvas, and set it on a flat surface to dry.

Swipe

The swipe technique is a popular way to create a piece full of cells. I like to swipe one color over my other colors, and then I apply a torch to form the cells. The trick to this technique is ensuring that your paint has the correct consistency. If your swipe color is too thick, it may sink into the paint beneath it, or you may not be able to create cells at all. For me, practicing mixing paints and noticing how various consistencies react with each other is the key to creating great cell formations on a consistent basis.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Cups
• Pouring medium
• Water
• Silicone
• Stir sticks
• Freezer paper
• Canvas
• Swiping tool, such as a piece of paper, stir stick, palette knife, or paper towel
• Torch

STEP 1

I chose to use beach-inspired colors for this piece. Any color combination will work, however. Choose one color as your swipe color.

Combine 2 parts pouring medium with 1 part paint. Then slowly add water until the mixture reaches the consistency that you like for paint pouring. Add 1 to 2 drops of liquid silicone, and gently incorporate.

KEEP YOUR SWIPE COLOR A LITTLE THINNER THAN THE OTHER PAINT MIXTURES. THIS WAY, THE SWIPE COLOR WILL STAY ON TOP. IF IT'S TOO THICK AND HEAVY, IT MAY SINK INTO THE OTHER PAINT COLORS.

STEP 2

Lay a sheet of freezer paper down on your working surface, and rest your canvas on top of four upside-down cups. Pour your paint mixtures one by one onto the canvas.

STEP 3

Add your swipe color on top of the other paint colors and select a swiping tool; I used a damp paper towel. I swiped the browns over the blues and whites, but you should feel free to move in any direction that you like.

STEP 4 Gently apply your torch over the artwork to heat the paint and create cells. Don't hold the torch in one place for long; it will burn the paint.

STEP 5

Once you've swiped and created your cells, you can leave the painting as is if you'd like. In my piece, the cells were quite small, so I decided to tilt my canvas and enlarge the cells. This also helped move the paint to cover any blank spaces on my canvas, near the edges.

Then lay your painting on a flat surface to dry.

Colander Pour

A colander is a fun tool for producing poured artwork. Colanders come in many shapes, sizes, and designs, and all of these factors will affect your design. Test out a few types of colanders to see what kinds of patterns you can create!

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Freezer paper
• Canvas
• Cups
• Colander
• Pouring medium
• Water
• Stir sticks

Optional tools for creating cells:

• Silicone or dimethicone
• Torch

STEP 1

Lay a sheet of freezer paper over your work surface. Rest your canvas on top of upside-down cups, and set the colander in the center of the canvas.

TO CREATE A FUN VARIATION ON THIS DESIGN, PLACE YOUR COLANDER NEAR AN EDGE OR A CORNER OF THE CANVAS, INSTEAD OF IN ITS CENTER.

STEP 2

I chose four paint colors for this piece: two shades of blue, green, and purple.

Create your paint mixtures using about 2 parts pouring medium to 1 part paint. Then slowly incorporate water until the mixtures reach the right consistency for paint pouring.

STEP 3

Pour your colors through the middle of the colander. I've chosen to pour them one at a time.

INSTEAD OF POURING YOUR COLORS SEPARATELY, YOU CAN ALSO ADD ALL OF THEM TO A SINGLE CUP AND POUR THEM AS A DIRTY POUR (SEE here) FOR A MORE BLENDED COLOR DESIGN.

STEP 4

As you pour your paint, it will start to spread over the canvas. Once you've poured a sufficient amount, carefully remove the colander from the canvas.

Note: This can be messy, especially if there's still paint in the colander. Keep a towel or paper towels handy to place under the colander as you remove it from the canvas to avoid paint dripping onto your artwork.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Art of Paint Pouring"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Amanda VanEver.
Excerpted by permission of The Quarto Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION,
TOOLS & MATERIALS,
COLOR BASICS,
MIXING PAINT,
CREATING CELLS,
FINISHING ARTWORK,
SAVING LEFTOVER PAINT,
PAINTING PROJECTS,
Dirty Pour,
Flip Cup,
Puddle Pour,
Tree Ring,
Dip,
Swipe,
Colander Pour,
Chain Pull,
Striation,
Hammer,
Negative Space,
ALTERNATIVE SURFACES,
Jewelry,
Seasonal Items,
Bookmarks,
Coasters,
Magnets,
ABOUT THE ARTIST,

Editorial Reviews

Artist Amanda VanEver starts with the basics and proceeds to demonstrate 11 acrylic pouring techniques, yielding striking visual textures and abstract patterns.—Artists Magazine

From the Publisher