Have you ever dreamt of producing elegant paintings without using a brush? Maybe you’ve seen some beautiful artistic acrylic pouring videos on YouTube and wondered how you can make them at home. You can surely give them a try and this guide can help you.
This technique of painting involves the pouring of acrylic paint onto a canvas or other substrates, achieving a type of marbled look. It’s quite fun to produce “color” cells, though the process can be a bit messy. Here are some basics to consider before you begin creating your own creative art.
What You Need
Those doing acrylic pouring use a wide range of materials, depending on their preferences and budgets. However, archival products are high-quality and do not deteriorate with time. They are safer to use but quite expensive.
For a start, you require the following materials:
- A little amount of acrylic paint. If you’re on a tight budget, try primary colors and black and white. They can give any shade that you need.
- A pouring medium to increase the viscosity of the paint. White glue is a great choice for saving money.
- Plastic knives or popsicle sticks to stir your paint
- A resistive additive (optional) such as hair serum to produce the cellular effect
- Different sizes of cups to mix your paint and pour it on the substrate.
- A substrate such as canvas, wood board, or glass to pour on the mixture
- A heat gun (optional) to pop air bubbles on the final pour and spread paint cells.
Preparation
There are lots of videos that you can look up on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on the preparation process. You can also opt to view more on acrylicpouring.com. Generally, you need a flat working surface. Cover it with newsprint or plastic since this is a messy activity. You should also wear gloves while working with paint for your own safety.
Mix your pouring medium in a cup with the paint color of choice. You’ll need less paint if it’s of a high quality. The aim of mixing is to end up with a viscous liquid that is lighter than pancake batter. Start with small amounts of pouring medium until you achieve the desired texture. Leave the mixture to settle overnight or at least for an hour so there’re no bubbles.
Pouring
There are so many different ways to pour your mixture. However, feel free to create your own by experimentation. This is what makes acrylic pouring exciting. When you can make your own piece of beautiful art, there’s a sense of fulfillment.
Order your chosen colors from the heaviest to the lightest and pour the liquid as close to the cup’s wall as possible to avoid forming bubbles. Denser colors sink while lighter ones rise to cause interesting effects. Use a color mixing chart if you’re not sure what the resulting colors would be.
Conclusion
Acrylic pouring shouldn’t be expensive and difficult to begin. You only need a few materials to start off. The good thing with it is that there are no rigid rules to follow for you to achieve colorful results. You are free to try new things and be creative.
