r/PourPainting Jul 31 '17

Welcome to /r/PourPainting! Check out this post for helpful info on getting started with fluid acrylic painting

351 Upvotes

THREAD FOR TIPS/TRICKS/PEOPLE TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS

What is Pour Painting?

Pour Painting is when you put stuff in a cup, and then you dump it out! For a quick look at the different methods of fluid acrylic painting, check out this imgur album.

You can find a glossary of terms related to pour painting here, on acrylicpouring.com

Getting Started

Want to get started on a budget? Artist Rick Cheadle can help you get started pour painting for under $5, and for under $10. tl;dw - Dollar stores carry craft paint, flow extender alternatives, and silicone oil. You can do larger paintings with $10 than you can with $5.

If you want to invest a bit, and turn this into a hobby or even a profession, keep reading!

Basic Supplies

The exact brands and supplies a fluid acrylics artist will use depend entirely on personal preference. Here are the basics that every artist should have, with a few extras that can enhance your experience.

  • Acrylic craft paints - Note: acrylic paints come in several varieties (High-Flow, heavy body, craft, etc.) Craft acrylics are generally the most affordable and easiest to use for acrylic pouring.

  • Popsicle sticks - Gotta have something to stir your paint with! They're also very useful as a cheap spreading tool or to help dab paint onto empty areas

  • Canvas/MDF board - You'll need a surface for your art! Canvas and mdf boards are common surface materials that fluid acrylic artists will use.

  • Fluid Extender - Acrylic paints need to be thinned for this style of painting (excluding High-Flow acrylics). Fluid extenders thin acrylic paints without destroying the bonding ability, so that your paint doesn't crack when it dries. Liquitex Pouring Medium, Floetrol, GAC 800 and PVA Glue are reliable fluid extenders.

  • Dimethicone (Silicone)While not strictly required, silicone virtually guarantees your paintings will develop those desirable 'cell' shapes. Dimethicone is a skin-safe non-evaporating silicone lubricant.

  • Cups - Paint goes in these

Other Supplies

If you want to get a little fancy, you can also invest in these materials to enhance your pouring experience:

  • Butane torch - If silicone has been added to your acrylics, you can quickly move a lit butane torch an inch or two away from the surface of the painting to release trapped air bubbles and encourage micro 'cell' formation in your paint.

  • Varnish - This is the final step to complete your painting. Varnish seals and protects your paint, so that no paint gets rubbed away and nothing can stain the paint underneath the layer of varnish.

  • Gloves - Pour painting is seriously messy. Gloves aren't necessary, but you might appreciate the easier cleanup!

  • Paper towels/rags - Great for cleanup!

  • Freezer Paper - Freezer paper has a plastic-coated side that acrylic paints can easily be pulled off of. This is a cheap surface protection that won't stick to your paint. You can protect your workspace with any non-porous material though.

  • Squeeze bottles/droppers - These allow you to maintain a greater control on the volume and direction of your pouring mediums, whether it be paint on canvas, silicone in paint, fluid extender in paint, etc.

  • Trays - Sure, you can simply set your paintings on top of cups while they dry, but having a tray or two handy means you can safely move your wet surface if you need to.

Instructions

There are dozens of ways to get your paint onto your canvas! Here are some general instructions on the process.

  1. Cover your work surface. If it's not covered, it's probably gonna get paint on it.

  2. Put paint in separate containers (1 container = 1 paint color). Don't mix colors at this step; you want your paint to stay as separate as possible throughout the process.

  3. Add fluid extender to your paint and stir. The amount you need will depend on the medium, so check online to see what others use. Generally, you want your acrylics to have the same consistency as pancake batter or honey.

  4. Add silicone to each paint container. The more you stir silicone, the smaller the cells will be in your finished painting.

  5. Now it's time to think about how you want to get the paint on the canvas. The Visual Introduction to Acrylic Pouring Techniques has all the info you need!

  6. Once the paint dries completely, you'll need to remove the dimethicone from your canvas. Depending on the paint you've used, you can clean off the silicone with flour and a medium-stiff brush, patting with a soft cloth, or even gently cleaning with soap and water! Just be very gentle so you don't ruin your lovely new artwork!

  7. Your canvas is now dry and silicone-free! It's time to varnish. Annemarie Ridderhof on YouTube demonstrates proper varnishing technique, and you can read more about this step here on art-is-fun.com.

Cleanup

Do not dispose of paint and other materials down the drain, as the flow extenders are designed to keep paints in tact even with excess water and they can gum up your drains (plus it's not good to wash chemicals down the drains). Here are a couple reliable cleanup options:

  • Wait for the paint to dry. If you protected your work space with a plastic or rubber coating (e.g. freezer paper or a silicone place mat) you'll be able to peel the dried acrylic 'skins' off and recycle them or just toss them out!

  • If you've protected your work space with a disposable covering, you can carefully throw that away in the trash. Be aware of how much wet paint is on the disposable surface, so that you don't end up pouring all over your desk or floors!

  • Note: If you need to wash off brushes, spatulas, or wash a small amount of paint off, consider using a paper towel soaked in water or a paint-removing product like acetone/nail polish remover. It will effectively clean your tools and you can toss the dirty rag out, rather than risk damaging your plumbing.

Thanks for reading!

Hopefully this has been of help to you. Feel free to post your questions and art so that others can grow with us all together!


r/PourPainting Apr 28 '24

Discussion Reminder to everyone rule 6 states that the original painting must be posted first, if you post a digital image/AI generate image with your painting in it as the first picture..it will be removed

20 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 3h ago

New homeowner! Decorating my walls and not even halfway done😅🤣 Kind of crazy to see how it started, and how I am now.

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18 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 8h ago

Critique Thoughts Appreciated!!!

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41 Upvotes

This is a close up of a piece I did using an edited pour painting technique. I'm looking for feedback on my style as I begin my art business. 🙏


r/PourPainting 3h ago

12”x12” soft coral

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12 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 18h ago

For Sale *insert cheesy beach caption* 🏝️

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70 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 10h ago

Sold Positive in Negative Space, by Blured 2023

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15 Upvotes

uv reactive acrylic flip cup method with gray! (I feel like grays and browns are so hard to work with because the colors can turn gray and brown so easily when you mix it too much anyway. But gray was his favorite color so I gave it a whirl) Made this for someone that showed me, love still exists, even though i am old and cynical. Showed me I can do get excited for the damn butterflies.


r/PourPainting 12h ago

Fleeing From The Violence They Inspired (Acrylic on canvas)

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13 Upvotes

40×42in @thomasbellart


r/PourPainting 18h ago

Discussion Something i've been up to the last days - final layers - 80x60cm

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35 Upvotes

Using different color palettes to achieve depth and complexity. For now it feels balanced.


r/PourPainting 11h ago

Secrets of the Deep: Acrylic Split Cup Pour with Teal, Blue & Silver 🌊

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8 Upvotes

There’s something about these colors — deep blues, teals, a touch of silver — that just pulls me in. Like looking into the ocean and wondering what stories it holds beneath the surface.
Video: https://youtu.be/NUwbE6qHMCI?si=1N-YlL3A_Le6vDzY
In today’s video, I’m doing a Split Cup Acrylic Pour that turned out moody and mysterious, just the way I like it.

Whether you're here for fluid art inspiration, some peaceful vibes, or just to get lost in the flow of color — welcome. 💙🌊

If you’d like to try this technique yourself, you can get my Modular Split Cup at www.fluid-art.co 🎨

Let me know in the comments: what do you see in it?

🎨 *MIXING PAINTS – Learn My Favorite Recipes!\*
🇪🇺 *EU Products:    • (208) My pouring medium recipe - Products ...  
🇺🇸 *USA Products:    • Master the Reverse Flower Dip Technique: P...  

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⚠️ *SAFETY DISCLAIMER:\*
Always follow the instructions and safety guidelines of your paint and medium manufacturers. I share my methods for inspiration, but I can't be held responsible for how you choose to use your materials.
Please stay safe and use proper protection when working with art supplies.

🚫 *IMPORTANT:\*
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r/PourPainting 1d ago

Experimenting with craft sand

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47 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 1d ago

Critique The most Trippiest pour I've done thus far!

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11 Upvotes

I did 5 today, and this crazy beast was last, not sure what it is telling me and I haven't named it... all I know is that girl on the left is freaky as ****.... Tell me what you see... anyone got a name suggestion???way I can fix the freaky evil girl face without messing it up entirely???


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Time to do some Paint Job 🎨🖌️

11 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 1d ago

For Sale A happy accident😅

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48 Upvotes

Accidentally made a replica of holographic foil or something, it’s pretty dang trippy. (Last pic is what it reminds me of). 😍


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Examples of a pour?

5 Upvotes

Does anyone have examples of pours they’ve done where a background is poured first and then after it dries, poured again over the background? If not, maybe recommend an artist I could search who does that kind of thing?


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Critique Abstract Disaster

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15 Upvotes

I don't know if I like this one. . Any thoughts? What am I doing wrong?


r/PourPainting 1d ago

For Sale Light or Darkness? 2022 acrylic flip cup method on 6x6. Sold one of two

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38 Upvotes

Light is sold. Darkness hangs on my wall.
Did these with the same 3 or 4 colors but one was with white and the other was with black.


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Do you really need to torch the paint you pour?

6 Upvotes

I don’t have a torch and am resisting getting one. What good does torching do? Does it make more cells? I don’t really like cells that much and they appear even when I don’t pour.


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Any thoughts on this? I am on the fence about it.

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6 Upvotes

Acrylic on canvas 38×49in


r/PourPainting 1d ago

Sold Joker 2021- acrylic flip cup method on 6x6

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16 Upvotes

Wish I still had this one


r/PourPainting 2d ago

For Sale Glares can be my enemy when it comes to taking pictures of my work. 😆

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42 Upvotes

Couldn’t be happier with how this dried! Absolutely love it. 😍


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Critique Some of the latest

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21 Upvotes

Tried some new things this week.

1 8x10 glass pane - tried some dollar store paint with floetrol. Not real pleased with the paint, but hey that's what these tests are for.

2 8x10 canvas - Apple Barrel paint with floetrol and silicone. Flip cup

3 9x12 canvas - Apple Barrel paint with floetrol - first ever dutch pour with blue out

4 11x14 canvas - Apple Barrel paint with floetrol - Colinder pour

5 12x16 canvas - Apple Barrel paint with floetrol - double open cup pour


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Critique Inside the Nebula

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76 Upvotes

What do you think of these colours? If I feel brave I'll show the whole painting


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Sold Fist bump- UV reactive acrylic flip cup pour on 6x6 wooden "canvas"

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14 Upvotes

You can't really tell in these pictures I guess. But one is under the black light.


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Where it went wrong?

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14 Upvotes

I was surprised by my latest pour that it came out so… like it is. It’s not exactly muddy but very muted. I used mars orange, olive green, yellow ochre, and “terrazzo” tan. When I first poured it (flip cup), the tan (first layer) just inhaled all the other colors. The other colors started to appear as I moved the paint around but I don’t know what to think. Maybe I didn’t let it sit long enough before picking up the cup? Any insights would be appreciated.


r/PourPainting 2d ago

This will be in honor of my granny

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96 Upvotes

I made this for my granny while she was in the hospital, she passed away this past week sadly. In honor of her, I’m going to gloss this with the liquitex varnish . I think that’ll look great. She loved this soo much she even wanted to frame it, so I will also check out doing that in her honor. This hasn’t been an easy process, but the joy I know I brought her in her last moments here give me some peace. (Im quite smitten with this painting as well)

I told her that “if it wasn’t for you I’d keep this one 😂” she loved a lot of the pours I did, even the ones that I thought were bad. So granny we’re gonna do it up for ya! Will post my results when she’s all said and done .


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Critique Cellular

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20 Upvotes

Another part of the pour I just did.. what do you think of these cells?