Pouring acrylic – tips and instructions for acrylic pouring for creative DIY works of art

Have you ever wondered how to pour acrylic and paint with it? This painting technique is a fun and easy way to create unique works of art. Even if you have never painted before and do not consider yourself an artist, the so-called acrylic pouring technique is suitable for you. All you need is the right material and a bit of know-how, which you can get here. Using the instructions shown here, you can create poured paintings using light or dark colors and glossy material.

How can you paint acrylic painterly?

Acrylic pouring is a painting technique in which youAcrylic paint with one typeUse casting medium. Additionally, you can easily flow paint onto a surface in a variety of ways. Sometimes you can pour colors directly from individual cups or other containers, while multiple shades can be combined in one cup and used together. Immediately after you pour the acrylic, you can tilt the surface in any direction to allow the paint to flow and the colors to flow together in unpredictable but always interesting ways. No matter which of the many pouring methods or techniques you try, you can create your own abstract fluid art at home.

However, before you start this DIY project, you need to make some preparations and get the necessary materials. Below is a list of materials used for this type of art. You might have many of these items in your home. Art supplies, such as a canvas, acrylic paint, casting medium, gesso and brushes, can also be found in most art stores and on Amazon. The other consumables are available from low-cost suppliers, discounters or hardware stores and can usually also be found online.

Use acrylic paint and pouring medium

You can pour liquid or soft acrylic, which is particularly suitable for this type of pouring technique when painting. The liquid version is better because you don't have to dilute it with water. Colors suitable for acrylic pouring include liquid acrylics, soft body acrylics, and high-flow acrylics. These are artist's paints that you can find in most art stores. They are very pigmented and a small amount of them is enough to create several works of art. You can also do this type of painting with handmade acrylic paint, although the recipe is slightly changed.

When you pour acrylic, a pouring medium is mixed with paint, helping the paint flow and mix. It helps to separate the colors so that they don't combine into a muddy color when mixed. The method also increases the volume of the paint and helps prevent cracking. There are different types and brands of casting media and each can give your work a different look.

These also offer a nice balance between color separation and color mixing, which can result in the desired look. There is a wide range of accessories available for the acrylic casting technique so that you can get creative and try out different types of acrylic casting.

Prepare the canvas

You can easily apply plaster to a canvas using a foam brush. When working with gesso, here are some basic steps to follow. So here's how to prepare your canvas if you want to pour acrylic on it:

1. First, pour a small amount of plaster into a plastic bowl.
2. Wet your brush with water.
3. Above all, make sure that your canvas is free of dust and dirt. Then apply a thin, even layer of gesso to the entire surface and sides.
4. Stroke the brush in one direction, adding more water if necessary. Keeping the brush slightly moistened will help it glide better.
5. If you wish, let the canvas dry for a day. Repeat these steps for a second coat. This time brush in the opposite direction of the previous one.

If brush strokes are visible after drying, you can smooth the surface with the help of fine-grit sandpaper. Gesso is water soluble. Afterwards, simply wash your brush with soap (or dish soap for a sponge brush) and rinse well.

Select work area

Pour painting is quite a job and the paint takes a few days to dry. Here are some things that make an ideal location for this project:

• A clean, dust-free room to prevent dust or pet hair from getting into the wet paint.
• A completely flat, stable surface to allow the painting to dry smoothly.
• A room with a door that can be closed if you have pets or small children so that they cannot accidentally touch or knock over your painting.

Mix craft paints

If you mix the desired colors a day before painting, you may find that the air bubbles take about twelve hours to disperse themselves. Here are some materials and supplies you will need for this.

Materials

• Acrylic colors of your choice
• Plastic cups, depending on the number of colors
• Mess spoon
• Wooden handles for stirring
• plastic wrap
• Rubber bands
• Aluminum foil

Instructions

1. Cover an area of ​​your countertop or table with foil or aluminum foil to protect it from spills.
2. After that, add acrylic paint to each plastic cup using the measuring spoon.
3. Slowly stir each cup with the wooden stick until the paint and pouring medium mixture is completely mixed.
4. Cover each cup with some plastic wrap and secure it securely with a rubber band. Set the cups aside until you are ready to paint.

Important things to know before painting the canvas

Here are some things you need to do before you start:

• First, gather all the paint cups, disposable gloves, paper towels, spatulas (or some large wooden sticks) on your work area. You can put on your gloves either now or before the next step.
• Place your canvas on an elevated surface. Feel free to use empty cans for this as they lift the canvas and are very stable.
• Additionally, if you have a spirit level, you can use it to check your canvas.
• Uncover all of your paint cups. The paint and casting mixtures should now be free of air bubbles. The colors do not need to be stirred again before painting.
• Once the paint and pouring medium have separated, use a wooden stick to mix the material.

Start pouring acrylic

You can pour paint directly from each cup all over the canvas with random movements. Leave some paint in a few cups in case you need to color additional areas during the process to cover any exposed areas. It is better if you have more than enough left to cover your canvas completely. You can also use a palette knife to mix some colors on your canvas. This is optional and depends on what type of look you want. Use this to paint over a few “bare” areas so you can do the swirling and color mixing in the next step.

We've now reached the stage where most artists have the most fun. You can let the paint colors flow simply by tilting the canvas. You'll never know exactly how all the colors come together until you get to this point. This step may take some practice, but with each image you try you'll learn what works best and how you can improve it with the next one. Here are the basic steps:

1. Pick up your canvas and slowly tilt it in one direction until the paint approaches the edge. It's okay if some paint goes over the edges, but don't let too much run off until the surface is completely covered.
2. You should pour enough paint so that there isn't a thick puddle on the surface without draining the best patterns of your design.
3. Continue tilting in different directions until your entire canvas and sides are covered and you are happy with the composition and color patterns.
4. Place the canvas in the center of the cans. The color thickens within a few minutes. Afterwards, avoid further work on the surface.

Finish the edges

The way the colors flow down the sides of the canvas can enhance the overall look of your painting. If you use a canvas with stack-free edges, it will look great even without a frame. Below are some tips for finishing the edges of your cast painting. Begin this step immediately after painting on the cans while it is still wet.

• Check all four edges for areas that are not covered with paint.
• Use a putty knife or wooden stick to cover these areas with paint. The paint underneath your canvas is ideal for this. You can also use any remaining paint from the plastic cups.
• Don't worry about whether the edges are perfect as you can also make touch-ups after the painting is completely dry.

Final strokes

Paintings created using the acrylic pouring technique require approximately two to three days to dry completely. If you apply a particularly thick layer of paint, this may take longer. When in doubt, don't touch the surface because if it's not completely dry, you may end up leaving a fingerprint. Once the painting is dry, you can mix a small amount of casting agent with some paint and use a small brush to make minor edge improvements.

Acrylic paints applied with a brush may have a different texture than when poured. Therefore, try to be conservative with any touch-ups so that they are not too obvious. Of course you can use various interesting methodsPainting on such a canvasFind inspiration for your next DIY projects.