How To Create Fluid Art

October 9, 2018

If your interested in learning this super awesome technique, this beginners guide is perfect for you! Once your done reading this or if your already an experienced paint pourer I highly recommend checking out my top fluid art tips. Paint pouring is so much fun whether you want to have a wine & craft night with the girls, DIY a gorgeous piece of art for your home, throw a rockin’ paint party, discover if this could be your new hobby, or just a craft to do with the kids. This style of art is simple, stunning, and every piece is one of a kind! There are also tons of ways to switch it up and create different effects with different techniques. Okay now, let’s get started with the basics!

acrylic pour by Taylor Pendleton
fluid art by Taylor Pendleton

Step 1: Gather supplies.

• Decide on a pouring medium. A pouring medium is to create a thinner flowing consistency and also maintain the colors. I recommend deco art pouring medium (used in the photos above) and also Floetrol. If you want to learn more about pouring mediums, I will leave links to helpful resources at the bottom of this post.

• Canvas, canvas panel, wood, or whatever you’d like to paint on.

•Acrylic paint.

•Plastic cups

•Craft sticks

•Drop cloth, plastic sheeting, or something to protect the floor and surface your working on

Optional items:

•Additives are used to create cells. you can use silicone oil, WD40, for more ideas on additives and tips on getting cells I will leave additional resources below.

•Torch or heat gun. Used to pop air bubbles in your paint and to create cells.

•Gloves. recommended not required.

Step 2: prepare work space.

•Prepare to get messy! Cover your workspace with a drop cloth, tarp, trash bag, or anything that’ll protect the surface your working on and the floor below you. You could also do your pour in a pan, tray, bin, kiddie pool or even a lid. Make sure to work in a clean dust free environment, you don’t want hair, dust, or random particles to get embedded into your masterpiece! Make sure to wear your hair back, wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on, and wear gloves if you don’t want paint all over your hands. Be sure to work on a level surface.

Work surface covered, canvas raised by cups so paint can drip off and not become dried to the surface its sitting on.

Step 3:

•Prepare paints. I use about a 1:1 ratio of paint and pouring medium and stir slowly to avoid getting bubbles in the paint. To ensure there’s no bubbles you can prep your paint 30 mins before your ready to pour. Don’t worry to closely about the measurements and Experiment with your ratios to figure out what you prefer. Add in your paint slowly and stir between more can always be added but you can’t take away the paint once you add it. I like my consistency to be like chocolate syrup and to flow off my stirring stick in a steady stream and when the paint hits in the cup, it will leave an impression on top of the paint for a second then disappear. If it sinks immediately its to thin if sits on the top for more then a second it’s too thick. To make it thicker add more paint, to make it thinner add more pouring medium and if you do use water use a very small amount.

•Now you can mix in your additive. I use about 3-4 drops of silicone oil. I haven’t yet played with other additives but, I definitely will and ill be sure to report back. I’ve listed tons of other great resources at the bottom.

Step 4: Time to create!

•Before you begin have your canvas elevated so the paint can drip off the edges and not get your canvas stuck to the surface your working on when the paint dries. You can have your canvas sitting on top of plastic cups or A cookie cooling rack (with the added bonus of not having to touch the canvas when you move the painting around).

•To create an acrylic pour, pour your colors into one cup. Experiment with pouring your colors into the middle, in a circle, a random design, down the side of the cup. (If your struggling with your colors getting muddy try pouring your colors slowly down the side of the cup so it layers and doesn’t mix much, or your paint may just be to thin.) experiment with layering your paint differently, adding in different amounts of colors, pouring in each color all at once or alternating other colors in between pouring them. The more you practice the more you’ll learn! Be sure to try other fluid art techniques as well. I use a 1;1 ratio of paint and deco art pouring medium and a 1;2 ratios of paint and Floetrol

•Now time for the magic! There are so many different ways you can get creative you can, Flip your cup on to the canvas (for a clean flip put your canvas on top of the cup and then flip) You can pour it all over your canvas. Pour it in a circle for a tree ring pour. For more ideas go to my fluid art techniques where I explain different techniques and show you videos of me doing it! Now move it, tilt your canvas around slowly to spread the paint all over the canvas.

•You can now use your torch or heat gun. (optional) to create more cells and pop any air bubbles.

Step 5:

•When you’re finished with your painting its smart to cover your painting to ensure no hair or dust gets embedded in your painting. You can do this by putting it in a tub and putting the lid on it. If you can’t find a way to cover your painting just make sure the area it’s drying in is clean. Dry time can be anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days depending on how much paint you used

•Using protective finish is important to keep your painting clean, brighten your colors, and give it a shiny smooth finish! only use once painting is completely dry. You can use a varnish, resin, or a top coat. I’ve provided great links below if you want to learn more about options for top coats and anything else I’ve covered!

Fluid Art Tips:

A list of all the helpful fluid art tips i could think of! https://happilyevercrafty.com/fluid-art-tips/

Extremely inspiring artist sharing their tips! https://happilyevercrafty.com/some-of-the-best-fluid-artist-on-instagram-share-their-tips/

If you found this post helpful please share it. Be sure to follow my social media’s to stay up to date on what I’m creating and others creations who inspire me! I would love to for you to Share your creations with me! #happilyevercrafty for me to see and for a chance to be featured on my art sharing page #colorfulcreationsgallery I’d love to hear what you thought of this tutorial, your experiences, and any questions you may have. Happy pouring!

xoxo, Taylor