Soft body or craft acrylics are better suited than heavy body acrylics.
How to create a pour painting
Set aside your paintbrushes and get ready for a new way to make art. With just plastic cups, you can create fluid abstract pieces that are one of a kind.
WATCH: Tara makes her own pour paintings
You simply pour paint over your canvases and tilt to let it flow into gorgeous, creative swirls and shapes. The possibilities and colour combos are endless, and the results just beautiful. It’s time for you to pour it on!
Chris L Jones
Why stop at one flow artwork when you can have three? This modern take on a traditional triptych – three carved panels that tell a story – uses canvases and pouring paint to create a flowing abstract design for a splash of bold colour on your walls.
Chris L Jones
Step 1
Prepare a paint box with 4 upturned cups. Pour paint into a plastic cup. Fill to one-third with light blue, then add the next colour, pouring it down the inside of the cup. The paint will marble.
Chris L Jones
Wearing gloves, place canvas face down on cup, carefully flip canvas.
Step 3
Chris L Jones
Lay canvas flat on work surface and hold cup in place and wait as paint runs down inside of cup.
#simplycreate Pouring Art
There are 3 different acrylic pouring painting techniques to try with this tutorial which has been created by Daler-Rowney artist Jenny Muncaster. Jenny’s acrylic pouring for beginners guides are easy to follow and you will be amazed by the results!
Getting started: Before you start any pouring painting projects, make sure you protect your work surface as this technique can get messy! A plastic sheet or a tablecloth or a bin bag is useful and can be used again. A jar lid under your artboard helps to elevate it and keep it up and out of the tilted-off paint. Use a washable tray or plate to catch any drips, (an aluminium foil or baking tray also works well). For further acrylic pour projects, a baking tray and rack are handy to have in your toolkit!
Drying: in most cases, the artwork will be touch dry in 24 hours, but it can sometimes take longer depending on how thick the paint is on the board. It is recommended to place wet paintings on plastic (a bag or tray) or a baking sheet, rather than paper to prevent the wet paint from sticking to the surface as it dries. Make sure the surface is level, so the paint settles and dries evenly.
Excess paint drips: Any acrylic paint that drips off can be peeled away when dry and used as a ‘skin’. These can be used for other art and craft projects like jewellery and collages.
Be experimental: Every time you do an acrylic pour painting it will provide a totally unique effect. Why not try out different colour combinations – you never know what you will get!
Helpful Tips for Acrylic Pouring Painting
There are 3 different acrylic pouring painting techniques to try with this tutorial which has been created by Daler-Rowney artist Jenny Muncaster. Jenny’s acrylic pouring for beginners guides are easy to follow and you will be amazed by the results!
Getting started: Before you start any pouring painting projects, make sure you protect your work surface as this technique can get messy! A plastic sheet or a tablecloth or a bin bag is useful and can be used again. A jar lid under your artboard helps to elevate it and keep it up and out of the tilted-off paint. Use a washable tray or plate to catch any drips, (an aluminium foil or baking tray also works well). For further acrylic pour projects, a baking tray and rack are handy to have in your toolkit!
Drying: in most cases, the artwork will be touch dry in 24 hours, but it can sometimes take longer depending on how thick the paint is on the board. It is recommended to place wet paintings on plastic (a bag or tray) or a baking sheet, rather than paper to prevent the wet paint from sticking to the surface as it dries. Make sure the surface is level, so the paint settles and dries evenly.
Excess paint drips: Any acrylic paint that drips off can be peeled away when dry and used as a ‘skin’. These can be used for other art and craft projects like jewellery and collages.
Be experimental: Every time you do an acrylic pour painting it will provide a totally unique effect. Why not try out different colour combinations – you never know what you will get!
