Art is a universal language and while many people think it’s limited only to those with specific talents, the truth is that art is for everyone. You don’t have to be a great artist, but you can try your hand at creating through painting or drawing and you may be surprised to find out how much fun art can be. You can delve into the world of colouring with the best colour pencils or use the acrylic pour technique to create beautiful and unique paintings.
Whether you want to call it fluid art or acrylic pouring, there is nothing more satisfying than creating abstract art by letting pigment run freely. This form of abstract art used acrylics with a runny consistency to create one-of-a-kind paintings. It offers endless creative possibilities and is a great art form for all skill levels. Before you get started on your first painting, you’ll need the essential fluid art supplies.
What Supplies Do You Need for Fluid Art?
Acrylic pouring is fun, but also, it’s a powerful activity that can benefit your physical and mental health. It can help you lower stress levels, clear some headspace and discover your artistic skills. However, for a beginner, it can be confusing working out what you need to buy. Here is a list of the essential items you need, so you can choose fluid art supplies and start your acrylic pouring journey right.
Pour-Painting Surface
You can pour on many different surfaces, but canvases are the go-to option for most artists, especially at the beginning. Sealed wood panels are a good choice as well because they can withstand heavy paint without sagging. If you want to get creative, you can use ceramic tiles or old vinyl records as surfaces for your paintings. But remember that it’s always a good idea to prepare your canvas and other surfaces with gesso before you paint.
If you use panels that are not pre-primed, make sure to brush on a coat of gesso, which is an acrylic primer and let it dry for a day. Then you can start your acrylic pour painting. If you go with canvas, you need a tightly stretched one, so sagging wouldn’t be a problem.
Liquid or Soft Body Acrylic Paints
It goes without saying that paints are the most important thing you need when creating pours. You can start right away with the basic colours and achieve beautiful results. It doesn’t have to be an expensive and extremely high quality painting for the start. Instead, you can make your first experiences with inexpensive acrylic paintings and move on to more expensive acrylics over time.
Liquid or soft body acrylic paints are perfect for fluid art due to their consistency. They have a much thinner consistency than heavy body acrylics. While liquid acrylics have high viscosity, you’ll still want to add something to get the consistency you are after. To get the viscosity and pouring rate you like, a good pouring medium is key.
What Medium is Used for Fluid Art?
The pouring medium is a very important part of the acrylic pouring process. It’s used to dilute your acrylic paints, make them flowable and ensure smooth drying with no cracks. The pouring medium helps keep each colour separate and prevents them from blending into a single hue. A good medium doesn’t change the colour or the finish of the paint it’s added to but makes it flow more freely.
The pouring medium naturally creates what is known as cells in acrylic pouring. These are little spots and shapes caused by the paint and additive mixing and creating. They naturally make the painting take on a colourful appearance and a beautiful abstract.
There are many pouring mediums out there to choose from, so you can test and try different types and brands and decide which one works best for you. However, in the end, what really matters is to have the right consistency. It’s the most essential element in assuring a successful pour. The ratio of flow medium to acrylic paint varies, depending on the consistency you want to achieve with your paint.
Other Supplies for Fluid Art
Other key things, such as cups, sticks, drying racks and other utensils make the whole process easier and neater. Some things like glitter or metallic paints, on the other hand, can be the cherry on top of an already rewarding art form. Always make sure you are working on a level surface to ensure you the best results, while you are pouring, but also when leaving your painting to dry.
When it comes to fluid art, it’s very important to keep your space clean. It’s an art form that can get messy, so you can use plastic sheets to keep your table or floor from getting colour. Also, you will need clear plastic cups, squeeze bottles and wood stirrers. Many artists use palette knives as well to spread and even paint towards the edges and a heat torch to get rid of bubbles and bring cells out in specific areas.
Don’t underestimate how much you are going to get into the world of acrylic pouring. Experimentation is key, but unlike many other forms of art or hobbies, with this one, you get results right away. Even the learning curve is satisfying, so you can easily get hooked on fluid art and enjoy every step of it.
