Have you ever wanted to create your own abstract painting — without the pressure of perfection? Acrylic paint pouring draws in tons of artists — newbies and professionals alike — and now you can try your hand at it too! If you’re looking for a unique, low-pressure way to express your creativity, paint pouring is the way to go. Learn all about the different paint pouring techniques here.
How Paint Pouring Works
Paint pouring relies on the organic mixing of paint to create a painting like no other. And, no two paint pours are ever alike — ever! Paint pouring is a beautiful painting style that combines science and art.
But how does paint pouring work, exactly? Painters pour fluid acrylic paints onto the surface of a canvas. Then, they allow the paint to ebb and flow across the board to create a one-of-a-kind abstract painting. Since the paint does most of the work for you, paint pouring allows for a low-pressure, fun, and calming creative process.
Best Paint Pouring Techniques to Try
How many different ways can you mix paint and then pour it onto a canvas? There are dozens of methods, each creating their own brilliant effect when the painting is finished. Here are just a few of our favorite paint pouring techniques.
Puddle Pour
With puddle pouring, each paint color is individually mixed with a pouring medium. Afterward, each color is poured, one after the other, onto the center of a canvas. Once a deep puddle of paint has formed, the painter rotates, twists, and adjusts the canvas until the paint spills over the edges, creating an incredible infinity effect. Needless to say, this painting style can get a bit messy. So be sure to leave your favorite jean jacket at home!
Dirty Pour Flip Cup
An acrylic dirty pour technique requires each paint color to be thinned with a medium, stacked into a cup, and then poured onto the canvas. The design is controlled by how you pour and release the paint from the cup. Once the paint is applied, you can move, twist, and play with the canvas to manipulate your design before it dries. Dirty pour flip cup is an easy paint pouring technique for beginners, and a really fun one to add your own twist to!
Geode Ring Pour
In a Geode ring technique, the paint colors are mixed and combined just like in the flip cup style. However, the final cup is poured out in a circular motion — from center to edge — until the entire canvas is covered. This style has a “tidier” effect, but manipulating the paint before allowing it to spill off the edges is still loads of fun.
Dutch Pour
Dutch acrylic pours rely on air-producing tools like hair dryers or canned air. This style starts very similarly to flip cup acrylic pours, but the final steps yield wild abstractions. With the right tool, you can push and lure the colors around the canvas for a smokey, watery finish.
Join a Paint Pour Event at Painting with a Twist
Ready to try your hand at one of these amazing acrylic pour paint techniques? Book a Paint Pour event at your local Painting with a Twist studio and dive deep into these fun and creative methods.