Add color to pouring mediums and allow the medium to move and swirl the colors on its own, creating unusual marbleized rainbow-like visual effects.
Paint
Several acrylic paint colors
Substrate
Any primed painting surface
Tools
A painting knife or other mixing tool, spatula or other spreading tool
Products
A pourable acrylic medium of your choice (see Section 4: Tips for Coated Pours), spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol
For Cleanup
Water, water container, paper towels or rags
STEP 1 Prepare Pouring Mixture
Add enough pouring medium to a container to cover your surface. Add one drop each of two or three colors to 2 ounces of medium. This small amount of paint color still allows for part of the pouring medium to remain uncolored and transparent. Increase the amount of color for more opacity. Here is one drop each of Diarylide Yellow and Cobalt Teal. Stir minimally or not at all.
STEP 2 Pour Onto the Surface
Prop up the surface from the table. (For more information on set up see Section 4: Tips for Coated Pours.) Pour the mixture onto the surface. Here the slightly stirred mixture is poured over a dry surface prepainted with Carbon Black. For thin pouring mediums tilt the surface in all directions to help the pour spread over the surface evenly. For thicker pouring mediums gently move the pour with a knife to spread evenly. As you move the pour, by tilting or with a knife, the unmixed paint colors move around, over and under each other creating a feeling of depth. Lightly spray with alcohol to remove bubbles. Let it dry undisturbed on a level surface.
The pouring medium has cleared now that it is dry. A dramatic effect is created with very little paint. The black background sets off these light and bright colors. Instead of black, consider painting the surface with a different color or image.
A glossy pour was applied over a colored underpainting and while wet, black acrylic ink was added to create watery shapes.
NEPTUNE’S REALM
Bonnie Teitelbaum
Acrylic on panel
48" × 36" (122cm × 91cm)
A dirty-mix pour is used for the first layer. Color is enhanced using Technique 29, and washes of interference and black (Technique 34) add a final accent.
BURNISHED (DETAIL)
Sandy Keller
Acrylic on panel
48" × 16" (122cm × 41cm)