Acrylic Pouring

Acrylic Pouring is a fluid acrylic painting technique that has become very popular with beginners and artists. There are different acrylic pouring supplies available including fluid acrylic paints, pouring mediums and pouring acrylic sets.

What is acrylic pouring?

Acrylic Pouring is when you mix Acrylic Paint with Pouring Medium to stop different colours from mixing, when poured on a surface. This results in a beautiful marbled paint effect. You can drip it, pour it or swirl it. It works best when you mix it with fluid acrylic colours, such as Liquitex Soft Body Acrylics (perfect for professionals), Pebeo Studio Acrylics, Amsterdam Acrylic Paints or Acrylic Inks.

Pebeo sell pre-mixed acrylic paints (Pebeo Studio Acrylic Paints mixed with Pebeo Pouring Medium) that are ready to pour. They are available to buy in a variety of pouring acrylic kits. Alternatively, you can buy pouring medium on its own and mix it with your choice of acrylic paint. Liquitex Pouring Medium is very popular with artists as it can be purchased in larger sizes. The ratio of acrylic paint to pouring medium depends on which brand you choose (see individual products for more detail).

What are the different acrylic pouring techniques?

The puddle pouring technique - Mix acrylic paint directly with pouring medium into individual plastic cups (use a different cup for each colour). Then, pour it straight over the canvas and move the canvas in different directions to spread the paint. The colours won't mix together and a vibrant piece of marbled abstract art will be created.

The flip cup pouring tecchnique - Pour the different pre-mixed acrylic colours into one plastic cup and flip it upside down on the canvas. As you lift the cup up, the acrylic paint flows out creating a beautiful pattern. You can experiment further by masking areas off, spinning the canvas as you pour or by sprinkling glitter or gold leaf flakes on top of the final design.

Pouring Acrylic dries to a smooth, flat glossy finish. You can add resins over the top to give it a protective coating if you are using pouring acrylics to create a table top or piece of art that is going to be used and not just a decorative object.

How do you create more cells in pouring acrylic?

If you want to create more ‘cells’ in the poured acrylic, try using the Pebeo Silicone Oil Medium. Just add a few drops to the acrylic paint mixture before you pour it or drop it on top of the painted surface. If you heat it with a blow torch before it dries, it will create even more cells, but you don't have to.

Have you tried the pouring acrylic paint technique yet? If not and you want to give it a go, we have the perfect acrylic pouring sets and supplies for you. It is easy and great fun!

For more information and inspiration, read our Pullingers blog on How to use Liquitex Pouring Medium.