Create a pour painting: ocean theme

If you've ever wanted to try your hand at fluid art, you're about to find out how. In this tutorial we take you through each step from mixing your paints, to pouring and creating stunning patterns. Download the material list and lesson PDF below.

Step 1. Mixing the paint

Acrylic paints are used throughout this project. Use disposable cups to mix the paint in. Although this project is quite simple, some care must be taken to mix each cup of paint to the same correct consistency so the paint flows freely.

We suggest a measurement ladle be created from a cup divided into 4 equal parts and then the top 3 parts of the cup can be removed leaving a handle.

To mix the paint, squeeze 1 part of paint into the cup. Use the measurement ladle and place 2 parts of Acrylic Flow Medium into the cup followed by 1 part of water. Mix the paint thoroughly until the mixture is fully consolidated.

Follow this procedure with the other colours.

Step 2. Adding the paint

Now we have our paint mixed up in separate cups we need to layer the colours up into the pouring cups.

As this canvas is a 76.2x101.6cm canvas ,which is quite large for a pour painting, 3 cups of paint will be required. To create a pour over a large canvas works better when the paint is applied in small vessels as the paint tends to amalgamate and create mud when layered up in a single large vessel. Each cup has a dominant colour poured in first.

Lay the paint up in this order;

Cup1) 2 parts Silver, 1 part Cerulean Blue, 1 part Ultramarine and 1 part Phthalo Blue.

Cup 2) 2 parts Turquoise, 1 part Yellow mixed with Green, 1 part Cerulean Blue and 1 part Titanium White.

Cup 3) 2 Parts Phthalo Blue, 1 part Ultramarine, 1 part Cerulean Blue and 1 part Silver.

Step 3. Medium

The last preparational step is to lay Acrylic Flow Medium over the surface. Spread this as consistently as you can right up to the edges.

Step 4. Get pouring!

The least messy way to apply the paint is to cover the paint cup with a sheet of card and carefully turn it face down over the canvas, rest it on the surface and slide the card from the opening of the cup and gently lift the cup.

Regarding positioning, the only consideration is where to lay each cup. On our painting, we placed cups 1 and 2 roughly central on the canvas and cup 3 the Phthalo Blue cup slightly below.