BEGINNERS PAINT POUR CHEAT SHEET
Supplies
- 20x20cm single thickness canvas (Art supplies shop, Kmart or discount store)
- White acrylic paint plus 3 more colours of your choice. (Art supplies shop or discount store in art section)
- Heat gun (Bunnings)
- Floetrol (Bunnings paint section)
- Plastic party cups (Supermarket)
- Foil cooking tray that is larger than your canvas. (Supermarket)
- Paddle pop sticks (Discount store in craft section) or plastic forks to stir with.
- Pins with small handles (Kmart stationery) or a baking cooling rack to sit over your foil tray.
- Gloss Spray varnish - non yellowing (Art supply store or Kmart)
- Stocking and rubber band
Before you begin
- Place 4 pins into each corner of your canvas and sit in foil tray or put your canvas on your baking rack and sit it over your silver tray.
- Shake floetrol and cover opening with a stocking and rubber band to stop any bits going into your paint.
- Floetrol/water Mixture: In a cup or empty bottle pour 20ml of floetrol and 200ml of water. Stir or Shake and let sit.
Instructions for dirty cup pour
- Pour 50ml of each colour acrylic paint into a plastic cup.
- Pour 100ml of Floetrol on top of each colour in your cups.
- Place a paddlepop stick or fork in each cup. Stir thoroughly making sure to include paint from the bottom and sides of your cup. I usually stir each one for about 4 minutes.
- Lift your stick out of the cup and watch the paint drop back onto the colour in the cup. If your paint runs off the stick and sinks deep into the paint, it is too runny - add a little more paint and mix again. If your paint forms peaks on top of your colour it is too thick - add floetrol/water mixture. If your paint lands on the colour and flattens out - it is the right consistency and you are ready to pour. Amounts needed usually vary due to the brands used.
- When all paints are the same consistency, Pour half of your white onto the middle of the canvas. You can spread it if you like, but don't allow it to become too thin.
- In an empty cup layer your colours one by one. I usually start with white then layer dark, light until I have enough - usually just over half a cup then let sit for 5 minutes to reduce air bubbles and allow colours to start reacting with each other.
- Now flip your cup of colours onto your white paint on the canvas. Let go of the cup and let the cup sit on your canvas for 3 minutes.
- Slowly lift the cup then pick up your canvas and slowly, slowly start tilting it towards the edges. Too fast and your paint will slide off your canvas. Cover your canvas including the edges with your paint.
- With your heat gun, hold it about 30cm above your canvas on hot. This will pop any air bubble and also release additional cells to the surface. Do not let it dry your paint or your paint will crack.
- Leave your painting in the tray for 3 days to dry. Not a hot room. Paint colour will darken and change. So it you love what you ended up with, take a photo now!
- When dry, spray on 3 coats of Gloss Spray Varnish. Make sure you are outside and not spraying on your furniture. I usually put my tray on the grass outside to spray as there are strong fumes and none of my outdoor furniture gets varnished.
- Your art will be ready to hand within 24 hours!
My thoughts on silicone
You don't need it and I never use it anymore. If your paint consistency is correct, you will get cells! I have tried everything in the beauty isle and shed looking for a magic cell maker. If you want to use silicone in your work, try: Schwarzkopf Extra Care 6 Miracle Oil Essence or Spot On Treadmill Belt Lubricant. Make sure you remove the excess silicone before varnishing.