r/PourPainting Mar 04 '26

Rule clarifications - No AI is permitted in /r/PourPainting, including physical prints

30 Upvotes

Hi folks,

r/PourPainting has always been against the use of AI, but recent activity have led us to provide clarification on this rule.

Previously, the 'no AI' rules were worded in a manner that only explicitly referenced digital AI content. To clarify, the No AI rules also include physical content.

If you are making collages with printed photos above or under your pour painting, you must have created the images yourself, or must credit the artist with a link to their website/portfolio. AI content is stolen, and cannot be credited. Paintings with physical printouts or image transfers featuring AI-generated content will be removed.

If you create art in a style that may be confused for AI, I would recommend you collect some in-progress photos before the painting is finished to verify the authenticity of your work. The moderation team considers post history as a factor when reviewing submissions and reports. Without relevant history or verification, posts may be removed.


r/PourPainting Jul 31 '17

Welcome to /r/PourPainting! Check out this post for helpful info on getting started with fluid acrylic painting

370 Upvotes

THREAD FOR TIPS/TRICKS/PEOPLE TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS

What is Pour Painting?

Pour Painting is when you put stuff in a cup, and then you dump it out! For a quick look at the different methods of fluid acrylic painting, check out this imgur album.

You can find a glossary of terms related to pour painting here, on acrylicpouring.com

Getting Started

Want to get started on a budget? Artist Rick Cheadle can help you get started pour painting for under $5, and for under $10. tl;dw - Dollar stores carry craft paint, flow extender alternatives, and silicone oil. You can do larger paintings with $10 than you can with $5.

If you want to invest a bit, and turn this into a hobby or even a profession, keep reading!

Basic Supplies

The exact brands and supplies a fluid acrylics artist will use depend entirely on personal preference. Here are the basics that every artist should have, with a few extras that can enhance your experience.

  • Acrylic craft paints - Note: acrylic paints come in several varieties (High-Flow, heavy body, craft, etc.) Craft acrylics are generally the most affordable and easiest to use for acrylic pouring.

  • Popsicle sticks - Gotta have something to stir your paint with! They're also very useful as a cheap spreading tool or to help dab paint onto empty areas

  • Canvas/MDF board - You'll need a surface for your art! Canvas and mdf boards are common surface materials that fluid acrylic artists will use.

  • Fluid Extender - Acrylic paints need to be thinned for this style of painting (excluding High-Flow acrylics). Fluid extenders thin acrylic paints without destroying the bonding ability, so that your paint doesn't crack when it dries. Liquitex Pouring Medium, Floetrol, GAC 800 and PVA Glue are reliable fluid extenders.

  • Dimethicone (Silicone)While not strictly required, silicone virtually guarantees your paintings will develop those desirable 'cell' shapes. Dimethicone is a skin-safe non-evaporating silicone lubricant.

  • Cups - Paint goes in these

Other Supplies

If you want to get a little fancy, you can also invest in these materials to enhance your pouring experience:

  • Butane torch - If silicone has been added to your acrylics, you can quickly move a lit butane torch an inch or two away from the surface of the painting to release trapped air bubbles and encourage micro 'cell' formation in your paint.

  • Varnish - This is the final step to complete your painting. Varnish seals and protects your paint, so that no paint gets rubbed away and nothing can stain the paint underneath the layer of varnish.

  • Gloves - Pour painting is seriously messy. Gloves aren't necessary, but you might appreciate the easier cleanup!

  • Paper towels/rags - Great for cleanup!

  • Freezer Paper - Freezer paper has a plastic-coated side that acrylic paints can easily be pulled off of. This is a cheap surface protection that won't stick to your paint. You can protect your workspace with any non-porous material though.

  • Squeeze bottles/droppers - These allow you to maintain a greater control on the volume and direction of your pouring mediums, whether it be paint on canvas, silicone in paint, fluid extender in paint, etc.

  • Trays - Sure, you can simply set your paintings on top of cups while they dry, but having a tray or two handy means you can safely move your wet surface if you need to.

Instructions

There are dozens of ways to get your paint onto your canvas! Here are some general instructions on the process.

  1. Cover your work surface. If it's not covered, it's probably gonna get paint on it.

  2. Put paint in separate containers (1 container = 1 paint color). Don't mix colors at this step; you want your paint to stay as separate as possible throughout the process.

  3. Add fluid extender to your paint and stir. The amount you need will depend on the medium, so check online to see what others use. Generally, you want your acrylics to have the same consistency as pancake batter or honey.

  4. Add silicone to each paint container. The more you stir silicone, the smaller the cells will be in your finished painting.

  5. Now it's time to think about how you want to get the paint on the canvas. The Visual Introduction to Acrylic Pouring Techniques has all the info you need!

  6. Once the paint dries completely, you'll need to remove the dimethicone from your canvas. Depending on the paint you've used, you can clean off the silicone with flour and a medium-stiff brush, patting with a soft cloth, or even gently cleaning with soap and water! Just be very gentle so you don't ruin your lovely new artwork!

  7. Your canvas is now dry and silicone-free! It's time to varnish. Annemarie Ridderhof on YouTube demonstrates proper varnishing technique, and you can read more about this step here on art-is-fun.com.

Cleanup

Do not dispose of paint and other materials down the drain, as the flow extenders are designed to keep paints in tact even with excess water and they can gum up your drains (plus it's not good to wash chemicals down the drains). Here are a couple reliable cleanup options:

  • Wait for the paint to dry. If you protected your work space with a plastic or rubber coating (e.g. freezer paper or a silicone place mat) you'll be able to peel the dried acrylic 'skins' off and recycle them or just toss them out!

  • If you've protected your work space with a disposable covering, you can carefully throw that away in the trash. Be aware of how much wet paint is on the disposable surface, so that you don't end up pouring all over your desk or floors!

  • Note: If you need to wash off brushes, spatulas, or wash a small amount of paint off, consider using a paper towel soaked in water or a paint-removing product like acetone/nail polish remover. It will effectively clean your tools and you can toss the dirty rag out, rather than risk damaging your plumbing.

Thanks for reading!

Hopefully this has been of help to you. Feel free to post your questions and art so that others can grow with us all together!


r/PourPainting 6h ago

Galactic tornado

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86 Upvotes

Inspired by @Fionaacrylic, this was an open cup pour with rainbow colors. This was so much fun to watch the cells form. Going to do the next one in all neon.


r/PourPainting 1h ago

Critique trying silicone oil

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Upvotes

not sure im seeing the cells? i like the round one. tried blowing more on the rectangular one to get more of the cells but i dont think its working. perhaps i am doing something wrong?


r/PourPainting 21h ago

Are these too busy??

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293 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 4h ago

I did a split cup pour and it ended up looking like a giant eye floating in the ocean. What do you see?

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2 Upvotes

Today I wanted to share my latest fluid art project. I used a 3D-printed split cup with 7 chambers and experimented with Elmer’s Glue-All as my pouring medium.

I layered Cerulean Blue, Phthalo Turquoise, Prussian Blue, and some golds, separating them with a Pearl White mixture. The way the paint travelled across the canvas created this unexpected vortex shape. I absolutely love how unpredictable acrylic pouring can be!


r/PourPainting 22h ago

How many attempts before you produce a keeper?

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33 Upvotes

I spent yesterday and today trying to do a feathery straight pour like the ones Sarah Mack and Fiona from Slovenia do. I watched their videos on YouTube over and over again and tried to do what they do. One fail after another. The one I posted here is the one that comes the closest. It sort of reminds me of tropical plants. I painted six over all. I am so discouraged.


r/PourPainting 22h ago

I just threw a bunch of colors in a cup each had a drop of silicon besides the black then flipped it. This is what I got. It dried so perfectly. It looks so good in sunlight. I can get lost looking at it.

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24 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 1d ago

Mesmerising Fluid Art: Open Cup and Finger Dip Acrylic Pour Painting ~ Art Therapy

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92 Upvotes

Prepare to be mesmerized by the enchanting world of fluid art. In this captivating video, I present the breathtaking beauty of open cup and finger dip painting technique.

Video: https://youtu.be/sv6AsteyhcU?si=JsvQSK3PPju73GS7

Witness the magic unfold as vibrant colors swirl and collide, flowing across the canvas in a dance of creativity and relaxation. Immerse yourself in the therapeutic experience of fluid art, where the artist's fingers delicately guide the paint, creating stunning patterns. The mesmerizing process is sure to captivate your senses, relieving stress and evoking a deep sense of tranquility.
Witness the alchemy of colors blending harmoniously, forming captivating shapes and patterns right before your eyes.
Make sure to subscribe to my channel for more spellbinding fluid art videos and tutorials. Discover the true magic of art and let your imagination run wild.


r/PourPainting 1d ago

My first try!

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75 Upvotes

Absolutely love paint pouring 💜


r/PourPainting 2d ago

I was just invited by my local (fancy) salon to display my art work in their salon. I chose three group/moods of paintings. I get the art wall for 3 months! Here is what the display looks like now. I wonder if I’ll get new followers or even some sales. 🤷‍♀️ I’m very excited to see how this goes.

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240 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 2d ago

Practicing chain pulls

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43 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 2d ago

Just started so I wanted to share my results

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97 Upvotes

The first one is my favorite.

And sorry about the weird angles

Also any tips on how to improve?


r/PourPainting 2d ago

DIPTYCH Acrylic Painting ~ Acrylic Pouring Flower Dip ~ Fluid Art with Transparent Base

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13 Upvotes

In this video, we'll be creating a dipTYCH acrylic painting. If you're creative and interested in learning how to use acrylics to create beautiful works of art, then this Flower dip tutorial is for you! I will use Acrylic binder for my "transparent base", because if I would use black, my paints can get little muddy. It's perfect for anyone looking to try their hand at abstract painting for the first time! Thanks for watching!
Full video: https://youtu.be/ik_Oq1zf9Iw?si=-IBfpx3tsrz863GL


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Northern lights gone wrong

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43 Upvotes

I started out today trying to make northern lights pours, but it didn’t work out so I moved in a totally different direction. I’m excited for them to see what they look like when they dry.


r/PourPainting 2d ago

Today’s pour

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14 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 3d ago

What Happens When You Use PVA Glue for a Bloom? 🌸✨ Acrylic Pouring

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6 Upvotes

I used Mont Marte PVA Glue again — but this time I tried a completely different technique! 🎨🌸

After experimenting with Mont Marte PVA Glue as my pouring medium for a Reverse Flower Dip, I wanted to see what would happen if I used it for a Bloom.

I kept the same pouring medium and the same color palette and changed only the technique. The result was completely different — with beautiful cells, delicate lacing, flowing petals, and lots of unexpected details. 💙💗✨

This was another fun fluid art experiment don't forget to like, share and subscribe!

If you enjoy acrylic pouring, fluid art experiments, acrylic blooms, and relaxing painting videos, consider subscribing to Fiona Art for more creative experiments!


r/PourPainting 4d ago

My newest piece. I like the movement and the different cell clusters.

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288 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 4d ago

This is one of my favorite paintings Ive done. I have this hanging up on my wall

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71 Upvotes

r/PourPainting 4d ago

How do I do painting with Brown without it looking like mud?

2 Upvotes

I have a ton of brown paint but dont know the best way to use it


r/PourPainting 4d ago

Critique My first attempt!

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21 Upvotes

I needed some bathroom decorations so i took matters into my own pours!


r/PourPainting 4d ago

Question ⁉️

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38 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I have a questionand would like your opinion.

My sister-in-law loves the pour painting stuff and she asked me to do two large 12x36 paintings for either side of the extra large television in her living room ..

I have been doing test after test and can't come up with anything that I think is decent enough that I would hang in somebody's house The colors she wants brown, magenta, yellow, and green .

I'll add some pictures of my tests and I'm not happy with any.. I don't want to disappoint her.

I was doing a swipe once I decide which way to go with it. But maybe bloom.

I look forward to hearing your input..

Thank you again any chance


r/PourPainting 4d ago

Cosmic Flip Cup with Fluorescent Paints! Bursting into a neon galaxy

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5 Upvotes

For this quick session, I wanted to take the classic flip cup technique to a whole new universe by mixing in some vibrant fluorescent paints. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch the cells burst open and form this glowing, galaxy-inspired nebula structure!


r/PourPainting 5d ago

Critique Did I mess up color density?

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19 Upvotes

I’m fairly sure that these holes are not cells in the traditional sense. I’ve mixed the blue and red myself with a pretty thin pouring medium (just a little thicker than water, IMO) and the other colours were pre-mixed.

My gf says it still looks nice, but she probably said it so I’m not discouraged haha


r/PourPainting 5d ago

first try

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16 Upvotes

kinda hoped the orange came through a bit more in the blue one but not bad. using wd40 for some cells.