How to Paint Fluid Art
Clean the work surface and cover it with plastic sheeting., Set up your materials., Test your paints and tools., Set up the angle of your canvas., Add a toned ground to your canvas., Begin transferring paint to the canvas., Spread the paint with...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Clean the work surface and cover it with plastic sheeting.
It’s important to clean your work space before painting as dust and dirt can easily settle into slow-drying fluid paint.
Sweep or vacuum the floor or tabletop that you will be placing your canvas on.
Cover the surface with clean plastic sheeting to protect it from stains, and to prevent your artwork from sticking to it., The best choice of canvas for fluid painting is a sealed panel, which can handle the weight of fluid acrylics better than a traditional canvas.
Set up your canvas and place your paints within arm’s reach of it.
Lay out any spreading tools that you may use to disperse paint.You can purchase paint or spreading tools at an art supply store, or make fluid paint by diluting regular acrylic paint. , Before embarking on a large fluid painting project, test out your paints and tools on a small, spare canvas to see what effects they produce.
Different spreading tools (e.g., palette knives or trowels) may leave unique marks on the paint, and paints may react with each other in different ways given their pigment concentration, finish (e.g. matte, glossy), and density.
Observe how the paint looks after letting it dry for several days., If you wish to have full control of how fluid paint is dispersed onto your canvas, place it perfectly flat on your work surface.
If you are aiming for a specific dripping effect, place the canvas upright or at an angle.
Use an easel or prop the canvas up with something solid (e.g., a large piece of wood) to achieve the angle you want., Before starting your fluid painting, consider painting your plain canvas with one solid paint color (or “toned ground”) to make the end result look more professional.
Use regular acrylic paint in an opaque color for this.
Dip a large brush in the paint and cover the canvas in broad strokes from left to right, aiming to make the paint as smooth as possible.Let the canvas sit for 2-3 hours to dry before applying fluid paint to it. , How paint disperses onto the canvas will depend on the method of application you use, the vessel you transfer it from, and the angle and distance at which you apply it.
Most store-bought fluid paint is sold in squeeze bottles with small nozzles that allow you to dispense it in fine lines, but you can transfer the paint to any container you choose to create your artwork.
Some techniques for getting fluid paint onto a canvas include:
Pouring (applying a generous stream of paint to the canvas) Drizzling (pouring very light stream of paint onto the canvas) Dropping (e.g., from an eye-dropper) Puddling (Applying a puddle of paint to the canvas and letting it seep over it) Splashing (Projecting paint onto the canvas with enough force to bounce back off of it) , Depending on the design you wish to achieve, you can use spreading tools or a dry paintbrush to disperse fluid paint across your canvas.
To ensure greater control, spread or move paint very lightly in multiple, thin coats.
Have an empty container or basin on hand to collect excess paint from the canvas, if necessary, using a clean spreading tool.Make sure that your tools are perfectly clean before you start painting.Tools should always be cleaned with warm water and hand soap immediately after use, before paint dries on them., Fluid paint is a very wet medium and requires more drying time than other paints.
If you wish to layer paint designs over other work on the canvas, allow one to three days between coats so that the layers can dry thoroughly.
Painting over other fluid paint that hasn’t dried completely can cause cracks or fissures on the surface of the paint., Look for clear, squeezable containers that will allow you to see the color of your paint and disperse it easily.
Squeeze bottles with a nozzle cap (available at craft stores or online) are the most versatile choice for fluid painting.
Purchase the bottles in appropriate sizes for the amount of paint you will be making., To make fluid paint, fill each bottle halfway full with the acrylic paint of your choice (available at art supply stores).
Fill the remaining half of the bottle with equal parts water and acrylic medium (e.g., glazing liquid, also available at art supply stores).
Be sure to keep this ratio of paint to water/acrylic medium, as further diluting the paint may diminish its ability to adhere to the surface being painted.Opt for artist grade acrylic paint, which has a higher concentration of pigment than student grade paint., Use a coffee stir stick or a small straw to stir the paint without adding air bubbles to it.
You can also add a small ball bearing to the container to help with mixing.
Make sure that the paint is thoroughly mixed to avoid clumps or uneven coverage., After making or using the paint, clean the nozzle and poke the tip with a pin or toothpick to prevent clogging.
Ensure that your paint doesn't dry out by unscrewing the nozzle cap and placing a small square of cling wrap onto the opening.
Re-cover it tightly.As a general rule, paint should not be kept for more than two years.Paint should be stored in a cool, dry place, but should not be allowed to freeze. -
Step 2: Set up your materials.
-
Step 3: Test your paints and tools.
-
Step 4: Set up the angle of your canvas.
-
Step 5: Add a toned ground to your canvas.
-
Step 6: Begin transferring paint to the canvas.
-
Step 7: Spread the paint with your tools as desired.
-
Step 8: Dry your canvas between coats.
-
Step 9: Choose containers for your paint.
-
Step 10: Mix acrylic paint
-
Step 11: acrylic medium and water in a squeeze bottle.
-
Step 12: Mix together the paint.
-
Step 13: Store the paint.
Detailed Guide
It’s important to clean your work space before painting as dust and dirt can easily settle into slow-drying fluid paint.
Sweep or vacuum the floor or tabletop that you will be placing your canvas on.
Cover the surface with clean plastic sheeting to protect it from stains, and to prevent your artwork from sticking to it., The best choice of canvas for fluid painting is a sealed panel, which can handle the weight of fluid acrylics better than a traditional canvas.
Set up your canvas and place your paints within arm’s reach of it.
Lay out any spreading tools that you may use to disperse paint.You can purchase paint or spreading tools at an art supply store, or make fluid paint by diluting regular acrylic paint. , Before embarking on a large fluid painting project, test out your paints and tools on a small, spare canvas to see what effects they produce.
Different spreading tools (e.g., palette knives or trowels) may leave unique marks on the paint, and paints may react with each other in different ways given their pigment concentration, finish (e.g. matte, glossy), and density.
Observe how the paint looks after letting it dry for several days., If you wish to have full control of how fluid paint is dispersed onto your canvas, place it perfectly flat on your work surface.
If you are aiming for a specific dripping effect, place the canvas upright or at an angle.
Use an easel or prop the canvas up with something solid (e.g., a large piece of wood) to achieve the angle you want., Before starting your fluid painting, consider painting your plain canvas with one solid paint color (or “toned ground”) to make the end result look more professional.
Use regular acrylic paint in an opaque color for this.
Dip a large brush in the paint and cover the canvas in broad strokes from left to right, aiming to make the paint as smooth as possible.Let the canvas sit for 2-3 hours to dry before applying fluid paint to it. , How paint disperses onto the canvas will depend on the method of application you use, the vessel you transfer it from, and the angle and distance at which you apply it.
Most store-bought fluid paint is sold in squeeze bottles with small nozzles that allow you to dispense it in fine lines, but you can transfer the paint to any container you choose to create your artwork.
Some techniques for getting fluid paint onto a canvas include:
Pouring (applying a generous stream of paint to the canvas) Drizzling (pouring very light stream of paint onto the canvas) Dropping (e.g., from an eye-dropper) Puddling (Applying a puddle of paint to the canvas and letting it seep over it) Splashing (Projecting paint onto the canvas with enough force to bounce back off of it) , Depending on the design you wish to achieve, you can use spreading tools or a dry paintbrush to disperse fluid paint across your canvas.
To ensure greater control, spread or move paint very lightly in multiple, thin coats.
Have an empty container or basin on hand to collect excess paint from the canvas, if necessary, using a clean spreading tool.Make sure that your tools are perfectly clean before you start painting.Tools should always be cleaned with warm water and hand soap immediately after use, before paint dries on them., Fluid paint is a very wet medium and requires more drying time than other paints.
If you wish to layer paint designs over other work on the canvas, allow one to three days between coats so that the layers can dry thoroughly.
Painting over other fluid paint that hasn’t dried completely can cause cracks or fissures on the surface of the paint., Look for clear, squeezable containers that will allow you to see the color of your paint and disperse it easily.
Squeeze bottles with a nozzle cap (available at craft stores or online) are the most versatile choice for fluid painting.
Purchase the bottles in appropriate sizes for the amount of paint you will be making., To make fluid paint, fill each bottle halfway full with the acrylic paint of your choice (available at art supply stores).
Fill the remaining half of the bottle with equal parts water and acrylic medium (e.g., glazing liquid, also available at art supply stores).
Be sure to keep this ratio of paint to water/acrylic medium, as further diluting the paint may diminish its ability to adhere to the surface being painted.Opt for artist grade acrylic paint, which has a higher concentration of pigment than student grade paint., Use a coffee stir stick or a small straw to stir the paint without adding air bubbles to it.
You can also add a small ball bearing to the container to help with mixing.
Make sure that the paint is thoroughly mixed to avoid clumps or uneven coverage., After making or using the paint, clean the nozzle and poke the tip with a pin or toothpick to prevent clogging.
Ensure that your paint doesn't dry out by unscrewing the nozzle cap and placing a small square of cling wrap onto the opening.
Re-cover it tightly.As a general rule, paint should not be kept for more than two years.Paint should be stored in a cool, dry place, but should not be allowed to freeze.
About the Author
Grace Lane
Experienced content creator specializing in hobbies guides and tutorials.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: