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How to do acrylic pour painting

By Bella

Bella in an art studio holding finished paint pour artwork

Overview

Acrylic pour painting is a popular abstract art technique. It involves using a fluid acrylic paint mixture and pouring it onto a surface like canvas, boards, glass or wood. It’s a wonderful way to add a pop of colour to any space – large or small – and a fun way to harness a little D.I.Y. creativity.

Team Member Bella is sharing tips on how to create your own.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Tools and materials

Tools

Materials

Steps

  1. 1

    Prepare your canvas

    Raise your canvas by adding painter’s pyramids underneath. This will allow the paint to drip off the sides.

    Bella in an art studio pouring teal paint onto round canvas
  2. 2

    Prepare the paint

    Choose your paint colours. Pour each paint colour into individual cups. Add 5-10mls of silicone oil into each cup. (This will create a smooth flow when pouring the paint onto the canvas. It also acts as a diluting agent and a binder.)

    Mix the silicone oil and paint using popsicle sticks.

    Green Bunnings hammer
    Tip: Don’t forget to wear gloves, as it can get messy!
    Cups of paint and paint tubes sprawled on a canvas
  3. 3

    Pour the paint

    Pour the paint onto the canvas in any way that you like. Use multiple colours to create a more artistic look.

    Bella in an art studio pouring light teal paint onto round canvas
  4. 4

    Start creating

    Now comes the fun part: Lift your canvas and start to tilt it to get the paint moving. Alternatively, you can use a heat gun or hair dryer and blow on the canvas to move the paint in different directions. There is no wrong way to do this – just keep moving the paint around until you are happy with the final look.

    Allow your creation to dry for two days before hanging on the wall.

    Bella in an art studio using hair dryer to move paint around canvas
  5. 5

    Are you ready to get started?

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.