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by Kaitlyn Bonack

How to Do Acrylic Pouring

Colorful abstract painting with vibrant blues and purples, alongside painting tools.

The art of acrylic pouring isn’t as hard as you might think! To create pouring pieces, you use acrylic paints along with a medium, and pour it onto a canvas or other surface. The results are beautiful abstract effects.

In this tutorial, Mii Paintings will show you the difference between using fluid acrylics mixed with silicone oil and without. Follow along to create a space inspired acrylic pouring piece of your own!

Art supplies for acrylic painting including canvas panels, pouring medium, and tools.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

To paint this space inspired acrylic pouring piece you will need:

► Princeton Brush Catalyst Wedge No. 1 or 6

►Strathmore 300 Series Canvas Panels

►Daler-Rowney System3 Fluid Acrylics: Titanium White, Cerulean Blue Hue, Phthalo Green, and Magenta

► Daler-Rowney System3 Fluid Pouring Medium

► Daler-Rowney System3 Fluid Silicone Oil

Daler Rowney System 3 pouring medium and acrylic paint for fluid art projects.

Step 2: Mix your medium and paint

First you will need to mix your System3 Pouring Medium with the System3 Fluid Acrylic colors that you will be using.

Mix one part fluid acrylic to five parts pouring medium in a plastic cup.

Daler Rowney Silicone Oil for fluid acrylic painting techniques.

Step 3: Add silicone oil to a few colors

Add two drops of silicone oil to any colors that you want to have larger cells.

For this tutorial Mii does one canvas without (pictured left below) and one canvas with silicone oil in all colors (pictured right below).

"Person pouring colorful paint into cups for creative art project."

Step 4: Grab an empty plastic cup to mix your color scheme for pouring

Next you will want to have an empty plastic cup that you will add your fluid acrylic colors to in the order that you want.

For this tutorial, Mii puts white first, then magenta, blue, phthalo green, and more white paint on top. Repeat with your second cup for the colors mixed with silicone oil.

Art supplies for pouring paint technique on blank canvases.

Step 5: Flip the cup

Flip your paint filled cups upside down on your canvas.

Colorful acrylic pouring art on canvases with vibrant blue and pink patterns.

Step 6: Remove the cups

Remove the plastic cups from your canvas and watch as the paints begin to move.

Colorful abstract resin art on canvas, featuring blue, pink, and white swirls.

Step 7: Tilt your canvas + move the paint

Begin tilting the canvas to move the paints around. You can move it in whichever direction you would like. You can use your Princeton Catalyst Wedge to push the paint around as well.

"Vibrant abstract art with blue and purple fluid paint techniques."

Play around by tilting your canvas and using your Catalyst Wedge to create the patterns and movement in the paint that you desire!

"Colorful abstract fluid art with blue, purple, and red swirling patterns."

Step 8: Final piece

Tada! You have completed two space inspired acrylic pouring pieces.

Make sure you let them dry for two days before moving them!


We hope you have fun creating your own acrylic pouring art! It’s easy, fun, and can result in unique pieces every time. If you’re looking for more of Mii’s art, you can find her here.

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