The Art of Paint Pouring : Amanda VanEver (Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, USA)

There are some days, when something suddenly grabs not just attention of the eyes, but takes up its own place in the heart…. It doesn’t let the mind get rid of thinking about it… Similarly, last year, my eyes caught an attention to a type of painting… It was kind of abstract. But, too beautiful to explain in words… Didn’t even know what it was called or how it is created. Kept finding about it. Didn’t even know who can guide more about it. Yet, kept searching. Not just online…. Kept reading about it, saw many videos along with the completed paintings, studied many tutorials, kept reading interviews of the artists who created this type of paintings. Search led to the results…! 

A book 'The Art of Paint Pouring' by Artist Amanda VanEver (Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, USA) is one perfect book to learn in depth this art technique. 

Artist Amanda VanEver on YouTube - 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW1h2YeyIOSI8fsZDcRBDfw

Information about art of paint pouring :

Method is called ‘acrylic pour painting’ / ‘acrylic pour’. (Pour = ओतणे). There are types of pour painting, for example, dirty pour, striated, etc. Pour painting is created using acrylics (fluid acrylic inks / heavy / medium / soft body), mixed up with proportionate pouring medium and water. Also, to get cell formations, it is needed to add few drops of silicone oil / resin to the mixture. Very messy it is to appear during the process but, once done, it is marvellous….! It requires lot of patience, perseverance and dedication, a readiness to mess up…. There’s nothing right, nothing wrong in the process once the proportion becomes appropriate for the desired results. It is like trusting in the unknown. It can be done on stretched canvas (better than non-stretched canvas as it is better to handle while tilting from sides by holding in the hands), wood or any material that can be compatible with the acrylic colours. Not just for painting on canvas, it can be used commercially also for jewellery making, pot-decorations, etc. The pouring medium can be either glossy or matte finish. I preferred glossy to use. I didn’t use the silicone oil as I wanted to create a first pour painting with basic technique. Next time, I will try to work with silicone oil to create the cells in the painting. Most messy part of the painting is tilting the canvas once the mixture is poured on it. It takes up 24 hours to 2-3 days approximately to let it completely dry, (without moving it at all to avoid the spoiling of the desired appearance), considering the humidity or heat in the weather (hair dryer technique shouldn’t be used at all to avoid the cracks) and the proportion of pouring medium and water along with the type of acrylic colours used. Heavy = thick acrylic colours with highest possible pigmentation with need of more proper stirring of pouring medium to avoid lumps and bubbles. Medium = less thick. Soft = fluid acrylic colours which need less pouring medium as they are already semi liquid and viscous (able to flow). Fluid acrylic inks are not same as soft body acrylics. Acrylic colours in tubes (heavy / medium / soft body) are preferable as they can be put up in the glass (disposable is preferable than stainless steel to avoid time cleaning later), only as much as needed. Taking out acrylic colours from a tiny bottle becomes bit tougher to put it into the glass for creating the mixture. Cell formation with silicone oil drops is whole different thing. Ideal ratio of the proportion is 1 part colour : 2 parts pouring medium : 2 to 3 teaspoons or more of water. Stir it up with the wooden sticks or spoons. A plastic or thick placement of waste newspapers is necessary to clean up later. Care should be taken to not let the glass containing the mixture slips out of the grasp of the hand while pouring, else it will be a destruction of all the efforts. Putting up gloves is required to avoid any skin infection (I didn’t use gloves though, as I had already bought non toxic pouring medium). Using a thick brush or fingers to touch up the sides of the stretched canvas is required to maintain the consistency in the overall appearance.
Pouring and tilting is the key to the successful pour painting!

There are types and techniques of paint pouring :

Dirty pour, swiping, dipping, pulling, hammering, pouring through a colander, etc.

The book also provides helpful information about the tools and materials required to create a paint pour artwork.

The book also provides insight how to use the art of paint pouring for commercial purposes as an artist. 

If you are ready to learn new art technique, go ahead for it with this book! Worth the cost. I bought it from Amazon.

My star-rating full 5-stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐