3 Simple Techniques to create Abstract Acrylic Paintings for Beginners

Abstract Acrylic paintings might seem deceptively simple and easy to paint, but once you begin, it can be a tricky thing to master. Pouring the paint fluids on a canvas sheet or board is easy, however even experts lose control over their pours. If mixed quickly, the colors become muddy and end up in drab colors and wasted canvas. We have compiled 3 simple acrylic pouring techniques that will make you a pouring master in no time.

• Traditional Pour:

If you look at the basics of abstract acrylic painting, it’s simply mixing fluid colors with medium to get the right consistencies and pouring them onto a canvas or board. The traditional pour is the simplest pouring technique and should be a starting point for all those who have never tried acrylic pouring before. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be able to paint your first piece of Abstract Acrylic painting.

1. First select the colors you want to use. You might be tempted to use all your favorite colors, but try to stick to a palette with fewer colors to begin with. Too many colors make your compositions messy.
2. Add pouring medium with colors in separate cups for each color. Make sure you do it slowly to avoid bubbles in your artwork.
3. Some artists recommend working on a wet base coat for smoother application. For this you can prepare your canvas with a layer of fluid color.
4. Once you have prepped your canvas, pour the fluids on it slowly one by one then tilt your canvas to create unique patterns and designs.
5. Congrats, your first painting is done. Now all you have to do is to let it dry and then hang it accordingly.

• Dirty Pour:

The Dirty Pour is quite similar to the Traditional pour. However instead of preparing your colors in individual cups, you add them into a single cup before pouring. This delivers slightly more unpredictable results than a traditional pour, but is comparatively an easier technique to master.

1. Begin by preparing your paints in individual cups.
2. Now add them all in a single cup in successive layers. The way you add them will decide the pattern your artwork takes. Lighter colors raise to the top while heavier ones sink to the bottom. Colors poured on the inner side will be less prominent as compared to those poured in the center. Colors poured slowly will stay at top while those poured quickly will drop to the bottom.
3. Once you are done with the second step, pour the cup’s contents on your canvas very slowly.
4. Like the traditional pour, all you need to do now is tilt the canvas to make unique patterns and designs.
5. Once its dry, your Abstract Acrylic paintings is ready to be hung or you can even put your acrylic pour art for sale.

• String Pull Pour

The String Pull Pour is a more advanced technique of acrylic art of healing. In this method, a short length of string or twine is coated with paint and arranged in a coil on a fluid painted background. This technique is mostly used for floral prints. The steps are as below:

1. As always, add your colors and the mediums in separate cups and add a length of string to each one. Ensure that you leave some part of the string hanging out so it becomes easier for you to take it out. Before adding strings to the paints, make sure they are cut in appropriate lengths for your canvas.
2. Next, apply a base of paint to your canvas. Make sure the base is in contrast with the colors you chose for your strings. To apply base coat, pour your color on the canvas and smooth it out with a palette knife.
3. Now take the strings out after confirming they are thoroughly coated and place them on the canvas with the paint free sides hanging out. You can place the strings in any pattern that you want.
4. Now take ends of the strings and coil them around your canvas surface. Make intriguing patterns and designs with color saturated strings.
5. Next, pull the strings from the edge of your canvas very carefully. You will have to be as steady as possible and hold the strings consistently from a certain point till they’re completely off the canvas.
6. Once done, your abstract acrylic painting is ready to be dried and hung on walls.

Pouring can be done in multiple ways, with results that are usually drastically different. If you’re a beginner at pouring, don’t worry. Practice makes a man perfect. Use our basic techniques for starters, and in no time you will be able to make acrylic pour art for sale and healing!