If you follow any of the Facebook groups for Acrylic Pouring, you may have seen images and videos from a guy called Casey who does the most amazing swipes. Usually very simple colors, but a very striking result and awesome big cells.
Today I’m trying to adapt my swipe technique based on his tips to see if I can create the much larger cells that he gets with his swipes. (Casey has since been in touch and said he learned from Quinton Brunner so Quinton, you get a mention as our swiping mentor – thank you!)
Plus it’s time to make something specifically for my husband. His favorite colors are red and black together, so add a dash of white and I have a simple three-color scheme to try out this new swipe. Plus I can’t resist to add a little metallic so in go a few dashes of gold too. Check out how I do in the video.
It’s not exactly like his results, although it’s so darned awesome! I have a lot of really beautifully defined mini cells and a really good cell coverage over the entire tile. Lots of amazing little details and hubby already loves it.
But I was wondering if paint consistency matters. In his videos, his paints are very thin. Is this the secret to getting good swipes? Should my paints be thinner in order to create the bigger cells, and the paints thicker for things like dirty pours and flip cups?
Only one way to find out. In the next video, I’ll be thinning those paints some more and giving it another try to see what happens. In the meantime, can’t complain about this beauty!
Check out the pictures, wet, dry and the details in the slide show below.
After being told in high school that she was so bad at art that she should switch to another subject, Deby didn’t paint again for 35 years. Then a stroke released a new wave of creativity and she began exploring with dot painting, abstract and eventually acrylic pouring, and at last the joy of working with color returned. You don’t need ‘talent’ to be an acrylic pouring artist – just enthusiasm, some basic instruction, and a willingness to try, fail and try again. Paint along with her and learn from her many mistakes, and you’ll soon make great art together.
I love your paintings, but I do not get how you paint on tiles. What makes the paint stay on the tile?
The paint has always dried just fine on the tiles and once they are sealed with a protective finish, its all been just fine so far. I’ve not had trouble with the paint chipping off or coming unstuck in any way so far. But they are only intended to be decorative pieces, not for any kind of heavy use, use on the wall where they would be scrubbed or wetted etc. Hope that helps Brenda.
What do you use as a protective finish.
I use this Polycrylic protective finish in gloss. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=polycrylic+protective+finish&crid=3ONC3Z8DHEGBT&linkCode=sl2&linkId=370d2ad23033500f0848fb8eec81a22a&sprefix=polyc%2Caps%2C488&tag=artcrnm-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl
Did I hear you say you used gesso on the tile. How do you prep the tile? I did a portion on tile and I could scrape it away with my fingernail with out much effort.
Yes I sometimes gesso the tile if I get time, not always. Once the paint is fully dried and cured I add 3 or 4 coats of a glossy protective finish and so far, no worries with paint coming off. But I do tell people they are only meant to be decorative – don’t use them for your hot coffee and then put them in the dishwasher! That’s why they come with little easels when I gift or sell them.
I can’t seem to locate the supplies needed to do swipes?
Have you checked out the store Monica? Take a look here – http://acrylicpouringstore.com. If there are specific things you still can’t find, let me know and I’ll try to help.
Hi Debby
Where can you get the pouring medium and gloss in UK? Also what percentage of the paints and pouring media do you use.
Regards,
Eric
A few UK links for you – Pouring Medium (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=pouring+medium&linkCode=sl2&linkId=3805716519a14163067f0fdab130060d&tag=soseea-21&ref=as_li_ss_tl), Floetrol (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=floetrol&linkCode=sl2&linkId=ec1ed6e7707d250d0d1bcec48d7aa7a7&tag=soseea-21&ref=as_li_ss_tl), polycrylic (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=polycrylic&linkCode=sl2&linkId=c51843742dd68dd8ae58076f9aa53091&tag=soseea-21&ref=as_li_ss_tl). Its all there on Amazon UK but sadly more expensive than in the US. My recipe tends to change up over time as I try new materials. In this one I used 2 parts paint to 1 part floetrol plus water as needed. Hope that helps. You can get the Getting Started Guide which has my secret recipe for cells as well as links to all equipment you need in the UK if that helps.
Hi Deby:
Did you add pouring medium or silicone to the paint? What is the effective way to creat cells,thanks for your reply in advance!
James
Yes the paints had 1 part floetrol to 2 parts paint plus water, slightly more water to make a thinner mix for this test. There was silicone in the central colors but I don’t think in the black and white – I can’t quite remember now. I find swiping is the easiest way to get cells with my paints, but I’m still working on it.
Thanks again for this shout-out in you wonderful blog. I’ve taken the videos of mine that you watch and edited them together with narration of how to.
See 3 time lapse narrated demonstrations plus what to do with your runoff and also my recipe for Flow Paint Mix.
https://youtu.be/smxi1tvUOJk
These short videos inspired Deby Cole https://acrylicpouring.com/channelling… so she wrote a very nice blog entry entitled, “Channelling Casey’s Swipes! and referred to my as the Swipe King!
But the real Swipe King is artist Quinton Brunner who taught me through his example! Click here for Quinton Brunner’s art page!
https://www.facebook.com/Quinton-Jack-Originals-2034063093285873/
I just bought it! (So excited!)
You rock Casey, thank you so much. I should have just sent it to you in tribute!
Hi!! Thank you for sharing, it’s lovely. I am just curious about the card thing that you used for the swipe, is it plastic or cardboard? Where can I get it? Thank you!