This Brights Sample Pack was part of my recent craft haul from my trip to the US so I thought it was time to break it out today and I had the perfect project for it. Bright colors are just crying out to be matched with a black swipe I think.
In this black acrylic swipe painting I used:
Crafter’s Acrylics Bright Sample Pack
Art Alternatives Black acrylic paint (pre-mixed)
Floetrolas my pouring medium
A drop or two of siliconein the colors, none in the black
No water was needed in the bright paints
12 inch square Art Alternatives canvas (from value pack)
Ah, after the trials over the last 7 days with my search for the elusive magic formula, I’ve decided to just have some painting fun today and get back to my ‘old’ formula that I know works really well for swipes. This Brights Sample Pack is perfect for this swipe. It’s like a ready-made painting kit – just add black and something to paint on and you have the perfect swipe painting with no need to match your own colors.
My heart is happy again now. The sweet satisfaction of seeing all those cells popping up through the black without any effort or crazy formula. In fact I think I should do another one. I’ve not done a swipe with white for a while so let’s do that next. I have a lot of pre-mixed paints to use up so I can wash my cups. Let’s make the next one a ‘scrappy’ painting!
As usual, enjoy the slideshow below with pictures both wet and dry, and closeups of all the lovely cells and details in this painting.
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.
You make my heart smile. The joy that you get out of painting and just trying different things is what it is all about. I’ve watched each of your videos that I can find! If I happen to decide to come to the Caymans in October I do hope I run into you. Happy experimenting!
I would love that! Let me know when you are coming and perhaps we can meet up for coffee in town somewhere.
LOVE this one. You have definitely NOT lost your touch! Great job!
Enjoyed your video. You mentioned if you had used silicone, you would have had to “clean” the painting. What does that mean? You are the first to mention this techique. What do you use to varnish your painting?
Kay from Illinois. A beginner learning to paint while being a Senior Citizen
Hi Kay, If you use oil in the painting to make cells, it will float to the top as the paint dries leaving spots of oil on the surface. You need to clean that off or your varnish won’t stick. I have a quick set of notes for that here – https://kit.com/acrylicpouring/cleaning-and-varnishing-acrylic-paintings. This also includes a link to the varnish that I love to use too.
So beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your process and techniques!!
This is lovely! I tried to do my first swipe with a paint card, and I guess I used too much pressure. It seemed to just push the paint down to the canvas. Ill keep trying! You make it look so easy, and it is indeed mesmerizing. Love it!