I just want to say thank you very much for all of your articles, information, emails, tutorials, etc…!!! A gallon of Liquitex Pouring Medium weighs in at around $99 (direct from Liquitex’s site), which puts it firmly out of reach for many fluid artists. Right in front of my mixing station. Because the paint is slightly thicker, it won’t run off the surface you’re pouring on as quickly, which can help you avoid too much color mixing. Acrylic Pouring is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com. 1 part DIY Medium to 1 part Craft Acrylic, 2 to 3 parts DIY Medium to 1 part Artist Acrylic, 6 parts DIY Medium to 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic, 2 parts DIY Medium to 1 part Fluid Acrylic, If you do decide to use heavy body paint, keep in mind that the standard ratio for a heavy body paint and medium is about. Because they are commercially available and very cost efficient, professional painters mediums are the go-to for many artists; beginner and pro alike. A common issue with Floetrol is the presence of small to large clumps that form within the medium. For more info on cells check out the post Acrylic Pouring Cells Recipe: Detailed Instructions to Make Beautiful Cells. What those ratios are depends on what brands of paint and medium you’re using. Yes please! If you dont want to thin it down too much, buy an agent to slow the drying time down. What. Floetrol starts as a semi-opaque white fluid, and may alter the initial vibrance of your paints, but it will not affect the final color. vivo en Argentina y me es imposible poder comprar FLOETROL. Liquitex is a great product and it can be difficult to find a copycat substitute with equivalent precise pouring capabilities, ... Hobbyists, artists and crafters will get excellent acrylic art results with this affordable acrylic thinning agent. Enhances blending, workability, and adhesion of acrylic colors for painting directly on fabric or unprimed canvas A pre-filtered, ready-to-use medium that easily thins any acrylic, watercolor, or gouache to the right consistency for spray application Adds richness to acrylic colors by … GAC 800 is thinner than standard mediums, which means that you’ll need less of it to get your paints to the right consistency. I’ll share  common medium ratios using the examples of craft acrylics, artist acrylics, and heavy body acrylics. Acrylic colours mixed with Pouring Medium won’t go muddy or mix with each other. I’ve done trial and error plus watching lots and lots of video. gessoed canvas) may result in poor adhesion. Great thorough article, Sara!! Im sure it’s because it’s time-consuming too add the mixing process when making a video of an acrylic pour. Acrylic Pouring Cells Recipe: Detailed Instructions to Make Beautiful Cells, Supplies to Get Started With Acrylic Pouring, The Complete Acrylic Pouring Techniques Guide, 40 Essential Tips for Acrylic Pouring Beginners, Ultimate Guide for Using Silicone to Create Beautiful Cells. Discover our story here. With all higher density paints, it’s very important to make sure that you’re mixing your paint properly. Floetrol can and does separate; it’s just the nature of the product. Keep me up to date on the latest products, eCatalogues, inspiration and Acrylic paint is beloved by many a parent because it is. Where do you find the time?! Although the painting may look beautiful when poured, a few years down the road, it will likely be faded or peeling. A thicker pouring medium, even if it is diluted with a little water beforehand, should be used rather for thinner acrylic paints. For example, one gallon of GAC 800 costs approximately $130 (US). Since 1955, the company has grown in leaps and bounds and now offers the largest array of acrylic paint products in the world. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram as @studioblackwater. Here is one really cool thing you can try (since you've already bought the paint!) Then WD 40 or silicone. Lumps, Bumps, and Clumps: Solving Common Acrylic Pouring Problems. I’m going to print this out and hang it on my art room wall. We’ll also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of popular mediums, including: Once you’ve got your paint to medium ratios down, you’re well on your way to creating beautiful pieces, and we’ve got the medium recipes to help! Professional mediums are formulated to help you create a beautiful piece, and to protect it years down the road. Liquitex makes acrylic ink and Golden calls their product “High Flow Acrylics”. Unfortunately, while professional painters and DIY mediums are great for the short term, they don’t always hold up to long term wear. Acrylic Pouring for Beginners (Start Here), How to do Your First Acrylic Pour – Step By Step Guide, Acrylic Pouring Ratio Guide: Floetrol, Liquitex and More, how many times have you heard this phrase throughout your life? Si quisiera comprar un producto que es lo que tengo que preguntar. Floetrol is one of the most popular commercially available mediums on the market, especially in the United States. is hard to describe, but is often said to be like warm honey, motor oil, or syrup. 1. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge. By simply using water alone to thin the paint you basically dilute the binders in the paint that hold the paint in place as it dries and after. 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,285. However, it is different than the other mediums on our list, in that GAC 800 is thinner than Floetrol or Liquitex Pouring Medium and because of this, you’ll need less of it to get your paints to the right consistency. Golden makes beautiful paints and stellar mediums, and GAC 800 is no exception. A thick consistency is useful in certain applications, such as pouring on 3D objects. To thin acrylic paint, start by putting a small amount of paint on your palette. Liquitex Matte Fluid Medium This Liquitex fluid is an excellent all-purpose medium for acrylics. If you’re using a thinner craft paint like Nicole’s Acrylics, you will need less medium to get to the consistency you’d like. Until then you can reach out to them if needed. Join us to connect with fellow pourers, get beginners tips, giveaways and more. Floetrol is not considered archival, meaning that your painting will fade if you’re using Floetrol alone, with no additives or sealants to keep your painting safe from UV exposure. will cause colors to run together, and will also cause colors to break down when you manipulate them. For this article I’ve tested and researched all the most popular paint brands and mediums so you don’t have to. – A thin paint mixture will cause your paint to run off your surface, leaving bare spots behind. The typical ratio of Liquitex Basics to pouring medium is 1 part Liquitex to 3 parts medium (again, depending on your desired consistency). Liquitex is renowned for several firsts in the art world: water-based acrylic paint, acrylic gloss and matte mediums, removable acrylic varnish, iridescent acrylic paint and more. The airbrush thinner is to help thin out your airbrush acrylic paint, while paint extenders made by paint manufacturers only make the paint more transparent and not thinner. Tap water has to many impurities in it. Are these not commonly used paint brands with pourers? You can add more, but you cannot take it out once you’ve added it, so start a little at a time and mix well in between additions so that you can find the best consistency while wasting the least amount of product. 4 parts GAC 800, 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic. Wish I had known this a year ago. Allows thinned acrylic paint to be sprayed efficiently and retain paint film integrity. As you gain experience in pouring you’ll learn how to create the right consistency each time by how it feels and looks. Acrylic paint is beloved by many a parent because it is water soluble, meaning it breaks down in water. Great article. This guide should only be used to get you started and give you basic guidelines, but in the long term you’ll need to create the right consistency on your own. The other benefit is availability. However, I have recently purchased artist grade mediums to produce better results but because of the price I have been reluctant to use, until I read your article above. Humbrol 125 ml Acrylic Thinners. Liquitex Professional Flow Aid Medium. Great article! While water is the most economical choice possible, it’s also the choice most likely to cause issues with your painting later on. Testors Enamel Thinner; Encaustic Paints. Liquitex Professional Acrylic Ink! For each of the ratios in this guide, this is the goal! 4.5 out of 5 stars 145. Because of this, GAC 800 is specifically formulated to resist crazing. The best advice for mixing high density paints is to take your time. , and it’s important that you purchase this and not school glue, or your recipe will not work. A set of craft paints like the Crafts 4 All Non Toxic Acrylic Paint, 24-Count can give you a huge selection of colors to play with while not having to worry about wasting expensive paint. "Dry Apply Liquitex Super Heavy Body Acrylic can be … Excellent information! To look around, you’d think all I do is paint!!!! Clean my studio, or house, or car, or paint? Because Floetrol is not archival, creating pieces meant to be displayed outdoors or in direct sunlight with it is not advisable. Thank you from Australia ???????????????? Lol.. thanks again. Add water. Please don’t use this to try to extend oil paints! Liquitex is renowned for several firsts in the art world: water-based acrylic paint, acrylic gloss and matte mediums, removable acrylic varnish, iridescent acrylic paint and more. If you plan on making a piece that will be in direct sunlight or is meant to be used functionally, these mediums aren’t for you. Additionally, you may have issues with cracking and/or crazing because of thick spots in the paint. There are a lot of benefits to using a professional artist medium. If you want to significantly thin the paint, pour water into a container with the paint and use the brush to mix together. They think it’s easier to use and makes their work look better, so test it out! – Add a little bit more medium to thin it out. You can add an acrylic medium or flow improver, which helps increase the flow and also keeps the tip from drying. acrylic paint. That means that if you have an ounce of heavy body paint, you’ll need to add 6 ounces of medium to thin it out, as opposed to a craft paint, where you’d only need to add one ounce of medium. My daily problem is: should I do laundry or paint? Cells are created as “denser” paint falls below “lighter” paint. But I am surprised why Amsterdam or W&N was not used in the test? Across the board, certain colors will carry more weight, which means they will require their own special ratios. £9.99 £ 9. Liquitex is working on a new guide and will be updated here when they’re done. Before using Floetrol, and even if you don’t see any visible clumps when you peer inside of the bottle, make it a practice to strain it first. In some countries or areas Floetrol and other mediums are not as readily available so DIY medium is the only option. am just starting to try fluid painting and your piece is very informative -put them in my notebook of tips. What about 99.1 Isopropyl alcohol? If they’re too thick, they will sink through the other colors in your painting and either be barely visible, or create a distorted pattern. I live in high desert — so humidity is usually around or below 12%. The problem is that every brand and color are slightly different, so it will require some judgment on your part. will make it difficult for the paint to flow. These lumps and clumps tend to occur if a bottle of Floetrol has been sitting too long. Too Thin – Add a little bit more paint. Gloss Level. Liquitex can be used with any acrylic paint – and only acrylic paint. Only 5 left in stock. Adding up to 30 percent water to acrylic paint thins it … Liquitex Airbrush Medium mixes easily with all Liquitex Soft Body Artist Colors to produce airbrush paint with the proper viscosity for airbrushing. When cured, GAC 800 gives paintings a shiny, still-wet look. Sara, Alright, so thinning out acrylic paint is a great idea, but it presents a myriad of additional questions: Sara Wagner is an author and artist from Upstate New York. Liquidtex make acrylic paint thinners too. This is because the amount of medium you’ll need to use in order to get the heavy body paint to the proper consistency is sometimes double or even triple the amount you’ll need with a craft or artist acrylic. ... liquitex. A thinner consistency can be helpful when using the swipe technique to achieve cells, since it’s a bit easier to break the surface tension of the paint. The obvious benefit of making your own pouring medium is the cost; this is the second most cost-effective medium available. gracias. I would add one caveat I discovered in my pouring adventures. Use Mediums to Thin Acrylic Paint. Golden density info can be found here: Golden Pigment Density Guide. Black and white paints are both dense paints, and will require more medium in order to achieve the consistency you’ll need for pouring. Liquitex acrylic paints can be used on a ton of surfaces, from paper and canvas to wood and glass. Floetrol starts as a semi-opaque white fluid, and may alter the initial vibrance of your paints, but it will. That is my understanding. Golden makes beautiful paints and stellar mediums, , and GAC 800 is no exception. Is this also a Pouring Medium? Thinning acrylic paint is easy, but you need to watch out for potential problems. The ratios we’ve outlined here, the advice about consistencies and mediums, they all serve as a great foundation on which you can build your own opinions and unique formulas. The amount of water you add depends on the desired effect and the surface. Give your bottle a good shake before using to make sure that you don’t have any separation, otherwise, if separation is present in your paint mixture, it will affect the consistency and quality of the paint negatively. Simply mix the Liquitex Pouring Medium straight into acrylic paint, stir it and it's ready to use. Unlike Floetrol, it is very uncommon for Liquitex Pouring Medium to clump or separate, although this can happen infrequently. If you’re having trouble with your pours like lumps, or bumps as well check out our guide: Lumps, Bumps, and Clumps: Solving Common Acrylic Pouring Problems. Liquitex Pouring Medium can help reduce the chance of crazing or cracking within your piece, and when cured, lends a glossy finish. Since 1955, the company has grown in leaps and bounds and now offers the largest array of acrylic paint products in the world. Using a proper sealant over the piece will slow down the fading and yellowing, but it is still likely to occur over time. Easily thins acrylic color or any water-soluble paints to a sprayable consistency. i too have printed this out as a good referral. Elmer’s Glue-All is also referred to as PVA Glue, and it’s important that you purchase this and not school glue, or your recipe will not work. Hola!!!! different than the other mediums on our list, in that GAC 800 is thinner than Floetrol or Liquitex Pouring Medium and because of this, you’ll need less of it to get your paints to the right consistency. There are many artists who use water as a medium, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that – after all, if it works and you’re happy with how it looks, that’s the goal. As long as you’re using safe materials and enjoying yourself as an artist, the sky’s the limit with acrylic pouring. The color of the paint can be a quick indication of the density, if specific density numbers are not available to you. affect the final color. They do not need to be thinned, have little to no odor and are easily cleaned up with water. So it’s important that the paint on top is fluid enough to allow the “lighter” paint to rise. Liquitex Pouring Medium is designed not to craze in poured applications and has an ultra smooth glossy finish. It’s important to take a “less is more” approach to GAC 800, since adding too much paint will negatively affect the medium’s ability to reduce and prevent crazing. If you’re a hobbyist, it’s best to experiment with a lower cost medium or buy a very small amount before taking the big dive into a gallon. Floetrol is very easy to use and find, but also has the additional benefit of being relatively inexpensive in comparison to artist mediums like Liquitex Pouring Medium or GAC 800. Metallics also need special consideration when mixing, since they also are heavier than standard colors. For any beginning fluid artists, this article will be an invaluable resource for sure!! Using a less expensive medium also means that you won’t be as scared to experiment and waste a little bit to find your style. 6 parts Floetrol, 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic, 6 parts Liquitex, 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic, 4 to 5 parts GAC 800, 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic, 5 to 6 parts Glue-All, 1 part Heavy Body Acrylic, 2 to 3 parts Water, 1 part Artist Acrylic. Create a smooth and even flow of vibrant color, that lasts. Unless you’re selling your paintings or an intermediate level artist, you do not need to purchase a professional artist medium right away. If you’re not familiar, heavy body paint is exactly what it sounds like: a thick paint. Professional artist mediums help you avoid cracks and crazing in your piece, which can ruin an entire painting if they occur. “Craft-level acrylic paint comes in small bottles and are thinner in consistency than tube acrylics,” says Markham. The problem is that every brand and color are slightly different, so it will require some judgment on your part. I am still confused. Does not contain binder. Thank you for such an informative article! Liquitex’s flow enhancer is ideal for prepping acrylic paints to go on porous surfaces such as wood, untreated canvas, or linen. Using water to thin acrylic paint can be done, but is preferred using distilled water. Most brands, like Golden and Liquitex, have density information available upon request. … Floetrol is an adaptable medium and can be used by artists of all levels, but there are a few tips for use that can help you avoid common frustrations. If you have questions, we have answers! What is the difference between craft and acrylic paint? Metallics can be finicky; if they’re too thin, layering them in a cup may cause a metallic sheen over your finished piece. Your timing is perfect! I appreciate your sharing more than I can express and thoroughly enjoy your articles…thank you! Liquitex Pouring Medium is a professional artist medium, which means it was made specifically for use with acrylic paint in art. That means that if you have an ounce of heavy body paint, you’ll need to add 6 ounces of medium to thin it out, as opposed to a craft paint, where you’d only need to add one ounce of medium. Much appreciated. They consist mostly of acrylic binder, so you can add as much to your paint as you desire without worrying about weakening the adhesion of the paint film. Thanks again!! Please don’t use this to try to extend oil paints! Heavy Body Acrylics tested: I have only tested Liquitex Heavy Body, I did not want to spend a lot of time on it since it’s not recommended to use heavy body paints for pouring. Minimizes brush marks by reducing friction of paint application. These do not break down when stirred in with paint, and will be present in your final pour if you choose not to strain the Floetrol. Most brands, like Golden and Liquitex, have density information available upon request. Also some people just like their DIY medium better. I am new to Acrylic Pouring. i watched a beginner video and the teacher was wondering where her clumps in the paint came from -now i know. The paint will help to thicken up the mixture, and add more pigment. is a range of extremely fluid acrylic paints that use super-fine pigments in a state-of-the-art acrylic emulsion. I’ve looked on the internet for recommendations of ratios before, only to find that most artists dont give exact ratios of their mixtures. Thank you for sharing this great information! Finally l don’t have to search the entire web to find the ratios, this is a keeper and has answered a lot of my problems. The right consistency is hard to describe, but is often said to be like warm honey, motor oil, or syrup. of the paint can be a quick indication of the density, if specific density numbers are not available to you.