6 Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started Acrylic Paint Pouring | Acrylic Pouring Tips and Tricks

Here are the 7 things I wish I knew when I started acrylic paint pouring a few years ago. These aren't necessarily the normal acrylic pouring tips and tricks specific to paint like consistency and color selection.

These are more of the behind the scenes things that made a big difference in the quality of my pours and the enjoyment I get out of them.

⏲⏲⏲Timestamps⏲⏲⏲
00:05 - Tip 1 - Make a pouring container or designated place to pour
01:10 - Tip 2 - Buy in bulk
03:45 - Tip 3 - Stick with one technique
04:55 - Tip 4 - Watch the video below about tips from my subscribers
05:10 - Tip 5 - Keep a journal
06:45 - Tip 6 - You are your worst critic
08:05 - Tip 7 - Get a heavy duty apron

Things my Subscribers Wish They Knew Before Pouring

*DIY Acrylic Pouring Container*

*WHERE TO BUY Liquitex Professional Pouring Medium*

How Much Paint to Use for an Acrylic Pour -

Don't miss the previous episodes in our Acrylic Pouring for Beginners Series:

DISCLAIMER: We are ambassadors or affiliates for many of the brands we reference on the channel. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

#acrylicpourtipsandtricks #iwishiknew #acrylicpouring

[jessicawoodard]

TIP: Even if you're just starting out and using cheap craft paint, splurge on a more expensive brand of WHITE paint. Some cheap white paints tend to crack as they dry. Switching to a nicer white paint really transformed my pouring experience! Have fun!

[erica]

Start out using small canvas and less expensive paint because you will go through a lot of both. Don't be afraid to paint over an old painting that you don't like when you are practicing. There's lots of experimenting that happens before you get your technique down. Good Luck everyone and enjoying your pouring!!

[robyntaurusbeatz]

The tips I would give to any beginners would be :

1) When choosing your paint colors in your pour, colors that not only go well together but colors with a good amount of contrast make quality pours.
2) The color yellow will almost always create a nasty mud color whenever combined with white & black.
3) Use latex disposable gloves and in order to keep the edges of your canvas neat & tidy I recommend getting jumbo pishpins to push into each corner of your canvas underneath not only to elevate when you set it down but also to hold & tilt it without leaving finger prints or smudges.

[drstevebuckles]

Don't quit after a bad pour! I'm learning to accept the lessons learned by bad pours and do things different next time. My wife and I are having a blast

[loryjones]

Great tips, thank you! Here are my tips as a newbie paint pour artist: 1. Before you pour your paint onto your canvas, buy some Daltile (3x3) at a Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. They're only 9 cents each! Then turn one over onto your dripped paint, particularly if you're amazed at the dripped colors, then see what pattern you get. I've made some amazing coasters with this technique: extending my art by using discarded paint. Four of these coasters became Christmas presents and received lots of compliments. Others are on my coffee table. 2. Invest in large tubes/containers of the MAIN COLORS: Black, white, red, blue and yellow. You can mix your own brown, purple, green, orange, etc. with a selection of these colors, thereby saving money. Then hopefully you have: 3. Already bought several squeeze bottles to store your mixed paints in. I bought large bottles for ready-to-use white and black, much smaller bottles for the more "exotic" colors I won't use as often. 4. You can buy Floetrol or a medium--they worked well for me--but did you know you can make your own Floetrol/medium by mixing 60% Elmers Glue-All and 40% water?? And you can make your own Gesso with glue/water/baby powder or corn starch. Who knew?? Check out YouTube videos for how-to's and save $$$$.

[KSAwriter]

I love the idea of keeping notes of colors, mixtures, process, etc., but I go one step further. I tape that note on the back of the painting so I never have to hunt for my instructions. Simple little thing but saves a lot of time. Hope this helps! Thanks for your great tips.

[nancyblair]

After watching 100s of these videos (stuck in bed!😫) I know ONE thing for wait for it KNOW WHEN TO So many MASTERPIECES have been LOST FOREVER - because the creator did not STOP!!! 😱😰😅 Also! Learn to ENJOY that precious NEGATIVE SPACE!!!! The eye simply needs rest from the chaos of some art techniques! Filling the ENTIRE canvas can be exhausting to look at with SO MANY of these techniques!😵😖😲 Watching these artists is SO relaxing and therapeutic that it can take the place of Prozac! Until you start frantically tipping your I Pad ---- and YELLING - STOP!!!! 😱😅😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Many thanx to ALL the GREAT ARTISTS!!! 💗💗💗💗💗👏👏👏👏👏👏😘😘😘😘😘😘

[ashleiangel]

Thanks! I've never donated to any youtube channel but your videos have given ne the confidence to just start pouring because you really are teaching! I love the way you talk to us. Like you really care. Im getting emotional tyoing this, but anyways, you rock bro. Thank you for all the info. Im hooked!!

[rockkandyart]

My tip is not to go out and buy everything people say to get for pouring. Get the staples, then grab extra supplies as you go. Also, don't try to pour like anyone else. Do your own thing

[Stormyangel]

There are no failures. There are only learning experiences.

[nlhollisnh]

This is one of the most honest pure hearted tips video I've ever seen. Thank you for your advice!

[krististorck]

Tip for anyone new to this: Don't go into it expecting a certain outcome for your painting. You can do the same thing 10 times and it will NEVER come out like you imagine, and that is the brilliance of Acrylic Paint Pouring. Also, Don't over do sometimes you just need to stop and walk away from it. It probably looks fantastic already!

[krysiabower]

Shop at thrift stores for paintings. Over paint with house paint and voila you have a new canvas to use. Sometimes they even come with frames. Cheap so no stress about using expensive art store canvases

[sherecewilmoth]

Seems everyone forgot to say the most important thing remember to have fun, relax,

[peacesamuel]

I like the one you said "Stick to one technique, master it before you move onto the next one"

[WhatTheEffIsReallyGoingOn]

My tips...
Gloves! They save a ton of time.
Negative space
It is a very important element in a pour. It gives the pour character and movement. I didn't like any pour I ever did until I started giving it some neg space.
Set it aside
If you don't love a piece then put it aside to dry and look at it a few days later. You may change your mind.
I agree we are our own worst critic.
Let the paint develop
Let your paints do their magic. Let the cells develop and paint stretch. And no when to stop!
If you rush and tilt fast it can ruin the delicate balance !
HAVE FUN is the biggest tip I can give...!

[ReginaReRoma]

THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS IS TO WATCH MANY YOUTUBE VIDEOS FROM MANY DIFFERENT ARTISTS.

[lucyc]

My fave tip you gave was to stick with one technique for a while before moving to another. I've been struggling with that in general lately with all my hobbies... bouncing around all over the place. I think I need to set up a plan - each month focus on one thing. Been thinking about that for a while and your tip has cemented it. Thank

[lauraduncan]

David, a BIG Thank You! Because you are one of the few pouring artist on YouTube that explains everything in great detail. And for people just starting out AND people whom have been following for a year or so (like me) but hasn’t done any successful pours because after awhile, it all became so intimidating. But has changed now that I’ve found your videos. So THANK YOU- SINCERELY! The problem was I was following lots of different artists and frankly, I just got confused! I thought there was one recipe I was trying to nail….but soon discovered there are many, but I didn’t know at that point what to use and what ingredients I should cut from the list. It seems there are different recipes for various pours…and different pour names too. I’m still not clear on all the differences, like what’s a dutch pour and why is it different from a flip cup recipe? But I decided there were just too many cooks in the kitchen! Lol! I’m only following you because all of your videos are clear, precise and to the point. Also, I enjoyed learning the science behind the paints and the pours themselves. I enjoy listening to you speak on the science parts in other videos too! Your videos are intriguing, unlike others….very well thought out and explained. In the past 2 years, I’ve purchased thousands of dollars on gallons of Behr paint- (Kanella’s original recipe), floetrol, paints, tiles, tools, plastic, wooden stirring sticks, wood conditioners, plastic containers with resealable lids, bottles, polyurethanes, resins, dry paints…aww, so much stuff and never poured a successful pour. It makes me nauseous. I practiced for 6 months on tiles (so I also have lots of canvases that I never used yet.) trying to get cells to come out but as already mentioned, I’ve yet to do a successful pour. There was always something wrong. And after watching your videos and understanding I didn’t need all that stuff to start out, and you made things simple again for me…I’m starting fresh with your videos only and using only glue or floetrol ….nothing else until I’ve mastered the three you taught on your 1-5 series for beginners (flip cup, dirty pour, and tree ring). I didn’t intend on writing this book here but I guess I’m just super relieved that I found you and well, just THANKS! Please know you’ve helped me and I’m sure I’m not alone! I’m looking forward to more exciting videos from you…(no pressure, right? ) lol! Seriously, no pressure…THANKS AGAIN, David and God Bless you and yours from Missouri!

[didisayu]

Im glad I found your channel, I’m a dabbler and I still like to go back to basics at times, for me I usually pick up something I missed the first time