If you haven’t seen an Instagram or Youtube video of pour painting, here is a peek inside the rabbit hole I got sucked down, using my own videos and photos from my experiments with this style.

Immediately I was mesmerized by the sheer messiness of pour painting. It’s the closest thing to finger-painting, which I hadn’t enjoyed since I was 4 or 5. I watched the video over and over, then went to the art store to get my hands on some fluid medium so I could start playing.

Parma, cornelius injury: right hamstring problem dianobol biceps – articles – mitchferniani.

It’s been 2 years since I made my first pour painting, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. I love this style so much, that in addition to making and selling my fluid paintings, I now teach monthly workshops!

Today I want to elaborate on 5 essential supplies you need to make a successful pour painting at home!

Below is my complete pour painting supply list. This blog is part 1 of a 3-part series, focusing on essential supplies for any pour painting, #1-#6 on this list. In my next post I’ll focus on the optional supplies (#7-#10) that take your paintings to the next level. My last post will dive into my favorite pour painting techniques.

What You Need to Make Your Own Pour Painting At Home:

• Pouring Medium  

• Acrylic Paint

• Canvas, Cardboard, Panel, or any hard, thick surface

• Plastic Trifecta: Cups, Spoons, and Tarp

• Gloves

• Silicone Oil (optional)

• Blow Torch  (optional)

• Alcohol Ink (optional)

• Varnish (optional)

1. Pouring Mediums

What the heck is a pouring medium?

This is a magical liquid additive that makes your paint flow. It is essentially a paint thinner, but it also improves the consistency and overall integrity of the paint. That means your creation dries without cracking or fading!

Basically, your pouring medium is the secret sauce of pour painting!

Other perks of using a pouring medium are that they extend drying time to give you more time to play around with your composition, finish up the edges of your canvas, or perfect your cells. (More on cells in point #5)

I’m new to pour painting. Which pouring medium should I use?

For students brand new to pour painting, I recommend using Floetrol for your pouring medium. This is the biggest bang for your buck, and you can find it at Walmart or Home Depot (or order it online!). One gallon runs about 20 bucks, which you can turn into dozens of beautiful paintings.

The downside of Floetrol is that it mutes and darkens the colors of your pour painting when dry. There are a few ways you can beat this effect, which I’ll explain in point #9.

I like using Floetrol whenever I’m learning a new technique due to its cost-effectiveness. I find that when I’m not worried about “wasting” materials I can create boldly without my inhibitions holding me back. You can apply this mindset to all the materials above, opting for cardboard vs. a canvas and leftover paint vs. brand new colors.

I’m an intermediate or professional artist. Which artist-grade pouring medium is the right one for me?

For the majority of my own work, though, I use either Liquitex Pouring Medium or GAC 800, a Golden medium. Because these are high-quality artist mediums, they are more expensive than Floetrol (a gallon of Liquitex runs $70-$100 at most art stores), but the high quality finish is worth it for me, especially if I plan on selling my pour paintings.

Both Liquitex and GAC 800 differ from Floetrol in that they don’t dull the colors when dry. They have glossier finishes than the matte look of the Floetrol,

Liquitex is the best-known brand on the market for this styled and is geared intermediate to advanced artists. Because it’s the hottest brand, it’s often out-of-stock.

GAC 800 is essentially the same medium under a different brand name. The main perk of GAC 800 is the high pouring medium to paint ratio. You need 10 parts pouring medium to 1 part acrylic paint, which means you end up saving money if you’re using expensive high-flow brand name fluid acrylics.

So in sum, if you’re new to painting and looking to use the most affordable materials, go with Floetrol. If you extra cash to spend (happy birthday!), go for Liquitex or GAC 800.

2. The Best Paints for Pour Painting

What kind of paint should I use if I’m a beginner?

Any brand of acrylic paint will do for fluid painting (NOT oil, watercolor, tempera, or gouache paints!).

For beginners, I recommend Craft Smart Acrylics, which you can get at Michael’s. They sell starter packs of 24 for $14 ($0.50/paint), and they come in tons of beautiful colors and finishes. I personally LOVE the metallic colors and paints with glitter added (can’t say no to glitter!) and have yet to try their glow-in-the-dark paints (so fun!).

Which brand of paint should I use if I want professional quality paintings?

For more advanced students, high-flow Golden acrylics are my preferred paints. You can test out colors with their 4 oz sizes ($6-$10), or once you know what colors you love enough to use in large quantities, splurge for their 16 oz sizes at Michael’s.  The larger tubes range from $25-65 at Michael’s depending on rarity of color. I like to wait until they go on sale at Jerry’s Artarama.

What’s the ratio of medium to paint?

You’ll need a higher fluid medium to paint ration if using Craft Smart Acrylics, since they’re thicker than the high-flow fluid acrylics. A little goes a long way with the latter, which is one reason why I love them.

No matter which acrylic paint you’re using, when you add it to your fluid medium you’ll want the mixture to flow easily off your spoon. If there are any gunks of paint in it, keep mixing, and add more medium.

3. Canvases, Panels, and Other Painting Surfaces

What surfaces can I paint on?

Stretched canvases and artist panels are my favorite surfaces to paint on, but go ahead and try out any hard surface! Glass, cardboard, and even thick paper are worth trying to see how you like it. (The paper may warp, but cardboard is usually fine and good for testing out pouring techniques since it’s usually free!)

Canvases are the most popular surfaces in most pour painting workshops, but I personally like throwing in a few wood panels so students can compare the final looks. The harder and less porous the surface, the more easily the paint flows.

The best part about canvases is they come in SO many sizes and shapes. My Voyage Collection is a series of pour paintings on round canvases, which is a lovely, organic look for this style (no hard edges!).

Mini 3×3 or 4×4 canvases make adorable pieces of art for small spaces and are fun to practice on (and a stable of all my pour painting workshops!) So far the largest canvas I’ve poured on is 20×40, but I’m hoping to go bigger soon!

4. Trifecta of Plastic: Plastic Cups, Spoons, and Tarps

How do I prepare my surface for pour painting and mix the paint?

This is the cheapest part. You’ll need plastic cups for holding the mixture and spoons for stirring (or wooden popsicle sticks).

I like to use small clear plastic cups so I can easily see the paint color. I like the 9 oz Solo Brand since they’re small and easy to wash and reuse.

Wooden popsicle sticks are great for one-time use, but I prefer to use plastic spoons and reuse them.

Before you start pouring paint, you’ll want to make sure you have a plastic cover, newspaper, or tarp on your table (or floor) before getting down and dirty. Trust me, this is a necessity. I’ve spilled one too many cups of turquoise paint on my carpet.

How do I dry my pour paintings?

You’ll need a flat surface (like a tabletop or floor), leftover plastic cups for propping your paintings up, and a protective covering for the surface.

When I was painting out of my apartment, I didn’t have the luxury of letting my paintings dry on the floor since my fur babies loved walking all over them. If you have a garage or shelf high out of reach, I’d recommend starting there.

It’s important that the surface is level, otherwise the paint will pool onto one side of the painting, altering your original composition and exposing your canvas. The paint will clump in areas, ruining the smooth, seamless finish that makes pour paintings look so effortless.

For a protective covering, I use cheap plastic tarps from Home Depot. This pack of 6 for $6 is my preferred buy, since they are large enough to hold lots of paintings and can be reused.

But really, you can use any flat protective surface like newspaper or cardboard to let your paintings dry.

It’s also imperative that you prop up your canvases on cups, drying racks, or bottlecaps when they’re still wet, so that the paintings don’t stick to the protective covering when they dry. I just rinse my paintings cups and flip them upside down to dry my paintings.

5. Gloves

Do I really need to wear gloves?

Totally up to you! I encourage my students to feel one with the paint if that’s something they value. Part of the fun of this style is the sheer messiness. Who doesn’t wanna feel like a kid again? Floetrol isn’t toxic and washes off easily.

However, GAC800 and Liquitex are a bit rougher to the skin and dry funky. If you’re anal like me, you’ll be picking at your hands forever to get the dried medium off. I’ve gotten a few abrasions from scrubbing my hands too aggressively after using Liquitex, so I usually stick to gloves.

I know I threw a lot at ya, so let’s recap these pour painting basics.

For a basic pour painting, you’ll need these 5 items:

1. Pouring Medium- Floetrol for Beginners, Liquitex or GAC800 for advanced artists

2. Acrylic Paint- CraftSmart Paints for Beginners, Golden High-Flow Acrylics for advanced artists

3. Painting Surface- Canvases or Panels

4. Trifecta of Plastic- Cups, Spoons, and Tarp

5. Gloves

In my next blog in this series, I’ll walk you through additional ingredients that can take your pour paintings to the next level!

Now go forth and pour paint, and share your results with me! What are your favorite supplies for pour paintings? What questions do you have for me? Comment below!

The post Pour Painting Guide | 5 Essential Supplies You Need Before You Start appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

A 10-year-old asked me this question while we were working on a fluid painting exercise together at my workshop last fall. We were both covered in paint, silly with the floaty feeling that comes from being so openly and joyfully absorbed in creating together.

I answered quickly and reflexively. “Not painting.”

Bella was surprised at my answer. She thought I would have told her a story about messing up a masterpiece.

But my biggest art fail is all the times I decided not to make art.

I’m actually really good at coming up with excuses not to paint or draw or make music. I’m too tired. Right now’s a bad time. I’m in a bad headspace. I need more time to let my idea marinate. I’m too hung over. I don’t have enough focus, time, skills, money, art supplies, inspiration, qualifications, etc. You name it, I’ve said it.

Sure, I’ve messed up plenty of paintings. I’ve spilled the “wrong” color on my canvas. I’ve overworked florals that I should have left alone because I doubted myself and didn’t know when to walk away. Heck, my cat even ran through a wet painting not once, but twice! But I don’t consider these accidents and missteps failures.

I see all the times I decided to paint as a huge victory, regardless of the outcome.

Because I made something from nothing. Because it required bravery. Since I did something positive with my energy instead of sitting on my butt. If I painted (or picked up my guitar, or snapped a picture with my iPhone), I still created something truly original. Even if it’s just a few loose magenta brushstrokes on cheap paper. Even if everyone else thinks my art sucks. And even if I think my art sucks.

Because in the end, it’s just paint.

If I hate what I’ve created, I can just gesso the shit outta that painting and start over. And the layers underneath the white gesso will serve as an interesting, textured foundation for the do-over.

This kind of open acceptance in my art practice – of saying yes to things both within and out of my control-  has transformed the way I live my life. It’s helped me find my flow–and stay in it.

It’s helped me detach from outcomes I might otherwise have tried to control. I’ve learned to bend and flex and not take myself so seriously. It’s taught me to “woman up” and just do the damn thing.

Like having a vulnerable conversation with my partner even though I’m afraid of being rejected. Or saying “yes” to teaching a workshop even though I’ve never taught a room full of people before. Knowing I’ll awkwardly fumble my way through the unknown because that’s part of the deal when you breach the wilderness, But still knowing in my gut it will be worth it in the end because I’ll grow throughout the process. And maybe even have fun along the way.

What’s one action you can take this week to combat the negative voices in your head discouraging you from taking a risk?

Set a timer for fifteen minutes and do that one thing. Learn a new guitar chord. Call that friend you’ve lost touch with because of your busy schedule. Write a haiku. Put your unique mark on the world’s blank canvas. Life’s too short to hold back.

Looking for even more support and inspiration? On Saturday 4/13, join me for an afternoon of saying “yes” to your creative urges in my Find Your Flow: Fluid Painting Workshop. I guarantee you’ll leave glowing: smiling from head to toe (and possibly covered in paint!).  You’ll feel proud of your creations, amazed at what you are capable of, and glad you said yes to your creative urges and took a risk.

You’ll pour paint, watch the colors swirl together, and get messy. Together we’ll reclaim that childlike boldness we’re all born with.  You do not need any previous art experience to participate in this workshop. Everyone is welcome!

The next Workshop Date is Saturday, April 13 from 1-3:30pm! Register now, because there are only 9 spots left!

The Details:

• Saturday April 13

• 1-3:30 at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro

• 300 E Main St, Ste g, Carrboro, NC 27510

• $35 tuition + $15 supply fee

Breathe. Let go. Find your flow. Enjoy the flow of fluid painting.

Your Instructor for the April 13 Find Your Flow Workshop

Courtney Potter is a self-taught abstract artist who believes in the universal power of creativity.

She began painting as a way to process her emotions after experiencing trauma. Opening herself up to access a deeper well of her creative power literally saved her life.

Potter has built her career around expressing herself through art and helping others cultivate and celebrate their unique voices. She believes painting is a powerful tool that anyone can access at any time to transform their pain into meaning.

Potter is a member of Artspace, Visual Art Exchange, and the Wedding Photojournalist Association and has exhibited her art along the East Coast. You can schedule a time to view her work at her studio in Durham, North Carolina.

The post Face Your Fears and Find Your Flow in my Fluid Painting Workshop Series appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

A few weeks ago, a 10-year-old asked me this question while we were working on a fluid painting exercise together at my workshop. We were both covered in paint, silly with the floaty feeling that comes from being so openly and joyfully absorbed in creating together.

I answered quickly and reflexively. “Not painting.”

Bella was surprised at my answer. She thought I would have told her a story about messing up a masterpiece.

But my biggest art fail is all the times I decided not to make art.

I’m actually really good at coming up with excuses not to paint or draw or make music. I’m too tired. Right now’s a bad time. I’m in a bad headspace. I need more time to let my idea marinate. I’m too hung over. I don’t have enough focus, time, skills, money, art supplies, inspiration, qualifications, etc. You name it, I’ve said it.

Sure, I’ve messed up plenty of paintings. I’ve spilled the “wrong” color on my canvas. I’ve overworked florals that I should have left alone because I doubted myself and didn’t know when to walk away. Heck, my cat even ran through a wet painting not once, but twice! But I don’t consider these accidents and missteps failures.

I see all the times I decided to paint as a huge victory, regardless of the outcome.

Because I made something from nothing. Because it required bravery. Since I did something positive with my energy instead of sitting on my butt. If I painted (or picked up my guitar, or snapped a picture with my iPhone), I still created something truly original. Even if it’s just a few loose magenta brushstrokes on cheap paper. Even if everyone else thinks my art sucks. And even if I think my art sucks.

Because in the end, it’s just paint.

If I hate what I’ve created, I can just gesso the shit outta that painting and start over. And the layers underneath the white gesso will serve as an interesting, textured foundation for the do-over.

This kind of open acceptance in my art practice – of saying yes to things both within and out of my control-  has transformed the way I live my life.

It’s helped me detach from outcomes I might otherwise have tried to control. I’ve learned to bend and flex and not take myself so seriously. It’s taught me to “woman up” and just do the damn thing.

Like having a vulnerable conversation with my partner even though I’m afraid of being rejected. Or saying “yes” to teaching a workshop even though I’ve never taught a room full of people before. Knowing I’ll awkwardly fumble my way through the unknown because that’s part of the deal when you breach the wilderness, But still knowing in my gut it will be worth it in the end because I’ll grow throughout the process. And maybe even have fun along the way.

What’s one action you can take this week to combat the negative voices in your head discouraging you from taking a risk?

Set a timer for fifteen minutes and do that one thing. Learn a new guitar chord. Call that friend you’ve lost touch with because of your busy schedule. Write a haiku. Put your unique mark on the world’s blank canvas. Life’s too short to hold back.

Looking for even more support and inspiration? Every last Tuesday of the month, join me for a night of saying “yes” to your creative urges in my Art + Yoga Embodied Fluidity workshop. I guarantee you’ll leave glowing: smiling from head to toe (and possibly covered in paint!).  You’ll feel proud of your creations, amazed at what you are capable of, and glad you said yes to your creative urges and took a risk.

You’ll pour paint, meditate over water bowls filled with turquoise ink, and jump and dance. Together we’ll reclaim that childlike boldness we’re all born with.  You do not need any art or yoga experience to participate in this workshop. Everyone is welcome!

The next Workshop Date is Tuesday, July 31 from 6-8pm! Register now, because there are only 6 spots left!

The Details:

• Every last Tuesday of the month.

• 6-8pm at The Studio—Old East Durham

• 2112 Angier Ave, Durham, NC 27703

• $50 per person

*The workshop fee covers all painting materials and refreshments. Yoga mats provided.

Breathe. Let go. Enjoy the flow of art + yoga.

Your Instructors for the July 31 Workshop

Courtney Potter is a self-taught abstract artist who believes in the universal power of creativity.

She began painting as a way to process her emotions after experiencing trauma. Opening herself up to access a deeper well of her creative power literally saved her life.

Potter has built her career around expressing herself through art and helping others cultivate and celebrate their unique voices. She believes painting is a powerful tool that anyone can access at any time to transform their pain into meaning.

Potter is a member of Artspace, Visual Art Exchange, and the Wedding Photojournalist Association and has exhibited her art along the East Coast. You can view her work at her solo exhibition at Hagersmith in Raleigh until the end of June.

Laura Nickerson  has taught yoga full-time since 2012.

In that time, she has created programs for military veterans, athletes, and teenagers. Laura has experience and expertise in anatomy, yoga for athletes, and yoga for trauma survivors. Her initial certification is through Sonic Yoga in New York City, and she has trained with David Emerson and Sage Rountree, as well as other teachers. In addition to public classes, Laura offers private yoga lessons, Thai Yoga Therapy, and Reiki.

Laura started yoga for the workout. At that time, she was unable to touch her toes and was much more interested in yoga party tricks than meditation or spirituality. Although she is now passionate about yoga philosophy and a dedicated anatomy geek, her most marked attribute as a teacher is the heart of a healer. Laura considers the yoga practice an act of love for self and world, and she brings that to her teaching.  All humans are welcome in class with Laura; this emphatically includes all races and genders.

Outside of her teaching and bodywork practices, Laura is a Boston Qualifying marathon runner, two-time Spartan Race World Championship–qualifier—and a recovering survivor of domestic violence.

The post My Biggest Art Fail | Get Off Your Butt and Create! appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.

Maybe you were gardening- hands covered in soil, skin warmed by sunlight, heart gladdened.

Or perhaps you were ascending a mountain, eager for the sun-kissed view at the top. Thinking about nothing except the rocky earth beneath your feet, the cool mountain air against your skin.

You feel the anxious noise in your head dial down as your body’s sensations heighten. You feel in tune with your surroundings. Your actions become effortless, fluid, and you feel rooted in the present.

You’re in the zone. You’re in flow.

Welcome to Embodied Fluidity, an art and yoga workshop exploring the connection between mindfulness and the creative process led by yours truly and yoga instructors Laura Nickerson & Pablo Robles!

I invite you to come back to your body and leave your unique mark on a canvas.

In this 2-hour class, you’ll find your creative flow with fluid painting exercises and be guided through MindBody Centering Yoga techniques in an uplifting, inclusive setting. You do not need any art or yoga experience to participate in this workshop. Everyone is welcome!

Every last Tuesday of the month, join me for a night of joyful flow with art + yoga. We’ll meet in a tattoo studio in Old East Durham and reclaim that childlike boldness we’re all born with. You’ll pour paint, meditate over water bowls filled with turquoise ink, and jump and dance. We’ll make magic together.

I guarantee you’ll leave glowing: smiling from head to toe (and possibly covered in paint!).  You’ll feel proud of your creations, amazed at what you are capable of, and glad you made space for creativity in your body and mind.

“I left feeling like I had just had an amazing first kiss. I loved seeing an entire room of people in a state of flow. It was like an ecstasy some people experience in places of worship.” -Lis, Workshop Participant

 The next Workshop Date is Tuesday, July 31 from 6-8pm! Register now, because there are only 6 spots left!

The Details:

• Every last Tuesday of the month. Next workshop date: Tuesday, June 26

• 6-8pm at The Studio—Old East Durham

• 2112 Angier Ave, Durham, NC 27703

• $50 per person

*The workshop fee covers all painting materials and refreshments. Yoga mats provided.

Breathe. Let go. Enjoy the flow of art + yoga.

Your Instructors

Courtney Potter is a self-taught abstract artist who believes in the universal power of creativity.

She began painting as a way to process her emotions after experiencing trauma. Opening herself up to access a deeper well of her creative power literally saved her life.

Potter has built her career around expressing herself through art and helping others cultivate and celebrate their unique voices. She believes painting is a powerful tool that anyone can access at any time to transform their pain into meaning.

Potter is a member of Artspace, Visual Art Exchange, and the Wedding Photojournalist Association and has exhibited her art along the East Coast. You can view her work at her solo exhibition at Hagersmith in Raleigh until the end of June.

Laura Nickerson  has taught yoga full-time since 2012.

In that time, she has created programs for military veterans, athletes, and teenagers. Laura has experience and expertise in anatomy, yoga for athletes, and yoga for trauma survivors. Her initial certification is through Sonic Yoga in New York City, and she has trained with David Emerson and Sage Rountree, as well as other teachers. In addition to public classes, Laura offers private yoga lessons, Thai Yoga Therapy, and Reiki.

Laura started yoga for the workout. At that time, she was unable to touch her toes and was much more interested in yoga party tricks than meditation or spirituality. Although she is now passionate about yoga philosophy and a dedicated anatomy geek, her most marked attribute as a teacher is the heart of a healer. Laura considers the yoga practice an act of love for self and world, and she brings that to her teaching.  All humans are welcome in class with Laura; this emphatically includes all races and genders.

Outside of her teaching and bodywork practices, Laura is a Boston Qualifying marathon runner, two-time Spartan Race World Championship–qualifier—and a recovering survivor of domestic violence.

Pablo Robles believes that in some form, we all practice an aspect of yoga* on a daily basis.

Practicing yoga is attuning to a shared resonance, or energy, that lets us experience balance and harmony. Yoga, like art, is about being able to embrace awkwardness and be still in order to become more integrated, resilient, and loving.

Robles’ passion thrives from being part of a movement that inspires action and working together. He believes that in order to grow and truly have compassion for all, we need to continue promoting love and inspiring sustainable habits.

*yoga techniques based on teachings from Mindbody Centering YOGA.

The post Art and Yoga | Embodied Fluidity Workshop appeared first on Courtney Potter Studio.