Acrylic pouring is a fascinating form of fluid art. Instead of applying paint with a brush in the traditional way, colors are mixed with a specialized medium to create a fluid consistency. These paints are then poured, tilted, and layered onto the canvas.

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Because the paints don't mix into a single muddy color, they create stunning swirls, cells, and marble-like effects that look different every single time. Under our UV blacklights, these pours come to life with a neon glow you have to see to believe!

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The Cosmic Splat Process

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When you step onto the bus for an acrylic pour session, we’ve handled all the technical prep so you can focus on the flow.

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The Mix: We provide a professional fluid medium that you'll mix into your chosen colors. This is the secret sauce that helps the paint glide across the canvas without losing its vibrant pigment.

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The Canvas Risers: We use a clever trick - jumbo thumbtacks in the corners of your canvas. These act as feet, lifting your art off the tray so the excess paint can flow over the edges for a professional, wrap-around look. They also allow your painting to be elevated while it dries so it won't stick to the box. These risers are designed to be removed after the painting is dry.

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The Tilt & Rock: You’ll have 20 minutes inside the studio to get your paint on the canvas and manipulate it to create your design. By rocking and tilting the canvas, you guide the paint to create custom patterns and organic shapes.

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Entry-Level Fluid Art Techniques​

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The Dirty Pour

This is the most popular "surprise" technique! You layer all your chosen colors into a single pour cup, one after another. Then, you pour the entire cup onto the center of your canvas in one go. As you tilt the canvas, the colors unstack to create amazing marbled ribbons.

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The Flip Cup

Place your canvas face-down on top of your full paint cup, then quickly flip them both over together. Lift the cup slowly (like a sandcastle mold) and watch the paint explode across the surface. This technique is famous for creating those sought-after cells and bubbles.

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The Ribbon Pour (or Tree Ring)

Slowly pour your paint cup in a steady stream while moving your hand in tiny circles or a zig-zag motion across the canvas. This creates distinct, concentric rings or ribbons of color that look like the inside of a geode or a tree trunk.

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Why Do it on the Bus?

 

Fluid art is notoriously messy! By joining us at Cosmic Splat, you get to experiment with high-quality acrylics and pouring mediums without worrying about your kitchen table or floors. We provide the absorbent spill mats, the specialized gear, and a level-transport box so your art dries perfectly flat on the way home.

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Pro-Tips for a Perfect Flow

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Ready to master the tilt? Acrylic pouring is all about chemistry and gravity. Here is how to ensure your masterpiece is a fluid success:

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The Density Secret: Just like the neons in our splat session, different colors have different weights!

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Layering for Cells: When you pour a heavier color (like black) over a lighter one (like neon yellow), the lighter color will try to bubble up through the top. This creates amazing, organic cells that look like swirling galaxies or polished stone.

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Master the Slow Tilt: It’s tempting to rock the canvas fast, but the best patterns come from a slow, steady glide. Let the paint move naturally to the edges of your canvas. If you tilt too fast, you might stretch your beautiful patterns until they disappear off the edges of your canvas.

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The Dirty Pour vs. Clean Pour:

 

Dirty Pour: Layer all your colors into one cup (DON'T STIR), then use the flip cup or ribbon pour to get it on the canvas for a wild, unpredictable explosion of color.

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Clean Pour: Pour each color onto the canvas one by one to keep the colors more distinct and separated. This can be done in side-by-side stripes, by creating multi-layer puddles, or by making circular patterns. Do whatever speaks to you!

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Don't Forget the Edges: Use your stir stick or a gloved finger to catch the drips and pull them over the sides of the canvas. If you use the paint that fell close to the bare side, it should match up with what is on the front. This gives your art a wrapped, professional look that looks amazing from every angle. Great for when you put it on the easel and display it in your home.

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The Last Highlight: A tiny drizzle of metallic gold or silver right at the end will sit on top of the pour, creating shimmering veins that look like marble under the UV lights.

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Drying time: We will provide you with a sturdy box to keep your painting safe while it dries. It's important to keep it level and on flat surface for 24-48 hours until it has cured. Acrylic pours continue to move slightly until they are fully set.

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Want to keep the glow going? We offer mini UV flashlights for $6+tax. They are the perfect way to show off your masterpiece at home! You can add them to your booked package ahead of time or purchase them on the bus on the day of your event.

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Need Some Inspiration?

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Check out some of our favorite fluid artists on YouTube! Whether you want to master the Flip Cup or see how colors react in motion, these creators are the masters of the flow. Browse their galleries to get ideas for your own Cosmic Splat masterpiece:

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• Designer Gemma77 – An artist who develops various original techniques using fluid acrylic paints.

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• Gilly Kube Art on YouTube – An Australian acrylic pouring artist and fluid art creator, sharing step-by-step tutorials for beginners to advanced artists.

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• Olga Soby on YouTube – A nature-inspired abstract artist working primarily in acrylic pouring and fluid art techniques.​​

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Not sure about The Acrylic Pour Experience? Check out our Tempera Splat Experience!

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