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: Your canvas will have large thumbtacks poked into the underside corners. These act as feet, lifting your art off the tray so the excess paint can flow over the edges and deliver a professional, wrap-around look. They also allow your painting to be elevated while it dries so it won't stick to the box.

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The Tilt & Rock: You’ll have 15 minutes at your dedicated Creation Station to get your paint onto your canvas and manipulate it to create your design. By gently 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 Flip Cup

This is a Cosmic Splat favorite! After layering your chosen colors in a single cup, place your canvas face-down on top of your cup, then quickly flip them both over together. After letting the paint drip for a minute or so, lift the cup slowly (like a sandcastle mold) and watch the paint explode across the surface. This technique often results in a granite or planet surface-like effect.

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The Funnel

Layer your chosen paint colors in a funnel that is pressed against your canvas. As you slowly lift and move the funnel across the surface, the narrow spout forces the colors out in crisp, defined layers rather than mixing them together, resulting in striking, target-like rings and highly detailed, organic designs.

The Puddle Pour (circle inside a circle inside a circle)

In this technique, individual colors are layered directly on top of one another to create distinct, expanding rings of color. Start by pouring a circle of your first color onto the canvas, followed by a smaller amount of your second color into the middle of the first puddle. Repeat this process with your remaining colors, letting each new addition push the previous layers outward into concentric circles, before gently tilting the canvas to stretch the rings into fluid shapes across the surface.​ You can make one or multiple puddles.

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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 an Acrylic Pour on the Shuttle?

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. You get to create something beautiful, then go enjoy the rest of your day! And if you're using neon paint, you can see how amazing it looks under blacklights.

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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 shuttle the day of your event. Please note, Cosmic Splat is a cashless studio. We accept all major credit cards and mobile tap-to-pay options.

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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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