The Art of Paint Pouring: Swipe, Pour and Spin - Book Review

Post

Subscribe

Paint pouring, a way of creating paintings by pouring paint onto a surface instead of using a brush has, been growing in popularity. If you've ever wanted to try it out, this book by Amanda VanEver is a useful guide for beginners.

It starts out with some information on the materials and mediums needed, such as different types of paint and pouring mediums. Then there are tips on colours, and some suggested sample colour palettes to try. It explains basics like how to mix the paints and create cells (the bubbles you see in fluid art). Then there are step by step guides to particular painting techniques, such as a dirty pour (adding different colours to the same cup and pouring them together), a flip cup (putting the canvas upside down on top of a cup full of paint before flipping it up the other way), using a Lazy Susan to spin the canvas etc.



I found it particularly helpful that the author explains how to clean off the silicone or oil used in the painting before varnishing your work, something that is sometimes glossed over (no pun intended) in instructions on how to do fluid art.

There are also tips on how to embellish your artwork, or use it to make other items such as jewellery, coasters and book marks.

There are colour photos of the techniques in action, as well as the finished products, and the explanations are simple and straightforward.



This book would probably be a bit too basic for someone who already does fluid art and wants to move on to more advanced techniques, but it is well suited to a beginner. Some of the ideas here would be easy enough to do with children, so this book would be a useful addition to a school library.

If you like this book and want to learn more about paint pouring and fluid art you should check out The Ultimate Fluid Pouring and Painting Project Book by Jane Monteith, which goes into using alcohol inks and resin as well.

**
Disclaimer:** I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Quarto publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
**
Published:** March 3, 2020

#art
#book_reviews
#books_writing
#fun_for_children
#fun_things_to_do
%wneverywhere