As any experienced acrylic pour artist will tell you, this pouring technique isn’t as simple as just mixing some paints and pouring them out! Striking, dynamic pieces are the result of careful technique and a precise balance of ingredients.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the different additives you might combine to create an acrylic “recipe” for use during a pour. Read on to learn all about additives, from why we use these products to the specific ones we recommend for budding artists!
Quick Links
For your convenience, here are store links to items we mentioned in this article.
- Silicone oil – Works well to make cells for most paints and applications
- B’laster – Alternative; to be used in a pinch
- Liquid Wrench – Spray lubricant; to be used in a pinch
- WD40 – Spray lubricant; to be used in a pinch
- CRC Heavy Duty – Spray lubricant; to be used in a pinch
- Treadmill Belt Lubricant – Completely clear and doesn’t smell bad
- Coconut Milk – Skin-friendly form of silicone oil
- KY True Feel – Personal lubricant
What Are Additives?
Technically speaking, additives are anything you add to your paints. They could be a simple substance, such as water, or a product made from a few different compounds, such as Floetrol. Additives are intended to change the appearance, character, and/or behavior of the paints you use.
On a side note, to complement your Acrylic Pours, I highly recommend using a Cricut Machine (my personal favourite is the Explore Air 2 machine) to design and print yourself beautiful crafts on all sort of supports. Check it out here! Now back to the use of additives.
Why Use Additives?
There are any number of reasons why you want to use at least some additives when you work with acrylic pouring.
Many additives, especially pouring mediums, are intended to make paints more suitable for use in acrylic pouring. By adding a pouring medium, you give yourself the fluid dynamics of thinned paint without sacrificing the integrity of the binders or pigments. Additives give you more control over paint consistency to make it more predictable to work with and easier to manipulate.
Some additives also help to preserve your finished piece. They’ll prevent cracking or crazing, and/or help to improve the longevity of archival pieces and commissions. Most pouring mediums (Floetrol, Liquitex, etc.) will accomplish this, but you can also use a specific preservative in addition to your medium.
Finally, there are a range of additives that change visual aspects of your paints, both while they’re wet and when they dry. You can use additives to increase the number of cells in your piece, to give your paints a glossy finish, or to add metallic effects. That’s just scratching the surface of what you can do visually with additives, so we always encourage new artists to explore and experiment to their heart’s content!
Different Types of Additives
Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is something you’ll see mentioned fairly often in online tutorials and videos, but it’s not actually common among the experienced/professional acrylic pouring community. Although some folks swear by it for creating cells, our results haven’t been encouraging, so we don’t endorse using alcohol. There are simply better, more reliable ways to go about getting dynamic cells.
You can see Acrylic Pouring founder & contributor Deby Cole’s tests with alcohol here:
Pouring Mediums
Pouring mediums are additives which are used to generally improve paints and make them easier to work with. Pouring mediums are designed to give your paints the fluid dynamics of thinned paint, without you having to add any water. Since water weakens both pigments and binders, that’s a big advantage! A good pouring medium will improve flow and consistency while maintaining vibrant color and strong binders.
Some of the most common pouring mediums are:
Floetrol: your best friend, as far as your pocketbook is concerned! Floetrol is available cheaply, and it’s easy to buy in quantity. Any good hardware store carries it, and you can always find it cheaply online. Floetrol isn’t an “art”-specific product like Liquitex, but it accomplishes the same things. The upside is that you don’t pay a premium just to get the art market version! While some pros will tell you Liquitex gives you a slight edge (and we’d agree), the differences are negligible. You can learn more and find a recipe for using Floetrol here!
Liquitex: Most professional and expert pour artists will tell you that Liquitex is the best pouring medium on the market. We’re inclined to agree, though only the most perfectionist types will be able to tell much of a difference between Liquitex and Floetrol. We’d encourage most people to start with Floetrol. Once you’re more experienced, dabble with Liquitex and see if it makes a perceptible difference to you. If so, it might be worth the extra investment.
Liquitex Gloss: Liquitex also makes a glossy pouring medium that you can use to improve fluid dynamics and get a shiny finish all at the same time. It’s not wildly different from using Liquitex alongside a separate gloss additive, but it’s far more convenient and the consistency ends up being better. If you’re chasing the shine, this should be up your alley!
Rainx for cells: Last but not least, Rainx is a helpful pouring medium for creating cells. Most of us use silicone oil alongside a pouring medium to get cells to form, but this is a more convenient approach if you want to avoid using droplets of silicone. You don’t have to wipe off any residue, either.
Check out our guide to pouring mediums if you want to learn more about all these products!
Preservatives
As we mentioned above, some additives are intended to give your paintings better longevity. Longevity isn’t something that you need to worry too much about when you’re starting out or just doing some experiments, but more experienced painters like to approach each piece with the idea that they’ll be able to keep it or sell it, depending on how it turns out. After all, you never know when an experiment will go perfectly right! You don’t want to put in all that work only to have things flake, fade, or crack when your painting dries and goes on the wall.
Most of us are content to just use Floetrol or Liquitex as a preservative. Both pouring mediums do a good job keeping things together and looking vibrant over the long haul. However, some folks like to go a step further and use a specific preservative product. If that’s something you’re particularly concerned about, you can also use Lineco 901 bookbinder’s glue. It’s neutral in PH and plays nicely with other additives.
Oils/Lubricants
Oils and lubricants are used in acrylic pouring to create cells. These visual effects are one of an acrylic pour artist’s best tools in making compelling pieces, so many folks tend to use oil additives in every pour. The oil product helps to create cells by remaining separate from the paints. Oils don’t mix well with acrylics, so they separate into layers and slide around, which is why we end up seeing cells and craters on the surface of the piece.
You can work with any number of oils, but the most common in the acrylic pouring community are:
Silicone
Silicone is the most popular type of oil for making cells. It’s generally considered to provide the most dynamic cells, aside from the more expensive but similar dimethicone. Silicone is light, neutral, and creates perfect cells. It’s also inexpensive and predictable. There are virtually no downsides, unless you have a sensitivity.
You can get it in several forms:
The first option is to use a spray lubricant which includes a substantial amount of silicone. You can find products such as WD-40 relatively cheaply, and most folks have them around the house or garage already. Be sure to check any can you find at home before you use it! Only certain lubricants contain silicone. Many are silicone-free and won’t do much to help you out.
Using a silicone lubricant is a good place to start experimenting with cells. However, there are some substantial downsides that keep spray lubricants from being suitable for any pieces you want to keep or sell. They typically have a yellowing effect on paints, contain harmful chemicals, and are very messy to use. They degrade significantly over time. Feel free to experiment with these, but don’t use them on anything you’re planning to keep for a long time.
Pure, 100 percent silicone oil (the type used for treadmills and sewing machines) is the other way to go. Using pure silicone is by far the best way to work, since there aren’t any extra ingredients and additives that might mess up your paints (or your lungs). This stuff is usually sold in bottles with droppers, so it’s also very neat, compared to the messiness of spray cans.
Find our guide to different types of silicone here!
Dimethicone
This is a skin-safe alternative to silicone which is used in many beauty products. Another common usage is personal lubricants. Of course, as with silicone, the best approach is to buy the pure stuff without any additives.
Dimethicone is super easy to work with, since you won’t be bothered if any gets on your fingers. It produces the same effects as silicone oil. In fact, some painters say it gives them bigger cells!
However, it’s more expensive than silicone and it’s also harder to find in its pure form, since most beauty products mix it with other ingredients. If you have a sensitivity to silicone or simply want a skin-safe product to work with, use dimethicone! It does a great job at creating large cells.
Natural Oils
Natural oils such as those used for cooking can see appealing when you start to experiment with adding oils to create cells. However, as we explain in our guide to the best types of silicone (link above!), they’re not a good choice. They usually discolor somewhat, and any organic material you use to paint is eventually going to go rancid. When that happens, you’ve got a moldy, smelly canvas on your hands. Natural oils might be a place to start your experiments, but they’re not suitable for use in pieces you’re going to keep long-term or sell.
Visual Modifiers
In the visual modifier category, you’ll find things like glitter, gloss, and other elements to add interest and extra pizazz to your pieces. Most of us will end up buying paints that already contain these additives, but you can also buy them separately. The downside is that you’ll have to mix and distribute them yourself. However, if you’re going for something more specific that doesn’t want even distribution, this can be an advantage! There are countless products available, so have a look around and see the possibilities.
Wrapping Up
Now that you’ve read this guide, you should be much more knowledgeable about acrylic pouring additives! We hope we’ve answered all your questions and then some. If there’s something we’ve missed, let us know! Leave a comment and we’ll do our best to help you out.
For more resources, tutorials, and recommendations, head over to our homepage. You can also find all our recommended supplies for beginners in our guide here.
Click on any of these images to find the perfect cell making additive for you
https://kit.co/acrylicpouring/additives-used-to-make-cells-in-acrylic-pouring
FAQ About Best Additives for Acrylic Pouring
1) What are the best additives for acrylic pouring?
The best additives for acrylic pouring include silicone oil, dimethicone, alcohol, Floetrol, GAC 800, Liquitex Pouring Medium, PVA glue, water, coconut milk hair serum, and WD-40. Each additive can create different effects and textures in your acrylic pour.
2) How do additives enhance acrylic pouring?
Additives such as silicone oil, alcohol, and pouring medium can enhance the flow and texture of acrylic paints in a pour. Silicone oil creates cells and bubbles, alcohol can create interesting patterns and textures, and pouring medium can improve the consistency and drying time of the paint. Experimenting with different additives can lead to unique and beautiful results in acrylic pouring.
3) Can I mix multiple additives for acrylic pouring?
Yes, you can mix multiple additives for acrylic pouring, but it’s important to do so carefully and in the right proportions. Some popular additives include silicone oil, alcohol, and pouring medium. It’s best to experiment with different combinations to find the right mix for your desired effect.
4) Are silicone-based additives safe for acrylic pouring?
While silicone-based additives can create beautiful effects in acrylic pouring, it is important to use them safely. Make sure to use a high-quality, pure silicone oil and avoid inhaling the fumes. It is also recommended to wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
5) How much additive should I use in acrylic pouring?
The amount of additive you should use in acrylic pouring depends on the specific product and the effect you want to achieve. It’s best to start with a small amount and gradually add more until you reach your desired consistency or effect. It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions when using additives.
Deby Coles
After being told in high school that she was so bad at art that she should switch to another subject, Deby didn’t paint again for 35 years. Then a stroke released a new wave of creativity and she began exploring with dot painting, abstract and eventually acrylic pouring, and at last the joy of working with color returned. You don’t need ‘talent’ to be an acrylic pouring artist – just enthusiasm, some basic instruction, and a willingness to try, fail and try again. Paint along with her and learn from her many mistakes, and you’ll soon make great art together.
