-
- About an hour
marbling with liquitex® pouring medium and basics acrylics
| Step 1 |
To keep your marbling composition contained, create a box-like shape from your watercolour paper. Draw a 1" [2.54 cm] border around your page using a straight-edge. The area within this border will be your composition. Cut the corners of the paper. These should be 1" x 1" [2.54 cm x 2.54 cm] squares. Fold the edges of the paper up, creating a box-shape, and tape your corners securely. Make sure there are no openings in the corners to allow the poured paint to escape. |
| Step 2 |
Create a marbling comb first by cutting a rectangle of foam core. The size of your comb should be compatible with the size of your composition. Use toothpicks to create the teeth of your marbling comb. You can easily push these into the edge of the foam core. Place the toothpicks as close or far apart as you would like, keeping in mind the width of the designs you would like to create. |
| Step 3 |
Choose your colours. The colours used in the featured image are Bright Aqua, Hooker Green and Cadmium Red Deep Hue. Prepare your pouring cups for each of your colours. Add your colours first, then add pouring medium. We suggest a ratio of 1 part acrylic paint to 10 parts pouring medium, as the pouring medium will extend your colours. Mix thoroughly. |
| Step 4 |
Pour the paint directly on the watercolour paper. Create your own design, but also keep in mind the unpredictable nature of pouring paint, work with any “happy accidents”, and make it your own. Start with a simple stripe-like pattern with Bright Aqua and Hooker Green, then add Cadmium Red Deep Hue in drops and splatters. Notice how the colours sit next to each other and never mix. This is great for all kinds of patterns and designs. |
| Step 5 |
Use your marbling comb to alter the flow and direction of the poured colours. This will create the classic marbling look. Drag the marbling comb through the paint in a crisscross formation or in waves and loops. If you are not satisfied with the look of your design, you can always add more poured paint, as in Step 4. Alternate between pouring and marbling until you create a design that works for you. When you’re finished, allow at least 24 hours to dry completely. Once dry, you can cut away the borders of the watercolour paper. |
| Step 6 |
| NOTE: This technique also works great on canvas. You can also create a design on palette paper or freezer paper, creating a marbling effect with acrylic sheets. Marbling: The process of creating colourful streaks and patterns that resemble marble. With paper, this has been done traditionally by floating paper on water after applying oil-based paint and solvents to the water’s surface. For this project, we are creating a similar look with pouring medium and acrylic paint. Abstraction: Breaking down and rearranging the elements of line, shape and colour, referring to observed objects, which can result in a representational or non-representational composition. Chance: Working with and inviting unpredictable occurrences or “happy accidents” while painting. Poured Painting: The technique which involves pouring very fluid acrylic paint and allows colours to stand out individually rather than mixing. This method yields colourful abstract results. Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels |
Products
Products
- Toothpicks
| Step 1 |
To keep your marbling composition contained, create a box-like shape from your watercolour paper. Draw a 1" [2.54 cm] border around your page using a straight-edge. The area within this border will be your composition. Cut the corners of the paper. These should be 1" x 1" [2.54 cm x 2.54 cm] squares. Fold the edges of the paper up, creating a box-shape, and tape your corners securely. Make sure there are no openings in the corners to allow the poured paint to escape. |
| Step 2 |
Create a marbling comb first by cutting a rectangle of foam core. The size of your comb should be compatible with the size of your composition. Use toothpicks to create the teeth of your marbling comb. You can easily push these into the edge of the foam core. Place the toothpicks as close or far apart as you would like, keeping in mind the width of the designs you would like to create. |
| Step 3 |
Choose your colours. The colours used in the featured image are Bright Aqua, Hooker Green and Cadmium Red Deep Hue. Prepare your pouring cups for each of your colours. Add your colours first, then add pouring medium. We suggest a ratio of 1 part acrylic paint to 10 parts pouring medium, as the pouring medium will extend your colours. Mix thoroughly. |
| Step 4 |
Pour the paint directly on the watercolour paper. Create your own design, but also keep in mind the unpredictable nature of pouring paint, work with any “happy accidents”, and make it your own. Start with a simple stripe-like pattern with Bright Aqua and Hooker Green, then add Cadmium Red Deep Hue in drops and splatters. Notice how the colours sit next to each other and never mix. This is great for all kinds of patterns and designs. |
| Step 5 |
Use your marbling comb to alter the flow and direction of the poured colours. This will create the classic marbling look. Drag the marbling comb through the paint in a crisscross formation or in waves and loops. If you are not satisfied with the look of your design, you can always add more poured paint, as in Step 4. Alternate between pouring and marbling until you create a design that works for you. When you’re finished, allow at least 24 hours to dry completely. Once dry, you can cut away the borders of the watercolour paper. |
| Step 6 |
| NOTE: This technique also works great on canvas. You can also create a design on palette paper or freezer paper, creating a marbling effect with acrylic sheets. Marbling: The process of creating colourful streaks and patterns that resemble marble. With paper, this has been done traditionally by floating paper on water after applying oil-based paint and solvents to the water’s surface. For this project, we are creating a similar look with pouring medium and acrylic paint. Abstraction: Breaking down and rearranging the elements of line, shape and colour, referring to observed objects, which can result in a representational or non-representational composition. Chance: Working with and inviting unpredictable occurrences or “happy accidents” while painting. Poured Painting: The technique which involves pouring very fluid acrylic paint and allows colours to stand out individually rather than mixing. This method yields colourful abstract results. Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels |