I have faked cells, poured over what I didn’t like, used a popsicle stick with paint to create a diversion, (usually gold). Wiped the annoying part off when it’s damp and the canvas is stained, then fiddle with it with a paint brush for days. And tada! I am over that now, if it’s wrong, I wait until it is dry, put it away, pull it out a couple of months later, sand it lightly, then repour. Some of my favourite pours are on tarnished canvases.
I love how you're not afraid to show the paintings that didn't work out. I'm like terrified for anyone to see my fails! On my Instagram I only show the good ones lol
Yep I have painted over a few bad ones and came out with something better..I never through away a painting, first if I can't make it work I know I have a extra canvas sometimes I will use to practice new things too
Thank you!! FINALLY I know why my re-pours crack!! They needed way more time to cure. I'm so glad you posted this and for being brave enough to share the ones that didn't work out ❤ (although I actually really liked the larger one, but we are our worst critics).
I WILL NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOU ARE TEACHING US, DAVID, YOU ARE AMAZING. BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS FROM 🇲🇩.
I have a lot of fails, color or design wise. I scrape the paint into a large plastic cup & put a wet towel over it to keep the paint from drying out. It will keep for quite a while. After several fails I will have enough for a base coat. Usually I get some interesting colors.
Yes thank you!!! I was completely disappointed in a big pour I did tonight and ended up scraping it all off. Glad to know I can let the canvas dry and try again. Thank you for sharing!
I recently tried to do a new pour over a painting that I hated, but it had only been drying for about 4 days and it ended up cracking like crazy so I thought you just couldn’t do it Thank you so much for this video, it will definitely save me so much money in canvases!
Thank you, David...I always learn something new from you. I've got about a dozen rejects I can reuse now. I sure wish I would have put a date on them, though..........
If your not happy with what you just poured then yes scraping it off is a good idea but after you do make sure you use a wet rag to wipe off the remaining streaks, leaving the canvas clean for you. Though an even easier solution is to gently hose off the canvas surface while simultaneously rubbing off the fresh paint with your hand, then simply use a clean rag to dry it and your back to pouring on a clean surface.
So glad I just saw this. I tried a chain pull this weekend and it didn't work out worth darn. So would love to pour over the mess it turned into when I tried to save it.
I am revisiting this because I wondered if you can sand it, which you already answered below. I have some gloppy stuff and I up-ended the painting so it could be forced to run off, but it just made a glop at the bottom and ruined the design I loved. This sure is a messy craft, I have taken to just laying out plastic and stop worrying about wasting paint. I just roll it up and throw it out, otherwise I am stunted in my experimenting. I buy the plastic at dollar tree and cut them up, and have one on the floor because my studio space is in my living room of my tiny house. Thanx for your very accessible communication style, I really appreciate you. The drill one, I won't be trying, its hard enough not to get paint everywhere. You seem very meticulous and neat! 😍
You really should make a painting container. So much less cleanup and waste (at least of plastic sheeting). The one I made is super sturdy (I overengineer everything) but you could just lay dowels over the top of a wide shallow storage container, maybe tape the dowels so they don't move, and have a perfectly good alternative.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Hmmm .... Yes we have spoken of this previously but then I have that wet glop from every painting, and the fumes acrylic smell when I wake up in the morning of my little house is not good, and that is where I eat as well. I don't think I can make that work for me also the floors (old house) are very slanted and depending on the size of what I am doing the uneven is a slippery slope to correct.
Ah yes. I overlooked that detail. I have a room I can shut the door on which does make all the different. If I think of some other ideas I'll definitely let you know.
I love this pour you did with the yellow, pink and lime green. I’ve been trying to find the right colors to do a sunset inspired pour and this looks perfect. Idk if I’ll include the green. But I’ll definitely include the others. Maybe with a coral/peachy color?
Excelent vídeo. Wish I knew that before. I'm Just starting.. after a pouring I didn't like the result, so I imediatelly washed over all paints with a brush and water... and poured it again. I didn't wait to dry. So days later the all thing started cracking Very badly.
You can immediately pour over your current pour. Because your "bad" pour acts as a base you don't need as much for the second pour. Just make sure you aren't leaving the paint on too thick. Otherwise you can wait till it is dry and go again. Either way works.
All of your videos are so informative. I have some other favorites I follow, but you are the only one who keeps it real. The good, the bad and the ugly. Lol... Thank you, I'm learning a lot. I too am kinda a tech nerd. So you know what I mean when I say I learn differently. I have to research thoroughly and test it out. I need to know the why's and why's nots. It needs to make sense. I read all the ingredients because I cant accept what I must use base ones opinion. I get tried and true, but did we try them all?Your videos explain it all and I love every single one of them. Here's a question,I live in California, so unfortunately I cannot get a base enamel (Behr deep base 8300). I'm not sold on glue being the best substitute, do you know of one? Do you or can you do a video on base? Thanks.
@@LeftBrainedArtist unfortunately, I can not get ANY base here. Nobody sells it and it cannot be delivered to a California address. I don't know much, but after digging I found out about companies who sold the products lost to a lawsuit. I think it was over the lead in the paint. So I am now looking for alternatives. If you decide to put out a video on this, let me know so I can get a front row seat.
I think you can still find it, but Gesso was great back in the day in covering canvases, etc (we used to prime our own stretched canvases with it). You can sand it down if it's lumpy, bumpy or uneven. Or old canvases for repainting.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Now you have me wondering if you can texture a canvas with Gesso (let it dry) then do a pour. Let me ponder on that one. Art school was a loonnggg time ago!
@@LeftBrainedArtist 🙂 It works for a lot of little imperfections and there are so many grades of nail files and buffers that you can usually find something that works. I came looking for how to deal with a cracked pour. My paint was obviously too thick the other day and 3/4 of my paintings are cracked. A daredevil fly decided to crash land in the 4th one. *sigh*
It isn't a bad idea but you will see those dimensional features when the painting dries. You can put molding clay or another hard substance in them and sand them flat then pour over them if you want to save the painting surface.
Thank you for this. Answered some questions for me. Just had my first (I'm sure not my last) cracked painting. Would you please show the container and post the size that you use to set your paintings on?
question. I poured on top of another painting but i can see through some of the spots from the old painting. Can I brush these area again after it dries?
Thank you for this video! I'm a beginner and have lots and lots of canvases I've been holding onto hoping they will spontaneously turn into something wonderful. That being said, I have one question. I tend to use a lot of canvas boards because, well...I'm still practicing and they're cheap. What do you do when you have a canvas board you want to paint over, but it's warped or bowed?
You spray the back so it is damp but not dripping. Make sure the water is everywhere. Then put it between two sheets of baking paper (not wax paper) and put it under something heavy. Let it sit a few days and dry and it should go pretty much back to normal.
As someone just started the pour techniques it is intriguing but not relatable at all to any normal painting techniques or consistencies. I am constantly frustrated but very determined as I eventually want to combine some beautiful pour techniques mixed with the already known detail of my fine art. Kind of like the animated mix ed with real life type movies. Your tutorials, tests, and details of mixing etc are just phenomenal in helping me figure out what I’m doing wrong❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hello, I finished a pour that I am not happy with, lots of deep cracks in it. My question is to reuse the same canvas do I have to resand it down or how does that work to do another pour over it with a smooth surface
Painters putty the big cracks and let dry. Lightly sand. Gesso. Then pour. You could also fill with a thick pouring medium like Liquitex and let dry but I haven't had a lot of success at making them perfectly flat. Texture honestly doesn't bother me but it does to some people.
Hey, great video! I'm wondering about that plastic crate-looking box that you're using, that has the metal bars inside it to put your canvas on. I want one of those! Did you design it yourself or are they available in shops? I've been doing my pours on a regular craft table with a plastic table cloth over the top, and it's sooooo messy. This crate idea is the solution!
I did. This is actually a pretty expensive version I first start out with. I have since built a much cheaper one that works just as well. I'll link both videos here - ua-cam.com/video/TLHcqW9AKwo/v-deo.html - ua-cam.com/video/pMNH9V7--Jw/v-deo.html
I just rewatched this video. How would you recommend pouring over a canvas with crazes? I have a bunch that aren't quite flat, even when I gessoed over them. I tried pouring on floetrol since it's self-leveling but you can still see some of the bumps from the gesso and/or from the original paint if it was crummy paint. I don't know if sandpaper will work though I'll try it. I've poured over canvases before but now I'm more aware of the imperfections in the original pours, which obviously show through. Thoughts?
I hate to break it to you but the only option is really use a paste and then flatten it with sandpaper later. Generally it’s not worth the expense or effort.
@@LeftBrainedArtist That's fine. They're still good for practicing and, with a little gesso for texture, paint consistency (and to see quality when it dries!). Just trying to avoid buying canvas while I'm out of work, and painting for stress.
Thank you for this video. It helps. I have a painting I did today and accidentally ruined with drops from the canvas next to it. I don't know if I should wait for it to dry or scrape the half that is ruined (with the drops) before it dries. It's only been 3-4 hours. Can you tell me what's your advice please?
I would let it dry. 3-4 hours and the sides are probably already starting to dry. Now that it has been 3 more hours according to UA-cam when I am responding it is definitely dry on the edges.
I llllllllove your 🎨 🖼 And I would also love to have a box like yours, it makes the process so much easier, as I'm using a sheet on the floor and it's horrible 🙈🙈😄😄
I only stack my paintings after they have varnish on them so they don't stick together. I have heard of people using parchment type paper but if they aren't finished they still stuck the paper for me.
I wish I'd watched this video before I had to learn all this the hard way lol. You do eventually learn things like this on your own if you stick with it and it doesn't take long but you've definitely helped me head off hard lessons with your videos. I appreciate you! I poured a 20x20 that was an absolute riot, I had pearls thats formed an angry rabbit face! Well, when it dried it was completely covered with divots😭 I had poured over a bad pour that hadn't cured. I thought I might salvage it by skim coating the entire canvas with matte gel medium. Lol fail!
For me trying to salvage just ins't worth it. I either give it to my niece or daught to paint on or move on to a new canvas. I've done that a few times though. I am too impatient. 8)
Not really. I haven't tried with the higher quality pouring mediums like Golden or Liquitex but with glue or Floetrol you definitely can't. You can with epoxy or resin. If you want to smooth the painting out my recommendation is a thicker clear top coat or finish coat like resin or lots of layers of gloss medium or something like that.
When pouring onto wood is it common practice to apply 1 coat of sealer then a coat of Gesso? Are there woods that produce better results or even some that you should stay away from? Thank you
I haven't done enough on wood to give you a definitive answer. I asked my brother who does woodwork and he says two coats of sealer with a good fine grid sand in between should seal almost any wood. Those with deep grains may need 1 more but doesn't see the point in painting over good hardwood unless you plan on leaving some exposed. I always recommend gesso. As thin as flat as you can get it as the texture of the gesso brush marks will show through in your pour.
You either need to fill in the cracks with a painter's putty and dry and sand or paint over understanding that the texture of the cracks will still show.
Thanks for the helpful video, David! Got a related question - I made a pour using a white base coat for my negative space. When it dried I noticed some color splashes/smudges I don't like in the background. If I use some new white paint for touch ups, will it look smooth when it dries or will it be visible I applied 2 layers of paint there? Also, would you recommend waiting 2 weeks for the original painting to fully cure first? Thanks in advance! :)
It will be slightly visible Daniel. Honestly, in most cases I don't think that takes away from the beauty of a pour. If are are going to put any kind of varnish on it that will hide that very slight layer that the new paint makes and you won't even notice it. I guarantee you it will bother you ten million times (that is no exaggeration) more than anyone else that sees the painting.
You can put more paint in the cracks or you can fill with modeling paste and lightly sand. Textures are much harder. Make sure you ask a trusted person or two that you know won't give you and BS or coddling. Honestly most mistakes bother the artist WAY more than they bother the consumer or viewer. We are our worst critics.
Hi, I'm new to acrylic pouring. Just did my first pour yesterday and I did not like it. So I went for a second pour today and i still do not like it. I don't understand why I'm having white holes and cracks. And my paints did not flow too well to the side of the canvas. There's teardrops hanging on the side of my canvas. Help! Should I pour over again or scraped the whole thing out with a spatula?
That sounds like your paint is too thick. Also, if you are using craft white paint, especially Apple Barrel, it is notorious for causing cracking. You'll want a higher quality white for your paintings even just starting out. Liquitex, Blickrylics, Amsterdam, and of those student level acrylic paints rather than the craft/dollar store stuff.
@@LeftBrainedArtist I was using reeves plus liquitex pouring medium. I don't think those are really good combination. I'm thinking of trying of jasart Byron and Elmer glue to pour over.
Hi, I just did a large paint pour with negative space. It was a ring pour so it had to be fairly thick. Now my base coat is a little uneven. Will it self level? Luckily it's on a piece of wood so I will be able to sand it if it doesn't, but I was just wondering if they do self level?
Kind of Joey. I always have some unevenness. It will bother you WAY more than it will anyone that gets your painting. Most people tell me that is what makes that painting authentic and not a replica.
@@LeftBrainedArtist You are right about that. And when someone looks at it, I'll probably point it out too!! haha. I hope it does level, but like I said, it's on wood and I had a previous pour on it and I sanded it off quite nicely so if I have to it's nice to have that option.
I have a blog post all about this here - leftbrainedartist.com/why-is-my-acrylic-pour-cracking/ 1) Too much paint left on surface 2) Low quality white paint 3) Heat or draft - top layer dries before bottom and cracks when bottom dries and expands/contracts.
If there was no silicone, just a wet wipe or a wet paper towel. If there was silicone I use some rubbing alcohol on a paper tower. I usually scrub twice especially on the edges Then a paper tower with just a smidge of soap and then just a wet paper towel.
So true. It is hit and miss for me whether that does the trick or not. Without a hard surface the canvas flexes and sometimes I get unever sanding or the paint is still not cured so it gums up the sandpaper.
How many times can you pour over a bad pour?I’m low on canvases and I want to retry it but I’ve already done another pour on top that went badly. Some darker colors bled into some lighter colors turning a beautiful painting into a gross mess.. imo
@@LeftBrainedArtist thank you sooo much for replying! It was driving me crazy. I know it’s an older video and so not everyone replies to comments on older videos(their decision) I happen to somehow have gotten my hands on some gesso and bought some liquitex acrylic basics paint would that be a good base or could I just start from where it’s at, as it’s a pretty dark colored pour. Thank you for your time.
If you have dimples or holes on the first painting, they actually show up on the second once it is dry. What do you suggest using to fill those in in order to pour on a smooth surface again ?
A light scrape of modeling paste, let it dry, then sand and gesso. You could pour just a blank layer of medium but it won't flatten deeper dimples or ridges.
i'm a neewbie pouring and i would like to know how much do you have to wait till you can hang on a wall your painting, it must be fully cured or can me like 2 weeks dry?
Thank you so much for this. Here's a question... let's say you did a pour and it has completely dried but you're not that happy with it. It just looks blue on one side and green on the other. Do you have to a pour over the whole surface when you do a re-pour or could you do say just a dutch pour flower just in the centre? I guess I'm wondering if you can add to a dried pour.... LOL Thanks again!
You can absolutely only pour over some. I've done pours with more opaque colors across the whole canvas and then done some balloon smashes with more translucent colors that have turned out nice.
No. Gesso is a special formula of paint that has a little bit of texture. Many artists put that one their surfaces before painting to make the paint stick better. Most canvases are pre-gessoed so it isn't necessary.
Very comprehensive and helpful. I am wondering why you would use a fluted cupcake type dirty pour cup because the fluting captures lots of paint? Also you said even a right brainer like me?? at 0.40. LOL maybe you are beginning to become a rightie?
#truth Maybe you are what you think? I go between a regular cup and that cupcake cup. It is more of a whimsical choice rather than an intentional choice.
@@LeftBrainedArtist love this as long as people are polite in their words you can connect with people you never thought you would. I know I have. I’m not computer or math minded AT ALL the need to do the math to account for the amount of paint per square inch. Is so confusing and frustrating. Just hearing you explain the math, my mind just goes blank.
What is your favorite method to save a bad acrylic pour?
Fireplace and/or target shooting. :-)
I have faked cells, poured over what I didn’t like, used a popsicle stick with paint to create a diversion, (usually gold). Wiped the annoying part off when it’s damp and the canvas is stained, then fiddle with it with a paint brush for days. And tada!
I am over that now, if it’s wrong, I wait until it is dry, put it away, pull it out a couple of months later, sand it lightly, then repour. Some of my favourite pours are on tarnished canvases.
@@shelley9652 I do both. If I really really hate it, I scrape right away. I find pours over old panting often turn out better as well. It is slidier
what if I am mostly happy with the result but need to add a lighter color to it?
I love how you're not afraid to show the paintings that didn't work out. I'm like terrified for anyone to see my fails! On my Instagram I only show the good ones lol
The constantly curated amazing paintings on social media is a problem for sure.
Yep I have painted over a few bad ones and came out with something better..I never through away a painting, first if I can't make it work I know I have a extra canvas sometimes I will use to practice new things too
That is exactly what I do too. T hanks for sharing Carolyn.
“So I poured these colors out.. I hate this” such a mood 😂 thank you for this video!
Haha. We all get there for sure.
Thank you!! FINALLY I know why my re-pours crack!! They needed way more time to cure. I'm so glad you posted this and for being brave enough to share the ones that didn't work out ❤ (although I actually really liked the larger one, but we are our worst critics).
"we are our worst critics" so true. I call that the painter's curse.
I WILL NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOU ARE TEACHING US, DAVID, YOU ARE AMAZING. BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS FROM 🇲🇩.
Thanks Oguis. Glad to help.
Thank you so much David! I've been pouring over old pours with varying success. I have a much better understanding now ❤
Happy to help!
I used to use molding paste to smooth out failed canvases before I painted over them.
I've never used that but I definitely am going to try it now.
Awesome David! I pour over old pours all the time too. Thanks for this!
You are very welcome
I have a lot of fails, color or design wise. I scrape the paint into a large plastic cup & put a wet towel over it to keep the paint from drying out. It will keep for quite a while. After several fails I will have enough for a base coat. Usually I get some interesting colors.
Great tip Jim. Definitely worth conserving your paint when it is practical.
WOW, DAVID, YOU ARE VERY NICE AND GENEROUS, THANKS A LOT FOR ALL THE TIPS YOU GUVE US, SO KIND OF YOU. 👏👍🤗 GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS FROM 🇲🇽.
Un placer. Que tanga exito con su arte.
The yellow and Red is so pretty, the colors go nicely together.
Thanks Milly. I go back and forth on this one.
Yes thank you!!! I was completely disappointed in a big pour I did tonight and ended up scraping it all off. Glad to know I can let the canvas dry and try again. Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome Rachael.
How can we scrape the pour art?
I just did a pour over this morning, it felt good to be able to reuse a canvas.
Great job! I do like being able to repurose instaed of throw away when I can.
I recently tried to do a new pour over a painting that I hated, but it had only been drying for about 4 days and it ended up cracking like crazy so I thought you just couldn’t do it
Thank you so much for this video, it will definitely save me so much money in canvases!
You are very welcome. That was exactly the outcome for people I hoped for when I made this video.
Very informative and concise!!! Thank you
You're welcome!
So helpful! Feeling less afraid to mess up!!
Your mess-ups are just lessons in disguise Maureen . . . and more opportunities to paint. 😄
I love the color combo!!
Thanks. I ws a little worried about this one.
David thank you for all of your help… Everything I’ve seen from you has been so wonderfully helpful! And encouraging!! ❤️❤️👍👍
As always Joy, it is my pleasure. Everyone should have as much enjoyment as I do with pouring.
Super helpful! I wish I watched this before I poured over an oily painting :) Much appreciated!!
No problem at all Kristin. Glad to be of service.
Thank you, David...I always learn something new from you. I've got about a dozen rejects I can reuse now.
I sure wish I would have put a date on them, though..........
Haha, I had that same problem.
If your not happy with what you just poured then yes scraping it off is a good idea but after you do make sure you use a wet rag to wipe off the remaining streaks, leaving the canvas clean for you. Though an even easier solution is to gently hose off the canvas surface while simultaneously rubbing off the fresh paint with your hand, then simply use a clean rag to dry it and your back to pouring on a clean surface.
So true, but don't put paint down the drain. You'll cause yourself a ton of headache.
This looks so fun David. When covid is over, I might see if I can steal your work space for a date night.
Anytime Christina!
Thanks again for all your helpful advice. 😊👏💙
You are so welcome Julz!
I saw it on UA-cam also now I love working with it
Isn't it amazing? I was the same way when I saw pouring on Instagram.
Great info, thanks David.
You bet! Always glad to help.
So glad I just saw this. I tried a chain pull this weekend and it didn't work out worth darn. So would love to pour over the mess it turned into when I tried to save it.
Glad I could help Crystal!
Thank you SO much, you are the most helpful. THANK YOU!
You are so welcome Melineh.
I am revisiting this because I wondered if you can sand it, which you already answered below. I have some gloppy stuff and I up-ended the painting so it could be forced to run off, but it just made a glop at the bottom and ruined the design I loved. This sure is a messy craft, I have taken to just laying out plastic and stop worrying about wasting paint. I just roll it up and throw it out, otherwise I am stunted in my experimenting. I buy the plastic at dollar tree and cut them up, and have one on the floor because my studio space is in my living room of my tiny house. Thanx for your very accessible communication style, I really appreciate you. The drill one, I won't be trying, its hard enough not to get paint everywhere. You seem very meticulous and neat! 😍
You really should make a painting container. So much less cleanup and waste (at least of plastic sheeting). The one I made is super sturdy (I overengineer everything) but you could just lay dowels over the top of a wide shallow storage container, maybe tape the dowels so they don't move, and have a perfectly good alternative.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Hmmm .... Yes we have spoken of this previously but then I have that wet glop from every painting, and the fumes acrylic smell when I wake up in the morning of my little house is not good, and that is where I eat as well. I don't think I can make that work for me also the floors (old house) are very slanted and depending on the size of what I am doing the uneven is a slippery slope to correct.
Ah yes. I overlooked that detail. I have a room I can shut the door on which does make all the different. If I think of some other ideas I'll definitely let you know.
Thank you. Learned a lot.
Glad to help Kay.
Wowww..... The ones he didn't like are also so beautiful.
Aw. Thanks so much. That is the beauty of abstract art. We all like things differently.
I have a few that I painted over when I first started so I can really relate to this video. Thanks David.
It's part of our learning process for sure.
Thank you so much!❤
You're welcome 😊
I love your set up!
Thank you!! The one one I built is even cheaper and easier - ua-cam.com/video/TLHcqW9AKwo/v-deo.html
Thanks for the information 👍
No problem 👍
Many questions answered. Thanks.
Excellent. Waste not want not is the motta when it makes sense.
Great info, David. I do have a few I want to pour over. I found the information on painting over an already varnished piece most helpful. Thank you!
Definitely reuse where you can. I actually have a few pieces that shows the texture of the underneath paintings which I really like.
Thanks!
My pleasure Jana. Hope it was helpful.
Gracias gracias gracias you are awesome
De nada Amiga.
love all your hints etc etc
Thanks Shirljoan. I appreciate that and I hope they help you.
Oh my goodness thank you for all the information,,,, now maybe I relax and give it a try,,,, new subscriber here thank you sir
Welcome aboard! I love the name. Walking Dead is my guilty pleasure.
I love this pour you did with the yellow, pink and lime green. I’ve been trying to find the right colors to do a sunset inspired pour and this looks perfect. Idk if I’ll include the green. But I’ll definitely include the others. Maybe with a coral/peachy color?
You really need at least one complimentary color to help them all pop.
Sounds nice
Wow I really appreciate your painting. You are great.
Thank you so much 😀
David I soak my tiles in hot water in a bin for 5 minutes tops & the paint peals off easily, usually intact.
I've never tried that but I am definitely going to. Thanks Linda.
Is that a silicone cupcake liner?? That's BRILLIANT! I'm getting some!
This is actually a measuring cup but if the liner has enough strength to not fold without the cupcake pan than it should work great too.
Excelent vídeo. Wish I knew that before. I'm Just starting.. after a pouring I didn't like the result, so I imediatelly washed over all paints with a brush and water... and poured it again. I didn't wait to dry. So days later the all thing started cracking Very badly.
You can immediately pour over your current pour. Because your "bad" pour acts as a base you don't need as much for the second pour. Just make sure you aren't leaving the paint on too thick. Otherwise you can wait till it is dry and go again. Either way works.
Thanks
No problem. Happy new year!
Thank you!
You bet!
All of your videos are so informative. I have some other favorites I follow, but you are the only one who keeps it real. The good, the bad and the ugly. Lol... Thank you, I'm learning a lot. I too am kinda a tech nerd. So you know what I mean when I say I learn differently. I have to research thoroughly and test it out. I need to know the why's and why's nots. It needs to make sense. I read all the ingredients because I cant accept what I must use base ones opinion. I get tried and true, but did we try them all?Your videos explain it all and I love every single one of them. Here's a question,I live in California, so unfortunately I cannot get a base enamel (Behr deep base 8300). I'm not sold on glue being the best substitute, do you know of one? Do you or can you do a video on base? Thanks.
You can use the higher end bases from Valspar or even Sherman Williams. I'll have to ask around on which ones work best though.
@@LeftBrainedArtist unfortunately, I can not get ANY base here. Nobody sells it and it cannot be delivered to a California address. I don't know much, but after digging I found out about companies who sold the products lost to a lawsuit. I think it was over the lead in the paint. So I am now looking for alternatives. If you decide to put out a video on this, let me know so I can get a front row seat.
@@tmgrbr67 That is crazy!
I think you can still find it, but Gesso was great back in the day in covering canvases, etc (we used to prime our own stretched canvases with it). You can sand it down if it's lumpy, bumpy or uneven. Or old canvases for repainting.
Thanks for the tip Selena.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Now you have me wondering if you can texture a canvas with Gesso (let it dry) then do a pour. Let me ponder on that one. Art school was a loonnggg time ago!
Thank you for this video
You are very welcome. Thanks Abel.
I’ve poured over my paint pours so many times because I didn’t like them them first time, the second time actually came out better 😂
Me too Laura.
Now you know, David. You ARE artistic. 😂😂😂😂
I still doubt myself sometimes. Thanks Ma!
Thanks for the video.I am new to this technique so can you imagine how my first paintings looks like :)))) will ned a lot of fixing
Don't worry Lada-Lee. It happens to us all. Just keep on keeping on.
I know I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but in the case of canvases with a ridge of paint, I buff it out with a soft nail file. 🙂
That is genius. Never thought about that.
@@LeftBrainedArtist 🙂 It works for a lot of little imperfections and there are so many grades of nail files and buffers that you can usually find something that works.
I came looking for how to deal with a cracked pour. My paint was obviously too thick the other day and 3/4 of my paintings are cracked. A daredevil fly decided to crash land in the 4th one. *sigh*
Flies in my painting are the worst. That is one benefit from painting in the winter. That never happens, at least not in Salt Lake City.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Mina Villegas calls them Organic Embellishments XD
I'm more worried about cat fur!
Thank you David. So, is it a bad idea to pour over a painting with cracks and crazing ?
It isn't a bad idea but you will see those dimensional features when the painting dries. You can put molding clay or another hard substance in them and sand them flat then pour over them if you want to save the painting surface.
Thank you for this. Answered some questions for me. Just had my first (I'm sure not my last) cracked painting. Would you please show the container and post the size that you use to set your paintings on?
I have a video about that from a few months ago. I think if you search my change for DIY Pouring Container you'll find it.
question. I poured on top of another painting but i can see through some of the spots from the old painting. Can I brush these area again after it dries?
Absolutely you can. You have a little bit different textrure but I like the character that gives a painting.
Thank you for this video! I'm a beginner and have lots and lots of canvases I've been holding onto hoping they will spontaneously turn into something wonderful. That being said, I have one question. I tend to use a lot of canvas boards because, well...I'm still practicing and they're cheap. What do you do when you have a canvas board you want to paint over, but it's warped or bowed?
You spray the back so it is damp but not dripping. Make sure the water is everywhere. Then put it between two sheets of baking paper (not wax paper) and put it under something heavy. Let it sit a few days and dry and it should go pretty much back to normal.
Another great education video❤️
Thanks again Carol.
As someone just started the pour techniques it is intriguing but not relatable at all to any normal painting techniques or consistencies. I am constantly frustrated but very determined as I eventually want to combine some beautiful pour techniques mixed with the already known detail of my fine art. Kind of like the animated mix ed with real life type movies. Your tutorials, tests, and details of mixing etc are just phenomenal in helping me figure out what I’m doing wrong❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hello, I finished a pour that I am not happy with, lots of deep cracks in it.
My question is to reuse the same canvas do I have to resand it down or how does that work to do another pour over it with a smooth surface
Painters putty the big cracks and let dry. Lightly sand. Gesso. Then pour. You could also fill with a thick pouring medium like Liquitex and let dry but I haven't had a lot of success at making them perfectly flat. Texture honestly doesn't bother me but it does to some people.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Thank you so much 😃!
Hey, great video! I'm wondering about that plastic crate-looking box that you're using, that has the metal bars inside it to put your canvas on. I want one of those! Did you design it yourself or are they available in shops? I've been doing my pours on a regular craft table with a plastic table cloth over the top, and it's sooooo messy. This crate idea is the solution!
I did. This is actually a pretty expensive version I first start out with. I have since built a much cheaper one that works just as well. I'll link both videos here - ua-cam.com/video/TLHcqW9AKwo/v-deo.html - ua-cam.com/video/pMNH9V7--Jw/v-deo.html
@@LeftBrainedArtist I never even knew you made these videos. Thank you so much for sharing such useful information with us!
I just rewatched this video. How would you recommend pouring over a canvas with crazes? I have a bunch that aren't quite flat, even when I gessoed over them. I tried pouring on floetrol since it's self-leveling but you can still see some of the bumps from the gesso and/or from the original paint if it was crummy paint.
I don't know if sandpaper will work though I'll try it.
I've poured over canvases before but now I'm more aware of the imperfections in the original pours, which obviously show through.
Thoughts?
I hate to break it to you but the only option is really use a paste and then flatten it with sandpaper later. Generally it’s not worth the expense or effort.
@@LeftBrainedArtist That's fine. They're still good for practicing and, with a little gesso for texture, paint consistency (and to see quality when it dries!).
Just trying to avoid buying canvas while I'm out of work, and painting for stress.
Thank you for this video. It helps. I have a painting I did today and accidentally ruined with drops from the canvas next to it. I don't know if I should wait for it to dry or scrape the half that is ruined (with the drops) before it dries. It's only been 3-4 hours.
Can you tell me what's your advice please?
I would let it dry. 3-4 hours and the sides are probably already starting to dry. Now that it has been 3 more hours according to UA-cam when I am responding it is definitely dry on the edges.
@@LeftBrainedArtist OK I'll wait then. Thank you sa much for your help!!!
I llllllllove your 🎨 🖼
And I would also love to have a box like yours, it makes the process so much easier, as I'm using a sheet on the floor and it's horrible 🙈🙈😄😄
I have two boxes i've made. here are the videos - ua-cam.com/video/TLHcqW9AKwo/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/pMNH9V7--Jw/v-deo.html
@@LeftBrainedArtist thank you, I hope that my husband is going to be happy for some diy 😊
Do you ever stack your paintings to save room and do you put anything between them to protect like parchment paper?
I only stack my paintings after they have varnish on them so they don't stick together. I have heard of people using parchment type paper but if they aren't finished they still stuck the paper for me.
I wish I'd watched this video before I had to learn all this the hard way lol. You do eventually learn things like this on your own if you stick with it and it doesn't take long but you've definitely helped me head off hard lessons with your videos. I appreciate you!
I poured a 20x20 that was an absolute riot, I had pearls thats formed an angry rabbit face! Well, when it dried it was completely covered with divots😭 I had poured over a bad pour that hadn't cured. I thought I might salvage it by skim coating the entire canvas with matte gel medium. Lol fail!
For me trying to salvage just ins't worth it. I either give it to my niece or daught to paint on or move on to a new canvas. I've done that a few times though. I am too impatient. 8)
It's actually hilarious that I spent $12 on matte gel to save a painting but I probably wouldn't have if the image wasn't priceless🤣
Can you tell me where I can get the big thumbtacks? Thank you
I get them from Amazon - Jumbo Push Pins - amzn.to/3sIIogJ (affiliate link)
@@LeftBrainedArtist thank you !
How do you dispose of all your scraped paint and leftover in cups?
I let it dry and then throw it away.
Awesomeness!!! U r great😂😂❤️❤️❤️
Thanks 😅
Can you re-pour over a board that has already been sealed with either resin or Liquitex HIgh Gloss Varnish?
Absolutely you can. You might want to scuff it with a high grit sandpaper and gesso first but it works great.
Can you lightly sand ridges (then clean) from the original painting?
Not really. I haven't tried with the higher quality pouring mediums like Golden or Liquitex but with glue or Floetrol you definitely can't. You can with epoxy or resin. If you want to smooth the painting out my recommendation is a thicker clear top coat or finish coat like resin or lots of layers of gloss medium or something like that.
When pouring onto wood is it common practice to apply 1 coat of sealer then a coat of Gesso? Are there woods that produce better results or even some that you should stay away from?
Thank you
I haven't done enough on wood to give you a definitive answer. I asked my brother who does woodwork and he says two coats of sealer with a good fine grid sand in between should seal almost any wood. Those with deep grains may need 1 more but doesn't see the point in painting over good hardwood unless you plan on leaving some exposed.
I always recommend gesso. As thin as flat as you can get it as the texture of the gesso brush marks will show through in your pour.
Matte cracked painting can it be used again?
You either need to fill in the cracks with a painter's putty and dry and sand or paint over understanding that the texture of the cracks will still show.
Thanks for the helpful video, David!
Got a related question - I made a pour using a white base coat for my negative space. When it dried I noticed some color splashes/smudges I don't like in the background.
If I use some new white paint for touch ups, will it look smooth when it dries or will it be visible I applied 2 layers of paint there?
Also, would you recommend waiting 2 weeks for the original painting to fully cure first?
Thanks in advance! :)
It will be slightly visible Daniel. Honestly, in most cases I don't think that takes away from the beauty of a pour. If are are going to put any kind of varnish on it that will hide that very slight layer that the new paint makes and you won't even notice it. I guarantee you it will bother you ten million times (that is no exaggeration) more than anyone else that sees the painting.
@@LeftBrainedArtist You're right, thanks!!
How do you figure out how much paint you need to cover a surface ?
I have a calculator on my website leftbrainedartist.com/calculator
The painting with cracks how would you pour over it? And if the paint is different textures (like poor paint mixing) - can that be fixed?
You can put more paint in the cracks or you can fill with modeling paste and lightly sand. Textures are much harder. Make sure you ask a trusted person or two that you know won't give you and BS or coddling. Honestly most mistakes bother the artist WAY more than they bother the consumer or viewer. We are our worst critics.
@@LeftBrainedArtist You mean ask someone before fixing it? If I can figure out how to embellish it, I'm almost wondering if i do that instead
Can you pour over a glass vase that had a previous pour
Absolutely! I've done it a few times. Just make sure it's clean Elizabeth.
Hi, I'm new to acrylic pouring. Just did my first pour yesterday and I did not like it. So I went for a second pour today and i still do not like it. I don't understand why I'm having white holes and cracks. And my paints did not flow too well to the side of the canvas. There's teardrops hanging on the side of my canvas. Help! Should I pour over again or scraped the whole thing out with a spatula?
That sounds like your paint is too thick. Also, if you are using craft white paint, especially Apple Barrel, it is notorious for causing cracking. You'll want a higher quality white for your paintings even just starting out. Liquitex, Blickrylics, Amsterdam, and of those student level acrylic paints rather than the craft/dollar store stuff.
@@LeftBrainedArtist I was using reeves plus liquitex pouring medium. I don't think those are really good combination. I'm thinking of trying of jasart Byron and Elmer glue to pour over.
I definitely had to scrape the paint off . But rather then waste it i poored that into a cup stirred it and got a green out of it.
👍👍
Hi, I just did a large paint pour with negative space. It was a ring pour so it had to be fairly thick. Now my base coat is a little uneven. Will it self level? Luckily it's on a piece of wood so I will be able to sand it if it doesn't, but I was just wondering if they do self level?
Kind of Joey. I always have some unevenness. It will bother you WAY more than it will anyone that gets your painting. Most people tell me that is what makes that painting authentic and not a replica.
@@LeftBrainedArtist You are right about that. And when someone looks at it, I'll probably point it out too!! haha. I hope it does level, but like I said, it's on wood and I had a previous pour on it and I sanded it off quite nicely so if I have to it's nice to have that option.
How long do you have to wait for a pour to dry? Is 2 weeks enough? I did a pour three days ago that is not to my liking and wish to pour over it.
Two weeks for a smaller canvas 12 x 12 or less would be fine as long as it isn't too cold. Larger canvases need a bit more time.
What are the main causes of crazing and cracking?
I have a blog post all about this here - leftbrainedartist.com/why-is-my-acrylic-pour-cracking/
1) Too much paint left on surface
2) Low quality white paint
3) Heat or draft - top layer dries before bottom and cracks when bottom dries and expands/contracts.
@@LeftBrainedArtist thank you. I haven t made it through all your posts yet.
How do you clean it before you pour over a canvas.
If there was no silicone, just a wet wipe or a wet paper towel. If there was silicone I use some rubbing alcohol on a paper tower. I usually scrub twice especially on the edges Then a paper tower with just a smidge of soap and then just a wet paper towel.
I sand my pics before pouring over an old painting
So true. It is hit and miss for me whether that does the trick or not. Without a hard surface the canvas flexes and sometimes I get unever sanding or the paint is still not cured so it gums up the sandpaper.
How many times can you pour over a bad pour?I’m low on canvases and I want to retry it but I’ve already done another pour on top that went badly. Some darker colors bled into some lighter colors turning a beautiful painting into a gross mess.. imo
Depends on how much character from the previous pours you are comfortable with. I've done 2 or 3 without problems.
@@LeftBrainedArtist thank you sooo much for replying! It was driving me crazy. I know it’s an older video and so not everyone replies to comments on older videos(their decision)
I happen to somehow have gotten my hands on some gesso and bought some liquitex acrylic basics paint would that be a good base or could I just start from where it’s at, as it’s a pretty dark colored pour.
Thank you for your time.
If you have dimples or holes on the first painting, they actually show up on the second once it is dry. What do you suggest using to fill those in in order to pour on a smooth surface again ?
A light scrape of modeling paste, let it dry, then sand and gesso. You could pour just a blank layer of medium but it won't flatten deeper dimples or ridges.
@@LeftBrainedArtist I will try that. Thanks a lot.
You're a sweetheart of a big lug, ain't cha? Would you rather use glue all or floetrol? BTW, you can sure flip out a free pour pretty fast!!!
Depends. Glue for more solid colors and Floetrol if I want cells/lacing. Not a hard and fast rule but a guideline I use.
What is crazing?
Where it looks like a crack but it is kind of see through. Like really old pictures have.
Can you buff out your ridges and lifts (like in your flag painting) with a light sanding?
Yes but it is hard to get the ridges only and not the painting itself. Generally I don't mind them as long as they don't look too out of place.
i'm a neewbie pouring and i would like to know how much do you have to wait till you can hang on a wall your painting, it must be fully cured or can me like 2 weeks dry?
For hanging it just needs to be dried to the touch. I wouldn’t put a finish on till week 2 just to make sure it’s fully cured.
@@LeftBrainedArtistthank you!! i like matte finish but i poured some gold ,do you recomend any specific finish??
@@Drusille My favorite right now is Liquitex Varnish. I have a few videos about it if you search for "Varnish" on my channel dashboard.
Does it have to be cured to paint over? Or just dried? Thank you soooo much for your videos!!!!!
Literally just got the answer :) thank you!!!!
Lol, glad to help (by taking my time to comment). 😃😂
Thank you so much for this. Here's a question... let's say you did a pour and it has completely dried but you're not that happy with it. It just looks blue on one side and green on the other. Do you have to a pour over the whole surface when you do a re-pour or could you do say just a dutch pour flower just in the centre? I guess I'm wondering if you can add to a dried pour.... LOL Thanks again!
You can absolutely only pour over some. I've done pours with more opaque colors across the whole canvas and then done some balloon smashes with more translucent colors that have turned out nice.
@@LeftBrainedArtist Woohoooo !!!! Thanks
Does gesso mean base paint?
No. Gesso is a special formula of paint that has a little bit of texture. Many artists put that one their surfaces before painting to make the paint stick better. Most canvases are pre-gessoed so it isn't necessary.
Very comprehensive and helpful. I am wondering why you would use a fluted cupcake type dirty pour cup because the fluting captures lots of paint? Also you said even a right brainer like me?? at 0.40. LOL maybe you are beginning to become a rightie?
#truth Maybe you are what you think? I go between a regular cup and that cupcake cup. It is more of a whimsical choice rather than an intentional choice.
Do I ask to many questions 🤔
Not at all. Every question someone asks me is a potential idea for a new video or blog post.
Did you say a "Right Wing Guy" like me can do it? Oh Please! 🙄 Like that should matter? Trump works in mysterious ways. LMAO!
Definitely left brained not right winged but luckily we love everyone that pours regardless of their political affiliations.
@@LeftBrainedArtist love this as long as people are polite in their words you can connect with people you never thought you would. I know I have. I’m not computer or math minded AT ALL the need to do the math to account for the amount of paint per square inch. Is so confusing and frustrating. Just hearing you explain the math, my mind just goes blank.
what is crazing?
Crazing is more like tons of tiny cracks rather than big deep cracks.