By PS Koz
Let’s face it, this hobby can get expensive in a hurry. All of these fancy additives for a silky finish and the silicones that boast the best cells in all the land—you want them, but sometimes it’s just not in the budget or all that easy to find without some online shopping. Maybe you’ve run out of floetrol and it’s 10pm but you just need to pour. Well, have no fear, there are a few things you can use as substitutes for those additives that can be found in your own home!
WD-40
WD-40 is something nearly any household has, it’s a product that most people seem to buy once and the can lasts them for a good long while. It’s cheap and available at just about any store that has a hardware department, no matter how small. Just make sure you read the label first to make sure it does have silicone in it, otherwise it won’t achieve its intended purpose as an additive for cell promotion.
Elmer’s glue
If you ever find yourself low on or out of floetrol give Elmer’s glue a try. Obviously, you need to add water to thin your paint for a pour, that’s the name of the game, but you’ve got to make sure you have something in there that keeps the paint sticky. I don’t necessarily mean consistency wise, I mean when it comes to sticking to your canvas. Elmber’s glue helps the paint bond to the canvas while keeping the colors of your paint rich.
Rainx
You might be a little less likely to have this product in your house, but it’s worth a shot. Rainx is a spray people use on their cars to keep rain from leaving those annoying water drop stains after a storm—it also promotes cells in pours.
Rubbing alcohol
Believe it or not rubbing alcohol can be used to get some cells in your pour. Alcohol can kind of be seen as a two-in-one, it helps thin things out while also creating cell potential. Keep in mind, it’s a little hit or miss with rubbing alcohol, I’ve found that it depends on your ratios in the mixing cup as well as the colors you’re using and torching.
Hair products
This one is probably more likely to be in the bathroom of any long haired lady (or man with good grooming habits). Some people swear by using a few drops of some hair oil in their paints to get cells to explode on their canvas rather than a treadmill lubricant or some other silicone product. Make sure the product you’re using has dimethicone as an active ingredient, that’s the key to cells.
Please share any success stories you’ve had with these products, we’d love to see them. And let us know if you’ve tried any household objects that knocked your socks off as a quick fix or replacement for the real deal!
PS Koz is new to the acrylic pouring game but she’s diving right in and has no intentions of looking back! A student of the universe, there is nothing this artist loves more than learning and trying new things. Her other hobbies include reading, foreign language, and salsa dancing.
FAQs
What is an alternative pouring medium for acrylic paint? ›
The best alternatives to pouring mediums are Mod Podge, PVA Glue, or regular Elmer's Glue. All of these alternatives work perfectly as a substitute for commercial pouring mediums.
What is a cheap alternative to pouring medium? ›It might surprise you, but simple liquid glue is actually a very effective, budget-friendly pouring medium. Elmer's Glue-All (not its School Glue) performs well as an extender when mixed with water and paints, and it dries clear with no residue.
What is a substitute for Floetrol for acrylic pouring? ›Yes, Mod Podge is considered to be an ideal Floetrol substitute. Not only is it fairly affordable, but it also give a glossy finish to your painting. Moreover, if you want you can use it as it is by adding a splash of water, or can mix it with other pouring mediums of your choice.
How do you make homemade pouring medium? ›...
DIY pouring medium recipe
- PVA Glue: 3 parts.
- Acrylic Gloss Medium: 1 part.
- Water: 1.5 parts.
- Acrylic Retarder: 37.5ml.
To do an acrylic pour, you need to change the consistency of your paint into a fluid consistency. This is achieved by using an additive such as elmer's glue, floetrol, Liquitex pouring medium.
What household items can be used as a pouring medium? ›Believe it or not rubbing alcohol can be used to get some cells in your pour. Alcohol can kind of be seen as a two-in-one, it helps thin things out while also creating cell potential.
Can you use rubbing alcohol as a pouring medium? ›You can use a couple of drops of pouring medium, 91% Isopropyl alcohol, or water to dilute and bind the ink. Stir the mixture using your wooden craft stick. And you're ready to pour! You can pour each color at once or pour a little bit at a time.
Can I use paint thinner for acrylic pouring? ›You shouldn't use solvents such as paint thinner for acrylic paint to try to dilute your acrylic paint as it will break down the binder. You should instead use one of the methods highlighted above, such as using a thinning, pouring, or binder medium.
Can I make my own Floetrol? ›If you dilute your glue with a little bit of water, you will get a similar pouring consistency as Floetrol. Your painting will dry to a matte finish when using Elmer's Glue-all (very similarly to Floetrol).
Can you use water for acrylic pouring medium? ›The Pouring Medium as an important factor. In Acrylic Painting, you use water to dilute your acrylic paints. This works well, but is not recommended for Acrylic Pouring. Water not only changes the consistency, but also the pigment density and the adhesion of the paint to the painting surface.
How do you make pouring paint with water? ›
I use a mixture of approximately one part water to one part paint to create a fluid enough paint to use.
How to acrylic pour cheap? ›- Use student grade acrylic paints. There are two main types of acrylic paint that you can purchase: student vs artist grade. ...
- Collect run-off paint for reuse. ...
- Wipe down your gloves and mixing tools. ...
- Re-purpose an old canvas. ...
- Purchase cheap acrylic pouring medium.
A ratio of one part paint to three parts water should be enough to break down the acrylic binder so that the paint acts like watercolor.
What can I add to cheap acrylic paint? ›Add baking soda to your acrylic paint to make the paint thicker and more textured. The more baking soda you add, the chalkier and more heavily textured it will become.
Can you use baby oil for acrylic pouring? ›Before starting a paint pour, one must have the correct supplies. Some people use Elmer's Glue and other oils that they prefer or have found to work for them, i.e. baby oil or even WD-40.
What can I mix with paint for pouring? ›To thin and mix paint for acrylic pouring you will use two main ingredients: acrylic paint and pouring medium. You mix the paint with the medium until your final mix runs like warm honey, motor oil, or chocolate syrup. If necessary add some water to thin further.
What does rubbing alcohol do to acrylic paint? ›91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol in a spritzer bottle to pop bubbles in the paint. You can spray this into the paint cups before pouring, spritz it onto the canvas after pouring, or both. Alcohol also helps to open up the cells in paintings when you're using silicone oil.
Can you use clear glue as a pouring medium? ›#650 Amazing Results Using CLEAR GLUE And Water As My Pouring Medium In This Flip Cup Pour. Acrylic flip cup pour. For this flip cup pour, I used 60% glue and 40% water as my pouring medium.
Can I water down acrylic paint for pouring? ›Acrylic paints can be thinned by adding water, a pouring medium, or using an acrylic binder.
Do you have to water down acrylic paint for pouring? ›Unlike other types of painting, you can not mix acrylic paint with water to dilute it because acrylic paint is water-soluble, meaning that it is dissolved by water. Instead, you have to add a pouring medium that will help your paint flow while keeping the adhesive properties of your paints.
What is the best base paint for acrylic pouring? ›
Acrylic Inks and Soft Body, High Flow or Fluid Acrylic Paints are the perfect consistency for acrylic pour painting. Their consistency usually falls between milk (ink and high flow) and heavy cream (soft body and fluid).
How do you make Floetrol with Elmer's glue? ›- 3 Parts Floetrol (300 grams)
- 2 Parts PVA glue, Elmer's Glue or Modpodge (200 grams)
- 1 Part Pouring Medium (100 grams)
- ¼ part water (25 grams)
A common substitute for Floetrol is water. Adding a small amount of water to paint can help to improve its flow and workability. However, it is important to note that adding too much water can thin the paint and affect its ability to adhere to the surface properly.
Can I use a lighter instead of a torch for acrylic pouring? ›Some people ask "Can I use a lighter instead of a torch for acrylic pouring?" Well, technically you can, because you just need to apply some heat across the surface of your painting in quick swipes. And a lighter can serve that purpose.
What oil do you use for acrylic cells? ›Silicone oil is commonly used in acrylic pour paintings because it helps to create cells, or small bubbles, in the paint. These cells can add visual interest and texture to your acrylic pour paintings, and can create unique patterns and effects.
What is pouring medium made of? ›To make your own pouring medium all you need is white glue, for example PVA and water. Mix equal parts of white glue and water together in a glass jar mixing lightly to avoid air bubbles, when mixed it's ready to add to your acrylic.
What happens when you add Elmer's glue to acrylic paint? ›When added to acrylic paints the colors will look lighter. When the glue dries, it will dry clear and your colors will show brighter than they looked in the original liquid mixture. Keep that in mind when mixing your acrylic pour paints with a glue-based medium.
Can you use school glue for paint pouring? ›If you want to try it without the price rage of expensive name brand mediums and the messiness of silicone, you can use Elmers Glue All (not school glue) and acrylic paints . It is important that you use liquid body acrylics for they lend themselves to be poured.
What happens when you mix Elmer's glue and water? ›Mixing glue and water results in thinned glue, which has many applications, such as a sealant or for papier-mâché. Water will also recover Elmer's glue that has thickened over time. Think about the glue's thickness in terms of the ratio of water to glue.
What happens if you mix Modge podge with acrylic paint? ›Painting Over Mod Podge
Even though it's not a paint, Mod Podge is both water-based and acrylic, so it is quite compatible with acrylic paint. Make sure the Mod Podge is completely dry and cured before painting; then paint over any areas you like.
Can you mix acrylic paint and Mod Podge to paint glass? ›
Can You Seal Acrylic Paint on Glass With Mod Podge? Mod podge is used in decoupage as an all-in-one glue, sealant, and finish. It can be used over acrylic paint on glass as a protective coating or sealant.
Can Mod Podge be used as an acrylic medium? ›Mod Podge)! - Works really well with acrylic color or other mediums. - Don't use as a final varnish, it is NOT a finisher!
Can I use water instead of acrylic medium? ›There are two choices for thinning acrylic paint: water or acrylic medium. Water breaks down the binder in acrylic, thinning the paint so that it looks like watercolor and allows it to sink into the surface, resulting in a matte finish.
Can you just use water for acrylic pouring? ›In Acrylic Painting, you use water to dilute your acrylic paints. This works well, but is not recommended for Acrylic Pouring. Water not only changes the consistency, but also the pigment density and the adhesion of the paint to the painting surface. This means that the colors are lightened and no longer so bright.
Can you pour acrylic paint without medium? ›Unlike other types of painting, you can not mix acrylic paint with water to dilute it because acrylic paint is water-soluble, meaning that it is dissolved by water. Instead, you have to add a pouring medium that will help your paint flow while keeping the adhesive properties of your paints.
How to make Floetrol at home? ›Elmer's Glue is probably going to be your cheapest Floetrol substitute option, other than water. If you dilute your glue with a little bit of water, you will get a similar pouring consistency as Floetrol. Your painting will dry to a matte finish when using Elmer's Glue-all (very similarly to Floetrol).
Which Elmer's glue in acrylic pouring? ›If you want to try it without the price rage of expensive name brand mediums and the messiness of silicone, you can use Elmers Glue All (not school glue) and acrylic paints . It is important that you use liquid body acrylics for they lend themselves to be poured.
Is water or thinner better for acrylic? ›Water is, in fact, the solvent for the acrylic/water emulsion that makes up an acrylic paint. You'll find that you get the best performance out of your acrylics if you make use of acrylic mediums to adjust the working properties of the color. Save the water for clean up.
Can you thin acrylic paint with alcohol? ›Can You Thin Acrylic Paint With Alcohol? You can thin acrylics with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, although you shouldn't use more than 20% alcohol in a mixture when thinning. Using too much alcohol can speed up the drying time of acrylic paint even more and will often result in uneven drying.