Paint Pouring

Paint pouring, probably one of the newest, exciting techniques to hit the rock painting phenomenon for a while.

Here is a simple to follow photo tutorial to help you create your own. 

Before we even start, make a mental note that this is a slow process. Once you have poured your paints, it can take up to two, or even more days to dry enough to add additional artwork and sealant.

There are also many YouTube videos and instructions out there is this one does not work for you. Experiences of this process by members at Taff Rocks HQ is still in its infancy.

You will need:

• Your chosen colors of acrylics. A minimum of two but the maximum number is your choice.
• One small pot for every colour you are using
• One large pouring pot / jug that will accommodate all the liquids from your colours. Don't forget, the volume of each colour is going to double.
• Acrylic paint conditioner. 
• Stirrers, one for each colour
• Flat rocks 
• An easy clean paint tray (to catch excess when pouring)
• A grill or grid of sorts (to rest the stone on when pouring that will allow the paint to run off)

For this rock, I used Floetrol, there are other paint conditioners on the market so check the marketplace. This is not the cheapest but, as you don't need a lot and it will cover a lot of stones, it works out ok.

If you use water to mix your paints with and not a conditioner, the water reduces the integrity and colour of the acrylics and it will not look or work as good.

Here's how:

1. Mix each colour with equal parts of paint conditioner and acrylics. Depending on your paints, this ratio may change. Use a separate pot for each colour. For this demonstration, I am using white and red.

2.  Then blend them together using your stirrers 

3.  Once belnded together, pour or spoon the paint into your bigger pot

• When you do this, layer the paint. For me it was simple, red, white, red, etc. 
• When you have more colours, position your pots in an order
• Once the last drop of mixture is in the biggest pot, you are ready to pour

4.  Place your rock or rocks on your grill

5.  Pour

• There are many ways you can pour to create different patterns. 
• Here are two examples (not the best graphics in the world, but I'm sure you get the idea).
• You can even use a mixture of both.

From left to right

Circular

Below is a video of this mixture's pour. Yes, I made an error with the mixture ratio as I was not expecting the white to be far thicker than the red. But if my errors can help you, brilliant.

6.  Once poured, allow to dry at least overnight

7.  Once dried, decorate further or leave as is.

8.  Add text on the reverse of your rock

• If you need help with this, click here
• Allow to dry.

9. Seal your rock.

• For help sealing your rock, click here. 
• If you need help with what sealant to use, click here

If you need help creating and sharing rocks, here are some previous publications that can help you:

• Preparing and Painting Rocks
• Cool Places to Hide Your Rocks
• Not-So-Cool Places to Hide Your Rocks
• Basic Do's and Do Not's
• What to write on the back of your rock

Check out the FAQ and, if it's not there, ask on the Facebook group, we'll all be happy to help!