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Paint Pouring with the Leftovers

The leftover paint in the bottom of the cup from a dirty pour is an invitation to make another canvas.  Plus it feels criminal to not use that gorgeous color mingling in the cup. So I just have to make another canvas.  Can you see the muse twisting my arm and forcing me to play?

But there isn’t nearly enough in there to cover a canvas.  Problem? Nope.  An opportunity to use up the remaining solid colors in the cups.  Will there still be cells and colors moving around? You bet thanks to gravity and a palette knife.

How was the paint mixed? What was added it?  What is that thing the canvas is sitting on? It’s all explained along with everything you need to make your first pour in this video.

Watch Paint Pouring with Leftovers on YouTube.

It looks like there is a grand plan but there isn’t.  The goal is to just use up all the paint in the cups on the canvas. It might start looking like this, but it will change a lot before it’s done.

The solid colors are nice but the magic is in the dirty pour leftovers in the cup.  Where did those dregs in the cup come from?  You can see how the colors were added to the cup and the canvas it made here.

No plan here, just having fun dripping that color all around the canvas. But it won’t be enough paint.  Reinforcements will have to be brought in – white paint added to the areas that didn’t have enough.

How did it go from the solid areas of color to the cells and pattern below?  Gravity.  By tipping the canvas, the paint ran.  To help it along, swipes were made with a palette knife.  You can use anything to swipe with, so whatever you have will do the job.  The video shows it far better than words can- click here to jump to this part of the video.

Paint pouring is magically mesmerizing as the color moves around.  If you’ve been thinking about getting started or are just curious about the process, check out my earlier post and video that walks you through the process.

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  • Corrine June 13, 2018, 4:40 pm

    Painterly pour, loved this video. Love seeing you in ACTION. xox

  • Fran July 18, 2019, 8:16 am

    I really am not quite sure how to make sure I get my white mixed right. I get it with the colors but the pouring medium is already white, how do I know how much paint to add?

    • Carolyn Dube July 18, 2019, 8:54 am

      Words can’t explain it the way step-by-step video can Fran so whatever I’d write here won’t do it justice. What I’ve learned about mixing and how to get the ratios right for the look you want without any measuring, including how to know when the white is mixed, is in the videos in my paint pouring workshop, Paint Pouring FUNdamentals https://acolorfuljourney.com/paint-pouring-workshop/

  • Pam Smith December 5, 2019, 12:37 pm

    Thanks….I always enjoy watching your posts! I often get inspired to try something new.

  • Jeane Hogue March 2, 2020, 3:39 pm

    Very interesting video Thank you

  • Mindy Drummond March 25, 2020, 10:49 am

    Oh what fun “leftovers” can be!! 🙂

  • LINDA SHEWBRIDGE July 14, 2020, 3:38 pm

    Can you do a pour over a completely dried pour that you don’t like?

  • kathy November 7, 2020, 2:59 pm

    Absolutely love this! I have become addicted to paint pouring and have been spending tons of $$! But I really enjoy it! It gives me an outlet. I love to watch
    your helpful tips.