I used to do pour painting with premixed pour paint – it means the brand already thinned the acrylic paint with a special medium for me.
But if you want to be more professional about pouring and premixing any colors you want, you can’t rely only on pre-mixed paint. You should learn to thin acrylic paint for pouring at home.
It is quite easy and there are many pouring thinning mediums available, but only a few of them I can recommend: because of their performance.
Get pouring medium
The pouring medium was specifically designed for acrylic pouring, it improves the flow and does not affect pigments or color intensity.
It is a liquid medium, most of the time milky white and it has a composition very close to acrylic paint binder – so when mixed with the paint, it makes it stronger.
The optimal ratio is 1:1 pouring medium to paint but certain brands have different compositions and they suggest a different ratio, please check the label.
The best consistency is similar to honey, so even if you don’t follow any ratio strictly, simply rely on the visuals.
Pouring mediums to thin acrylics, I recommend:
- Liquitex Professional Pouring Effects Medium
- Golden Artist Colors Color Pouring Medium
- DECOART Pouring Medium
- Floetrol
- Pouring medium I don’t recommend
Why we can’t use water to thin acrylic for pouring
While water works well for thinning acrylic paint for canvas, it isn’t the best option for pouring because it breaks down the acrylic paint composition and makes it watery.
In pouring it will result in colors that spread too much and too thin, less viscosity and the consistency will be too watery, while we need honey-like liquid.
Water can be added along with Floetrol sometimes, but it is not necessary and I would avoid that.
Water makes pouring mix less controllable and it may look very different while wet and while dry, including less intense colors.
A great example is a pour I did above – I added water and you can see how the colors are pale, break, and spread too much. I don’t recommend water for pouring!
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Buenos Aires-based certified teacher, artist, and member of the Professional Artist Association with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.