SheleeArt can be considered the most fashionable technique of acrylic pouring Fluid Art at the moment. The methodology of work is specific in terms of materials. Silicone is not used here, but at the same time a delightful lace of multicolored cells is obtained.
In this article we will consider the classic technique of acrylic pouring, which was invented by the Australian artist Shelee and is used by many artists.
Required materials
A special medium is used for mixing the composition – this is an acrylic semi-gloss paint base C (or base 3) with a polyurethane water-based one-component varnish in a ratio of 3:1. A ratio of 3:2 is allowed. All components are purchased at a hardware store.
Paint base C is a paint without pigment. It is light beige in color and is needed for tinting in saturated colors. Such paint is usually not put on the shelves. You need to ask her in the department where the paint is tinted.
Sometimes you have to face a misunderstanding of sellers and unwillingness to sell it without tinting. Explain that you need it for artistic purposes and you will carry out all the necessary manipulations yourself.
You will need a polyurethane water-based one-component varnish. Glossy. Be sure to read the description on the back. There should be no alkyd resins, only liquid polyurethane.
Minwax Polycrylic gloss varnish is perfect. Polyurethane water-based one-component varnish.
Untinted (Base C) semigloss wall paint, Minwax Polycrylic gloss varnish in a ratio of 3:1. Medium is mixed with acrylic paint in a ratio of 2:1.
To work, you will need a cell activator. The classic recipe is Amsterdam standard series acrylic paint of any color, but more often titanium whitewash Amsterdam Titanium white is used. Knead the paint with Australian floetrol in a ratio of 3:1, sometimes 4:1. Golden paints will also work.
Australian floetrol is sometimes called red floetrol. Floetrol paint conditioner.
A simplified but working recipe. Amsterdam paint with water in an approximate ratio of 2:1. The composition is very liquid. If something does not work out, then try to change the ratio of paint and water a little. For example, choose a ratio of 10:6. Stir and let it brew for at least a couple of minutes.
Another recipe with American floetrol. However, it is quite complex and different components are needed. It’s just that paint and American floetrol often work poorly. The ingredients here are as follows:
- American Flood Floetrol – 2 tablespoons;
- PVA glue – 1 tablespoon;
- Liquitex Acrylic Ink – 5 drops;
- Amsterdam Titanium White – 1 tablespoon;
- Minwax Wood conditioner – 5 drops.
Semi-gloss (semigloss) construction paint is used as a base.
The selection of materials is done, now let’s look at the drawing process itself. In the technique of acrylic pouring SheleeArt, two types of pattern formation are used.
Bloom technique SheleeArt
First we apply the base to the canvas. For the base, we take any acrylic semigloss white paint. Ideally, this is not a thick composition that is poured onto the canvas directly from the jar. It should slowly spread over the canvas. If the composition is thicker than the desired one, then it will be extremely difficult to stretch the paint on the canvas, and the thick layer will simply crack when drying.
On the base we apply paint with medium SheleeArt puddles. From 3 to 10 layers in a puddle. The colors may be different, or they may alternate. Puddling involves the Puddle Pour technique.
Last we apply a puddle of cell activator. Without delay, we begin to inflate the cell activator on top of the colored puddle. The direction of breathing should be from the center of the puddle in different directions. Ideally, we will see the formation of small cells. It turns out something similar as in the photo or even better.
Depressions form on the surface of the paint after inflating. Wait for them to straighten out. This will take from 1 to 5 minutes. Next, start stretching the drawing on the canvas. The simplest and most effective way is stretching on a spinning table.
A slightly more complex classical method of stretching by rocking, it is used by experienced masters. Tilt the canvas so that the drawing stacks at one corner and catches on it. Tilt the canvas in the opposite direction, hook the drawing to the other corner. Return the bulk of the paint to the middle and pull it to the next corner. Stretch the drawing completely.
If we form only one puddle, then it is optimal to take a canvas size of 10×10 or 20×20. Round, square or polygonal. You can do more, but it will be more difficult to work with it.
For the drawing that we form from several puddles, you can take an arbitrary canvas shape. But not very big, as it will be difficult to stretch the paint on the canvas.
There is a concept of dirty pouring. We apply paint to the center not in puddles, but in multiple streams. It turns out some mess. Inflating can be done not only with breathing, but also with a hairdryer. Here you need to get used to it and find your own way.
Swipe technique SheleeArt
This technique of working with acrylic paint is very similar to the previous one. The base is made, paint is applied to it with a medium SheleeArt stripes on top of each other. Stripes are applied diagonally across the canvas, near the edge of the canvas, in the middle of the canvas.
Depending on the direction of stretching the paint, we pour the cell activator over the color strip or from one of the edges. We put a spatula, a plastic or cardboard card or other stretching tool on a strip with a cell activator and stretch the paint over the canvas.
In the photo, you can see how the stretching is done with a cardboard card, this is a mirror longitudinal stretching of acrylic paint.
When we have finished stretching, we begin to distribute the drawing over all the surface of the canvas using swaying. Canvas of small size is optimal for use. It’s hard to work with a large canvas, so it’s recommended to start with a small one.
The SheleeArt technique is quite complex and silicone is not used in it. This is explained by the following reasons:
- Silicone will not give exactly such beautiful cells and it will not be able to stretch well.
- Silicone will then have to be thoroughly cleaned from the surface. But it is quite difficult to remove silicone from the picture.
- Many artists do not recognize the use of silicone at all. They think it’s bad form.
- Drawing with acrylic paints in Fluid Art technique is not an easy hobby. An artist always wants to improve his skills, grow and master something new.
Just look at how amazing acrylic paintings look in this technique. Examples of SheleeArt – Swipe technique works.
