Mic'ing Dollar Acrylic Paints For Pouring Perfection

If you're looking for a fun and easy craft project, acrylic pour painting is a great option. All you need is a few bottles of acrylic paint, a pouring medium, and a surface to pour and spread the paint on. You can even use a pizza pan from the Dollar Store as your canvas! When it comes to choosing paint, be careful to select the right type of paint for acrylic pouring, as not all paints are suitable. While Dollar Tree offers affordable craft paints, their range of colours used to be limited, and the results may not be impressive if the colours are not well-combined. However, their new selection of Acryology paints has a good range of vibrant colours that work well for beginners. You can even mix these paints with Aleene's Tacky Glue for a glossy finish. For those looking to upgrade, Artist's Loft paints are also affordable and have good pigmentation. Once you have your paint, simply mix it with a pouring medium, following the instructions on the bottle, and you're ready to start pouring!

Choose the right paint

When choosing the right paint for your acrylic pour painting, you should be careful to select the right type of paint. While dollar stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General may stock poster paints, tempera paints, and lower-quality acrylic craft paints, these are not ideal for acrylic pouring. Instead, opt for regular acrylic paints, which are suitable for pouring and will give you better results.

Dollar Tree now offers a wider range of acrylic paints than they did a few years ago, including the brand Acryology, which has a good range of vibrant colors that work well for beginners. These paints can also be mixed with Aleene's Tacky Glue for a glossy finish, eliminating the need for varnish.

If you're looking for an upgrade from cheap dollar store paint, you might want to try Artist's Loft paints, which are still affordable but offer better pigmentation.

When preparing your paint, if you're using regular acrylic paint, you will need to add a pouring medium according to the instructions on the bottle. If you're using "ready-to-pour" acrylic paints, simply follow the instructions and add them to your plastic cup one at a time. You can use a clear plastic cup to better see the colors as they mix, although this is optional.

Now you're ready to start pouring!

Prepare your workspace

To prepare your workspace for mixing Dollar General acrylic paint for pouring, you'll need to gather the necessary materials and create a suitable space to work in. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Choose a well-ventilated area:

Select an area with good airflow to ensure proper ventilation during the paint-mixing process. This will help dissipate any strong odours from the paints and protect your health.

Cover your work surface:

Use a drop cloth, plastic tablecloth, or newspapers to cover and protect your work surface. Acrylic paint can stain, so it's essential to protect your work area.

Gather your materials:

Ensure you have all the required materials for your project. You'll need acrylic paint, a pouring medium, disposable cups or bowls for mixing, and a paint palette or surface for the actual pouring (such as a pizza pan or canvas). You may also want to have additional tools like paintbrushes, palettes, and a heat gun for drying the paint.

Prepare your paint cups:

Set up your disposable cups or bowls for mixing your paint colours. Label each cup with the corresponding paint colour to avoid confusion. This will help you keep track of your colours, especially if you plan to create a variety of shades.

Wear appropriate clothing:

Acrylic paint can stain, so it's a good idea to wear old clothing or an apron that you don't mind getting dirty. Additionally, consider wearing protective gear, such as gloves and a face mask, to avoid direct contact with the paint.

Have a water source nearby:

Keep a container of water and paper towels or rags close by for cleaning your brushes and any potential spills. It's always good to be prepared and maintain a clean workspace.

Once you've completed these steps, you'll have a functional and well-prepared workspace for mixing your Dollar General acrylic paint. Remember to take your time and enjoy the process of creating your unique work of art!

Mix the paint

To mix Dollar General acrylic paint for pouring, you will first need to gather your materials. You will need a pouring medium, disposable cups or bowls for mixing, and, of course, your paint.

Dollar General offers a range of acrylic paint options, including the Crafter's Closet Acrylic Paint Set, which comes with 16 colours. If you are looking for a more affordable option, you can also find lower-quality craft paints at Dollar General, such as the Crafter's Closet ArtBasics Acrylic Craft Paint in Neon Green.

Once you have your materials, it is time to start mixing. If you are using regular acrylic paint, follow the instructions on the bottle to add the pouring medium. If you are using "ready-to-pour" acrylic paint, simply add each colour to a plastic cup, one at a time. You can use a clear plastic cup to see the paint colours as you add them, which is helpful for knowing when to stop adding paint.

For the "dirty pour" method, combine all of the acrylic paints into one cup for pouring. Add an equal amount of pouring medium to the cup and stir until well combined. You can also add Aleene's Tacky Glue to your paint mixture, which will give your painting a glossy finish and eliminate the need for varnish.

Now that your paint is mixed, you are ready to start pouring!

Pour the paint

When it comes to pouring the paint, there are a few different methods you can use. One popular method is the "dirty pour", where all of the acrylic paints are combined into one cup for pouring, as opposed to each colour being in its own cup. This method creates a unique and unpredictable design as the colours mix and blend together.

If you want more control over the colours and design, you can pour each colour into its own cup and add an equal amount of pouring medium to each cup, stirring until well combined. This way, you can create a more structured and planned design by pouring small amounts of each colour onto different sections of the tray and spreading the paint with a craft stick.

For a fun and easy craft project, you can use a Dollar Tree pizza pan as your canvas. This project is perfect for beginners and experienced crafters alike, as it requires only a few bottles of acrylic paint, a dollar store pizza pan, and some disposable cups or bowls for mixing.

Another important consideration is the type of paint you use. While Dollar Tree offers affordable craft paints, they may not provide the desired results in terms of colour vibrancy and finish. For a glossy finish, you can mix Acryology paints with Aleene's Tacky Glue, eliminating the need for varnish. However, be careful not to dilute the paint too much with the pouring medium, as this can affect the final outcome.

Additionally, you can add a two-part resin to your creation to enhance its appearance. Simply mix the resin and pour it onto the dried acrylic paint surface, spreading it evenly with a craft stick and removing any drips. To ensure a smooth finish, use a heat gun to pop any bubbles that form on the surface, and then set it aside to dry for 24 hours.

Add finishing touches

Acrylic pour paintings can be finished with oil-based, water-based, or resin finishes. Finishing an acrylic pour painting can add to the durability of the painting and protect it from environmental damage. It can also help to control the consistency and uniformity of the surface of the painting, and makes it easier to clean and maintain the artwork.

One way to finish an acrylic pour painting is to add a protective coating that is a UV blocker. This will help to mitigate the amount of damage that UV light does to your painting. You can also keep your painting out of direct sunlight and use paints with a high lightfastness rating to blunt the harmful effects of UV rays.

Another way to finish an acrylic pour painting is to add a top coat. This can be done with a brush or an airbrush, and can produce a variety of effects, such as an ultra-shine, satin, or dull finish.

If you're using a two-part resin, you can mix the resin and pour it out onto the dried acrylic paint surface. Use a craft stick to spread the resin out over the edges of the surface and wipe away any drips. A heat gun can be used to pop any bubbles that appear on the top of the resin.

Other finishing touches you can add to your acrylic pour painting include dry brushing, pastel application, decal application, and embellishments such as fun handles or little wood feet.

Frequently asked questions