Swirl Water Paintings

These paintings are great they are pretty simple to do and look awesome!

Supplies

Canvas

Bucket of water (the canvas must fit all the way into it)

Enamel paints (like what is used to paint model kits, I got mine at Michaels)

                         -- it will take about one jar of each color you want to use

Swirl sticks (ex:wooden paint stirrers)

droppers (one for each color)

Newspaper

Rubber gloves

Example of the type of enamel paints you want to buy.

What to do:

First make sure you have a space outside to do this it gets kind of messy near the end of the process. Also make sure you have a place and a way to hang these to dry, they do drip so you will need to put a drop cloth or something down. Make sure your canvas will be able to be completely submerged in the bucket you have chosen (see picture below of what happens if it doesn't). You may also want to watch some videos of how this technique is applied to making guitars it may provide inspiration (I have attached some links for YouTube videos at the end). After preparations have been made then you can continue on.

- Fill your bucket with water.

- Then using the droppers start adding in the paint.

- Once the entire area of the water is covered take the swirl stick and slowly swirl the paints together (the more you mix the more blended your paints will become, sometimes less is better).

- Once you have swirled your paints you are ready to dip your canvas (this would be a good time to wear a rubber glove if not it is a pain to get all the paint off your hands!). Slowly lower the canvas into the water (to get the wavy effect seen in the picture above gently move your canvas side to side as you lower it).

- Once the canvas is completely submerged wipe the excess paint off the top of the water with the newspaper, then remover your canvas and allow to dry.

With that you are finished and have an unique piece of art to hang!

Here is what happens if your bucket isn't big enough. The line at the top is from where I had to remove the canvas and then turn it over to do the last little bit with not very much paint left.

YouTube videos:

http://youtu.be/J4d_t5-OFps

http://youtu.be/tCCVzkhWvy0


The original idea came from http://www.shineyourlightblog.com/2012/10/swirl-painting-with-enamel-paints-and.html