Do you love the look of Jackson Pollock's abstract works? Do you want to add a splatter effect to your paintings? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we’re going to explore the world of acrylic splatter painting. Get ready to be messy and learn more about this abstract art style along with some of our favorite acrylic paint splatter techniques.
Tips for How to Splatter Acrylic Paint
Splatter art is one of the most popular abstract art techniques anyone can try their hand at. We love this fun painting technique because it requires you to let loose and flick, fling, or splatter paint onto your canvas.
There’s truly no right or wrong way to splatter paint onto a canvas, but there are some helpful tips that can make your art stand out. We recommend getting creative with color combinations and application methods (which we’ll go into detail on soon) to create an abstract painting with depth.
Another important consideration for acrylic splatter painting is ensuring your paint is the correct consistency. It’s best to thin your acrylic paint with a bit of fluid additive, such as #235 Novaplex. While many people say you can also use water, we recommend avoiding diluting your acrylic paint this way since it can affect its adhesion and vibrancy.
This is different from typical fluid painting techniques because the goal is to create interesting patterns and flecks of paint rather than covering an entire surface with a smooth layer of paint.
Best Paint Splatter Techniques with Acrylic
As we said before, splatter paint is a truly unique painting technique. There’s no rhyme or reason to this method but there are some different ways to splatter paint to achieve unique drips and mist.
Here are some of our favorite acrylic paint splatter techniques you can try.
1. Flicking With Paintbrushes
One of the easiest ways to cover a larger surface with splatter is by using two paint brushes. Simply load one brush with your desired color and gently tap the handle with the second brush while over your canvas. This will create enough force to splatter the paint!
This method saves your hands from getting messy and offers plenty of room for creativity. Use different types of brushes, from fanned to stiff-bristled, and experiment with how close you are to the canvas and how hard you tap your brush to create splatters of different consistencies.
2. Toothbrush
You might want to wear gloves using this acrylic painting splatter technique. The Spruce Crafts explains that all you need for this method is a toothbrush and fluid acrylic paint.
Dip the bristles of the toothbrush in a small amount of paint and position it over or near the canvas. Then, pull back the bristles to create a fine mist. Add more medium to make your paint more fluid and flick the bristles faster to create more splatter.
3. Paint Drip
You can also let your paint drip down the canvas to create a splatter effect. There are a number of different acrylic paint dripping techniques you can use to create very controlled or chaotic drips and flecks of paint.
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4. Straw Blowing
Blow painting with straws is a popular activity for parents to do with their kids, but is a fun and creative way to create splatters at any age. Add drops of your fluid acrylic paint to a canvas and blow on them through a straw. This offers the perfect balance of controlling the placement and direction of your splatters while still looking abstract.
5. Air Brush
If you like the look of a fine mist to capture the feel of a starry night or a speckled field of flowers, consider using an airbrush. This tool allows for more control over the splatter effect by adjusting the air pressure in the compressor used for the flow of paint.
If you don’t have an air brush, you can use a spray bottle to achieve a similar look. However, the particle size of the paint will likely be more apparent.
6. Balloon Splatter
This acrylic paint splash technique may take some more preparation and space, but it’s perhaps the most fun. Fill balloons with different colors of acrylic paint and hang them over your canvas. Then, use a pin (or darts if you want to make a game of it) to pop them. As they explode, the paint splatter onto your canvas.
You will definitely want to have drop cloths down for this splatter paint technique since it can be messy.
7. Hand Splatter
Finally, you can also learn how to splatter paint with your very own hands. And by learn, we really mean have fun experimenting with how you throw the paint with your hand or fingers. Just be warned that splattering paint by hand can get messy.
Ready to try these acrylic paint splatter techniques? Nova Color has all the acrylic paint and fluid mediums you need. Explore our 92 brilliant colors of professional acrylic paint today!