Paint pouring is an exciting method of artistry that most painters enjoy. Not only is it easy for everyone, but it also brings out magnificent expressions despite the skill level of the painter. Pouring paint is usually thin for easy pouring. However, some artists prefer it thick. So, how do you make pouring paint thicker?
You can use both pourable and moldable thickening mediums such as gel mediums and modeling paste. Gel medium has high adhesiveness and mixes properly with the pouring paint. On the other hand, it can be a little difficult to blend but combines well eventually.
When you add a thickening medium into your pouring paint, you increase its ability to be used in different ways and showcase a different kind of glow. For example, it can have an increased luminosity, have a smoother finish, or even bolder brush strokes. This article explains how you can thicken your pouring paint and have the best outcome.
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How Do You Make Pouring Paint Thicker?
There always comes a time when you want to achieve something different than your usual painting style. Most of the time, pouring paint doesn’t meet the boldness you may need to express what you want. That means you must thicken the paint to a certain thickness level instead of using it as thin as it usually is.
Paint thickening mediums increase the painting’s lifespan such that it does not wear off easily. This is because these mediums are strong and have a bold effect on the painting. You can have different textures and finishing depending on the thickener you choose.
For example, if you choose a smooth gel medium, you’ll get a smooth 
paint in the end, but if you choose a textured medium, your final result will be rough and textured.
There are different ways you can use to thicken your pouring medium. For example, you can use a thickening gel medium, a modeling paste, or a homemade paint thickening paste. Let’s discuss some of these methods.
Method One – Use Thickening a Thickening Gel Medium
Gel mediums are popular for thickening pouring paint, thanks to their variety and ease of application. They come in different types like matte, semi-gloss, and gloss finishes so that you can choose one that meets your desires. The next video will help in understanding what are acrylic gel, texture gel, texture medium and gel medium.
These gel mediums are the easiest to use because they come ready for use. You only need to add them into the paint and mix it properly, then start using them.
They are the best choice if you want to have a smooth finish on your paint and also one that glows. That means you can express yourself better and get rid of the dullness that ordinary liquid paint may have.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a thickening gel medium to thicken your pouring paint.
Step One – Buy your preferred thickening gel medium from your local store
Due to their popularity, you can get thickening gel mediums right from your local store in different varieties and colors. The best one to choose is one that is specially created for thickening pouring paint because it will not affect the paint’s original color or the finish.
You can choose a gloss gel that will significantly add vibrancy and transparency to your paint or a semi-gloss gel that balances the gloss and matte effects on the paint. There are also options like heavy gel, or matte gel, that gives the paint a smooth surface and a less bold appearance.
All these options not only thicken your paint but also improve its adherence to the surface. The gloss finish gives that final shiny surface as you want it.
Step Two – Mix the Gel medium with the paint.
You can choose to thicken your pouring paint with different gel mediums so that you can have a variety of shades and finishes. So you can pour the paint you need to thicken in a jar and then add the gel medium slowly as you stir.
This will allow you to achieve a smooth mixture that is evenly stirred. You can add in as much gel medium as you want until you achieve your desired thickness. The goal is to do it little by little until you get the combination you want.
Once you have achieved your desired combination and hopefully the desired paint color, you can then use your pouring paint as you would wish. Remember that gel mediums amplify the paint’s glow and make it shine better with a smooth surface.
Method Two – Using Modelling Paste
Modelling Paste also known as molding paste, is also referred to as textured gel because of its rough finish on your painting. It’s made with ingredients such as powder and sand, which have a coarse-textured feel on your final product. If you’re looking to have a rough finish on your painting, you can use modeling paste as your option.
Since it’s a thick paste, it might be difficult to mix with the paint and may take some time. You’ll need to mix it in small bits so that you can achieve the results faster. Most modeling pastes are white, so they may slightly impact the paint’s original color. However, you can follow these steps to thicken your pouring paint using modeling paste.
Step One – Pour some paint on a dish or palette.
Squeeze out some paint on a palette and spread it out using a palette knife. You can start with a small amount, and then you can add more later depending on how much you need; if you’re planning to use a mixture of colors, its best to mix the colors first before adding the modeling paste because after it it will be thick paint, and it might be quite hectic and difficult to bring in more colors.
Step Two – Add the modeling paste.
The amount of modeling paste you need is dependent on how thick you want your paint to be. However, a standard ratio for a properly thickened pouring paint would be 1:4. Such that, the modeling paste should be a quarter of the pouring paint you want to thicken.
Use a palette knife to scoop the modeling paste from the jar and add it to the pouring paint. If you are doing this for the first time, you can start by adding small amounts of modeling paste until you achieve the consistency you want.
Step Three – Mix the modeling paste and the pouring paint
You can use a paintbrush or a palette knife to stir the mixture and ensure that the paste combines well with the paint. You have to keep mixing it until you get a uniform consistency in the paint.
Once you finish mixing it, start painting immediately because if you leave the paint unused for so long, it will dry up and become unusable.
Method Three – Using Homemade thickener with cornstarch
This DIY process is the most popular method of thickening pouring paint. Most people love it because it’s simple, fast, and does not cost you any money. You’ll only need to have some cornstarch, water, and a source of heat to boil the mixture.
Step One – Mix water and cornstarch
Scoop three tablespoons of cornstarch and put it into a bowl with about two cups of water. Three tablespoons of start should be about 15g, and the water should be about 500 ml. Stir the two ingredients until the corn starch mixes completely with the water.
If you are to exceed these amounts, ensure that you maintain the ratio to achieve the right thickness.
Step Two – Place the mixture on the heat source and let it boil
Once you mix the mixture, the next step is to boil it in low heat until it forms a thick paste. Ensure that you stir the mixture occasionally as it boils to not stick on the pan.
Allow it to boil for a few minutes, and then let it cool before adding it to your paint. The thick mixture will blend well with the paint and thicken it well enough.
Step Three – Mix the paste with your paint.
As mentioned earlier, allow the mixture to cool down before you use it. Once it has cooled, put some pouring paint in a bowl and add the paste slowly as you stir until you get the thickness you want for your art.
Homemade thickeners are excellent because they mix well with the paint without ruining the paint’s originality.
Method Four – Use Homemade Thickener Made With Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is a good choice for making the thickening medium because it gives a smooth semi-matte finish on your pouring paint. Another plus with the Talcum powder is that it doesn’t require any long processes in preparing it.
Add some water into the Talcum powder until it achieves a uniform consistency. You can make it as thick as you want so that you can get your preferred paint thickness. Once the mixture is ready, you can add it to your paint bit by bit until you get the thickness you want.
Some people prefer using joint compound instead of Talcum powder, and it works perfectly too. A joint compound is widely used in filling joints. You can find it readily in most hardware shops and use it conveniently to thicken your paint.
A joint compound is manufactured with great adhesiveness so that it blends well with the surfaces where it’s applied. It also goes well with the pouring paint to give a good consistency. Its good adhesiveness allows the painter to paint with ease as the paint adheres better to the surface, and it gives you a somewhat thicker paint.
Why Should Artists Use Paint Thickeners?
Artistry is beautiful and helps to bring out one’s creativity. The availability of pouring paints allows painters to get bolder and use colors expressively. However, the pouring paints pose some limitations to their work and therefore do not completely express themselves.
Before we discuss the limitations, you should know that the pouring paints are manufactured and packed as thin and easy flowing to allow easy mixing with other colors. You must have seen artists who love to mix colors and create a magnificent combination.
Mixing thin paints is easier than mixing thick paints because you won’t exert too much force while stirring, and the mixture will combine fast. That’s why it’s advisable to mix the paints before you add thickeners to them.
Thin pouring paint pose challenges such as:
It flows too fast
Sometimes you want to create something with no dripping paint. Unwanted paint lines would make the whole creation look murky and unattractive. As an artist, you may want to thicken the paint so that it doesn’t flow and ruin the rest of your art.
However, if your painting design allows you to have flowing paint lines, then the thin pouring paint is great for the job.
It dries up quickly
As an artist, you want to take your time and use the paint extensively to express yourself. This may require that you spend some time with the paint as you carefully curve it on your drawing paper. However, the thin pouring paint dries too fast before you do much with it.
To allow you more time, you can use paint thickeners like gel mediums and reduce their drying speed so that you can have more time to paint.
It’s not too bold
Thin pouring paint may not spell out the boldness that you want on the painting you are making. So, you may need to add some thickening medium to bring out the bold color you want. For example, if you choose to use gel mediums to thicken your paint, you will be able to choose from a wide range of options depending on the kind of finishing you want.
Final Words
For an artist, what matters the most is the ability to use paint without limit in order to express their message properly. Paint thickeners play a huge role in making this happen. If you are a beginner, you can start with DIY procedures for paint thickeners before going to the commercial options. These home-based thickeners will be great for practice and experimenting.
Sources
- Understanding the Techniques of Pouring Acrylics
- Learn How To Thicken Acrylic Paint Correctly Right Now
- Greyed Rainbow | The Art Institute of Chicago