Grateful Hearts: A Flow of Thankfulness | An Artist Spotlight Collaboration
It’s been exciting to learn about the amazing artists in our community through The Artist Spotlight Program, and we’re thrilled to bring you more inspiration by celebrating individuals in the Paint Pour Academy (PPA) community. This is our monthly Artist Spotlight Collaboration, where we challenge the artists with an Inspired theme and let them pour! Our goal is to inspire you and your art through these themed challenges and share the wealth of knowledge, skill, and artist stylings of our spotlight artists.
We’re keeping it simple and allowing the participating artists full creative control with a theme-featured challenge. Here’s what we asked them to do:
Create a new paint pour art piece inspired by the theme “Grateful Hearts: A Flow of Thankfulness” using any technique you prefer and colors inspired by the season. While there are no color requirements, here are some color suggestions that can help complement this theme: Warm gold, deep red, soft yellow, and cream. You could use pearl or metallic paints to add a glowing, reflective quality that symbolizes gratitude.
And here’s what they came up with:
About the Artist
Joyce Farkas Art
Hometown: New Windsor, Maryland
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Etsy | TikTok
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/bbc-e12LbJU
- Colors/brands of paint.
Deep Red
Dark Green
Copper
Yellow
Orange
Paynes Gray
24 K Gold
Pearl White with cloud mix
I can’t give exact names and make of paint because pretty much all were custom mixes. I decided to use up alot of paint leftovers, and mix my colors. It was a wonderful feeling to use up so much aging tiny bits of paint. - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Wanderlust Straight Pour which is two straight pours that are poured next to each other in opposite directions. Creating beautiful fingerlings along the pour.
- Canvas (or substrate) size. I used a 16×24 deep edge canvas
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
I Learned the Wanderlust Straight Pour at “Fluid Art Boutique” from the wonderful Mina Villegas art. It was such a fun technique, and turned out so beautiful that I wanted to repeat it for this pour. After all I have a “Grateful Heart” for such a meaningful learning experience. 😀
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
This was actually the second time I tried to pour for this collaboration. The first Painting the colors ended up looking very muted, and did nothing for me. so I brightened up my colors, and tried again. So glad I did.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
I can’t pick just one part, because i love the whole thing! I love the colors, the fingerlings, the overall composition.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
Not really… the only tool I used was a chopstick.
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Make sure you find a really good recipe for your Pours, if using Floetrol make sure to add a binder like Liquitex Pouring Medium, and or GAC 800.
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: N/A
- Colors/brands of paint.
DecoArt, Liquitex, Pebeo & Various Micas - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Straight Pour, Hand Applied Micas & S.D.G. Advanced Technique Acrylics.
- Canvas (or substrate) size. Glass.
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
For the last two years I have been studying the various effects of paint on Glass. I am constantly experimenting with advanced techniques.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
The shape of the Glass always causes a challenge when pouring paint over Glass. No two are alike so it’s always like pouring for the first time ! Depending on the lines of the Piece, any details or grooves, all of those things will play a part in how the paint moves over the Glass.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
With Glass the most wonderful part is that you can appreciate the beauty of the pour from both inside & out !
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
There is great thought that has to go into paint quality, layering & viscosities when pouring over Glass. It can make all of the difference between success & failure.
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Experimentation is so important when working with Glass. Because the form of which you will pour over is constantly changing there is no “one size fits all” like when pouring on canvas. Thicken up those paints at least 50/50 paint to U.S. Floetrol & I do not recommend a base coat – that should get you off on the right foot !
About the Artist
Rhonda Willman Hometown: Brighton, Illinois
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=P2lXdb2P-Ko&si=tORt6UUU-rFycDrv
- Colors/brands of paint.
Pillow Paint – Glidden Fundamentals Semi-Gloss Interior/Exterior White
Colors used – Custom colors – Arteza Coral, Black Cherry, Red Sienna
Arteza Orange Yellow, Mid Yellow, Pearl Papaya Orange
Pigments used – Eye Candy Antique Gold, Okinawa Sunset, Senshi Red
TLP Honeycomb, Carmel Drizzle, Simplicity
Cell Activators Amsterdam Titanium White
Rust-oleum Bright Coat Metallic Gold - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Double Ring Pour
- Canvas (or substrate) size. 12″ Round canvas
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
After multiple tries, I decided to pick the technique and the colors and let the paint do the rest.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
That I did have 2 failed attempts to achieve the compositions that were in my head, that did not work out on canvas.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
My favorite part is that the gold spray paint created a really cool shimmery effect.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
My spinner table is the only tool I used.
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
I like to use bloom paints in my ring pours because the rings stay more defined.
About the Artist
Angelia Bliss Hometown: Rockwood, Tennessee
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/ihHhTa_KO7s?feature=shared
- Colors/brands of paint.
Pillow Paint – SW Color To Go Deep Base Untinted House Paint
Colors and Pigments Mixed with – Valspar Ultra Deep Base High Gloss and Behr Dynasty to a 1 to 2 second trace.
Colors and Pigments:
Golden QNAG
TLP Cinnamon
DecoArt Obsidian
Artist’s Loft Bronze
Alpha Pigments Pearl Gold
Alpha Pigments
Cell Activator:
Amsterdam Titanium White and Oxide Black mixed 1 part paint to 3 parts Australian Floetrol.
KS Resin - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Bloom Technique, All paints used were mixed with the bloom technique that was created by a dear friend of mine, Shelee Carruthers. The technique has been changed over the years because of many differing factors from the way paint is manufactured or because of laws in the states the paints are manufactured and that sort of thing so it has been a struggle for some to get to products to still produce this type of style or end result.
- Canvas (or substrate) size. Wooden block cutting board.
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
I wanted to feel HOME. The colors and just the feeling I got while taping the board made me feel young again. Made me feel home, like I walked through an open door of welcomeness if that’s even a word (laughing). I just am at a point in my life that things really need to matter. All my life it has been such a battle to survive, it has been such a race to do better, to have more, to survive, to overachieve, to outshine, to hopefully catch that shot!! To be noticed and told, yes you are worthy. I just want to create and know I can relax and just be who I am.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
I wanted to catch the resin right at the paint point and not have that extra run off after the paint and I thought of an idea and pulled it off. So exciting when a plan is executed.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
The pigments I used from Alpha pigments are just stunning in this piece. They play so well with resin. Tommy Nelson the owner of the company is a true leader in the pigment world and I am just amazed at the work he is doing in the field. I am truly touched and honored by his friendship and connection and am so proud to know him. His pigments made this piece just pop.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
Rope Caulk!!! Go out and buy some!! It is really inexpensive and you can buy it at Walmart. 🙂
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
When doing a wooden cutting board just make certain that you cover it really good (the parts you don’t want to paint or resin). Make sure you take care of it and make sure you get a rather bigger board than not because you want to have a decent area that you paint on.
About the Artist
April Carr / Joyful Pouring by April Hometown: Easton, MA
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/iI4HjkCSd68?si=jMSKxZEgDOIykHrR
- Colors/brands of paint.
Amsterdam
Naples Yellow Red
Naples Yellow Deep
Masters Touch
Liquid metallic Red
Liquitex
Copper
Primary Red - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Ring pour, balloon kisses
- Canvas (or substrate) size. Plastic pumpkin, 8 x 10 canvas
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
Pumpkins remind me of fall and thanksgiving and I have always thought that a canvas of balloon kisses reminds me of mum flowers. I think of mums as a thanksgiving flower.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
Turning something that I didn’t like, into something that I did. I’ve never done this kind of pour before and some of the YouTubers that I watch make it look so easy! I have a hard time just letting the paint do its thing sometimes, I want to control it.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
I love the way the pumpkin turned out. The addition of the balloon kisses in the canvas made it more interesting.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
A balloon 🙂
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Don’t give up when something doesn’t come out the way that you want. One of the benefits of paint is that it’s just paint.. it can be removed and you can begin again!
About the Artist
Pattie Lear | Let’s Pour with Pattie Hometown: Erie, PA
YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/NQPwWKpTQtQ
- Colors/brands of paint.
Base paint – Amsterdam’s Oxide Black
Colors Used – Amsterdam’s Pearl Red, Pearl Green, Pearl Yellow, Deep Red, Titanium Buff, Deep Gold
DecoArt’s Metallic Emerald
Gold Acrylic Spray Paint - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Wrecked puddle pour with chain pulls
- Canvas (or substrate) size. 12″ wooden heart
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
Your thumbnail for this collaboration inspired me this month.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
The way the spray paint acted because it’s always trying to dry much faster than the rest of the paint (like within seconds). And, I lost most of it anyway.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
The very little bit of what gold spray paint there is, and how it follows the boundaries of the paints I believe is my favorite part.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
The spray paint and my wrecking tool, plus the pearl paints themselves all worked to bring in the pop and the bling.
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Never rush the process. And, when things are not turning out how you wanted, think of ways you can adapt and go with it. It’s half the fun.
About the Artist
Erika Tenney & Kandra Churchwell Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/DO3vExcwQDw?si=HMNAVos6ZaiIYtHT
- Colors/brands of paint.
Hippie Crafter & NicPro Mica Powders mixed with Vivid Enamel tintable paint base - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Dip Paint Pouring
- Canvas (or substrate) size. 8″ wooden heart
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
We wanted to try to give it a soft look to match the theme. The dip pour technique was a perfect option, especially since I was painting with my sister, and she had never worked with this technique before. It was so much fun!
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
Our paint mix was THICK! We tried a reverse-dip technique first, but it did not work well. The regular Dip technique worked perfectly with some amazing effects with the paint.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
We loved the effects when we pulled up the hearts from the paint… super fun!
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
Using our table as the paint tray was fun =o)
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Have fun with the process! If it doesn’t work out, keep going and alter if needed.
Project Specifications:
- YouTube Video: COMING SOON!
- Colors/brands of paint.
Pebeo Golden, Montana Every colour of all of the flags in the world. - Paint Pouring technique(s) used. Mixed Media: Acrylic pouring, bloom technique, painting with palette knife, spray painting, using paints skins, glue gun and much more!
- Canvas (or substrate) size. Cotton Stretched Canvas
About the Project
What inspired the techniques used in your piece?
Gratitude, Remembrance Day & Peace.
What challenges did you have completing this piece?
This was a while journey of little challenges, experimenting with techniques I haven’t used before.
Do you have a favorite part or element in this artwork?
The Poppies! I layered them with paint skins and learned how to make them permanent fixtures.
Are there any specific tools or materials that you found particularly helpful in this project?
The spray cans have it that aura, highlighting the poppies
Do you have any tips to share with the readers?
Follow these techniques carefully and you can create your own masterpiece!
Join Our Artist Spotlight Program!
Are you a talented Fluid Artist looking to share your passion and creativity with the world? We’d love to feature you in our Artist Spotlight program! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out on your artistic journey, we want to showcase your unique style and story. If you’re interested in being featured, simply reach out to us through our contact page. Let’s shine a spotlight on your artistry together!
“Beautifully written! Your passion for fluid art shines through, and the tips are super helpful. Excited to see more of your work!”
What an incredible collection of artwork and creative techniques! It’s truly inspiring to see how each artist brought the theme “Grateful Hearts: A Flow of Thankfulness” to life in their unique ways. From Joyce Farkas’ Wanderlust Straight Pour to Marie-Louise Rolfe’s mixed media approach, each piece showcases a beautiful expression of gratitude through fluid art. For those looking to dive deeper into this fascinating art form, I highly recommend checking out Penkraft’s Fluid Art course, where you can learn the fundamentals and advanced techniques to create stunning fluid art pieces like these!
https://www.penkraft.in/CourseEnquiry