Mighty Oak Tree

Back in September I came across this photo.  I love it for its color and perspective.  I could see it as a poured painting.

So, when a fall painting was requested, this was what I had in my head.

Time to gather the supplies.


I keep a variety of colors of acrylic paint on hand, pre-mixed with mediums and water to a pouring consistency.

A 16x20 inch stretched canvas and
a small butane torch.  The torch is used after pouring to warm the paint, which aids in the creation of cell patterns.

Colors chosen and silicone added.  Silicone also aids in the cell formation.




Let's pour!

I decided on a three-cup flip technique. Each cup was layered with random amounts of all the colors.   The negative space of white and grey was poured after inverting each cup of color onto the canvas.

There's no way to know exactly how much paint you need.  You can only approximate, so at this point, one crosses one's fingers and hopes for a Goldilocks experience. Not too much, not too little, just right.

After lifting the cups, the canvas is tilted this way and that to spread the paint.

Every pour is a surprise!

Another hope that is commonly heard among paint-pourers is "Please let it dry like this!"
A lot can happen after pouring. The paint can continue to move and shift. Unwanted objects can land and stick. The surface can crack.

I'm please to say that this dried nicely.

I love closeups.  As Dorcus Lane would say, "They're my one weakness!"

I decided to create the trunk and branches using paint skins.  I poured the paint onto freezer paper and let dry.

The paint peels off easily and can then be adhered to the canvas.

Let's grow!

And grow!

And of course, some more closeups.

Finished and signed!