Day 3 of my acrylic pouring color theory series features this moody tree ring pour, which I just love the details of. A tree ring pour is pretty much just what it sounds like, the paint creates layers of color reminiscent of rings of a tree. Although a simple concept, the tree ring pour produces details that are stunning.
If you’re curious about colors and color theory as it relates to acrylic pouring, head on over to my post about Choosing Colors for Acrylic Pouring and grab your FREE printable Color Wheel and Color Scheme Guides.
If you would like to follow along with my 30-day acrylic pouring color theory video series, grab your very own color wheel and color scheme guides and some paint, and head on over to the color theory section of Homebody Hall!
If you’re pouring for the first time and would like more explanation on materials, processes, and terms, you can head on over to my Beginner’s Guide to Acrylic Pouring. You can also head over to my Comprehensive Guide to Acrylic Pouring Techniques for more information on all of the different techniques and my How to Thin Acrylic Paint for Acrylic Pouring post to learn all about pouring mediums!
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Color of the Day (Day 3 – Tree Ring Pour):
- Red
Color Scheme:
- Split Complementary – Red, Blue-green, Yellow-green
Neutral Chosen:
- Black
Technique:
- Tree ring pour
Paints:
All of the colors I used were mixed from the paint colors below. (Yellow and green (yellow and blue) for yellow-green and blue and green (yellow and blue) for blue-green)
- Artist’s Loft Brilliant Blue
- Artist’s Loft Brilliant Yellow
- Artist’s Loft Deep Red
- Liquitex Basics Titanium White
- Master’s Touch Permanent Black
Pouring Medium:
- Floetrol
- Water
Canvas:
Sealant:
- Rustoleum American Accents Gloss Clear (1 thin coat)
Tree Ring Pour Step-by-Step
- Pour either a puddle of your background color or lay down a thin base coat of it across the whole canvas. This will enhance the flow of your tree ring flow, which help to keep your layers from stretching out.
- Pour your paint into the cup you will pour from. Pour the paint down the side of the cup slowly with the cup tilted at about a 45 degree angle. Alternate layers of paint colors, the smaller your layers, the more fine detail you will see in the final product. The order of my layers was: red, blue-green, yellow-green, repeated four times.
- Slowly pour your paint onto the canvas, keeping the stream in one place on the canvas. Some people will keep the stream steady; others will pour in very small circles.
- Tilt your canvas in a circular manner, stretching the paint as you go. Continue this process until you are happy with the final product.
Tips for a Great Tree Ring Pour
- Go slowly! Go slowly with both the pouring and the tilting. This will help retain details.
- Use slightly thicker paint. This helps keep the layers crisp. I have found that interior house paint is great for tree ring pours. (Check out the picture below!)
- As I mentioned before, be sure to use a base coat of some sort.
Go Forth and Paint!
And that’s it! Have fun with this one and see what kind of cool patterns you can make! And don’t forget to experiment with color. If you haven’t already, be sure to grab your FREE printable Color Wheel and 8 Color Scheme Guides below!
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