Earl Lube Pour


 Using Earl Lube Pour for ACRYLIC POURING:

  • Note: The following instructions are geared towards the first time user.  If your anything like me... you never seem to have time to read instructions and if your anything like me... you tend to over write instructions.  The key to the acrylic pouring art medium is trial and error and developing your own methods that you're comfortable with while creating the results that bring you the most satisfaction.  Some of the “worse mistakes” can create your best results.  Use the following mixing instructions as a guide line... not as something etched in stone.
  • Thoroughly mix or shake well before using.
  • Set up multiple containers (such as 3 oz. plastic Solo cups) for your different colors.  A small amount of material goes a long ways.

  • Most people eventually learn to just “eye ball” this part; in each 3 oz. plastic cup, fill it with approximately 25% of Earl Lube Pour and then about 25% of that amount with your favorite fluid acrylic color.  Another way to say the same thing is 25% or 4 parts Earl Lube Pour to 1 part fluid acrylic paint (4:1 ratio).  If like myself you really like things spelled out… use something like a Pyrex kitchen cup or equivalent and combine 25 ml of Earl Lube Pour with 6.25 ml of your favorite fluid acrylic color in each cup.  For thicker acrylics like tube paints, you will need to reduce the paint with water first to the same viscosity as Earl Lube Pour, then add your reduced color to the Earl Lube Pour according to the 4:1 ratio explained above.  If you want to make more or less material simply scale the formula up or down.

  • Mix thoroughly. Since some pigments tend to be thicker than others you may want to add a few more drops of water to those thicker colors/cups.  The key is to have all your Earl Lube Pour colors/cups as close to the same viscosity as possible.
  • Add 1 Drop of silicon oil in each cup.
  • Lightly stir the silicon into the paint.
  • Apply the colors individually in a random pattern to your favorite medium such as canvas, wood, tile, etc…. or combine all the colors into one cup by stacking them on top of each other for a “dirty pour”.
  • Tip the surface to get the flow pattern that you like.
  • Set the painting on an elevated level surface such as several cups inverted upside down.
  • After the paint settles for a few minutes you can use a hobby type butane torch to quickly run over your painting to create cells. The heat from the torch causes the silicon oil to rise up to the surface traveling thru all the colors while creating rainbow like cells in the process.  Also, unusually large cells can be broken up by waving the torch over that area if you like.  Caution:  Be careful not to keep the torch in one spot too long as it will burn the paint but not show up until after it dries.
  • These kinds of paintings will usually dry in about 24 hours but can take up to 48 hours depending on conditions. Forced drying can cause cracking.

 

 

 

 

 

Using Earl Lube Pour as a FLUID ACRYLIC:

  • Note: The following instructions are geared towards the first time user.  If your anything like me... you never seem to have time to read instructions and if your anything like me... you tend to over write instructions.  The key to the fluid acrylic art medium is trial and error and developing your own methods that you're comfortable with while creating the results that bring you the most satisfaction.  Some of the “worse mistakes” can create your best results.  Use the following mixing instructions as a guide line... not as something etched in stone.
  • Thoroughly mix or shake well before using.
  • Most people eventually learn to just “eye ball” this part; in each 3 oz. plastic cup, fill it with approximately 25% of Earl Lube Pour and then about 25% of that amount with your favorite fluid acrylic color.  Another way to say the same thing is 25% or 4 parts Earl Lube Pour to 1 part fluid acrylic paint (4:1 ratio).  If like myself you really like things spelled out… use something like a Pyrex kitchen cup or equivalent and combine 25 ml of Earl Lube Pour with 6.25 ml of your favorite fluid acrylic color in each cup.  For thicker acrylics like tube paints, you will need to reduce the paint with water first to the same viscosity as Earl Lube Pour, then add your reduced color to the Earl Lube Pour according to the 4:1 ratio explained above.  If you want to make more or less material simply scale the formula up or down.
  • Mix thoroughly with a stir stick
  • Apply to your favorite medium such as canvas, wood, tile, etc. with your favorite applicator.
  • You can alternately use a spray bottle and small amounts of water or a heat gun to "push" the Earl Lube Pour around or dry it in place.  Be careful not to over heat the paint as it can cause cracking.
  • Unaided drying times will be slower than typical acrylic paint due to the enhanced flow and open time properties of Earl Lube Pour.

 

Earl Lube Pour FAQ:

    Q) Why use an acrylic pouring or fluid medium?
    A) Getting acrylic paints "to flow out", especially heavy body or tube paints, typically means they need to be "thinned out". Diluting these paints with water alone will often cause adhesion problems, since the water is diluting not only the pigment but all the other ingredients that go into making the paint.  This often alters the binders and other chemicals in the paint causing cracking and flaking while drying… ruining your painting. 

      Even if you are already using a fluid acrylic paint, mixing your colors with an economical pouring or fluid medium like Earl Lube Pour will give you much more economical coverage than simply using paint alone.  All acrylic paints and inks are compatible with all Earl Lube products.  For thicker colors, such as tube paints; you can safely dilute them with water to the same viscosity as Earl Lube Pour and then by combining the color and Earl Lube Pour you have gained back the paint properties yet used only a fraction of the paint. 
       
      Earl Lube Pour is formulated to be an acrylic diluent, flow agent and binder.  It will thin your acrylic paint yet at the same time bond with it and your substrate for the strength and the flow characteristics you desire.  Earl Lube Pour is formulated to a viscosity that has been found to produce excellent results by many artists when used right out of the bottle and mixed with the most popular brands of fluid acrylic colors.  However, you have the flexibility to add small amounts of water to make it even thinner or use Earl Lube Paste to thicken it up.

      Earl Lube Pour will extend the drying time of acrylic paints giving you more time to work with your mediums.  Of course drying times depend on the conditions you’re working in and the thickness of your finish.  Thick acrylic pours usually dry overnight but can take up to 48 hours to dry completely.  Brushed on thin coats of Earl Lube Pour used as a fluid acrylic will dry much faster.

      Earl Lube Paste and Earl Lube Pour dry to an artist preferred clear matt finish.