FLOETROL 2.5 litres

Better paint flow for your pouring ideas

Layer your colours, turn the cup over and watch a picture take shape. In acrylic pouring, the paint mixture has a major influence on how your idea develops on the canvas. Owatrol Floetrol is a water-based paint additive that improves the flow of acrylic paints. It helps you explore flowing ribbons of colour, organic patterns and cell effects. The 2.5-litre container provides material for several projects; how far it goes depends on the canvas size, technique and mixture.

At Fleury-Art, the focus is on creative use: acrylic pouring, fluid art and experimenting with colour. Floetrol is manufactured by Owatrol. Order from Fleury-Art for delivery directly from Switzerland.

• Colours that flow more easily: Adjust the mixture to your project and spread it by pouring and tilting.
• Time to shape your picture: Floetrol improves workability and helps extend the paint's open time.
• Interesting cell effects: Depending on your paints, consistency and technique, cells can develop without added silicone oil.
• Room to experiment: Make small test batches to find the combination you enjoy working with.

Floetrol, water or pouring medium?

These ingredients serve different purposes. Choose them according to your paint and the surface finish you want to achieve.

Mixing Floetrol: Consistency comes first

A useful starting point from our Fleury-Art tutorial is 2 parts Floetrol to 1 part acrylic paint, measured by volume. For example, combine 100 ml of acrylic paint with 200 ml of Floetrol. Add water afterwards, only if needed. This is a starting recipe to experiment with, rather than a fixed rule for every paint and every pouring technique.

Heavy-bodied artists' acrylics behave differently from more fluid paints. Even individual colours within one range can respond differently. Prepare each colour in its own cup and compare their consistencies before layering them.

1. Mix the Floetrol well before pouring it out, following the product instructions.
2. Place Floetrol and acrylic paint in a clean mixing cup. Measure both using the same unit of volume.
3. Mix thoroughly, including the bottom and sides of the cup. Stir steadily to avoid introducing unnecessary air.
4. If the mixture is too thick, add a little water, stir again and check the flow. Repeat in small steps.
5. Let a frothy mixture rest briefly, then try a small test pour.

Check the flow from your stirring stick

For a classic flip cup, our tutorial demonstrates a consistency similar to warm, runny honey. The paint should fall from the stick in a continuous ribbon and quickly merge back into the mixture in the cup. If it leaves a pronounced mound, it is still too thick for this starting point. If it runs like coloured water, it may be harder to control. Dutch pours and other techniques may call for a thinner mixture.

When a test works well, record the paint, amount of Floetrol and water added. This makes your preferred mixture easier to repeat. Do not confuse pouring recipes with the smaller manufacturer additions intended for brushing or spraying wall paint.

Your first Floetrol pour, step by step

1. Prepare your workspace. Cover the work surface and provide a tray or protective sheet to catch runoff. Also prepare a sheltered spot where the painting can dry undisturbed.
2. Level the canvas. Support your primed stretched canvas securely on small risers. Keep it horizontal so excess paint can run over the edges without the canvas resting in wet paint.
3. Choose your colours. Start with a small palette. Consider which colours will mix pleasantly and which contrasts you want to keep.
4. Mix each colour separately. Prepare Floetrol and acrylic paint in individual cups. For your first flip cup, aim for reasonably similar consistencies.
5. Pour and move. Layer the paints according to your chosen technique. Tilt the canvas slowly, pausing to see how each movement changes the pattern.
6. Check the edges and composition. Carefully fill bare areas with suitable leftover paint. Stop tilting when you are happy with the design.
7. Leave it to dry. Return the painting to a level position and protect it from dust, draughts and accidental contact.

A square Studio stretched canvas with a 2 cm profile is a practical place to begin. A 30 × 30 cm canvas is manageable for an initial attempt; 40 × 40 and 50 × 50 cm formats provide more space for flowing colour and several pouring points. Prepare more mixture for larger canvases. The amount required also depends on how much paint you allow to run over the edges.

Four techniques to explore

Flip cup: Layer, turn and discover

Layer your prepared colours in a cup without stirring them into one uniform colour. Place the canvas over the cup, turn both over together and carefully lift the cup. Slowly tilt the canvas to spread the pool of paint. Our detailed tutorial demonstrates this technique on a 30 × 30 cm canvas.

Dirty pour: Guide the flow

This method also brings several colours together in one cup. You then pour them directly onto the canvas. The location, direction and speed of the pour influence the pattern. A steady stream creates ribbons of colour that you can develop further by tilting. Our video includes a compact demonstration from 6:26.

Swipe: Gently draw colour across the surface

Spread your prepared colours on the canvas, then gently draw an additional layer over them using a nearly flat palette knife or a flexible strip. Apply little pressure so you do not scrape away the underlying paint. Start on a small surface and watch how colour transitions and possible cells develop. One steady pass often preserves colour separation better than repeatedly working over the same area.

Dutch pour: Shape paint with air

In a Dutch pour, airflow moves the paint over the surface. The mixture is often more fluid than it would be for a flip cup. Test it on a small surface: the paint should move readily without running away uncontrollably. A suitable background layer and short, deliberate movements matter just as much as your choice of medium.

Explore more foundations and techniques in our acrylic pouring guides on acrylfarbe.ch. The linked resource is in German.

Creating cells with Floetrol, with or without silicone oil

Cells do not follow a fixed formula. Your colours, differences in density, consistency, layering and movement all influence the result. Floetrol can support cell formation, and cells may appear without silicone oil. Their number and size cannot be guaranteed.

Silicone oil is an optional addition for certain effects. Our application video uses a small amount. Follow the guidance for your silicone product and take the amount of mixed paint into account. Comparing two small test pours, one with silicone and one without, is a useful way to decide before pouring a larger painting.

A torch is not essential for acrylic pouring. Heat is demonstrated in parts of the videos, but you can begin without it and first learn how your paints respond to mixing, layering and tilting.

Watch Floetrol in our Fleury-Art tutorials

See the consistency on a stirring stick and follow the process from separate cups of paint to a finished pour. Both tutorials demonstrate Floetrol in use. The videos are in German. The visual demonstrations make the mixing and pouring stages easy to follow.

When your pour does not flow as expected

The paint barely moves.

Check the consistency in the cup first. If it is too thick, add a little water and test again. Also check whether dry patches on the canvas are slowing the flow.

The pattern spreads too quickly.

The mixture may be too thin, or the canvas may be tilted too steeply. Adjust a small portion with thicker acrylic paint, check it again and move the canvas more gently.

Very few cells appear.

Compare different colour combinations, consistencies and layering orders. Change one variable at a time. Adding more Floetrol or silicone oil does not automatically produce the result you want.

The colours look muddy.

Too many colours or prolonged movement can reduce their separation. Try a smaller palette and stop tilting earlier.

Air bubbles affect the surface.

Stir more gently and leave the mixture to stand briefly before pouring. Use clean tools and avoid whipping air into the paint.

You notice lumps or dried skin.

Inspect both Floetrol and paint before mixing. Visible pieces of dried skin can be removed with a clean, fine paint strainer. If the mixture curdles or changes unusually, check compatibility and the condition of the materials before continuing.

Paint gathers on one side.

Check that the canvas is level and its supports are stable. Fluid paint can continue moving after you have finished pouring.

Drying, finishing and storage

A surface that feels dry is not necessarily dry throughout. The amount of paint, layer thickness, mixture and room conditions all affect the waiting time. Follow the instructions for your acrylic paint and the varnish you intend to use. Apply a finishing varnish only when the entire paint layer is sufficiently dry; there is no universal one-day varnishing rule for poured paintings.

Try your chosen finish on a sample first. Paintings containing silicone need suitable surface preparation before coating, following the finishing product's instructions. Floetrol itself should not be mixed into clear acrylic varnish.

Close the container carefully after use and protect it from frost and high temperatures. Follow the shelf-life and application information on the label. Floetrol is intended for water-based paints; do not mix it with oil-based or alkyd paints. Test new combinations in small quantities. Keep your work area well ventilated, avoid skin and eye contact, and follow the instructions for all the products you use. Do not pour liquid paint waste down the drain.

Frequently asked questions about Floetrol