From Mont Marte's Studio: 5 Acrylic Pour Techniques

You've read our pouring guide. You've watched the swirls on Instagram. Here are the five techniques worth learning first — each one explained step by step, with the supplies you'll need and where to get them.

A note from the shop floor — I learnt the swipe technique from one of Mont Marte's video demos at 2am during the first lockdown. Three years later I still set up almost exactly the way the artist demonstrates. The techniques below are the ones I use myself.

1. Dirty Pour Basics — perfect for first-timers

The foundational technique, and the one we walk through in our Acrylic Pouring Starter Guide. Layer your paints into a single cup, then pour and tilt. The make-or-break detail is paint consistency — aim for warm honey, not yoghurt. Too thick and it won't spread; too thin and the colours muddy.

Try this with: Mont Marte pouring paint, pouring medium, silicone, 30×30cm wooden panel. Shop pouring paint →

2. Flip Cup Technique — round patterns & cells

Build the same dirty cup, but flip it upside-down onto the canvas instead of pouring. Leave it a few seconds, then lift. The paint underneath spreads outward in rings. The timing of the lift is what changes the result — lift early for tighter patterns, later for wider spread.

Try this with: Same as above. The technique is the only difference.

3. Swipe Technique — cells & lacing

After a basic pour, drag a damp paper towel or a wide brush across the surface in one direction. The contrast colour underneath shows through as cells and lacing. Timing matters most here: wait too long and the swipe won't reveal cells; go too soon and you smear everything. Practise on a small panel first.

4. Ring Pour — agate & geode effects

Pour each colour as a small puddle in the centre, building rings outward, then tilt to spread. The result looks like polished stone. Works best with three to four colours of strong contrast.

5. Tree Ring Pour — advanced technique

An evolution of the ring pour — lay rings in a long line across the canvas, then drag a stick or palette knife through them to create wood-grain patterns. Looks complex, isn't. The trick is a steady, unbroken drag.

What you'll need to try all 5

• Mont Marte pouring paints (4–6 colours)
• Pouring medium
• Silicone oil
• 2–3 canvases or wooden panels (30×30cm or larger)
• Plastic cups, sticks, drop cloth, gloves

Total cost to recreate everything in this roundup: under $80 with our pouring paint collection. Free NZ shipping over $75.

Your turn

Pick one technique. Set up a small canvas. Tag us @handy_mandy_stores_ on Instagram with the result and we'll repost our favourites.

About the author — Namra Shah is the owner of Handy Mandy Craft Store in Morningside, Auckland. We stock Mont Marte across NZ with same-day dispatch before 11am NZT and free shipping over $75. Questions? Email info@handymandy.co.nz or DM us on Instagram @handy_mandy_stores_.