Siqueiros accidental painting technique
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- čas přidán 29. 10. 2012
- This is an entry for the Gallery of Fluid Motion of the 65th Annual Meeting of the APS-DFD (fluid dynamics video). This video shows an analysis of the 'accidental painting' technique developed by D.A. Siqueiros, a famous Mexican muralist. We reproduced the technique that he used: pouring layers of paint of different colors on top of each other. We found that the layers mix, creating aesthetically pleasing patterns, as a result of a Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Due to the pigments used to give paints their color, they can have different densities. When poured on top of each other, if the top layer is denser than the lower one, the viscous gravity current undergoes unstable as it spread radially. We photograph the process and produced slowed-down video to visualize the process.
- Věda a technologie
My father was Siqueiros' assistant in Mexico City. His name was Jack Hooper, he died last year. He always referred to this technique he learned to perfect as "sgraffito," and said they achieved it by painting layers and then slice off the surface revealing the layers below....This makes sense as it seems like it would be challenging to pour layers of wet paint on a wall without them running to the ground.
Hi all. Sorry for not replying sooner. Siqueiros used cellulose nitrate lacquers. We found that similar textures can be obtained with, essentially, any paint. The important thing is to have a light/dark combination (light is generally denser). You have to have different densities, the denser on top, to achieve this effect. Another thing to keep in mind is that if the paint dries too fast you will not see the effect because the dried skin will prevent the emerging bottom paint to appear.
The camera is over the paint. Interestigly, we have tried pouring the fluid layers over glass and observe from the bottom. You do observe some pattern formation; however, it is not as clear because the fluid remains attached to the lower wall (non-slip condition). When we use a transparent base, things get muhc more interesting...
Hi again. We have used acrylic lacquers made by Sherwin Williams. The product line is called Opex. It is kind of hard to find (in Mexico, where we are). We are nearly finished writing a paper where the process is described in detail. When it's finished I'll be happy to share it with whomever wants it. Cheers.
Awesome video, I if you were to make one with just paint flowing, (no words) I bet lots of people would love it, because it actually has a very calming effect, and the video in itself would be a piece of art! It's mesmerizing to watch..
To anyone wondering how to achieve the effect:
Ink (The same you can find for pens) & acrylic does work. It's kinda mindblowing to see everything bubble itself.
Acrylic for markers are really efficient too.
Pouring a blend of white spirit & oil paint into it does makes some cool effects too. It spreads out naturally of the pouring area.
Ludovic Delespierre hey....is it colour specific? as in shd the ink be black and the acrylic be white or something? and which other colour combinations cd bring the same effect?
My attempt was in Blue ink with Orange Acrylic. I guess it's all about experimentation.
Ludovic Delespierre yes i agree its all about setting ur hand at something...did u use acrylic ink or alcohol based ink...? tonight i plan to do some tests lets see how they turn out....
Hello to everyone. Thanks for the comments.
The effect is achieved if a dense paint is placed in top of a less dense one. Generally, bright paints tend to be denser (because white paint, which is used fro brightness contains Titanum Oxide particles which are heavy). Dark paints are generally less dense (black paint is made with Carbon black particles, which are not particularly heavy). We have achieved this same effect for Red over Black, Yellow over transparent, and of course, White over Black.
We have see the effect for both lacquers and oil-based paints. One thing to keep in mind is that, since oil-based paints dry very slowly, you may see the effect appearing but if the paint does not dry up the texture will continue to evolve and be lost.
Have fun.
Roberto
+Shivali Misra I used a water based acrylic used to refill markers (Montana to name a brand). Good luck with your attempt!
If you have a more detailed paper now on this process I would love to have it. I really want to try it as an art method. I have done similar things with acrylics but not quite so dynamic. Love this so much. Thank you for experimenting! Diane
Lovely to watch ~ And I like how you presented the information in a more scientific approach sketched out in the video. Sorry for your father's passing ~ Blessings
WoW, thats beautiful!
How interesting the physics of fluid acrylic pouring. The viscosity will definitely create a really great velocity of flow. Thx very informative 👍🏻😊
Pretty amazing, I was just working on piece that looked liked this a few months ago, of course I just painted it and this looks 10x better in only 5 minutes
Found this info on a website describing one of David Alfaro Siquerios works. HTH.
The swirling vortexes are pools of fast-drying commercial lacquer typically used on cars. A member of the workshop later recalled that they applied this paint "in thin glazes or built it up into thick gobs. We poured it, dripped it, splattered it, and hurled it at the picture surface.
Starting @ 1:30, I want that on my SUV! That is just awesome.
Please do share more information, Roberto! This is fascinating stuff to see the intersection of art and science and definitely worth experimenting with. Could you give us some color combinations other than white over black and yellow over tranparent that you have found to be successful?
Would love to see your paper when you are finished. Love this work
Dear Subscribers:
A formal article describes in detail this investigation has finally appeared in the journal PLOS ONE:
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0126135
Thank you all for your kind and constructive comments.
With best wishes
Roberto
Very informative. This Fluid Dynamics, is what Jackson Pollack was known for. Although several artists tried to duplicate Pollack's paintings,no one ever successfully has.
His pour methods& splatter methods were a guarded secret. He was a master.
I love all methods of painting. Re share this on Google+ !
Take Care, Bill Kearney. :-)
A must see! :-)
Dear Friends:
Thank you for all your comments about this video. Please find the first short article about this in:
dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4894196
There is another long detailed article that will appear soon. I will send you the link when it comes out.
Best
Roberto
This was awesome, I must try....
I think, the painting looks better when is wet than dry. I think the movement gives an awesome effect. Perhaps, it stills beeing a good tecnique!! thankss
Thanks for this. I'll try it out on the city I'm painting.
this is amazing, what kind of colors do you use?
I would love to know about the paint u use please more info thank u
It looks fantastic! I liked your limited use of colour. I tried it too (see video), with some variations.
Robert,
Please post all the products that cause this effect.
I have been experimenting and never got anything resembling this.
I have tried regular acrylic and house paint but no luck.
Thanks so much.
This is so cool! Did you use oil paints or acrylics? It looks like oil if you used lacquer. I would love to try this just to see it in action but I don't have oils but I think adding alcohol might do the same thing but not sure. I love experimenting. Thanks for the video.....
Mo
hello, is the camera over the paint or is this on a glass table with the lens pointing up?
Is this oil or acrylic?
Hi Robert,
There has to more to dropping one paint on top of another?
Where does the lacquer Opex come into play?
You said there are different layers, is this layers of paint mixed with the lacquer?
Its just so interesting and I would love to give it a go but theres so many Opex lacquers to choose from. Can you give us some more information please.
Thanks so much for the video
I am finding these acrylic lacquers are clear? what is it mixed with? I assume acrylic paint or house paint? I did this with my artist paints and thinned with water, I did not get this reaction but it did react somewhat but not like your video shows.
what PAINT are you using for this? House paint, oil based, watered down acrylic or a combination??????????
Can the density of the paint be manipulated by water??
Would love to have a copy of your paper!
thank you for your reply. I've never heard of oil based acrylic paint. do you mean oil paint? betty clancy
Is the oil based acrylic paint you're suggesting automotive paint? betty clancy
could you describe in a little more detail how to create this effect? exactly what kind of paint used ect. many people are interested and have asked the same questions? Hope you reply to us
which paints we should try to obtain this effect/?
very good
What kind of paint is used for this technique?
Anyone tried this? What kind of paint did you use?
Do u mix the paint with the lacquer
If so what are the measurement please thank u so much
If Art is what we save, this fits within the category of Found Art, or Scientific Art where one with an eye for aesthetically pleasing compositional elements handpicks or frames certain selected portions, whether from radar images or geological maps or aerial photos, etc. The kinship some of these have with microscope slides or other nature photos suggest the relationship between cell growth and spread of dissimilar fluid mixes, ie mathematical expansion or some such formula. This is the raw material, which unless rigorously culled to refine more structure, composition, or is manually re-manipulated, all becomes generic, perhaps pleasant, but without focus and lacking a critical aspect of intention which leaves the final product vague and unsatisfying.
Yes. But acrylic pours can be done that, though producing accidental effects, ARE influenced by the artist, who has to make many choices. Each choice can ruin or glorify the painting. There is WAAAAAAYYYY more to fluid painting techniques AS ART than are even hinted at here. This is the fluid painting equivalent of being trained as a chef by being told all you have to learn is fry eggs.
I am with you in finding accidental techniques alone as not producing consistently satisfying pieces of art...unless I misunderstood you?
You say in your article to use nitro cellulose lacquer. I've used the same when spraying cars. What you do mention is that it has the tendency to dry too fast and to many the obvious therefore is to reduce the temperature in your working space to slow the drying time down. What I would say is beware - make it too cold and it will 'bloom' just like any paint and lacquers are no exception. The key I guess is trial and error, getting the right temperature to start with and ensuring that the reaction takes place.
what type of paints are used? acrylics or other? thanks colleen
I was wondering the same thing. If I had to guess, I would definitely say they used acrylics.
Just found this farther down in the comments section.
"Hi again. We have used acrylic lacquers made by Sherwin Williams. The product line is called Opex. It is kind of hard to find (in Mexico, where we are). We are nearly finished writing a paper where the process is described in detail. When it's finished I'll be happy to share it with whomever wants it. Cheers."
V3N0M607 Hi I would love to be sent a copy. It is driving me nuts how to get the finish I want. many thanks Wendy
+ V3N0M607
I poured thin black acrylic paint, then poured thicker white acrylic on top of it. nothing happened. what am I doing wrong?
I've tried this with acrylic paint and it didnt work. I had thinned down the bottom layer of paint with water and kept the top layer paint thicker. But the top paint just sat on top. Any tips?
Dear Benny....look up MelyD and check out her technique!!!
I think equal viscosities is the key. Thick hansa yellow 10G...a very light gravity pigment...will sink right through a thin layer of white. Try making the layers the same viscosity. As with anything, experimentation is the key.
Dfynomax; exactly the opposite. The heavier or more dense always sinks down threw the lighter less dense. Of course all colors must be the same viscosity. Wish I had a way to determine each individual paint's relative specific gravity to each other. Ex. We all know titanium white is the heaviest.
Check out Suave Arts CZcams channel. She manipulated densities to achieve cells. Many many videos
@@oldasa there are charts online for many brands, which list pigment densities or weights, from heaviest to lightest; or could be sorted into order if not. for fluid acrylic painting, the substrate or polymer which holds the pigments, ie the ''paints'' themselves, that needs to be mixed (with medium) seperately, to an Equal runniness, equal Viscosity, so it can ''flow'', and get the reactions. thicker paint viscosity will interfere with the movement of the other layers or colors.. it's the ''density'' or ''heaviness'' of the pigments themselves, not the substrate holding them, which causes the sinking or rising per se :)
Do you think artists like nancy wood and arthur brouthers are incorporating this technique into their artwork ?
She is using acetate & acrylic. So it might be the same process.
a form of marbling?
What paint u have used? ???
Hi
try bottom layer with oil based acrylic paint and the top layer with water based
this tells me that dark is light, and light is heavy.
Right because the white is titanium and is heavier.
can u send me ,product name ?
I think this demo is quite incomplete - seeing as you don't mention at all what kind of paint this is....
is this an oil based process?
+el Flaco 66 for the video we used cellulose Nitrate lacquers. But it could be done with oil based paints. The problem with them is that such paints dry very slowly, so you may not be able to capture the effect.
And so oils don't work.
Hello Robert , you wrote : "We are nearly finished writing a paper where the process is described in detail. When it's finished I'll be happy to share it with whomever wants it. Cheers."
Can you please tell me where to find this paper u have written?
Hi. The paper was submitted to a journal and is currently being refereed. If you send me your email, I'll be happy to send it to you, with the understanding that it cannot be widely distributed quite yet. SaludosRoberto
HI Lauren. Please send me your email. I will send you the document.
Roberto Zenit
Any chance I could get a copy of your paper? Would love to try this method.
I guess I'm a dork because I can't figure out how to find your email address to private-message you. haha My email address is "tgthornhill at sbcglobal.net"
Bonjour , avez vous eu une réponse concernant cette technique par différence de densité ?. Mon adresse Email. blaiseb51@gmail.com.
Hi Roberto... I'd love a copy too if you don't mind. I'd really like to try it out myself! Thanks for the info. And the amazing video!! Bob.Iroquois @ gmail dot com Thanks again!
Isn't this what everybody seems to be doing now a days in you Tube?
Wtf? Whenever I go to another vid of water marbling I see Kearney's comments
Vi a
all abstracts look like accidental.
Roberto, are you so in admiration of yourself that you cannot be bothered to reply to anyone on here who has given their time to watch this vid? People have watched this and are asking questions. Don't believe you are so wonderful that you don't need to reply.
I don't understand your message. I have, in numerous occasions, replied to questions. Please read below. The paints are cellulose nitrate lacquers.
Look at you .. making painting mathematical and less funn ! haha
Great to look at but absolutely useless on information. What kind of paint...what everything???????????????? how annoying