Round Canvas Acrylic Pouring – Striking Fluid Art on Black & White
In today’s fluid art tutorial, I’m working on a 20-inch round canvas with a bold black and white color split base – one of my favorite starting points when I want to create maximum contrast and visual impact. To bring this design to life, I’m adding passionate red and shimmering gold to the flow. It’s a simple palette, but one of the best color combinations for creating drama, elegance, and richness in an abstract acrylic pour.
Secret message for this painting: “Passion.”
Before pouring, I lightly sketched out the split design. (Quick tip: if you’re planning a color split composition, it’s always a good idea to sketch your base first, especially on round or oddly shaped canvases.)
The black side takes up slightly more space than the white, creating a dynamic diagonal balance. I also made sure to fully cover the sides of the canvas, even on the white side. While the gesso might look white, it’s not nearly as bright as Titanium White, and you’ll definitely notice the difference once the paint dries, especially in minimalist designs like this one.
The final pour features gorgeous blown-out movement, sexy red highlights, and beautifully layered gold accents that glimmer as the light shifts. Add to that the round format, and the result feels like an abstract sculpture as much as a painting.
Acrylic Pouring Recipe Used
This painting was created using my signature Soby Recipe, which I teach step by step in my Fluid Art Mastery course.
The recipe is water-based (around 80%), which keeps it lightweight and affordable, and it’s enhanced with high-quality artist mediums that improve drying, enhance lacing, and ensure an archival finish. No Floetrol, PVA, or silicone here — just clean, professional results with vibrant color clarity and smooth flow.
The cells and lacing in this painting are a perfect example of what’s possible when your consistency is just right. It’s one of the most exciting outcomes of this technique!
This round canvas acrylic pour has officially stolen my heart. It’s bold, elegant, and full of energy — and it reminds me why I love working with high contrast and simple, powerful compositions.
If you’re curious to dive deeper into these techniques, I’d love to invite you to explore the Fluid Art Mastery course, where I teach all the pouring methods, layering tips, and consistency tricks that go into creating results like these.
Colorfully yours,
Olga Soby
Sometimes the final coat can make or break the entire painting...
If you’ve ever hesitated between glossy, satin, or matte varnish, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, wondering which finish will bring out the best in the colors and textures I just poured my heart into.
So I created a free guide to help you choose the right sheen with clarity and confidence, based on the type of painting you've just created.
