Attention ocean lovers! Today I want to show you how to paint a super cute butterflyfish using fluid paint. I made it as a companion piece to my seahorse painting (video here:    • GORGEOUS Seahorse Painting Using A Mi...  )

I’m a scuba diver as well as a painter, so naturally I love bringing ocean creatures into my paintings when possible. This technique was inspired by a photo of a seahorse I found online with no artist credit I couldn’t find a video or any details so I had to figure it out myself! I’m working on a 16x20” canvas.

A “Micro Swipe” is similar to a ghost swipe technique, but it uses silicone oil to create cells. Generally small, flexible swipers are used, though you can use putty knives, palette knives, or bits of paper towel to create a similar effect.

I created my blue tape template by sketching on kitchen parchment paper, taping over the sketch, and cutting it out. Although it doesn’t make a perfect seal on the canvas, it really helps guide the application of paint and minimizes mess.

My paint is all mixed with floetrol (about 2:1 floetrol to paint) and thinned with water to a mediumthin consistency. Paint mixing video is here!    • Mixing Paint for Acrylic Pouring  ST...  
Dark Navy (Blickrylic Pthlalo Blue and Apple Barrel Black)
Metallic Teal (Blick Studio Acrylics)
Metallic Blue (Sargent)
Metallic Sea Mist (Craft Smart)
Teal (mix of paints scraped from the surface of a previous painting)
White (Sargent and Apple Barrel)

Subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss each new video!
New tutorials every Monday and Saturday!
Relaxing instrumental videos every Thursday!

You can buy this painting here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/12033086...

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:06 My vision for the design
2:13 Paint colors
4:17 My stencil
5:31 Putting on the base coat
6:31 Adding the colors
11:08 Swiping!
17:36 Adding the tail
19:46 Pulling up the tape
23:11 Adding the fin
25:38 Adding details to the back
27:51 Redoing the tail
31:56 Adding the bubbles
33:54 Closeup! And final details

I’m Anna, a mom of 3 living in smalltown West Virginia. I’ve been fluid painting since 2019 and loving every minute!

My Etsy shop: https://Etsy.com/shop/AnnasButterflyShop
“Anna Blount Art” on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...)

Music: “Jam in Eb Major, on Toast” by Ben Somerville
  / bensomerville  
Https://bensomerville.com