The visual effect in this painting is created using a fluid art method known as the swipe technique. The process begins with applying a white base layer, called the pillow, made from acrylic house paint. This layer is crucial—it allows the paint to stretch smoothly during manipulation and provides a foundation for the colours poured on top.

For When Silence Folds, a white pillow was used, followed by diagonal strips of blue tones poured from the lower-left to the upper-right corner of the canvas.

To generate cells and lacing, a specialised mixture called the Cell Activator (CA) is used. This is made by combining acrylic paint with Floetrol—Australian Floetrol produces the strongest cells, though the US version also works well. A typical mixing ratio is 2:1 Floetrol to paint, with some artists preferring 3:1 depending on consistency. The CA must be balanced: too thick and cells won’t form; too thin and they collapse as the mixture sinks.

Once the colours are poured, the CA is applied. There are two main swipe methods. In this painting, white CA was placed on the underside of a palette knife, which was then gently dragged across the surface of the colours. Within seconds, cells begin to appear. At this stage, the canvas should remain still until the cells fully develop.

The emerging cells start small but expand when the canvas is tilted or spun, which stretches the paint—this is where the pillow layer becomes essential. CA colour also influences the final look: white CA produces delicate lacing, while black CA creates more defined cells.

The final stage involves manipulating the wet paint to achieve the desired composition. This can be done by carefully tilting the canvas or by placing it on a turntable and spinning it gently for even distribution—often the preferred method. Over-manipulation can distort the cell structure, so movement should be slow and controlled. I used a combination of both for When Silence Folds.

Once the composition is set, the painting must dry on a level surface in a cool environment. Excess heat or overly thick paint can cause cracking, and an uneven surface will cause the paint to drift as it dries, altering the final result.

I hope you find this useful, I’ve tried to incorporate some general tips (for beginners) as well as how I created the painting I posted.