How to Create a Painting Using Oil on Water

You can make small paintings in the bucket you use to wash your car.

Painting using oil on water is called swirl painting because of the swirls of paint that are left when using the oil-on-water technique. Swirl paint works because of the chemical properties of oil and water that allow the oil to float on the surface of the water. This swirl painting technique can be used on heavy paper, wood, masonite and many other objects. Guitarist Steve Vai popularized swirl painting on his Jem guitars.

Things You'll Need

• Matte oil-based primer
• Oil-based enamel paints
• Water
• Borax
• Bucket or tub
• Wood panel

Instructions

1. Spray your wood panel with an oil-based matte primer to seal the wood. Let it dry for two to four hours or until dry to the touch.

2. Fill bucket or tub three-quarters full with water. Add 1 ounce of Borax per gallon of water. Stir to dissolve.

3. Select two to three colors of oil-based enamel paints. Humbrol Enamels work well, but most brands will float on the water. Drip several drops of each color into the bucket of water.

4. Stir or shake the bucket to swirl the paint colors. Continue until you like the pattern on the surface of the water.

5. Dip your wood panel vertically into the tub, slipping it through the swirled paint.

6. Use your other hand, stir stick or other item to move the left-over paint on the surface of the water away from the wood.

7. Lift the panel straight out of the water and allow it to dry for 8 to 12 hours before handling.

References

• How to Swirl Paint
• The Swirling: Swirling a guitar to look like Steve Vai Jem guitar