We have a great selection of art mediums to choose from and provide all the supplies you need to create your masterpiece and make some lasting memories in the process. Thank you for your business!
Splattering With Acrylics. Discover Form Within The Formlessnessnessness
Beautiful, vibrant colours. A range of different techniques, and a whole pile of painting possibilities. Splattering with acrylics is something that you should definitely investigate.
Imagine a large, dark background, flecked with little pinpricks of various colors. Bam. Background for a beautiful night sky.
OR, lots of browns and reds, a hint of blue, splattered over a surface, voila – granite.
Maybe blues and flecks of greens, turquoise and whites splattered strategically to create the illusion of a crashing wave.
While splattering with acrylics sounds like a whole pile of fun (and it is!), there are some questions you need to ask yourself first:
- First, choose the effect you want. Do you want lots of small spots of colour spread relatively evenly over a surface? Or do you want coverage with lots of paint, lots of movement and lots of color? The effect you want to achieve will be influenced by the consistency of your paint.
- Quality of paint. Do you want it to last? Do you want it to cover? Do you want it to flow? And do you like your pigments strong?
- Do you want the surface to dry flat? Or do you want some “build” and texture?
- Do you want to “control” the splatter? In other words, mask up some areas where you don’t want the splatter to go.
Ok, so let’s start answering these questions!
With something like a night sky scene as an example, your splattering with acrylics technique needs to be quite “fine” and “controlled”. To do this you need to mix the consistency you want – this will depend on the product you’re using.
Poor quality acrylic paint will lose the intensity of the colour as you add water (or a medium).
A good quality “liquid” acrylic will probably only need a little bit of water (or acrylic painting medium) to get it to flick nicely. You will still need to take most of the paint off your brush (ie flick it somewhere else before you flick it on your painting surface. Find your worst critic and flick it in their eye, for example 😉
You’ll need a very dry brush and a fair amount of force to make these tiny dots. It’s better to make some that are too small first, and build up; than go in too hard, too soon. There’s only so many “planets” you can create on the fly.
I like using Atelier Free Flow Artists Acrylics (a relatively new product). Paint that has maximum pigment loading like this is the best product for splattering with acrylics. (Also, the Free Flow is almost the perfect consistency straight outta the bottle).
If however, you’re after a more “vigorous” and more “splattery” effect, keep your brush quite loaded, and if you don’t want the colours to bleed together too much, make the consistency thicker. If you want them to blend, add a little bit of medium or water.
The consistency of cream is roughly what you’re after here.
As far as build goes, the flatter the finish, the thinner you want the paint.
If you are painting a granite effect, you may wish to eventually end up with a very flat, almost polished effect.
Thinning the paint with a gloss varnish will allow the paint to dry back nice and flat, and still adhere to the surface beneath.
Lots and lots of luscious layers.
If you want even more texture, try adding an impasto gel to your paint mix.
Splattering with acrylics sounds kinda messy. The truth is though, you can actually have a lot of control over it.
Try experimenting with smaller brushes, even toothbrushes (just use someone else’s toothbrush – maybe your worst critic’s). This will allow you to splatter in a very targeted way. Try doing a couple of paintings side by side, and use one as an experiment.
Another way of controlling your paint splatters is to place newspaper or something else on the areas of your painting to mask them.
While we’re on that subject, I’ve noticed as an artist I was only concerned about splattering paint in the wrong place on my canvas. Maybe a little late to mention – but it’s usually a good idea not to do this in your loungeroom. Find a floor you can ruin in the process, i.e. the backyard! (Or put a drop sheet down).
Personally I’ve been having heaps of fun painting waves using this technique recently. And you can get some sensational effects if you can combine this technique with my other water painting techniques.
Have fun chuckin paint, and be prepared – you will get it all over you!
Step-by-step guide to splattering acrylic paint
Come and fling paint around and create unexpected masterpieces. Perfection is not the key here; rather, messy creativity is celebrated.
Team building
Get your team involved with something fun and artsy! Select a project and reserve your team building event here.
Private parties
Yes!, we do private parties that can come to you! B achelorette parties, birthday parties, family events. Reach out to reserve your event.
Reviews
We had a great time celebrating a birthday! The staff (Elizabeth) was helpful and very pleasant. The facility was clean and accommodating. I would highly recommend Art Tampa Bay Splatter Paint for all ages!
Omg, what a blast!! I took my niece, sister, friends, and their kids. I honestly don’t know who had more fun, lol. I’ve already told several other friends and they’re planning a trip and I will definitely be going again . To top it off, the owner is SO nice!! She made sure we were having fun, even down to the music selection we wanted. She even went above and beyond, taking pictures and videos of all of us, so we could just enjoy and live in the moment. Thank you , thank you, thank you
Me and my party had an absolute blast! The owner was so sweet and helped us through the whole process for splatter painting. A warm and welcoming atmosphere to do arts and crafts, what more could you ask for?
POTTERY WHEEL
POTTERY WHEEL • CERAMICS • WOOD SIGNS • MOSAICS • PARTIES • SPLATTER SPACE •
POTTERY WHEEL • CERAMICS • WOOD SIGNS • MOSAICS • PARTIES • SPLATTER SPACE •
Pottery Wheel
Get a little messy and sign up for our popular Try-It-Once Pottery Wheel class. One of our awesome instructors will teach you step-by-step how to make a bowl using wet clay on a spinning pottery wheel. And as a bonus, you also get to paint your bowl after its made using our specialty underglazes!
Check out our schedule of classes and book your seats online. Price is $50 per person. Bowls are usually ready for pickup 2-3 weeks after they’re made.
Pottery Painting
Choose a piece of pottery (also known as ceramics) from our awesome selection. We always stock hundreds of items, from funcational pieces like mugs and piggy banks, to the fun and seasonal like a Christmas Tree. You’ll paint and personalize your pottery using the included glazes (choose from nearly 40 colors) and supplies, and we’ll then fire your creation in our kilns. Finished pottery is ususlaly ready to pick up about a week after!
Items are individually priced and start as low as $10. A $6 studio fee is also added to each project.
Splatter Space
Splattering is in our name, so we created an enclosed space inside the studio where you can splatter a 16”x20” canvas using special splattering tools, brushes, and a great selection of acrylic paint colors.
We provide everything you need to enjoy a modern art experience unlike anything you’ve done before, including a poncho and shoe coverings.
Cost is $50 per person. Click below to learn more and book your session.
Wood Boards
Another popular activity is painting wood boards with acrylic paint. Choose from our great selection of boards and get creative using your choice of acrylic paints. We have every color you can imagine, as well as all the brushes and supplies you’ll need to get into your Picasso groove. When you’re done, we’ll help dry out your board so you can take the finished piece home the same day.
Items are individually priced and start as low as $15. A $6 studio fee is also added to each project.
Canvas
Start with a blank canvas, or choose one with a printed design. We have a wide range of acrylic paints, as well as brushes, easels, and supplies so you can work at your own pace.
We offer 8”x8” and 16”x20” canvas sizes.
Have a certain design in mind, like names or a company logo? We’d be happy to design and print canvases so they’re ready for your visit or group event (additional fees apply).
Mosaics
This is a great make-and-take project. Choose a wood base from our wide variety of shapes and sizes, then pick the tiles, glass, and gems (mosaics!) that you like from our stock. We’ll show you how to cut them down and glue them with the provided tools.
Take your mosaic board home the same day and add grout to bring it all together (grout kit and instructions included). Items are individually priced and start at $25. A $6 studio fee is also added to each project.
Studio Video Tour
“So much fun! Great teacher, very patient and knowledgeable! Great little gem in Dearborn! We drove up from Toledo just to try this out! So excited we made the drive!”
— Facebook Review (Jill Cup Opial)
“Had a great time taking my team to Speckles+Splatter! It’s so helpful that we could each choose different mediums to paint so everyone could do a project that worked for them. We had a ton of fun and I will definitely go back.”
— Google Review (Melissa Lauten)
“Our instructor was so kind, and explained in detail how to make our bowls, I am in love with this place and it’s a perfect experience to do with your loved ones.”
— Google Review (Margarita C)
“My daughter and I had a great time painting our pottery. Great selection, helpful staff, relaxing atmosphere. We’ll definitely recommend you to others.”
— Facebook Review (Monica Herman)
About Speckles+Splatter
It all began with an idea: create an art and pottery studio in an open and inviting space in West Dearborn that was unlike anything that existed. A space that friends and neighbors, kids and adults, and community members from all walks could visit to flex their creative muscle and make lasting memories.
We opened in early 2019, and now, nearly 5 years and one pandemic later, we’re still here and stronger than ever, all thanks to our wonderful customers and employees. We hope you’ll visit the studio, if only to enjoy the space, and maybe create something personal and unique with someone you care about.
We appreciate your business and support, always.
