(4) Fluid Bloom/Sheleeart Technique - using products available in the UK/Europe

This video is about the Fluid Bloom/Sheleeart Technique using products that are available in the UK/Europe and may be other parts of the world. I have taken the Sheleeart Course which was very good and well explained. However, as I am in the UK I have found it very difficult to obtain the exact products that are used in Australia where Shelee is based. Therefore I wanted to share with you what I have managed to source locally. I also wanted to share with you how I use those products in my pillow (base) pouring medium and cell activitor and also how you blow that bloom out. Its not an easy process but once you master it..wow..the sense of achievement is immense..so hang on in there and keep practising, but most importantly have fun.
Products for Pillow
I would normally use house paint Valspar Silk for Walls and Interiors in green tub - Brilliant White available from B&Q and other local diy stores. However, when you purchase a new tub it can be full of air bubbles so I mix well, decant some into various containers and leave settle for a couple of weeks before I use. Therefore I have used for this video:-
www.specialist...
www.ebay.co.uk...
Pouring Medium
Valspar Wood and Metal V700C base - gloss interior
www.josonjas-u...
Colours used in this video:
Derivan Matisse flow acrylic - Australian Yellow Green and Australian Sap Green
www.jacksonsar...
WH Smith acrylics - Sand
Pebeo studio acrylics Iridescent Rich Gold or Specialist crafts Premium X6 Gold
Amsterdam acrylic standard series - oxide black www.amazon.co....
Cell Activator
Australian Flood Floetrol 500ml www.ebay.co.uk...
www.amazon.co....
If you wish to take the Sheleeart Course - sheleeart.com....
Social Media links
/ trippyacrylics
/ trippyacrylics

[@karenbaylis8828]

I can’t actually believe I’ve FINALLY found someone who can give me an alternative to house paint as my pillow. THANK YOU 😊

[@hayleybell4272]

Hi Claire, have been getting very frustrated in using bloom technique as all recipes in America, really great to find your video using UK products! THank you so much.

[@dany3131ify]

Thanks for the tutorial, really instructive, when you. Buy the pillow paint don’t let them mix it, it will have too many bobbles, you mix it slowly and ni more bobbles problems 🌹👏👏👏👏

[@njow7586]

Oh boy! I can’t tell you how happy I am that I have finally found another UK Acrylic artist on here. I’ve been finding it sooo hard to get some of the ingredients needed. Where I live you can’t buy paint and primer all in one to use for the pillow that many artists from the USA use, but you have shown me an alternative 🙏🏽 Thank you ! As for your bloom, it’s amazing and you certainly got yourself a subscriber 👍🏼

[@desireeross9651]

Thank you so much Claire. I’m in Scotland. This is so helpful

[@moltengirl6797]

STUNNING! A true must-see for those wanting to learn. Thank you!! 🎨💜👌🏻

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hey lovely lady thank you for watching it does go on a bit but wanted to show the whole process including Bella and Rocco sneaking around in the background 🤣💜

[@roxannefrederickson5664]

@@claireschaffrath6630 gvggfZvzZzxvzççvvçv

[@cheryl6953]

The Amsterdam Oxide Black is a great Cell Activator too.🧡

[@michelek70]

So glad you did this for us Brits Claire. Well done. Love your down-to-earth approach . Really refreshing. Keep it up! 😊

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hi Michele really glad you liked it..yeah no flashy set up for me 🤣 what you see is what you get including the dog making a couple of cameo appearances 🤣

[@chrisferrie2327]

Great video Claire - lots of handy tips for beginners. Lovely work

[@desireeross9651]

Thank you so much. Extremely useful. I learned a lot

[@Jennygeee]

Thank you so much for this, you use slightly different pouring medium to mine, I add Mod Podge to the Valspar C base but will definitely try yours xx this is lovely. Also thanks for the tip of letting the pillow stand for two weeks that will definitely help!

[@claireschaffrath6630]

You’re welcome glad it helped in some way x

[@vickijenkins1438]

So beautiful. Thank you again Claire.💕💕💕

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Thank you Vicki for watching hope it helps in some way 💜

[@kimcouch7458]

Great lesson! Thanks for all the details.

[@margueritejewett7355]

HAPPY POURING TO YOU CLAIRA

[@sutela2060]

Thank you for your good and helpful video. I am from Denmark and have problems with getting all the stuff so perhaps I can get these things 🙏❤️

[@kanthikurian1512]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for going thro a lot of trouble to explain each step so well. That was very useful for a beginner like me. I live in Melbourne Aus. so this famous Aus. Floetral is easily available for me. I hope i get it right next time. Thank you once again for sharing your amazing work with us.

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hey Kanthi thank you for your kind words and how wonderful being able to get the Aussie floetrol so easily..that’s the magic in this technique for sure..happy creating x

[@margueritejewett7355]

GREAT VIDEO . NEWLY SUBSCRIBED TOO . I TOOK THE COURSE AS WELL IT IS AMAZING FOR ALL TO TAKE THIS COURSE , YOU WILL LEARN SO MUCH FROM SHELEE. THIS IS STUNNING N GREAT INFORMATION TO LEARN FROM AS WELL SO THANKYOU FOR SHARING WITH US ALL .

[@azza0ful]

I love your video. I´m from Sweden and just can´t get it right but I will not stopp.

[@MS-is5ni]

Excellent video. Many thanks xx

[@droneracer]

Haven't seen a clearer instructional video on why I should probably just do another Dutch pour next, thanks.

[@kimsmith1292]

Claire thank you for this instructional video. I'm in the UK and I'm trying to get to grips with this technique, but so far not used Aussie Floetrol. Great to see your Retriever wandering through, best dogs in the world, imo!

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Kim Smith you’re welcome, yes its definitely worth investing in some Aussie stuff for sure. I’ve got two goldens and I adore them they do make cameo appearances 🤣💜

[@kimsmith1292]

When buying Flood Floetrol, do you have to pay additional customs duty?

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Kim Smith Hi no not at all but I have heard that some people in the Uk mainland have had to which is odd but not here..the link if you are want to purchase is in my description x

[@artsyinabh]

Thank you so much dear very beneficial for tip i have maintained very good guidance from you i am also following shelee but so many ingredients missing where i am

[@monarosaart]

Hi Clair this is good 😍

[@cherylsartdesigns4873]

Beautiful!!!

[@annabelgunn5]

Very helpful, thank you

[@karenbaylis8828]

Hi - I live in Malawi and have tried to ask a friend to get me the Valspar base c but no-one seems to want to help him at B&Q. How on earth can I get hold of this paint?

[@cherylcox9190]

Can you heat this for bubbles?

[@vanessachallis2159]

Thanks so much for your very informative video! And brilliant that you are doing this for us Brits! 👍😁 Just a quick question - instead of using the X2 free flow + bindex, could you not have used either the X4 or X6 instead which I understand are thicker paints? Look forward to exploring your channel!

[@rajviakaur9604]

Thank you.

[@carolinegilbert9376]

Thanks for all the information. Do you use semi transparent, transparent and opaque paints with this technique? How would you layer the colours? Thanks in advance

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Caroline Gilbert thank you..hope it was helpful. I go by colour theory and use a colour wheel to see which colours work well together. I also use a lot of the same colour but different shades. I will also layer my colours alternating between dark and light as I don’t want to get muddy colours. To be honest I don’t really adhere to the whole semi opaque, transparent thing but that’s just me. Before I do a piece I will practice layering the colours in a tiny puddle on say a piece of wood

[@cbrm3067]

A very honest and down to earth demo. I agree the downside of the art is sourcing items. Just when you think you've sourced something, it's not quite up to scratch unlike the items sourced by Shelee. The most difficult being Australian Floetrol which everyone says is a must have.You say you geet yours from Ebay do you pay any charges on top when it reaches the UK? Trying to get other things like the Colourarte Pigments is also a pain, I know you don't have to have them but it would be good but then you have to factor in customs etc it all gets very expensive. Anyway thank you for this it's very helpful and very informative.

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hi thank you glad you found the video helpful. I do not pay any duty on the Aussie floetrol as it’s only £25 including postage from eBay and I’m in Jersey so not sure whether that makes a difference but shouldn’t. My advice to you re Colorarte pigments is don’t even bother or waste your money. I gave mine away as they did not work for me at all with this technique and believe me I tried all sorts to get a result I was happy with. They are over priced. Spend your money on some decent normal acrylic tube paints such as golden or Amsterdam. Here is the link for Aussie stuff www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283366293498

[@cbrm3067]

@@claireschaffrath6630 Thanks for the advice shame abou the Pigments, there's so many videos on youtube of people using theme successfully but they tend to be in USA and again, products etc are different. Can't believe you had to give them away!! Thanks for the info about the floetrol will definiteely follow that up. Have subscribed. Thanks again.

[@james.5768]

Hi Claire, brilliant work and great video. I was just wondering when you scan your pieces, do you scan before varnish/resin is applied?? Also another random question, do you sell them online or in a shop? Just wondering if you frame them if you sold then online? Thanks :)

[@claireschaffrath6630]

James. Hi James thank you. I always scan my work before I resin or varnish it otherwise the image will pick up glare. I sell at local galleries however in the process of creating a website when I can find some time 🙄 which is never these days 🤣

[@Fikishut]

If you add a little Vanilla extract to your paint it helps with the smell😁

[@gillferris2457]

Great video very helpful . Can you just use your acrylic colours like Pebeo or X4 to make the paint colours as you are using ones from a tube. Is there any advantage to the tube mixed paint is it more concentrated

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Gill Ferris Hi Gill thank you. Yes you can use you’re regular acrylic paints for sure. I often use Pebeo acrylics for this technique. It’s all about paint consistency x

[@susankelly3136]

Turned out lovely 💕 but you can't get the Aussie floetrol in the UK so the recipe is not all UK unfortunately 😢😢 and its so expensive to ship over 😞

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Thanks...yes it’s a pain but the bloom/sheleeart technique’s main star ingredient is the Aussie floetrol which is the cell activator..we have come up with Uk alternatives for the pillow paint and pouring medium..here’s the eBay link for the Aussie floetrol if you wish to purchase it. The bottle will last you a long time as you only need 15ml for your cell activator anyway if you decide to go for it..I paid about £25 for my last bottle and that includes postage to Jersey from Australia www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283366293498

[@artemotionstudio7542]

Very nice tutorial for us Brits 😊 and such a good idea !Thank you from the South England. I have a question please: Is the Josonia brand a must or can I use another polyurethane gloss varnish as long as it’s water based? Cheers

[@claireschaffrath6630]

You’re welcome..yes I also use Vallejo polyurethane gloss varnish

[@artemotionstudio7542]

@@claireschaffrath6630 thank you so much, I’m going to give it a go! X

[@hoggwarts]

Hello Claire, when you scan your blooms do you just put it on your scanner? And do you resin it first so that the colours are vibrant.

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hi yes I use a scanner. I will resin the bloom after I’ve scanned it otherwise it won’t scan well because the resin coat will cause glare x

[@hoggwarts]

@@claireschaffrath6630 Thankyou, I have a nice bloom I’d love enlarged on my wall and have been at a loss how to do it. I will try to scan it and see what happens. I’m not IT savvy I think I was born when dinosaurs roamed the earth. thanks again.

[@patriciawebgalerie18-tonge58]

Try buying floetrol at www.bol.com. It’s a Dutch/Belgium company. It costs about €19 per liter (1000ml). In pounds that’s about £16. And they ship for free (also free returns). However, you need to check it because I don’t know if they’ll ship to Yersey though.

[@christinebrown7218]

Wonderful, love the colours but I did a search on the B&Q website & they don’t seem to sell that particular paint. Did you have to order it? 😀

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Christine Brown Hi Christine which paint do you mean? The Valspar silk brilliant white in the green tub for the pillow or the pouring medium valspar v700c base?

[@christinebrown7218]

Claire Schaffrath Hi Claire, the v700c!

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Christine Brown Hi Christine yes they defo sell it just give them a call before you go BUT they can sometimes be a bit funny about selling it untinted as most people buy it to add paint colour it’s just us crazy artists who want it untinted..just give them a call first so be sure to get the V700c wood and metal C base interior gloss

[@christinebrown7218]

Claire Schaffrath Thanks, that’s why it’s not listed on their website, love your videos & chat!

[@bluebear1218]

Clare, can I ask if the valspar interior gloss C base is untinted or have you just bought white gloss paint? I have been having so many problems trying to get it untinted, so if you are using white gloss paint, it would be so much easier for me, thanks x

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Blue & Bear hi are you in the UK? Yes the valspar gloss c is untinted. X

[@bluebear1218]

@@claireschaffrath6630 Yes, I am in the UK - Thank you, but DAMN, I am having an issue trying to buy that online, as I am avoiding going to B&Q in person. Looks like I may have to though x

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Blue & Bear you can’t buy it online you do need to go into the store x

[@hayleybell4272]

Drop me a line if you want to share info.

[@a705fay]

IF ONLY you had weighed the paint before you added the bindex and then weighed them both, we could work out the ratio.....

[@claireschaffrath6630]

If only eh oh well.. I don’t do ratios it’s utter nonsense..it’s all done by eye so unfortunately you may have to put a bit of work in yourself..good luck

[@dixi3150]

The moment you mentioned "AUSTRALIAN FLOETROL" I STOPPED WATCHING. For one, you can't buy it in Germany ....Outrages prices IF you are able to obtain it. Art is suppose to be fun, not crack your bank account to TRY it out. Any KZbin flow-art video that gives ingredients that are not available in Europe, seems a bit pointless to watch. In any case, your pieces come out lovely. Thanks 😊

[@claireschaffrath6630]

Hi Dixie I couldn’t agree more I don’t think I have ever spent so much money on an art technique ever..I took the initial course on the understanding I would be able to source the products easily...unfortunately that wasn’t the case...incredibly frustrating..yes I did find some local alternatives and yes I did go all out and purchase the Aussie floetrol from eBay however I do understand your frustration and can understand why you wouldn’t want to carry on watching my video if you are unable to source it. You can make cells with just Amsterdam titanium white acrylic paint and water as your cell activator but only on a small scale as they break up when you start to tilt your canvas