27. FUNKY Cells | Chameleon Cells Technique | Acrylic Pour Painting Tutorial

Create fun designs using the Chameleon Cells Technique! This easy step-by-step tutorial will show you how!
PAINT COLORS & RATIOS
Paints mixed 1 part paint to 2 parts Floetrol:
Crimson (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3op30GX
Orange (Artist's Loft):amzn.to/33Pszrc
Brilliant Yellow (Artist's Loft):amzn.to/3tZwjRT
Paints mixed 4 part paint to 8 parts Floetrol to 1 part water:
Brilliant Red (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3eQCumN
Vermillion (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3ych5vX
Phthalo Green (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3eMilhu
Emerald Green (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/2WELHbh
Turquoise (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/2QeHFU0
Light Blue (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3tLEr8m
Aqua Green (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/33GKUqv
Paints mixed 4 parts paint to 8 parts Floetrol to 3 parts water:
Ivory Black (Artist's Loft): amzn.to/3hoLelQ
Please note: DC Fluid Acrylics is a member of the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and I really appreciate your support. Thank you!
OTHER SUPPLIES
Canvas (10 x 10 inches): amzn.to/2V6PUnB
Silicone oil: amzn.to/3uRKnhy
Floetrol: amzn.to/3odnRNo
Plastic bottles: amzn.to/3fmgbo3
Silicone mat: amzn.to/3ePAc7D
Music: KZbin Audio Library

[@Quasar1111]

Chameleon cells are SO cool. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching 😊

[@Quasar1111]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 👍🙂

[@canvasembroiderywood]

It is spectacular looking.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you!

[@aerialarboreal9005]

Being able too plant your own cells is a game changer for me! I didn't now you could do this until now!! Very cool, thank you!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

So glad it was helpful! It’s a fun option to have! 😊

[@anthonyshurburn7560]

I completely agree. This technique is awesome.

[@lesleylang153]

Love this wonderful Idea!!! looks lovely!!! THANKS!!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks for watching! So glad you like it!

[@elizabethbadior9966]

This looks great thank you for sharing....would look great as turtle shell

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Too funny, I was also thinking it would make a good turtle shell - lol. 😊

[@AmysAcrylicArtistry]

Wow. So cool. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks! My pleasure 😊

[@trisuwal1281]

Wow! Interesting! Love it

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks! Glad you like it! 😊

[@sarahwalker3428]

This is awesome!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! Glad you like it 😊

[@Lee-Anne-ow3uo]

Lovely work 😊

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks Lee-Anne! 💕

[@katemcmyob339]

Absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to try this! Thanks for the video.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

My pleasure, glad you like it 😊. Have fun giving it a try! 👍

[@w021353s]

love this!! I am so glad to have found your channel!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks Wendy, so glad you like it! Welcome!

[@pattirussell3650]

Cool process and I like the results. Thank you.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks Patti! So glad you like it!

[@fabiennecastello2464]

Super joli j'adorrrrrrrrrr

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😊💕

[@theartist_1971]

Love this. Thank you for sharing.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you 😊. My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@MinhCakesOfficial]

Hi! I tried your technique, but unfortunately the cells didn't grow at all. I'm using different brand colors, pouring medium and oil too (beginner here 🙈!). I'm guessing it's all a question of using the right materials and getting the consistency just perfect? What is the most important factor... the quality of the silicone oil...? Or the consistency of the paints? Grateful for any advice you might have, thank you in advance ❤

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Hi Minh, sorry to hear it hasn’t been working out! What I’ve noticed with fluid art is that sometimes you have to use the exact same products to achieve certain effects. I’m not sure if that’s the case with this particular type of painting but I’d probably try to figure it out as follows: 1. Check the consistency of your paint - when you pour it off a mixing stick back into the paint it should initially form a mound and then disappear into the paint (so the paint shouldn’t be very runny) 2. If using the above mentioned consistency doesn’t help, then I’d probably buy the same brand of silicone that I use and try that 3. If that doesn’t help then I’d try mixing my paints with Floetrol as the pouring medium and then 4. If that doesn’t work then I’d try using different paint. (I mostly use Artist’s Loft but I think Liquitex Basics would work too. I would mostly try to avoid craft paints because they are quite thin/runny to start off with) Good luck! I’d love to know if or how you end up getting it to work!👍

[@genevieveferrer5115]

Merci 🌹🌹🌹

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

👍😊

[@darlind6463]

Love it!!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! Glad you like it! 😊

[@sandiguinnartescape]

This is great.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks 👍😊

[@Guyonnn]

Great video, well done. Been doing this recently but haven’t tried the dragging plastic, looks like fun.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! Hope you have fun giving it a try!

[@ShannonsShack]

Bravo 🙌 that was amazing! I love it 🤗

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😀 So glad you like it!

[@p7estates]

Newbie in training here and tested this method. At first it wasn't working but I kept on going and hit the sweet spot. The part that didnt cell up had black ontop of the green and white. And was at the end of the canvas where I started the swipe, user error😊

[@evrhpfl]

I know I'm YEARS away from being good at pour painting...but I SO WISH Olivia could get cells to pop up! I do have 100% silicone, use your ratios and have only teeny cells. I've just ordered the same oil you use...hopefully that'll give my cells a BOOST! 😄 I SO admire your talent! I watch your videos ALL the time! Thank you!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Don't worry - it definitely won't take years! You'll be good at it before you know! I'm holding thumbs that the new silicone oil will help!

[@lilicadavidgioiartacrilico555]

Bellissimo 🌈🦋🌹

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

👍💕

[@susafleig]

Actually I wanted to start ironing but sorry, my husband will have to wait a bit longer for his shirts. I have to try this technique now. Thank you for sharing.👋

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Lol, sure. I hope yours turned out well! 👍😊

[@MissChelle]

WOW WOW WOW. this is Stunning! How will you seal it with all that oil? ❤️🇦🇺

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Once the painting has dried for about 3 weeks I use a damp cloth to wash it with dish soap and warm water to remove the oil and then I seal it with Liquitex Gloss Varnish.

[@barbaradeerfield2204]

Love ot and my granddaughter asked me to try a cool looking painting with green she would love it

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

So sweet, I hope you enjoy giving it a try and that your granddaughter likes it! 😊

[@robinbrennan4561]

S idea! Cool!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😊

[@eliznasmith1714]

I have been struggling with the chameleon cell method. I am from South-africa so I don’t have access to Floetrol. I make my own pouring medium mix which works well with the swipe, dirty pour and bloom methods. I use Mont Marte premium silicone oil but can still not get any cells to form using this method 😢.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Hello and sorry to hear you've been struggling. It could be that it's the combination of the specific products that I'm using that are helping me to get this to work... However, a few things I'd suggest checking are 1) that your paint consistency is such that a mound forms when you pour your paint off a stick and back into the cup (i.e., the paint shouldn't be too thin/runny) and 2) that you're swiping over your colors with black or some contrasting color which will help the cells show through once you add the silicone. I'm holding thumbs that you get it to work. If you do, I'd love to know what tweaks you made to get it to work. Btw. Nice to meet a fellow South African 😊 (although I live in the US - hence the Floetrol).

[@lorettascott5477]

I love ❤ this, and your accent is beautiful! I'm going to sub and learn some more! Thank 😊 you and see you next time ⌛

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks Loretta! So glad you like it! Welcome! 😊💕

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

Lovely!!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😊

[@rogerkaram1264]

H Love , love your vids!! How do you prevent cells from forming with all the paints after the swipe?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you, so glad you like the videos! My paints somehow don’t form any cells unless I add silicone to the paint so I’m not doing anything to prevent cells from forming. I think it may depend on the exact paint brand and pouring medium that you use to mix with the paint. I use Artist’s Loft paints and Floetrol and when I swipe with those paints I never get any cells (unless I also add silicone to the mixture)… Hope that helps

[@acrylicpoursgalore6843]

Lovely - mind sharing what you have to do to finish these pieces (varnish/resin etc.)?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

I usually finish my paintings off by adding a few layers of Liquitex Gloss varnish. Before applying the varnish, I first clean the paining by wiping it down with a mixture of dish soap and warm water to remove the silicone oil. My video number 73 shows the process if you'd like to see how I do it.

[@mariacanales1870]

Love this piece……was wondering how it was done….❤❤❤

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😊 I'm so glad you like it! 💕

[@zarasmomproud6539]

BEAUTIFUL AMAZINGLY AWESOME. Your innovative method definitely makes the art form looks high dollar value without the waste of too much paints. Your technique gives me hope that I can try your way and actually be pleased with my efforts. Millions grateful prayers to God and to the artistic world for sharing your gifts.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! Have fun giving it a try! 👍😊

[@juliahulse5272]

Did you poke the toothpick all the way to the canvas or just the very top layer? I did this painting yesterday. I got a few cells but nothing as spectacular as this. I still love it, but I really want these gorgeous cells.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Yip, I poked through all the paint and just gently touched the canvas with the toothpick. I also think the fact that I swiped over the colors with black helped to create some good contrast.

[@3dn123]

Nice 🌺

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you 😊

[@zainabdhoon3546]

Looks so beautiful. Why have you mixed the paints in different ratios?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks! For this painting you don't really need to use different ratios. (I was just using paint that I had previously mixed which is why the ratios for the base colors were different). I had intentionally used a different ratio for the black swipe color because I thought that might help reveal the base colors more once I added the silicone but I'm pretty sure it would have worked even if I used the same ratio as the other paints.

[@zainabdhoon3546]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 Thank you.

[@breck112000]

Hi, Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. It is beautiful! Why do you need the black paint swipe? If the idea is to mix the colors, can you do it floetrol alone? If not, does it have to be black or can it be any other other as long as it has floetrol and it is very thin? Thank you for your response.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you, Saeid! You don't need to swipe over the paints with any color. However, at a minimum, I would personally drag something (like my plastic sheet) over the paints just to mix them a bit before adding the silicone because that will help make the cells more visible. The reason I chose to use black was because I thought it would help create good contrast between the bright colors underneath and the black on top. You could use whatever color you like - black and white are usually safe options but I've tried a few other colors too and so far they've all worked.) I usually either use a thinner consistency paint on top although I've noticed that using the same consistency as the paint below also seems to work. I hope that helps. (Sorry about the slow reply!)

[@JenniferSmith-q9x5l]

I absolutely love this ❤. How do you finish it up? Do you use something to remove the oil?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks so much! 💕 To finish it up, after about 3 - 4 weeks (once the paint has cured) I gently wipe the painting down with a cloth and some warm soapy water. Once the canvas is dry after wiping it down, I then varnish it with Liquitex Gloss Varnish using a foam brush. I show my process in video number 73 if you'd like to see how I do it.

[@JenniferSmith-q9x5l]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 thank you!

[@chasingsmiles-bkelly]

Gorgeous colors and cells. Do you have to use the floetrol mixed paint in a specific amount of time or can it be pre-mixed for other paintings over a few weeks or more?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks so much!! You can definitely pre-mix your paint and Floetrol and then use it when you want to. I always pre-mix my paints and they last months until I finish the bottle, you may just have to give the bottle a shake before you using it.

[@yvonnenicholson9652]

Wonderous

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

😊👍

[@csbmb130]

That is so amazing Are u mixing paint with water? If u do what is the proportion on both? Thank you ❤️

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you. You can find the exact paint mixture and ratios listed in the description box of the video.

[@MrRojigualda]

Solo con manchar una vez el palillo da para tantas burbujas?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

I think dipping the toothpick into the silicone 3 times would create all these cells. I can't remember how many times I did it in the video but it wasn't much. (I would start out by dipping the toothpick once and then using it until you see that cells aren't really forming anymore and then dip the toothpick again if you need to and continue like that...)

[@susanmoore7369]

What would be the reason the cells wouldn’t produce when I did this ?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Hi Susan, sorry to hear your cells didn't form. What I’ve noticed with fluid art is that sometimes you have to use the exact same products to achieve certain effects. I’m not sure if that’s the case with this particular type of painting but I’d probably try to figure it out as follows: 1. Check the consistency of your paint - when you pour it off a mixing stick back into the paint it should initially form a mound and then disappear into the paint (so the paint shouldn’t be very runny) 2. If using the above mentioned consistency doesn’t help, then I’d probably buy the same brand of silicone that I use and try that 3. If that doesn’t help then I’d try mixing my paints with Floetrol as the pouring medium and then 4. If that doesn’t work then I’d try using different paint. (I mostly use Artist’s Loft but I think Liquitex Basics would work too. I would mostly try to avoid craft paints because they are quite thin/runny to start off with. I would also avoid using metallic paints because they tend to react differently from other paints.) Good luck! I’d love to know if or how you end up getting it to work!👍

[@christinejohnston6204]

Help, i tried and even used spot on treadmill silicone - used US floetrol though, would my Aussie floetrol be what i am missing ? Thank you 🙏😁

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Oh no, I’m sorry to hear yours didn’t work out! I used US Floetrol. (Did you use the Aussie Floetrol?) What didn’t work out? Didn’t you end up with any dots on your painting from the silicone?

[@christinejohnston6204]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 hi, i used US floetrol, but no dots. I am going to try again, maybe paints were too thin. 🤞

[@christinejohnston6204]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 and thank you for the help, I really appreciate it

[@BitofFun80]

What if you can’t find Floetrol??? What can you use???

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

If you don't have access to Floetrol, I'd either Google "pouring medium" and see what type of pouring medium you have where you live and then try one of those pouring mediums or you could try mixing your paint with water to help make the paint thin enough to pour (you'll have to experiment with how much water to use).

[@elnazk.5188]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

👍😊

[@fatimystic]

I dnt have silicon liquid. Any other alternative????

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Some people use coconut milk hair serum to help create cells - that might be an alternative you could try...

[@torymblue2000]

OH crud.. just a tooth pick tip for cells? HAHAHA I'm been just dripping from the container on to my item, and was getting almost nothing hahahahaha.. Thank you, now I need to find some medium to try this out!

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Just dripping from the container onto your item should also work… If you don’t see anything it could be that you’re dripping the silicone onto an area that just has one paint color (in which case you won’t notice much). In order to see cells you need to have at least two colors with one on top of the other so that when you drop the silicone onto it, the top color kind of opens up to reveal the color below it. Hope that makes sense…

[@torymblue2000]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 absolutely, thank you!!

[@wcwindom56]

I've tried this and can't get any large cells. I use glue all and water as my medium.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Sorry to hear you can't get any large cells! What I’ve noticed with fluid art is that sometimes you have to use the exact same products to achieve certain effects. I’m not sure if that’s the case with this particular type of painting but I’d probably try to figure it out as follows: 1. Check the consistency of your paint - when you pour it off a mixing stick back into the paint it should initially form a mound and then disappear into the paint (so the paint shouldn’t be very runny) 2. If using the above mentioned consistency doesn’t help, then I’d probably buy the same brand of silicone that I use and try that 3. If that doesn’t help then I’d try mixing my paints with Floetrol as the pouring medium (instead of glue all and water) and then 4. If that doesn’t work then I’d try using different paint. (I mostly use Artist’s Loft but I think Liquitex Basics would work too. I would mostly try to avoid craft paints because they are quite thin/runny to start off with and I'd also avoid metallic paints because they tend to act differently from other paints) Good luck! I’d love to know if or how you end up getting it to work!👍

[@anthonyshurburn7560]

What tool would you use if you wanted much larger cells?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

For larger cells, I might try using the back of a large paintbrush or anything with a nice wide tip. The other thing that would help is spacing the silicone out further than I did, the cells tend to grow into the space that they have, so if I'd given them more space to grow, they could have grown bigger.

[@anthonyshurburn7560]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 thank you. I will try this.

[@CFl-fv4yh]

Nicht zu vergessen, dass das Mixing aller Farben genau gleich sein muß. Die gleiche Dichte. Sonst keine Zellen bei so vielen Farben.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Durga695]

Love your accent and the technique, though the paint ratios is going to create too much paint for me.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Thank you! 😊 By the way, the ratios should allow you to mix small quantities if you need to (e.g., you could mix 4 grams of paint to 8 grams of Floetrol to 1 gram of water for a total of 13 grams of paint mixture).

[@HollyHarper-gc6ix]

I'm NOT GETTING CELLS. Why? You make it look easy im using the same thing so why not any cells????

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Oh no, Holly - I'm sorry to hear that! What paint brands and colors are you using? If you're using craft paints, they are usually thinner than the Artist's Loft paints that I use, so I'm wondering if the paint consistency differs from what I'm using... If you are using craft paint, I wouldn't add any water to the paint mixture. I'm not sure if metallic paint colors work...so I'd suggest trying with non-metallic colors. Are you mixing the paints in the same ratio's that I'm mixing them in? Also, are you swiping black over the colors first before adding the silicone, swiping black over the colorful paint helps the colorful paint to pop through once you add the silicone. Let me know a bit more, then hopefully we can figure out why its not working.

[@donnathompson2633]

How are your paints mixed?

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

You can find the paint mixtures and ratios listed in the video description box.

[@lindalourens5731]

Yours accents sounds like you're from Zimbabwe or South Africa.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Well spotted - I’m from South Africa 😊. Are you also from Zim or SA?

[@lindalourens5731]

@@dcfluidacrylics6633 both actually. I was born and raised in Zim and then lived in SA for many years and now I'm in the Czech Republic. Your accent made a nice change to American accent which seems to flood KZbin. I love your video and am actually busy with a cameleon project at the moment. Please keep creating and sharing. Thanks.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

@@lindalourens5731 Oh wow, very cool. Hope you’re enjoying the Czech Republic. Hope your chameleon project turns out well!

[@jackiejackson935]

I am.going.to try a wave

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Great idea. Enjoy!

[@normanbaker3686]

It didn't work.

[@dcfluidacrylics6633]

Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that! One of my other viewers also had difficulty…in her case her paints were a thinner consistency than mine which seemed to be the reason hers didn’t work…

[@yomnazidan1515]

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