Just about everyone has heard about the fun modern technique of paint pouring, and if you’ve seen examples of it, you’ve probably been quite surprised and delighted by it. This month, the Tualatin Library welcomes you to enjoy a new art exhibition that will run through the summer with the work of Tualatin artist Doreen Knoll who creates dazzling paintings using paint-pouring methods.
In case you haven’t heard about it, acrylic pour painting is also known as “fluid art” and “flow art.” It is a mesmerizing form of abstract art that involves pouring and manipulating layers of vibrant acrylic paint onto a canvas or other surface. The paint is often mixed with pouring medium or other additives to create unique textures and patterns as it flows and blends together. Cells form, which become the details within the larger composition.
What makes acrylic pour painting so captivating is the unpredictability of the results. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, as the colors and shapes evolve and interact in fascinating ways. The process itself is also therapeutic and meditative, as the artist must surrender control and let the paint take its own path.
What Doreen loves about this technique is the opportunity to fully engage with color and the manipulation of design elements each work-in-progress presents.
People enjoy creating art using this technique for many reasons. For some, it is a way to express themselves and explore their creativity without the constraints of traditional painting techniques. Doreen appreciates “the freedom and playfulness that comes with pouring and mixing colors in unexpected ways and simply finding joy in the beauty and uniqueness of each finished piece.”
Doreen is a retired elementary school teacher who served as a ten-year docent at the Portland Art Museum. She loves to travel and has visited museums around the world. While working in public schools and after, she has enjoyed bringing her passion for art and creativity into the classroom. She has also displayed her work in numerous venues, including Tualatin’s ArtSplash, Viva Tualatin, the Mountain Park Marketplace, and the Blossom Festival in Parkdale.
If you live in Doreen’s neighborhood, you’ve probably seen her at work in her garage studio in the summers when the weather is good, the optimal time to work on this sometimes-messy process. Doreen mixes her own paints and begins with primary colors.
Acrylic pour painting is a captivating and accessible form of art that allows for endless experimentation and expression. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a beginner looking for a new hobby, this technique offers a world of possibilities and endless inspiration. If you see the beautiful results Doreen achieves with a trip to the Living Room Gallery at the library, you will likely be motivated to try it yourself.
This program is sponsored in part by the Tualatin Arts Advisory Committee. If you would like to learn more about this program, contact Angela Wrahtz at angela.wrahtz@comcast.net. If you are interested in acquiring any of the paintings in the show, please contact the artist directly at dorjknoll.23@gmail.com.
Meet the Artist
Please come to the Library for a “Meet the Artist” reception on Thursday, May 18th from 5-7 pm and learn more about Doreen, her art, and the fun process of creating it.
