Brian Middleton came to art later in life. Over the last 10 years he has become an accomplished amateur potter, and for the last six years he has been perfecting his skills as a fluid artist. Fluid acrylics are the perfect medium for him, expressing his appreciation for the “predictable randomness” of pottery glazes and his adventurous spirit in combining colors in ways that sometimes fly in the face of traditional art. “I tell my students, ‘We can influence the outcome of our paintings, but we cannot determine the result.’ Every painting is like unwrapping a Christmas or birthday present – always something of a surprise!” Brian uses artist-quality acrylic paints thinned with commercial mediums and water to various consistencies, depending on the technique to be used. The paints are poured directly onto the canvas and then manipulated using forced air, swiping tools, or by tilting the canvas to achieve the desired composition. Brian enjoys trying out new recipes and techniques. He works on canvases from 6″ x 6″ to 24″ x 36″ and plans to use larger canvases soon!
