Painting Outside the Lines

Tue, 09/24/2019 - 8:21pm — Hannah Vanover

Margaret Gorman is the perfect example of why it is never too late to take up a new hobby.

While Gorman has always had a passion for art and specifically painting, she did not know anything about fluid art until about six months ago. After experiencing multiple strokes and health issues recently, Gorman found it difficult to paint with steady hands and decided to take up a different kind of painting – one in which requires a little less discipline and more freedom.

“I don’t have to paint straight lines. I can do whatever I want,” Gorman said.

Gorman studied the art of fluid painting by watching others and learning the best way to create the artwork. Gorman has fallen in love with her new style of painting and said that sometimes she can create as many as five paintings a day.

Gorman said she hands many of her paintings up in her home and her family jokes that one day, they will have to turn her art into wallpaper.

Fluid art, also known as liquid art or “paint pouring” is an abstract form of art that can be achieved by mixing water with acrylic paints to create a runny consistency and spreading it across the canvas however the artists pleases. This can be done in different forms including pouring, dripping, swirling, glazing, dipping and many other effects. Gorman has been able to create multiple unique looks with different colors, textures and ‘feelings’ for each piece. Along with canvas, her work also consists of tables and displays that she has used her technique on.

“It gets messy…I get it all over me most of the time,” Gorman said.

Gorman held a meet a greet with her artwork on display for the first time at the Butler County Art guild on Saturday, Sept. 7 during the chalk festival. The guild is currently still hosting her paintings as part of their exhibit and will remain on display for the remainder of the month.

The Art Guild also hosted a painting night at the Butler County Extension Office on Thursday, Sept. 19. Members of the community came out to learn how to create their own fluid art and a new record was set with 34 paintings created in one night.