The Paintings and how they Evolve
The success of each fluid painting depends on many factors: the different mediums used and how they inter-act with each other, together with lighting, temperature control and air currents. Even simple dust particles play a part in the success or failure of a painting.
Some fluid paintings may take 24 hrs or more to develop while others might happen instantly; therefore Chris has to constantly monitor the events taking place. Sometimes nothing will happen for hours and then suddenly it will all come together. Patience plays a large part in the process, and as it is a naturally occurring event, Chris can't hurry the process up or even slow it down if it is happening too fast.
Some of the fluid paintings have a life-time of 30 seconds or less so it is impossible to reproduce a picture exactly, even if Chris uses all the same ingredients and techniques that he used in an earlier painting. Some paintings have been the result of chance, and following the first occurrence, it has sometimes been several years before being able to get anywhere near it again!

How do the paintings Move?
The liquids and the mediums develop in a combination of ways: many of the mediums just move naturally when they come into contact with each other and a variety of techniques such as gravity feeds, chemical reactions, and convection also provide the engine to the paintings.

Capturing the Fluid Painting
Timing is crucial: the precise moment at which Chris decides to capture the moving painting, using photography, is vital, as the ‘right moment’ can pass in a millisecond.
The special optics and lighting systems used to photograph these unique moving paintings have been developed by Chris and his Father, Peter Parks, the Academy Award and Oscar winning film photographer. As well as modern optics, Chris also uses parts from as far back as Victorian times and the Golden age of microscopy.
Once photographed, the paintings are then printed on to archival paper and are either mounted on to aluminum and sealed with Diasec, or they are mounted and framed in a contemporary style.