So if you are a beginner, or even an experienced painter who has a color wheel but feel like something doesn’t click, then check out my “Color Roadmapping Formula”.
How to Avoid Muddy Colors in Acrylic Pouring
“I keep trying but each go is unsuccessful. I’m getting frustrated. I am usually just ending up with mud.” This is what a paint pouring friend said to me not too long ago as she asked for some advice on how to avoid muddy colors in acrylic pouring.
Does that sound anything like you?
Are you frustrated because nothing is looking right. or are you always scraping away?
If so, you are in luck my friend! This post will help you learn why your colors are turning into mud and find a few solutions to fix this issue for good.
What is a muddy pour?
A muddy pour is a paint pour who’s bright and vivid colors have turned dull and have a brownish, grayish, or blackish hint to them. Just a few of the colors can turn muddy-looking or you can get a piece with an overwhelming muddiness. The piece you see below is an example of a bright and colorful acrylic pour that turned muddy and vomit-looking.
5 Reasons why your acrylic pour is turning muddy
So why does an acrylic pour turn muddy?
Muddy pours are a result of 5 primary factors. choosing the wrong combination of colors, over-tilting/over-manipulating a painting, working with low quality paints, not getting the right paint consistency, and not taking into account the density of your paints.
Paint Pouring Canvas Ideas
Canvases are typically the base of choice for paint-pouring projects. They’re easily accessible and offer a perfect, symmetrical shape.
1. Oil Slick – Purple Punch
Have you ever seen an oil slick and noticed the beautiful rainbow within it? You can create this exact look with this paint-pouring idea!
An oil-slick paint pour will definitely stand out from other paint-pouring projects. The neon pinks and greens are eye-catching, especially with the dark background. To make it look like an accurate oil slick, use black or dark blue for the background color. This will make the other colors pop.
2. Beachy Vibes
If you’re a fan of the beach, trying out this paint-pouring idea is a must! It features beautiful beach-like colors we know and love, such as turquoise and baby blue. You’ll also notice some pretty swirls of pink in there. These are reminiscent of the pink sands on tropical islands like Bermuda. The entire piece looks like waves on a shoreline.
A paint-pouring project like this design can make the perfect addition to your summer decor.
3. Blue Flower Dutch Pour
This paint-pouring idea uses a technique called a Dutch pour. That’s why it looks different from most of the ideas on this list. This method uses a hairdryer to push the paint around after pouring it. The result is these cool flower petal-looking art pieces.
Beautiful shades of blue and pops of gold truly make this piece stand out. Using metallic colors in paint pours will always create some bold accents. These paints use metal effect pigments, tiny particles of aluminum, zinc, and other metals, which act as mirrors to provide a sparkling appearance.
4. Shimmering River
Here’s another sophisticated Dutch paint-pouring idea. This will require high attention to detail. But, the result will be worth it with the vibrant color and exciting design it offers.
While the artist of this idea calls it a river, it is also reminiscent of a purple pansy flower. The combination of light and dark colors offers some contrast, while the black background offers a bold, eye-catching look.
5. Contrasting Colors
Creating artwork with contrasting colors like this paint-pouring idea will make beautiful statement pieces. The idea is to use warm colors like red and orange against cool colors like blue and green. It creates a sense of separation or division on the canvas, as the shades vary greatly in vibrance and saturation.
This design almost makes it look like the colors are fighting to be on the canvas.
6. Neutrals
If you’re not the biggest fan of vibrant colors, you can always try neutral colors for your paint-pouring idea! Neutrals will make great artwork pieces to hang on your walls.
Incorporating shades of brown and gray into your paint-pouring project can make the piece look like natural marble. These colors offer a more sophisticated look but lack the dull feeling they usually give off. You can make any color cool to look at with an interesting design.
7. Ocean-Esque
This ocean-like paint-pouring idea is another one for beach lovers. If you want to focus solely on the ocean, use varying shades of blue. Be sure to add little hints of white to represent the foam forming along the shoreline.
The typical paint-pouring technique is perfect for ideas such as this. Your final result will resemble the shoreline waves you see on the beach. This is another great idea for summer decor.
8. Candy Pastels
Are you a fan of bright colors and the look of tie-dye? Try out this candy pastel paint-pouring idea for your next art project! It uses a beautiful mix of neon pastel colors within the rainbow to create a cool-looking, muted psychedelic piece. It’s the perfect color combination for an eye-catching look.
9. Metallic Accents
Metallic paint will always bring in a “wow” factor with its glittery look. Try creating this paint-pouring idea with just a few shades of blue and bright metallic gold!
The gold within this marble-looking paint-pouring project has a striking appearance. It’s reminiscent of the ocean but with a hint of sophistication. A piece like this will create a beautiful accent piece on your walls, or it can make a great gift.
Paint Pouring Home Decor Ideas
Paint pouring isn’t solely for canvases! There are plenty of other things you can use as a base.
10. Rocks
It might sound strange, but have you thought about using rocks for your next art project? This paint-pouring idea can create small artwork pieces worth displaying!
Rocks are easy to find and can make cool, beachy additions to your home decor. You can use any colors you want, but the shades of blue in this idea are indeed mesmerizing. Using the paint pouring technique on rocks will also create dimension with their natural curves.
11. Vases
Do you need an upgrade for your fresh flowers? Clear and plain vases can get boring; however, paint-pouring a vase is the perfect way to spice it up!
This paint-pouring idea uses iridescent colors and sparkly paint to give your plain vase a new life. The marbling effect is impressive! And the contrasting colors blend well rather than creating a sense of division. Using the paint-pouring technique on vases like this will make a great statement piece.
12. Coasters
Drink coasters can make an excellent base for paint-pouring projects! This paint-pouring idea focuses heavily on bright blues and white with hints of metallic gold. The swirled look is beautiful to look at, and the gold helps give it a dramatic look.
A dark blue background like this is a great choice to help those colors stand out even more. If you don’t have dark blue or don’t want to use it, black can also be an excellent choice.
13. Decorative Trays
Paint pouring on plain wooden pieces like trays is an easy and cheap way to revamp your home decor! Most trays you find in stores are rather dull. So you’ll need to take things into your own hands. Simply pick your favorite color scheme for this paint-pouring idea and try it out!
Using this technique will make your wooden tray look like a slab of marble without blowing your budget.
14. Wall Clocks
Wall clocks are another thing that can be boring to look at. You can easily liven up clocks through paint pouring with vibrant colors. This paint pouring idea uses the oil slick look with a black background and varying bright colors. It almost looks like a supernova in the middle of outer space. This idea is sure to catch people’s eyes when they want to check the time.
15. Side Tables
Are you sick of the plain side table you bought from a local furniture store? Try tailoring that boring side table to your style with paint pouring!
This paint-pouring idea uses beautiful shades of green and blue to create a bubbly moss-like look. The colors blend in well together, almost creating a type of gradient. It also displays lines of metallic paint to create a leaf pattern. You don’t need to do this, but it is an attractive feature that might be worth a try!
Materials You’ll Need for Your Newly-Found Paint Pouring Inspiration
You will need a few things for your paint-pouring project, which you can find at your local craft store!
A Base
Whether it’s a canvas or a piece of furniture, you will need a sturdy base to pour your paint on. Never use flimsy items like paper. It will rip, disintegrate, and turn into a giant mess. So, look for furniture or decor that might need revamping, or get some plain art canvas.
Paint
Pick your colors based on the paint-pouring ideas you like from this list. Most of the time, paint pouring uses acrylic paint. But you may need a different kind of paint depending on the material of your base.
Pouring Medium
Most paints are thick right out of the bottle. So, you’ll need to thin them out to make them easier to pour. You will need a pouring medium to do this. Follow the instructions on the bottle, and everything should go smoothly!
Additional Items
Some other items you will or might need include the following:
- Plastic cups to hold the paint
- Split cups to keep the colors separated
- Toothpicks if you want to swirl the pain further
- Paint brushes if you want a solid background
- A hairdryer to push the paint around
