DIY Acrylic Paint Pour Wall Art with Four Colors | Easy Fluid Art Tutorial

There’s something almost magical about acrylic pouring—the way colors blend, swirl, and flow across a canvas in patterns you could never quite replicate twice. It’s satisfying, relaxing, and surprisingly beginner-friendly. You don’t need to be an artist to create something beautiful—you just need a few paints, a canvas, and a little willingness to experiment.

In this project, I challenged myself to use only four colors. What shocked me was how these colors, when poured together using the dirty pour method, transformed into something far more complex and mesmerizing than I had expected. The end result looked like a Galaxy Storm, with lots of movement and depth that make it perfect for a bold DIY wall art piece.

If you’ve ever wanted to try acrylic pouring or are looking for an easy, affordable way to create custom wall art (or shelf art), this tutorial is for you.

Let’s dive into what you’ll need, how to set up, and the step-by-step process to recreate this stunning look. Feel free to watch the video tutorial below to see the project in action.

Materials You’ll Need

To create your acrylic dirty pour wall art, gather these supplies:

• 4 acrylic paint colors of your choice

• Pouring medium (helps the paint flow smoothly without cracking)

• Silicone oil (optional, creates cool “cells” in the paint)

• Canvas (size of your choice; I used 16x20)

• Plastic cups (for mixing each paint color)

• Craft sticks (for stirring)

• Water (to thin paint slightly if needed)

• Silicone Mat (to protect your workspace)

• Gloves & apron (paint pouring gets messy!)

• Push pins or small cups (to elevate the canvas off the surface while drying)

• Torch or heat gun (optional)

Step 1: Choose Your Colors

The magic of this project lies in how just four colors can create endless variations. You can choose any combination, but here are some palettes that work well:

• Galaxy Storm (my pick): teal, copper, magenta, white

• Ocean Waves: Turquoise, cobalt blue, silver, white

• Earthy Neutrals: Burnt umber, beige, copper, ivory

• Bright Pop: Yellow, teal, coral, black

Try mixing light and dark shades, plus one metallic if you want shimmer. This creates contrast and depth once the paints start to flow together.

Step 2: Prepare the Paints

Each paint color needs to be mixed separately before they go into the same cup.

1. In four separate plastic cups, squeeze in about ½ cup of each acrylic paint.

2. Add an equal amount of pouring medium to each cup (ratio is usually 1:1, but check your pouring medium instructions).

3. Stir thoroughly with craft sticks until smooth.

4. Add a few drops of silicone oil to one or two of the colors if you want cell effects (optional).

5. If the mixture feels too thick, add a splash of water and stir until it pours like warm honey.

Step 3: Layer the Dirty Pour Cup

Now comes the fun part: combining your colors into one “dirty pour” cup.

1. Take a clean large cup.

2. Pour each color into the cup one at a time, letting the paint slide down the side of the cup to avoid too much mixing.

3. Alternate the order so your colors layer on top of each other—e.g., navy, then white, then magenta, then gold. Repeat until all paint is used.

4. Don’t stir the cup. The beauty is in how the layers will mix as you pour.

Step 4: Pour in a Circular Motion

With your canvas elevated and workspace protected:

1. Hold the dirty pour cup over the center of the canvas.

2. Begin pouring slowly while moving your hand in a circular motion.

3. The paint will flow outward, creating spirals, swirls, and rings of color.

4. Keep rotating your pour until the cup is empty.

At this stage, you’ll already start to see the colors transforming in unexpected ways—it’s mesmerizing!

Step 5: Tilt the Canvas

Once the paint is on the canvas, it’s time to stretch it:

1. Gently lift and tilt the canvas in different directions.

2. Let the paint flow toward the edges, covering the surface completely.

3. Don’t rush—watch how the colors move and stop when you like the composition.

Pro Tip: If too much paint flows off one side, add a bit more from your cup and continue tilting until balanced.

Step 6: Create Finishing Touches

Here’s where you can customize your pour:

• Torch or heat gun: Wave it lightly over the canvas to pop bubbles and bring out cells.

• Drag a stick: Swirl gently through the paint to create soft ribbons.

• Leave it alone: Sometimes the most stunning results come from letting the paint do its thing.

Step 7: Dry and Seal

Drying is critical for a successful acrylic pour:

• Let the canvas dry flat and undisturbed for 24–48 hours.

• Avoid touching or moving it during this time.

• Once dry, spray or brush on a clear gloss varnish to seal and protect your artwork.

Why This Technique Works

Using only four colors forces you to simplify your palette, but the dirty pour method makes the outcome look much more complex. The colors naturally blend, overlap, and form cells, creating a piece of wall art that feels alive and full of motion.

The circular pouring motion adds to this by creating a spiral effect—perfect for dramatic, galaxy-like artwork.

Tips for Success

• Test on a smaller canvas first if you’re new to paint pouring.

• Choose complementary colors so they don’t muddy together.

• Work quickly once the paint is poured—acrylics can dry fast.

• Embrace imperfections—that’s the beauty of fluid art!

Variations to Try

Want to experiment further? Here are some ideas:

• Flip Cup: Instead of pouring, place the dirty pour cup upside down on the canvas, then lift it for a dramatic burst.

• Ring Pour: Pour slowly from higher up in a steady stream for concentric rings.

• Split Pour: Divide your paint into two cups and pour from both sides of the canvas.

• Add Glitter or Metallic Leaf: Sprinkle lightly for sparkle.

Why DIY Wall Art Matters

One of the best parts of DIY projects like this is how affordable and customizable they are. For under $40, you can create a piece of art that looks like it belongs in a gallery. And unlike store-bought wall decor, your piece is one of a kind.

DIY wall art is also a form of self-expression. It’s less about perfection and more about embracing the flow—literally. Watching the paints swirl together is as therapeutic as the finished product is beautiful.

I was shocked at how stunning the results were using just four colors. What started as a simple experiment turned into a bold, dynamic piece of wall art that feels dramatic yet effortless.

If you’re new to acrylic pouring, this is the perfect project to start with. It’s beginner-friendly, budget-conscious, and endlessly satisfying.

👉 Be sure to check out my YouTube video tutorial where I show the entire process in real-time—it’s both relaxing to watch and helpful if you’re planning to try this yourself.

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