Choosing an Acrylic Pour Color Palette - Acrylic Pour Color Wheel 

You're the first person I have heard say "complimentary colors will cause mud." I have been making these mistakes all the time, & yes wonder why my paintings would come out gross. Your explanation is clear, concise, easy to understand the theory process. Thank you.

WOW! I have been struggling with understanding the colour wheel and combining colours. Your explanation is the first I have understood completely. Indeed, all of your videos are extremely precise and definitive. You should get a an Oscar-type award in recognition. I am truly thankful for your efforts and generosity in making these videos.

This is fun. Been an IT-Pro for 40 years and I like the way you're talking about things. Knowing what you're doing is the most essential thing! Though I started painting in '87 with oil, very much nature like. Then later it became acrylic, and I love to paint "as a painter" too. But the pouring stuff looks so nice, and I love the way you talk about colours... Rule 1 for a painter is when you mix paint, you start with the light colour and very slowly add the darker colour. Otherwise you'll end up like the orange and the green. Really, this made my day!

I have learned that complimentary colours can be useful. My colour tip - I was trying to make burgundy because it is a favourite colour of mine. I mixed dioxizine purple with a scarlet red but it just became a darker violet no matter how I did the ratios. So, with a little research I found a suggestion to add green. So I was finally successful by mixing 2 parts purple and 1.5 parts red followed by drizzling in phthalo green until I reached my desired colour. Hence a good use of mixing secondary colours.

I LOVE that swatching/testing idea with the paints!!!! I've not done a paint pour yet (still working to quiet the "It's gotta be perfect" voice) and already I can see this one tip alone can save lots of heartache!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!

Great video! I've been an artist all my life and have taught a lot of classes. What I generally tell students without any color theory experience is this. (Please know I started pouring LONG before cells were a thing. That is new to me and I'm having to work with that a bit) Color theory is a whole thing and takes several semesters as an art major in structured classes. However, it's easier than that. Just trust your eyes. If the colors together look good to your eye, then use them. HOWEVER, when in doubt, split them with either white or black. You'll still get some color mixing, but in the case of pouring, the ugly colors should be minimal. (again cells mix differently, thus the next bits) When in doubt if the colors will actually mix well, use a tiny bit of each and mix them together. The color will be pleasing or disgusting. Your eye will see it immediately. Then keep a log of what colors NOT to use together. The other thing I teach is to pay attention to "warm" and "cold". For instance, on the color wheel, you will ignore the red. Anything mixed with yellow (or something that looks sunny, like yellow orange or yellow green) is "warm". Anything mixed with blue (such as violet red or dusky pinks/purples, or blue-green) is "cool". In general, when they are up against each other, warm colors can clash with cool ones and when they mix, you get an ugly grey-brown no one wants to look at. Again, you can use both, but split with black or white so they stay away from each other. This is harder to do when you're creating cells, so watch that. For cells, keep with either warm or cool. You can get warm and cool in every color. Another thing I teach is tone. This means dark to light. By adding white incrementally, you can, for instance (my favorite) is add white to a Pthalo blue or Pthalo green to create mint colors. Pthalo blue has some green and Pthalo green has some blue. As you add white, the colors go from dark green-blue through turquoise to pale wintergreen in the case of Pthalo Green. For Pthalo blue, they go from a deep blue-green through teal to a pale mint blue. Next is adding black and white to darken or lighten colors. White is easy. Black, not so much. Titanium white is without warm or cool ... but there are dozens of whites that all look white and skew to warm or cool, so stick with Titanium for mixing. Don't believe it? Go to a paint store or home center and get the "white" sample book. Depending on the brand of paint, they can have two different base colors to mix with, so if you want pure white (Titanium), pick the cool base. Adding black means adding just a TINY amount. Black tends to be overwhelming. I would never add black (even a yellow black ... yes, there are different tones of "black") to a warm color unless I KNOW it's a warm black (and that takes a lot of color theory to know, but I've told the secret below). It's just going to make a nasty "almost" color. Same for the opposite. There are other dark colors you can add (like burnt umber to warm colors) that will darken warm better, or perhaps a navy to cool colors. Cool colors are more difficult. Rule of thumb, Lamp black is cool. Mars black is warm. The last thing I teach? Let any mixture dry until you make a decision. Some colors deepen upon drying and you really never know what the end result will be until it's DRY. For instance, Alizarin Crimson is one of my favorite cool, deep reds. When wet, it looks dark pink. When it's dry, it's a beautiful blood red, which is on the blue scale. Thus, the three staples are Titanium white, Lamp black for cool colors, and Mars black for warm colors. Anything on the yellow side is warm. Anything on the blue side is cool. Use the correct black in VERY small increments to darken (or another color if you know which to use), or Titanium white to lighten (also in small increments to get the right color), and you're eye will tell you if you're wrong once it's DRY. Stay warm or cool unless you split with black or white, and you won't go wrong with cell mixing. Every color goes together in nature. Just look at a wildflower meadow. Difficult? Nope, as long as you understand "warm" and "cool". Everything else is by eye.

Him: “nobody wants this!” Me: “wait, I kinda like that. [Or this] Oh, that one is cool. The mud makes the colors pop, like apathy that found emotion. [Or this] Oh wow, I really like the contrast on that neon swipe, dim to vibrant.” Hah! It really goes to show that EVERYONE has “trash” paintings that someone will love. But yes, understanding colors helps a lot, thank you! 😄

Honestly this is the first video that help me understand the color wheel thank you very much I just asked other people to pick my colors for me before. Not very convenient.

My aha moment was the testing the colors before. Great tip!!!!

I don’t often comment on videos even though I watch a lot. This video is awesome as it explains even to the most novice painter. I have painted for years and have made a lot of mistakes and ruined a lot of paintings before I figured this out. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this.

It's so funny! This morning I was preparing paint for tomorrow. While mixing PM and acrylic paint I suddenly became aware of that my paints had different opacities and number of stars (on the tubes). As I am a newbie in acrylic pouring I couldn't get a grip of what impact those different opacities (and numbers of stars) would have on my pourings. I was so sorry and didn't know where to find that information. And a couple of minutes later there was this notification from RU-vid.. Where you explained just that! What can I say more than Thank's a lot 🙏 Cecilia from Sweden

That makes so much sense! I was a hairstylist for 16 years. And when helping correct a color a customer had, we looked to the opposite end of the color wheel. So ash blonde with too much green for example, we'd use an orange based blonde to neutralize the color and vice versa. Same thing with skin color. Red blotchy skin needs a green based foundation. I love RU-vid. I spent a year learning wire wrapping and weaving and now I'm learning this. I keep saying, I should pick up plumbing or something. Lol.

Those first two pictures were really pretty

I’m just starting pouring, and part of me just wants to play and part of me wants to go about this analytically. So, I’ve watched this twice and tomorrow I’ll play!

My tip is to watch you. And a few others. The best talent is on yt. And many of them do so much more than pour paint. There are some 'not so good ones' but they can be forgiven if they admit their inexperience, because this is all about the journey of learning to get there. And its a lot of fun watching you.

I never would have thought color wheel opposites would muddy! In interior design it's key to mix them! Thank you!

Well Mister Brain, ya done it again. Thank you for helping me out of a confusing mess. And I do mean MESS! I scraped off another canvas today . Now tomorrow will begin my REAL paint pouring. (third time I said that).

Thank you so much!! I am new to art (I was a programmer/analyst in my old life) and this is the first time I am really starting to understand color! You are so clear in explaining things … thank you so much!!

Thank you! At 80 y. O. I've learned something new. I have a color wheel but feel that I now know how to use it for paint pour. Your video is very good but a bit fast for me. No problem I will watch it again and again until I have my aha moment. It will happen. You're a good teacher! Carrie L.

You are. A good teacher and a better motivator.

OMG, you're so funny. Great video and thank you so much for saving us frustration! I really liked your 'ugly' one the best.

That tip about mixing small amounts of the colors was great! I can't believe I never thought to do a test spot... Thanks

This guy is my new guru

You are a Man of Honor. Thank you

thank you so much for explaining this in a way that i understand it... i've seen 1000 color wheels and everyone talking about secondary and tertiary colors and i had no idea what they were and at that point the rest of their videos just go in one ear and out of the other because i'm lost... but you're the first person who didn't do that or make me feel stupid... i appreciate that so now i'm gonna go try it out lol thanks again

This was great. I am autistic painter and only self-taught, because social language is too painful to endure classes. But I wanted to explore pouring and my first came out... mud. This at least gives me some guidelines to make it less likely I will waste a lot of time and money in developing my technique. I don't mind experimentation, but I don't have endless resources. This gives me a practical "middle road." Thanks for a simple, clear video.

OMG Ah Ha moment. Theory. Totally get the weight thing now. Using the color wheel to mix brought it around for me. The Tint strength, and Pigment weight from previous video. Thank you sooooo much

OMG dogging on yourself about your clothes in the beginning XD XD hilarious. Love the humility NO one is perfect. Shine

Great tutorial. You explanations are simple to understand( my brain at age 70 is not sure if it's right, left or dormant). I greatly appreciate your teaching. God Bless

Its good that you explain what youve learned in layman's terms, not bombarded with too much information.

This makes sense. This explains why all my paintings are so dark. Thank you.

Didn’t even think of the semi opaque and opaque colors.. that will help a lot!

I'm glad I watched this

You are hilarious. I laugh during your presentation. 10 out of 10. My A-ha moment was when you began blending the primary colours on the plastic. Thankyou 🙂

Thank you for your presentation on the color wheel. Have such a hard time matching colors.

Thanks so much again for taking the time out . 💜💜💜💜

THANK YOU SO MUCH !! I have been wondering, since watching acrylic pours, Why no one uses 'opposite' colors (I'm brand new to acrylic pouring, don't even have all supplies yet). I kept yelling (lol) 'why not try these colors' & such). This video is going to save me a bunch of $. And as many videos as I watch, I haven't seen any on color mixing 🤔. Very nice & thank you again !!!!!! 💞

Well that’s a whole darn thing so far is been an aha lightbulb moment for me and we’re just at the first break where you asked our opinion. I’m really digging this

My ‘Aaha moment’?… THE WHOLE VIDEO❣️ thank you soooo much for sharing your knowledge so simply and thoroughly 🙏 I’m brand new to this and want to do a Dutch pour for my sons indoor/outdoor shower and toilet.. and the inspiration I have gleaned from your videos is priceless 🙏 Thank you thank you🙏. I didn’t even know the tubes have ‘opaque and semi’ on them😅 let alone the colour wheel which makes so much sense🙏

I knew about the tinting strength, though not in such words, but I hadn't realized yet what an effect opacity had!

You are a master of instruction! It’s the detailed information that makes all the difference. Thank you.

Vielen Dank für deine super Erklärung 🙏. Auch dieses Video war für mich sehr hilfreich!!! Ich besorge mir ein Color Wheel 👍👍👍. Das spart Geld 💶 und Zeit 🕛. Nochmals lieben Dank 🙏. Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland 🇩🇪

You are 100% the reason I was just able to put my own palette together for a BEAUTIFUL piece with ZERO muddiness. I’m so excited. Thank you!!

I've been trying to just pour without checking. Thanks for taking your time to explain theory

This is my biggest problem is that it gets muddy. So thank you for your help. I am really learning a lot from you. I am great full. I will definitely will get it soon😉

Really good video I have been painting for 40 years and this is one of the best explanations I’ve seen

Yep, I've made plenty of mud! I thank you for this tutorial on color theory. You have a great, orderly, easy-to-follow teaching style. Very helpful!

I would tell them to watch your videos!!😊

I also did a lot of research on colour theory before I started. I hadn't been paying much attention to tinting strength so I appreciated that discussion in your video. And the suggestion to try mixing each of the colours together before pouring is a good one. I will try that. I learned early to separate my colours with white because I love green and purple together 😊.

I'm speechless to know how to compliment you enough! I have never learned so much from any other artist. Thank you for sharing, addressing the issues no one mentions. Thank you

OMG!!! You are the best!! I’ve come to you to learn everything about paint pouring. You share aooo much knowledge what a GREAT teacher you are!! Thank you for all your time, knowledg and your wonderful videos!! i’m horrendously bad at math but I went thru your video about how to figure out how much paint to use and I finally am able to use your formula. Also thanks for the calculator you have on your website (I think it’s there). Instead of my math challenged mind I can plug the numbers in and get the amounts. This video about opacity and tints was so great, I again learned sooo much!!! So many thank yous!!!

The art of art. The song my name is mud pops into my head & then I hear Bob Ross saying happy mistakes are a part of life ,balance is key in a world of chaos & there can be no mistakes…..till the primus song comes back on. Thank you for your priceless advice 💯

I really like how you explained the levels of colors from primary to secondary etc because you're demonstration showed the variation that you can get depending on the amount of paint that you add and your explanation about the strength of pigment and everything else it all helps me understand how to use my paint better so that I don't get off colors that I don't like I really appreciate all of the experimentation and learning that you share with us

I like all of the tips, but the last one was the best for me.

Totally 💯 was not taking into account tinting strength and opacity etc but was aware of the basics of colour theory but I have now ordered a colour wheel too

I did a dirty pour with black/cream/bronze/gold and suprisingly got a picture that looked exactly like marble...so pleased with that one

Ummm LOVED the green one you held up at the beginning lol.

Oh my gosh! So glad I saw this before I started. I never would have guessed complimentary colors would muddy each other out like that!

OMG. I learned so much. Now I know why I get mud and will need to learn color theory. Thank you so much.

This makes sense, thank you. I have gotten colors that I didn't want bc I was mixing opposing primary colors. Now I better understand how they mix.

Very informative once again. So glad you are left-brained. 😊

Thank you ...I was getting ready to give up pouring but then I found your videos I need a color wheel and study it and practice like you just showed us Thank 😊 🙏

Okay, so this video is 1 year old for Me. And as usual you are EXTREMELY helpful for me. You just fixed my ADHD !!! Ty...;) I really need a colour wheel!!! I'm sharing!!!...;)

Thank you so much for these tips it will help me so much. I love the tip about mixing the paint beforehand that way I can visually see n know what will turn out or not turn out. So again thanks you have made the most sense to me out of all the other videos I've seen on color theory it just clicked for me.

Thank you so much for explaining things so clearly

Omg! Took me awhile to figure out how to leave comment. I started paint pouring when I lost my job in April. I've done about 100. Only about 25 are okay. I've also watched 1000's of videos. YOU ARE THE BEST. In explaining, colors that don't like each other, etc. Thing is, all the little and big questions I have you have answers for. Have not tried them, but will send pic of my first that I love. Thank you for all your hard work! If I had the money i would buy you a bottle of paint (instead of beer although you seem like a wine lover) Thanks again. Going to try some of what I learned from you tomorrow. Weather good or bad I will send a pic. Cynn595

I can’t thank you enough for breaking the color wheel down in its simplest form. I’m so glad my search brought me to you. Your videos saved me the frustration a $$$$😊

Ooh my I never heard about the opacity and transparency of the paints! I just bought what looked nice and that was it. Thanks !

00:53 I love that one. it reminds me of a rust/ industrial environment.

I know I have come late to this video but I still just wanted to leave a thank you for all the knowledge I have a gleaned I really feel I have learnt so much. You graciously said to watch other RU-vidrs however I have seen some of there videos and yours are the ones that make most sense to me-I believe you have saved me a lot of wasted paint and frustration as I am just starting my journey with fluid art - thank you so much and a new subscriber here - much love Southampton, England X

This is kinda funny to me. I was just talking to my husband about this. He said look up color theory.. I watched one last night but was still kinda confused. Then I see you made a video and I know you think like me. lol And sure enough you helped me again. Thanks so much! 🤣

It’s a running family joke that I’m about 80-90% left brain so I’m not surprised you’re the one to finally make this stuff make sense. To keep it simple I knew that 2 primary colours were safe but as soon as the 3rd gets involved, you risk 💩 even in secondary and tertiary colours. This gives me so much more to work with 😃

This channel is also saving peoples’ sanity. I appreciate your insights from experience. Very real! Thanks!

My first pour was pure mud! So, thank you!

I concur with Anna. I was under the impression that you wanted the colors to compliment each other. So I did that and ended up with mud!! This is a fantastic video and so very helpful. I love the Dutch pour and Blooms and would love to be able to do the whole spectrum of paint pouring. Thank you so much 😊

i saw this a few months ago. I already had my color wheel but couldn't figure it out. You helped a lot. I went To Diane Mize and some others to learn more. and watched your recommendations. Spent about 6 hours until I felt comfortable with the color wheel. Thanks so much!

I haven't had that moment yet, I still have not started painting. I am trying to get some information on it first but I am excited to start.. I want you to know that your videos are SO HELPFUL, Thank you again.

Your content is so awesome. I have been looking for something like this for about a month now as I am trying very hard to learn the inns and outs of fluid pouring. I’ve watched tons of videos but so far yours has given me the most support for trying something I want to try very much. Thank you so very very much.

Now I know why my paintings turn brown or gray is places! Thank You for all your tutorials. I am learning so much from you.

I had forgotten a lot of this. Thank you. Sometimes, the accidents of mismatching turn out stunning,

This might be my favorite video yet. I want to come over and try this.

Thank you. This is one of the most informative tutorial!

The light bulb over my head just exploded! Awesome instruction on the tints, primaries and compliment colors. Thank you very much for this video, getting a color wheel asap. Great job presenting David.👍👏👏👏👏💯

Just came across your channel! Many thanks for your clear explanations and your generosity in sharing!

LOVE this!! Thank you for sharing this intel! I'm going to watch the other vids you suggested. I always felt like the paintings from the other Fluid Artists knew a big secret that was being kept from me. Now, I feel like I am traveling down the right path to creating more successes. My successes have been flukes -- (as far as I was concerned). Big hugs and huge thanks to you!

I'm more of a scientist than artist so this makes so much sense ! Genius 😊

Your videos are always so informative. I really appreciate you taking the time to post these for us to learn from. I need to get my color wheel out from my quilting days

THANK YOU FOR BEING AWESOME!!! EXPLAINING SO EASY AND INFO THAT IS REAL. YOU ARE MY FAVORITE. PLEASE DONT CHANGE. AND GET ALL COMMERCIALIZED!!

Thanks for helping out. Your tutorials are extremely helpful!!! I’m starting new from scratch and thought any mixture of colors would turn out beautiful pours! I was getting so frustrated and then this video popped up!

Thank you so much for this tip! I definitely need that color wheel!

OMG you are amazing. I am also a techie and finally found someone who gets into the detail I want and the organization I appreciate. I think you saved my life or maybe at least my paint pouring endeavor. I was about to give up... always looks so easy but it is definitely not that easy. You are covering the tricky issues and making them understandable for me. Thank you so much! My husband, who is very techie, does not understand how you can be a bit ocd and artistic at the same time and I am sure that it is possible.

This really helped me understand after months of struggling with this...you have no idea how appreciative I am for your valuable information and you explain so well! THANK YOU so much! I was about ready to give up but now I am going to give it another go. 🤞🤞

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! ♥

I finally got it! I didn't worry about it that much in photography, but color theory can make all the difference in the world when pouring & mixing colors! Thank you, David!

Loved the practical mixing demo. Made it so easy to understand. Thank you for sharing. I love your tip on pre mixing the colors to test the combos

I hadn't thought of paint opacities. It explains how I could have done better with the painting I did this morning (my 4th one ever !). Thanks for that. And your idea of mixing the paints before in order to try them is really good. I also like your suggestions about how to use poping colours together in a painting by adding a thin layer of a paint of a compatible colour in between, or making them thicker. As in all your videos I have watched, this is very clear, practical and useful. Thanks for your work, and for your generosity in sharing it with us.

I'm still very new at pouring but I truly appreciate your videos. You make it understandable when I thought I would NEVER FIGURE OUT why I had mud!!! Thank you🙏🙏🙏

Well explained and demonstrated! I also think Dianne Mize is an EXCELLENT resource. Her Quick Tips and massive educational efforts are helpful to anyone of any level. Thanks also for the reminders about transparency vs opacity and the proportions to shoot for. That was not something I'd thought about. THUMBS UP

Yes this is helping me a lot and I'm going to appreciate watching your post so that I can catch up on some of this.just watching one of your posts yesterday I picked up three different things that I've been doing wrong so it's in it for either the long run or for the end of the paint one or the other.

In this video I learned the difference of what transparent and opaque will do in painting. That tells you how new I am.