Identifying Figurative Language: Simile

Read the following excerpt from a contemporary poem:

"The evening sky poured its colors like a painter's hand,

As the stars began to whisper secrets of the night."

In this excerpt, the poet employs figurative language to enhance the imagery and emotional resonance of the scene. Which of the following options identifies the primary type of figurative language used in the phrase "poured its colors like a painter's hand"?