How to paint a galaxy with watercolor | Painting tutorial

We are on the road...no turning back now! I am painting in and visiting all 50 U.S. states. A little scary but mostly exciting. On our way to Montana we stopped at Crater's of the Moon in Idaho. This is one of the best places you can go to see the night sky. It's also really fun if you like lava rocks and caves.  I hope you subscribe so you can enjoy art and learn as I go on this adventure.

I thought this would be the perfect time to show you how to paint a galaxy.  This painting is really simple and of course fun. This is one of those projects the whole family can enjoy.

In this art tutorial you can learn how to paint a galaxy using watercolors. I will help you with each step in the video below.  I hope you can learn from what I do, but feel free to be creative and make your galaxy unique. 

I used just a few art supplies for this quick and easy DIY decor. This makes the projects perfect for beginner artists. Hope you have fun being creative! 

Art Supplies You Need (I use Amazon affiliate links, by purchasing through my links you help support these video tutorials, thank you!)

• Watercolor Paints my kit comes with a small round brush (size 2)
• White acrylic paint
• Watercolor Paper
• Round brushes from this set
  
• Large Flat Brush
  
• Painters Tape
  
• Old Toothbrush
  
• Paper Towels
  
• Water
  
  

step 1 - Tape watercolor paper to a board with painters tape along all the edges. This will give your painting a nice border as well as keep the paper from warping. If you are using a paper larger than 8x10" I recommend stretching your watercolor paper by wetting the entire paper first, placing it on your board and than using watercolor tape along the edges.

step 2 - Wet your entire paper with your wide flat brush. 

step 3 - Add your first layer of watercolor, I used blue. You can darken blue with black or brown. I made sure to add more color around the edges. This is just your first layer so it won't look like much. Find a reference photo of a galaxy that will help give you an idea of the look your going for. 

step 4- Let your watercolor dry but not completely and then add the next layer. Use the colors you wish like pinks, purples, blues and whatever colors you see in your galaxy. Don't add yellows yet or you get a green...unless you want green. I add the yellow after all the blue is dry.

step 5 - keep layering colors to add dimension and depth to your painting. Let the next to last layer dry almost completely before adding the last layer. In the last layer make sure you have the contrast or darkness you desire in your night sky

step 6 - For fun I added splatters of blue and purple. Let everything dry.

step 7 - Add the yellow paint in the center of your galaxy. 

step 8 - Grab your old tooth brush and your white acrylic paint. I diluted my white paint because I use heavy body which makes it too clumpy and sticky without water. You want it to splatter, so a milk constancy is good. Dip your brush in the paint and pull the bristles back and let go over your painting. The paint should splatter making the appearance of stars. If you mess up just quickly dab the paint off with a semi-wet paper towel. Add as many stars as you wish.

step 9 - With a small round brush and again your white acrylic paint the larger stars in your galaxy. It doesn't take a lot of pressure on your brush to get a larger circle. You can add a larger star like I did in the top right by lightly adding X's for the glowing effect. 

step 10 - Once your painting is completely dry you can remove the tape. Be sure to remove it away from the paint and carefully so the paper does not tare.

You're done! Sign your work and display it proudly. You can share your art on Instagram with #createfulart and share it with me by adding @createfulart.  

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