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Watercolor galaxies are all the rage right now on Instagram. You can easily paint your own once you know how.
Steps
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1Tape the edges of your watercolor paper to a flat surface. Taping the edges of your paper will prevent the paper from warping or wrinkling, providing a smooth flat painting.
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2Wet the entire page with a light wash of clean water. This will prepare the paper to soak up the paint and allow the colors to blend together.Advertisement
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Apply your desired paint colors to the page. For this example, you will be using shades of pinks, purples, and blues to obtain the "traditional" galaxy look. You can make any color combinations you'd like, though.
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Add both light and dark splotches of paint across the paper. Be sure to fill the entire page with color, this is only the first layer so don't be afraid to go a little crazy. Let this layer dry fully.
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5Begin adding more splotches of paint across the page creating more depth with each paint stroke. There is no correct drying time, use the back of your hand to lightly touch the painting to see if it is dry. If you are unsure if you are doing it the "correct" way, you can always reference back to a photo. There is no real correct way of creating a watercolor galaxy; it is all about having fun.
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6Continue adding colors until you have painted your desired galaxy look. If you think your painting is too light, add accent points of deep dark colors like a violet or indigo. If you think your painting is too dark, simply take a clean wet paintbrush and go over the darker colors and use a swiping motion to lift away the colors.
- Let your painting dry fully before continuing.
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Grab your white acrylic paint, your toothbrush or stiff paintbrush, and your plastic cup. Your painting must be completely dry before adding the stars; if not, the acrylic paint will bleed into the watercolor paint creating unappealing streaks.
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Mix a small amount of white acrylic paint with an even smaller amount of water. You want the consistency to be liquified but not too watery. If you think your paint is too liquidy, you can add more acrylic paint until the consistency is correct.
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Take your toothbrush or stiff paint brush and lightly dab it into the acrylic paint and water mixture, do not submerge the entire brush. If using a toothbrush, drag your thumb across the bristles of the toothbrush above your painting, flicking the paint onto the paper. If you are using a paintbrush, tap the paintbrush on your index finger above your painting to splatter the paint.
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4Let the painting dry completely until adding more if necessary.
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1Add extra detail as desired. Take your white gel pen and add accent stars throughout your painting to add to the ambiance.
- Let the painting dry again before continuing.
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2Peel off the blue painters tape carefully and slowly.
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3Enjoy your work of art. You are free to enjoy or display your painting any way you'd like!
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat's a good paintbrush for beginners?Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago.It's best to start with a round watercolor brush, preferably a size six. Size six offers versatility, being neither too small nor too big, which makes it suitable for beginners. You can also consider purchasing a set of brushes that includes a variety of sizes, which can be beneficial as it provides you with more options for different painting needs as you advance your skills. When shopping for brushes, you can visit stores like Michael's, as they offer a wide range of brands and options. One brand that I highly recommend for beginners is the Princeton Heritage brushes because they are known for their quality and come in various price ranges that fit different budgets.
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QuestionIf I do not have watercolors or watercolor paper, what else can I use for this?Renee GrattonCommunity AnswerYou can use acrylic paint. If you'd like to get that watercolor look, you can blend the acrylic paint with a little bit of water.
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QuestionWhat if I have no acrylic paint? How do I do the stars?Community AnswerYou could use white watercolor and repeat the flashing to make the stars. Also, acrylic paints are not expensive, so get your parents to buy some for you.
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Tips
- Wet the paint colors you are going to use before you start painting to allow the paint and water to mix and provide you the best color.Thanks
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Warnings
- Wait until the painting is completely dry before adding the acrylic paint stars.Thanks
- While watercolor paint is water soluble, it's best to paint on a surface that you don't mind getting messy. That applies to the clothes you will be wearing for this tutorial.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- A reference photo (optional)
- Watercolor paints (any beginners set will be just fine)
- Watercolor paper
- Brushes of your choosing
- Blue painters tape
- White acrylic paint
- A toothbrush or a stiff paintbrush
- A white gel pen (optional)
- A plastic cup
- A cup of water
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about watercolor painting, check out our in-depth interview with Swetha Shenoy .
About This Article
Article Summary
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With a variety of colors and a couple of different brushes, you can paint your own watercolor galaxy. First, tape the edges of your paper to a surface to prevent it from warping or wrinkling from the paint. Dip a large brush in water and wet the whole page to soak up the paint and help the colors blend together. Then, cover the page with background colors, like various shades of pink, purple, and blue. Try to achieve a good mix of dark and light colors for a realistic galaxy. Once you’re happy with your background, use a small paintbrush or toothbrush to flick white paint onto the paper for stars. Drag your finger across the bristles of your toothbrush or tap a paintbrush on your finger just above the painting to get the right effect. For more tips, including how to add larger stars to your galaxy, read on!
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