By CraftingStepByStepPublished
Based on a video by Wild Creates.
Galaxies look hard to paint. They really are not. In this tutorial from Wild Creates, guest artist Tally of TallyWho Art shows you how to build a glowing nebula on a plain black canvas using nothing but a few colors and some easy brushwork.
You work in layers. Dab on your colors, blend them soft, highlight the center with white, then flick on a whole field of stars. No two nebulas ever come out the same, so there is no wrong way to do it.
Grab your acrylics and a canvas. By the end you will have your own galaxy hanging on the wall.
Start with a solid black canvas. Cover the whole front and the sides with black acrylic or black gesso so no white shows through. This dark base is what makes the colors glow later. Let it dry all the way before you touch it again. If you rush this part, the wet black will mix into your first colors and mud them up.
Tip
Two thin coats dry faster and cover better than one thick one.
Now the fun starts. Dab dots of purple, red, and white across the black in a rough diagonal. Put them down in any order you like. There is no plan here. When you get to the white, keep most of it around the outer edges of the other colors. That white on the outside is what shapes your nebula and helps it stand out once you start blending.
Switch to a smaller brush so you have more control. Blend the dabs with tiny circular stipple strokes and little X strokes. Push and pull the color from one corner of the canvas toward the opposite corner. Do not over-blend. You want soft edges and a bit of texture, not a flat smear. This loose blending is already starting to form the body of your nebula.
Tip
Keep a dry brush handy to soften any spot that gets too muddy.
Grab a filbert brush and some white paint. Add bright highlights right in the center of the nebula, where the light seems to come from. Think about painting the tops of fluffy clouds. That mental picture helps you build the crown and C shapes that give a nebula its glow. Leave a strong core of white in the middle and do not blend it all away.
Go back in and add more purple, red, and white to fill and shape the body. Then mix a little black into some purple and tuck that dark color right next to your white highlights. Blend it gently. That contrast between light and dark is what makes the nebula pop off the canvas. If any outer streaks bug you, just paint over them with black to clean up the edges.
Tip
Build up slowly. It is easier to add another layer than to fix an overdone one.
Time for stars. Thin some white paint with a little water until it flows nicely. Dip a fan brush in it, then drag your finger across the bristles to flick tiny specks of paint over the canvas. You get a natural spray of stars this way. Work across the whole painting, and add a few extra flicks near the bright center for a dense cluster.
Tip
Test your flick on scrap paper first so the dots are not too big.
To take it up a level, paint a few shining stars. Load a dagger or angle-shader brush with that same white mix and paint small lowercase t shapes, then softly blend over each one with a clean brush. Add one or two, or as many as you want. It is your galaxy. Step back and look. That glowing purple nebula with its field of stars is all yours now.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links - clicking them and buying doesn't change your price, but helps support ShowMeStepByStep.
Did this work for you?
Curated theme pages that include this tutorial.
Hand-picked next reads based on the one you just finished.
Pick the categories you want to hear about. Weekly digest of new step-by-step tutorials. No spam, easy unsubscribe.
Send me tutorials about
