Chloe Zhang
Painting galaxies is a mesmerising art form that can elevate any plastic model. The ethereal beauty of a galaxy is a challenging yet rewarding painting style. With acrylic paint, you can create a vibrant galaxy with a smooth, flat finish. The process involves using a sponge to apply a range of colours, from dark to light shades, to achieve a seamless blend. Black is the primary colour, with other colours like blue, purple, pink, and yellow added for a galaxy effect. Varnishing is essential for protecting the paint on plastic, and there are specific techniques for adding stars to your galaxy. Acrylic lacquer paints are ideal for hand-brushing plastic models, but a special primer is required for the paint to adhere to the plastic surface.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painting surface | Plastic models |
| Paint type | Acrylic paint |
| Paint consistency | Thick |
| Paint colours | Black, blue, purple, yellow, pink, violet, teal, green, orange, silver, white, magenta, neon pink |
| Tools | Sponge, paintbrush, toothbrush, palette knife, old credit card, cylinder (cup with bottom cut out or toilet paper tube), hairdryer with a narrowing nozzle, fan paintbrush, flat brush, round brush, white pen/marker |
| Techniques | Acrylic pouring, blending, varnishing, sanding |
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What You'll Learn
Galaxy painting supplies
Painting a galaxy with acrylics is a fun and easy project that can be done with just a few simple tools and supplies. Here is a list of the essential galaxy painting supplies you will need to create your own beautiful galaxy painting:
Paint
The most important supply you will need is acrylic paint. Choose a variety of colours, including black, white, blues, purples, pinks, and neons. You can also add in some silver and magenta for extra interest and dimension. It is recommended to limit your palette to avoid a rainbow effect, and to choose colours that gradually range in shade from dark to light.
Sponge
A sponge is essential to creating the blurred, galaxy effect. You can use any type of sponge, such as a kitchen sponge, artist's sponge, or even cut up a bath sponge. The sponge will help you blend and blur the colours to create a magical galaxy background.
Paintbrushes
You will need a variety of paintbrushes in different sizes and shapes, such as a fan paintbrush and a flat brush. These will be used for spreading paint, blending, and adding details to your galaxy painting.
Toothbrush
An old toothbrush can be used to create stars in your galaxy painting. Dip the toothbrush in white paint and flick it with your finger to create small, dispersed stars. Experiment with different amounts of paint and angles to get the desired effect.
Palette
You will need a palette or surface to mix your paints on. This can be a traditional paint palette, a large piece of paper, a ceramic or plastic plate, or even a non-stick sheet.
Canvas
Choose a canvas in the size and shape that you prefer. You can also use other surfaces, such as wood or cardboard, as long as they are primed and prepared for acrylic paint.
Varnish
To protect your galaxy painting and add a glossy finish, you will need to varnish it. Choose a high-quality varnish that is hard, archival, non-yellowing, and water-resistant.
With these essential galaxy painting supplies, you will be well-equipped to create a beautiful and mesmerizing galaxy painting with acrylics.
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Choosing a colour palette
When painting a galaxy with acrylics on plastic models, the colours you choose are very important. It's best to stick to the cooler end of the colour spectrum, with a range of shades from dark to light. Black should be the main colour running throughout your piece, with lacing and cells of different colours to create that galaxy effect. You can then add in some medium shades like blues and violets, and some lighter shades like neons and silver. The galaxy is full of vibrant colours, including pink, yellow, purple, deep violet, teal, green, and orange.
If you're painting on plastic, it's important to note that acrylic paint doesn't adhere well to plastic, so you'll need to prepare the plastic accordingly or use a special primer. Acrylic lacquer paints are the best for hand-brushing, which is the most common method for painting plastic models. You can also use enamel paints instead of acrylics and apply a final coat of varnish to protect the paint from flaking off.
When it comes to tools, you can use a sponge to create a smooth and even background, especially if you're a beginner. A kitchen sponge is a good option as it's easy to use and accessible. You can also use a paintbrush, but be aware that the brushstrokes may show up and disrupt the smooth, cloudy transitions of a galaxy. A flat brush is a good option to avoid this.
To add stars to your galaxy, you can use a toothbrush to create small, dispersed splatters of white paint. You can also use a flat brush or a round brush dipped in watered-down paint to create different effects. If you don't want to use a toothbrush or brush, you can use a white pen or marker to add stars, but this will take more time and focus, and you should avoid using fine-tip pens on a textured background.
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Applying the base coat
Painting a galaxy on a plastic model can be a fun project. To start, you will need to prepare your workspace and materials. Gather your paint colours and put them on your palette. You can use a large piece of paper, a ceramic plate, or a plastic plate as a palette. You will also need a sponge, a paintbrush, and an old toothbrush.
For the base coat, you can use black or white paint. If you are using black, spread a generous layer of paint with a large flat brush or a sponge. Make sure to cover the canvas, including the sides. You can also use a palette knife, a spackle knife, or an old credit card to spread the paint. Black will be the main colour running throughout your piece, with other colours added for the galaxy effect.
If you are using white paint as your base, dab the paint onto the surface with a sponge to cover the entire area. Let the first coat dry before applying a second coat. Using a sponge will give your base coat a different texture than using a brush.
You can also use enamel paints instead of acrylic paints, but be sure to apply a final coat of varnish to protect the paint from flaking off. Acrylic paint does not adhere well to plastic, so you may need to use a special primer on the plastic before you begin.
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Painting the galaxy
To start, prepare all the colours and put them on your palette. You can use any palette as long as it's big enough to hold all your colours. Start dabbing black paint on the edges of your paper/page and work inwards, leaving some white space in the middle where you'll use other colours. You don't have to cover the whole page. Next, start adding your other colours. Add blue and purple, and yellow and pink at the same time, blending them as you go. When you've done that, add white in the middle.
You can also try the acrylic pouring technique, which will give your painting a distinct look. Cover your canvas, including the sides, with a generous coat of black paint. Place a cylinder (like a cup with the bottom cut out or a toilet paper tube) in the centre of the canvas. Add your coloured paint to the cylinder, in the following order: black, navy blue, violet, blue, black, light violet, magenta, neon pink, silver, white, black. Pour more black paint around your cylinder.
To add stars to your galaxy, put some white paint on an old toothbrush and then go over it with your finger to release paint drops onto your painting. Move around with it and experiment with the angles and amount of paint. You can always add more, but start with small amounts. The more paint you put on the toothbrush, the bigger the splashes will be. You can also use a flat brush or a round brush dipped in watered-down acrylic paint for the same effect. If you don't want to use a toothbrush, you can use a white pen or marker to add stars, but this will take more time and focus.
If you're painting on plastic, you'll need to prepare the surface accordingly or use a special primer, as acrylic doesn't adhere well to plastics and glass. The best acrylic paint to use on plastic models is acrylic lacquer paint, especially for hand-brushing. You can also use enamel paints, and be sure to varnish for the final coat to protect the paint from flaking off.
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Adding stars
Using a Toothbrush:
One popular method is to use a toothbrush, preferably an old one. Dip the toothbrush into some white paint, and then use your finger to release paint drops onto the painting. It is important to start with a small amount of paint and gradually add more as needed. By adjusting the angle and pressure, you can create different-sized stars. For more directional splatters, a flat brush can be used instead.
Using a Round Brush:
For more precise star placement, a tiny round brush can be dipped into watered-down white paint and used to paint individual stars or star clusters. This technique allows for more control over the size, density, and distribution of the stars, mimicking the irregularity of a real night sky.
Using a White Pen/Marker:
If you prefer a more detailed approach, a white pen or marker can be used to doodle stars directly onto the painting. This method is more time-consuming and requires focus, especially when working on a textured background. Posca pens, for example, are suitable for textured surfaces.
Using a Sponge:
A sponge can be used to create a starry effect by dipping it into white paint and then lightly dabbing it onto the painting. This technique adds texture and can help create a dreamy, galaxy-like appearance.
Additional Tips:
- Experiment with different tools and techniques to find what works best for you.
- Remember that stars in a galaxy are not uniformly spaced, so vary the distance between stars for a more realistic effect.
- Try adding a tiny bit of water to the brush or toothbrush to create more distinct stars.
- Use a small amount of glitter acrylic paint to add a sparkling star effect.
- Practice on a separate piece of paper or canvas before applying stars to your main painting.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need acrylic paint, a sponge, a paintbrush, and an old toothbrush. You can also use a white pen or marker to add stars.
The main colour of space is blue, but the galaxy also contains pink, yellow, purple, deep violet, teal, green, and orange. Black should be the main colour running throughout your piece, with other colours lacing and creating cells to achieve the galaxy effect.
Acrylic paint does stick to plastic, but it may require a special primer. You can also use enamel paints instead of acrylic paints.
Dip an old toothbrush into some white paint and then go over it with your finger to release paint drops. You can also use a flat brush or a round brush dipped in watered-down acrylic paint.
You can add black paint in between some colours and blend. You can also add white paint for stars and cloudiness.
