I recently looked for new ideas and found some easy night sky painting tutorials. The night sky is beautiful and mysterious, and there’s something about looking up at the stars that make us feel small and insignificant but also connected to something much larger.
It’s vast and dark, yet filled with stars that seem to go on forever. If you’re looking for a tranquil painting project, look no further than painting the night sky.
If you’re interested in capturing that beauty on canvas, read for different tutorials to paint the night sky.
To paint a night sky, start painting the canvas with a black or dark blue background. Start by applying thin layers of paint, getting slightly darker as you go until you achieve the desired shade.
Once you’ve painted your night sky, add details like a crescent moon or shooting star. If you want something more complex, try adding a few clouds to create a more whimsical look. Then, use a lighter color to paint the stars. You can make them bigger and brighter by mixing different colors with white.
Table of Contents
My Easy Night Sky Painting in 15 minutes
You need:
- paint ( I use gouache, you can use gouache or acrylic, or poster paints),
- flat brush and small detailed brush,
- sketchbook or watercolor paper,
- water.
Step 1 – Blend the night sky
I used colors from purple to pink to create a colorful night sky. First, I layer the colors where they are supposed to be, and then with a slightly wet flat brush, I blend them directly on the paper. Let the sky dry.
Step 2 – Add power lines
With a detailed brush and black color add power lines. Don’t make it at the center of the paper, move it to the lower part of the paper.
Step 3 – Add silhouettes of some roofs and chimney
Step 4 – Add silhouettes of trees
With a Small brush make the trees’ leaves silhouettes and branches.
Step 5 – Finishing touches
Color the roofs and add some stars and a crescent or fool moon.
Done! Quick and easy 🙂
More ideas of night sky paintings by some talented painters I preselected for you:
Easy Night Sky Acrylic Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
Using only five colors, you can recreate this easy night sky painting. This tutorial uses two blues, black, white, and purple.
Start by painting the background with shades of blue. Then create the scenery using black and white paint to paint the moon.
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How to Paint a Night Sky with Moon
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy to Intermediate
This heavenly painting captures the moon’s beauty in a star-filed blue sky. After painting the background of the night sky, use a round shape to create the full moon and paint its details.
Using different shades of blues, with black and white, you’ll highlight the moon and stars for a bewitching outcome. You can add a silhouette of trees or houses to finish this painting with a touch of realism.
Main supplies:
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Blending sponge
- Canvas
How to Paint a Night Sky with Northern Lights
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
The Northern lights are one of nature’s most stunning displays, and capturing them in the paint can bring a touch of their beauty to your home or studio.
You don’t need professional-level painting skills to do it, either. This easy night sky painting is within reach for all levels of painters. After painting the night sky and Northern lights, add a landscape of your choice.
Here is how you can create an awe-inspiring night sky with simple tools and techniques.
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Colorful Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
Instead of using the typical blue and black colors to paint the night sky background, this painting uses shades of purple, pink, orange, and red to create a vibrant night sky.
After blending the different colors, add darker shades and splatter some white paint using a toothbrush to create the stars.
Then, add details, such as the moon and some landscape silhouettes.
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Enchanted Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
This tutorial adds a touch of green to the usual blue shades to recreate the night sky, adding an enchanted flair to the painting.
However, you can use any color you want to recreate this artwork. After adding the stars, paint. a silhouette of the landscape, as usual.
Here, the artist painted a tree and grass, but you can use other elements like a skyline, buildings, or whatever you fancy.
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Beautiful Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
A starry sky is one of the most beautiful sights in nature. Even if you don’t have access to a real night sky, you can still paint your own with just a few supplies and creative know-how. As always, we start with the background of the night sky, stars, and landscape.
Here’s how to make easy night sky painting for anyone looking to capture that beauty in the comfort of their home.
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Galaxy Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
Easy night sky painting can be done with the help of some basic materials like watercolor paints, brushes, paper, and a damp sponge.
The sponge adds texture to the painting and is great for painting a night sky. With only a few colors on your palette, you can create a galaxy filled with illustrious stars – add a magical moon or landscape if you want.
Main supplies:
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Blending sponge
- Canvas
Night Sky Landscape with Moon Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Intermediate
This night sky landscape has a muted palette and a special effect of moonlit clouds. The first step is to set up your painting surface and recreate the cloud-filled night sky. Then, splatter the stars with white paint to create a magical effect.
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Pink Clouds in Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
A turquoise sky with pink clouds painting is a perfect way to set a peaceful and calming atmosphere. Whether you use it as an accent in your nursery or want to be creative, this easy night sky painting will bring out the best in your artistic side.
However, instead of the conventional blue shades, pink clouds will match with a turquoise and beige palette.
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Blue Sky Painting Easy
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
You can change the scenery by learning how to make easy blue sky paintings. Instead of the black and dark blue colors typically associated with a night sky, give your painting a unique and brighter look.
This tutorial shows how to blend the colors to create a seamless background for a blue sky painting
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Easy Night Sky Painting Tutorial
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
This easy night sky painting adds a shade of green to the evening sky that’s both calming and mesmerizing. After painting the sky background, paint some pine trees to complete this night sky landcsape painting.
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How Do You Paint a Starry Night for Beginners?
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
All artists should know what the Starry Night painting looks like, so I’ll show you how to create something similar. The Starry Night is a classic painting, but don’t let that intimidate you.
With this easy night sky painting guide, you can turn an ordinary canvas into a cosmic masterpiece.
The key to recreating the Starry Night painting is by using layers and capturing the surreal, dreamlike feel of the painting. Use only small brush strokes to create a textured sky, and paint your canvas from top to bottom.
When you’re finished with the lighter colors, use dark blues and purples for added depth. Then, repaint the lighter areas to highlight them.
Main supplies:
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Canvas or Paper
Read also: Acrylic Paint On Paper: Best Paper To Use for Acrylic Painting?
Snowy Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
For a change of scenery, try painting a snowy sky that provides a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You only needs a few shades of blue, black, adn white paint to complete this painting.
This easy night sky painting is perfect for beginners, as it does not require specific painting skills or techniques.
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Dramatic Moonlight Night Sky Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Capturing the beauty of a moonlit night sky on canvas can be a rewarding experience. This painting features two sceneries: a dramatic moon and a warm-lit landscape below it.
What makes this painting particularly special is its use of light and shadow. The moon appears to be glowing, while the cityscape below is in deep shadow. This tutorial is ideal for intermediate to advanced painters.
The steps provided are very detailed. There is no need to rush. Take your time and enjoy the process.
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Read also: The Best Brush for Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Easy Night Sky Watercolor Painting
Medium: Watercolor
Level: Easy
How about trying to paint the night sky using watercolor? It’s a project that you can do with minimal supplies and time. Not only is it fun, but the results are gorgeous.
The artist’s technique in this tutorial uses water splatters to create lighter shades of the sky. To highlight the stars, acrylic paint is used.
Main supplies:
Read also: Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Watercolor Paper? 5 Steps to Do It & Best Papers
Watercolor Night Sky Painting
Medium: Watercolor
Level: Easy to Intermediate
This watercolor night sky painting features a beautiful sunset setting on a lake landscape. Painting the background may look messy at first, but after adding the landscape and details, it will come together and make a stunning night sky painting.
The artist also painted shooting stars to create a fantasy-like atmosphere. This painting technique can be used to create any kind of night sky scene such as a starry night or a full moon with clouds.
Experiment with different color palettes to recreate your unique version of this painting.
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Galaxy Night Sky Seascape in Watercolor
Medium: Watercolor
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
This painting uses a wet-on-wet technique to create a beautiful night sky seascape. It captures the beauty of an evening under the stars, with stars twinkling in the darkness and starlight reflecting off of the water.
Don’t forget to paint the reflections of the stars or landscape you painted in the water – they are essential to creating a realistic-looking effect.
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Full Moon and Starry Night Watercolor Painting
Medium: Watercolor
Level: Easy
This monochrome moon painting is a great easy night sky painting project for all levels of artists. The muted color palette and simplified shapes create a moody, dreamy night sky.
To make it even easier, you don’t need to worry about drawing any intricate details—blend the paint to create a beautiful sky. Just focus on the details of the moon to create its texture.
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Dreamy Night Sky Watercolor Painting
Medium: Watercolor
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Painting a night sky using pinks, purple, and blues? Yes, please. This easy night sky painting tutorial will help you create a beautiful dreamy night sky in no time.
Layering the clouds with a light touch of brush is the key to painting a gorgeous night sky. Start by dipping your paintbrush into white watercolor and lightly dabbing it onto the paper. Make sure not to use too much paint or you will end up with an opaque sky.
Then, use gouache to paint the moon and stars with a small round brush. Change up the sizes of your stars to make them interesting and add depth.
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Easy Gouache Night Sky Painting
Medium: Gouache
Level: Easy
Gouache is a versatile painting medium perfect for creating beautiful night sky paintings—practice painting with gouache with this easy tutorial. The result is a peaceful scenery of a starry night sky with twinkling stars and a full moon above a small home.
Main supplies:
Read also: Gouache Vs Acrylic: What’s the Difference, and Which is Best for Beginners?
Easy Ocean Night Sky Gouache Painting
Medium: Gouache
Level: Easy to Intermediate
To recreate this stunning painting, you need to sketch the outline of your painting. The painting will be divided into two sections: the moon and the sea. Using yellow and white, paint the moon, the stars, and the sea stretching out in waves.
Don’t forget to add the reflection of the moonlight and the stars to the sea. It will bring a magical effect to your painting.
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Easy Poster Color Night Sky Painting
Medium: Poster paint
Level: Easy
Use poster colors to create a night sky painting with beautiful scenery. Paint the sky with shades of blue or with purple to create an illusion of a starry night. Then add details like stars, clouds, and trees to complete the picture.
In this tutorial, the artist painted a tree on a cliff scenery and a moon. The moon is painted using white pens. You can add starts by splashing tiny dots of white poster paint before painting the details or using the whit gel pen to draw dots of various sizes.
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Easy Night Sky Painting FAQ
How do you make a night sky painting?
To make a night sky painting, start by sketching out the basic shape of your scene with a pencil. Once you’re happy with the outline, fill it in with paints or markers.
For example, use black and blue for the night sky and lighter colors for stars and planets. Finally, use small brushes to add details such as stars and constellations to complete your artwork.
What colors do you need to paint a night sky?
You’ll need black and blue colors to paint a night sky. Also, lighter colors such as white, yellow, and even pink can add stars and planets to your painting.
If you’re feeling bold, you can use colors like purple to create a more vibrant night sky.
What colors make a galaxy?
The colors used to make a galaxy often include shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
Additionally, you can add stars or planets using yellow or orange to your painting.
How do you splatter for star paint without making a mess?
If you want to splatter paint for starry night scenes but don’t want to make a mess, use a toothbrush.
Dip it in your paint and then tap the bristles lightly with your finger over your painting surface. This will create small dots that look like stars without the mess of traditional splattering techniques.
Also, cover the parts of your painting that you don’t want to splatter with a cloth or paper.
Wrap Up
Painting a night sky can be incredibly rewarding and therapeutic. With the help of these tutorials, you’ll be able to paint your interpretation of a starry night sky easily.
You can create the sky with gouache, poster paint, or watercolor paints. Have fun experimenting and discovering techniques that work best for you.
Now get out those paints and brushes, and start creating something beautiful.
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Buenos Aires-based certified teacher, artist, and member of the Professional Artist Association with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.