Creating A Galaxy: Glow-In-The-Dark Style

Creating a glow-in-the-dark galaxy painting is a fun and unique project that can be done using UV-reactive glow-in-the-dark paints. The painting will look different under UV light and in complete darkness, and the colours can be made to show up or remain clear depending on the type of paint used. This project can be done on a canvas using a sponge and an old toothbrush for a splatter effect. The paint needs to be charged by a UV flashlight, black light bulb, regular light bulb, or sunlight.

Use a fluorescent or neutral paint style

If you want the colours to show up on the canvas, use fluorescent paint. Fluorescent paint is available in blue, purple, pink, and green. You will need multiple coats to see the pigment because of how translucent it is.

Apply the fluorescent paint over the acrylic paint and not mix the two together. The fluorescent paint works best when the acrylic paint underlayer is a lighter colour, like white. However, a dark underpainting of the galaxy can also provide an interesting effect with the fluorescent paint.

You can use a sponge to dab on the fluorescent paint directly over the galaxy stripes and around the sky. Add fluorescent glow blue throughout with a sponge. Splatter green fluorescent glow paint. Splatter titanium white regular acrylic paint.

If you want the paint to be mostly clear, use neutral paint. You can make your painting look completely different in the dark versus what it looks like in the day with the neutral paint.

Remember that glow-in-the-dark paint has to "charge" to glow. You can do this by shining a UV flashlight directly on the paint. You can also use a black light bulb, a regular light bulb, or even the sun to charge the paint.

Apply glow paint over acrylic paint

When creating a glow-in-the-dark galaxy painting, it is recommended that you apply the glow paint over the acrylic paint rather than mixing the two together. The glow paint will be more visible if the acrylic underlayer is a light colour, such as white. However, an interesting effect can be created by using a darker underpainting.

Before applying the glow paint, ensure that the base painting is completely dry. Then, find a dark room to work in, and use a UV flashlight to charge the paint for 3 to 5 seconds. You can also use a black lightbulb, a regular lightbulb, or sunlight to charge the paint. Once charged, you can start applying the glow paint over the acrylic underlayer. It is best to apply thin coats of paint for the best results.

If you are using fluorescent glow paint, you will need to apply multiple coats to see the pigment, as it is very translucent. You can also create interesting effects by splattering the paint or using a sponge to dab it onto the canvas.

To add further depth and dimension to your painting, consider using epoxy resin. This can be applied over the glow paint to create a shiny, glossy finish.

Use a light underlayer for brighter colours

When painting a glow-in-the-dark galaxy, it is recommended to use a light-coloured acrylic paint as the base layer for your brightest colours. White is a popular choice, but you can also use bright yellow-green and tint it into white on one side. This will create a bright base for your fluorescent colours to pop.

The reason for this is that glow-in-the-dark paint is very translucent, so a lighter base colour will reflect more light and make the fluorescent colours appear brighter. You can also add some white acrylic splatters to your painting to enhance this effect.

After applying your light underlayer, you can add your bright fluorescent colours. Use a clean sponge to dab on the fluorescent paint. For example, you can add purple directly over a magenta stripe to create a galaxy effect. You can also add fluorescent blue and splatter green and pink fluorescent glow paint for a starry effect.

To create depth and dimension, you can darken certain areas of your painting. For example, you can use black to darken a bright magenta stripe, then add more magenta over the black. You can also use black to darken the edges of a stripe, creating a blurry effect. This will make the centre of the stripe appear brighter in contrast.

Remember, you can always check your progress by viewing your painting under UV light or in complete darkness. The glow paint will need to "charge" under light before it glows in the dark, so keep that in mind when checking your work.

Use a dark underpainting for an interesting effect

To create a glow-in-the-dark galaxy painting, you can use a dark underpainting for an interesting effect. This technique involves using a dark base layer of paint, such as black or a darker colour, as the initial layer of your painting. This can create a unique and intriguing visual when paired with the glow-in-the-dark paint.

It is recommended to use regular acrylic paint as the base layer for your galaxy painting. This is because glow-in-the-dark paint is very translucent, and the opacity provided by the acrylic paint will help to create a more vibrant and visible image. The dark underpainting will form the foundation of your galaxy, and you can use a sponge to add and blend colours like magenta, black, and white to create the galaxy's stripes and blurry lines.

The dark underpainting will not only provide a striking contrast to the glowing elements but will also help to enhance the sense of depth and dimension in your galaxy painting. By using a dark base, you can create a sense of vastness and mystery, making the glowing parts of the galaxy stand out and pop against the dark backdrop.

When using a dark underpainting, it's important to consider the type of glow-in-the-dark paint you're using. Fluorescent paint will show up more vividly on the dark background, creating a vibrant and colourful galaxy. On the other hand, neutral-style paint will be more subtle, allowing your painting to have a completely different appearance in the dark compared to daylight.

Remember, when working with fluorescent paint, you may need to apply multiple coats to achieve the desired vibrancy, as it is also quite translucent. Additionally, ensure that you charge your glow-in-the-dark paint by shining a UV flashlight or using a light bulb or sunlight before expecting it to glow.

Charge paint with a UV flashlight

To create a glow-in-the-dark galaxy painting, you will need to use glow paint that can be charged with a UV flashlight.

Firstly, it is important to understand that glow-in-the-dark paint has to "charge" to glow. This can be done by shining a UV flashlight directly onto the paint. You can also use a black lightbulb, a regular lightbulb, or sunlight to charge the paint.

There are different types of glow paint available: fluorescent and neutral. Fluorescent paint will show up on the canvas, whereas neutral paint will be mostly clear. Fluorescent paint will appear to glow under blacklight, but it does not store energy and therefore cannot be "charged". On the other hand, Phosphorescent paint, which is also known as glow paint, can be charged by a light source as it contains a phosphor that emits light when exposed to it.

When choosing a UV flashlight, you can opt for a powerful, high-intensity black light LED flashlight, such as the GLO-X Supercharger UV Black Light LED Flashlight, which is lightweight and easy to carry. Alternatively, you can create your own UV light by placing a blue filter over your smartphone's flashlight. The blue filter will block most visible light, allowing only UV light to pass through.

Once you have your UV flashlight, simply point it at your painting for a few minutes, and the glow paint should start glowing brighter. The UV light penetrates the phosphor in the paint, exciting its atoms and causing them to emit photons, resulting in a brighter glow.

Frequently asked questions