Priya Kapoor
Painting the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is a fascinating project that even beginners can attempt with the right techniques and materials. To paint the Northern Lights with a glow-in-the-dark effect, artists can use phosphorescent gel, which dries clear but glows in the dark, along with fluid acrylic paints. The gel is available in colours like green and yellow, and can be combined with other colours like purple and pink to create a unique representation of the ethereal lights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paint type | Acrylic |
| Paint colours | Bright aqua green, titanium white, medium magenta, cerulean blue, yellow, green, purple, pink, navy, indigo, bright green, blue, purple, pink, yellow |
| Brush type | Angle brush |
| Brush size | 1/4" |
| Other tools | Varnish |
| Technique | Double-load brush with titanium white and aqua green, paint spiral lines, use brush at an angle |
| Base colour | Dark blue or black |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the canvas with a dark base colour
To prepare the canvas with a dark base colour for a painting of the Northern Lights, you will need a few essential supplies. Gather your acrylic paints, a canvas, brushes of varying sizes, a palette for mixing, and a cup of water for rinsing your brushes.
Begin by priming your canvas with a dark base colour. Dark blue or black provides the perfect backdrop for the vibrant lights of the aurora borealis. You can also experiment with other dark shades like navy or indigo. Allow the base colour to dry completely before proceeding to the next step. This is an important step, as a dry surface will help you achieve the desired effect for the Northern Lights.
While the base colour dries, you can practice the Northern Lights technique on paper. Grab your sketchbook and an angle brush, such as a 1/4" angle brush. Practice painting some spiral lines by double-loading your brush with white and a light colour like bright aqua green or medium magenta. Remember to hold the brush so that the top tip of the angle is opposite to the direction you are painting. This technique will help you create the vibrant and colourful lights of the aurora.
Once your base colour is dry, you can start creating the sky. With a large brush, mix various shades of blue and purple to fill in the sky area. You can also add white to create a lighter shade of pink. Remember, the goal is to create a fade from light pink to dark blues and eventually to black. You can achieve this by blending the colours slowly and carefully, adding more pure colour as you move up the canvas.
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Create the sky with blues and purples
To create a vibrant sky for your northern lights painting, you'll want to use a mix of blues and purples. Start by priming your canvas with a base colour—a dark blue or black backdrop can provide a nice contrast for the lights. Once your base layer is completely dry, you can move on to the sky.
Take a large brush and mix various shades of blue and purple to fill in the sky area. You can add some vertical flairs with an angle brush, dipping it into bright aqua green or more magenta if you want a pinker sky. Remember to keep these lines vertical, and play around with the brushstrokes and paint amounts to create thinner and thicker flares of varying heights.
If you want to add some texture to your sky, you can try a fluid art technique. Mix your acrylic paint with 30-50% water to achieve a fluid consistency, then let the paint and gravity decide the layout of your aurora lights. You can also experiment with phosphorescent gels in yellow and green, which will dry clear but glow in the dark.
For added depth, incorporate darker shades like navy or indigo around the lighter areas. This contrast will make the auroras pop. You can also use a fine brush and white paint to add stars and any other highlights you'd like.
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Paint vertical aurora flares
Painting the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, can be a simple process. The first step is to create a simple layer of colours in the sky. For this, you can use a combination of medium magenta and titanium white, starting at the bottom close to the horizon line and painting upwards. You can also add cerulean blue to the mix, blending it with the magenta to create a fade from light pink to dark blue, and eventually to black.
Next, you can paint vertical aurora flares. Using an angle brush, apply each stroke starting from the string and fading upwards. You can create variation in the thickness of the flares by using the brush on its side for thinner flares and using the full width of the brush for thicker flares. You can also alter the heights of the flares, making some taller and some shorter, and adjust the amount of paint used for each to create brighter or duller flares. Repeat this technique with bright aqua green or more medium magenta if you want a pinker sky.
You can also add a silhouette of a tree skyline, or shadowy figures such as a wolf or polar bear, to your painting. To add depth and realism, introduce mountains and water reflections using an RGM palette knife. Don't forget to varnish your painting once it's dry to give it a finished look.
If you want your painting to glow in the dark, you can use phosphorescent gel or paint in addition to your regular paint.
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Enhance the glow with dark shades
To enhance the ethereal appearance of your Northern Lights painting, incorporate darker shades like navy or indigo around the lighter areas. This contrast will significantly amplify the visibility of the auroras. Employ quick, flicking motions with a dry brush to soften the edges. You can also use a fine brush and white paint to add stars and any other highlights you'd like. Tiny dots and soft strokes can make the painting come alive.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a captivating phenomenon that can be recreated in art even by beginners with the right techniques. To paint the Northern Lights, you'll need acrylic paints, a canvas, brushes of varying sizes, a palette for mixing, and a cup of water for rinsing your brushes. It is recommended to have a reference image to guide your color choices.
Start by priming your canvas with a base color. A dark blue or black background provides the perfect backdrop for the vibrant lights of the aurora. Allow the base color to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Now, you can create the sky. With a large brush, mix various shades of blue and purple to fill in the sky area. You can also add medium magenta to your brush and paint over the white area lightly, creating a lighter pink shade. Then, blend the magenta into cerulean blue by dipping your brush into the blue paint without rinsing it first. This will create a fade from light pink to dark blue and eventually to black. Remember to blend slowly and use less paint on your brush to avoid an overwhelming color.
To create the aurora effect, ensure that the sky area is completely dry. Then, double-load your angle brush by dipping it into white paint and your chosen light color, such as bright aqua green. Create vertical strokes that start thin at the bottom and gradually become thicker towards the top. You can also alter the height and paint intensity of each flair to add variety. Repeat this technique with your chosen light colors, and remember that most of the aurora lights meet at a point just above the horizon.
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Add details and highlights with white paint
Once your painting is dry, it's time to add the details and highlights with white paint. This step will make your painting come alive, so take your time and enjoy the process!
To create the stars and any other highlights, you'll need a fine brush and some white paint. Using tiny dots and soft strokes, add stars to the sky. This technique will give an ethereal quality to your painting. You can also use the white paint to add light to the Northern Lights themselves. Remember to use light, flicking motions with a dry brush to soften the edges and create that magical, glowing effect.
If you want to create a vibrant aurora, you can use an angle brush to add some vertical flares. Dip your brush into the white paint and then into your chosen light colour—bright aqua green or more medium magenta for a pinker sky. Starting from the bottom, close to the horizon line, paint long wave strokes upwards, allowing the paint to run dry as you reach the top. This will create a fade effect, with the colours gradually lightening towards the top of the canvas.
To enhance the glow even further, you can use white paint as a base for your light colours. Leave the white paint on your brush and add medium magenta, painting over the white area lightly. This will create a lighter pink shade. As you move up your canvas, add more medium magenta and less white, creating a gradual transition from light pink to dark blue and eventually black. This technique will add depth and make the auroras truly shine.
By using white paint as a base and for highlights, you can create a stunning, ethereal painting that captures the magic of the Northern Lights. Enjoy experimenting with this technique and bringing your artwork to life!
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Frequently asked questions
Bright greens, blues, purples, and even hints of pink and yellow are excellent choices to create a vibrant effect reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis.
First, you must prepare your canvas by priming it with a base colour. A dark blue or black backdrop works best for the vibrant lights.
Using an angle brush, dip it into both white and your chosen light colour (bright aqua green is recommended). Then, paint some spiral lines on the paper, holding the brush so the top tip of the angle is opposite the direction you are painting in.
