Lena Rivera
The Northern Lights are a magical sight, and you can create your own version of this phenomenon with a simple craft project using a jar. This easy craft activity is perfect for kids and adults alike and can be made into a lantern with the addition of an LED tealight. All you need is a mason jar, coloured tissue paper, glue or craft sealer, and pipe cleaners. You can tear the tissue paper into strips, apply glue to the base of the jar, and start sticking the tissue paper on. For a Northern Lights effect, work from light to dark colours, and finish with a coat of glue or Mod Podge to seal the tissue paper.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Easy |
| Age range | 3+ |
| Safety instructions | Use an LED tealight |
| Materials | Coloured tissue paper, white glue or craft sealer (e.g. Mod Podge), a mason jar, an LED tealight, pipe cleaners |
| Step 1 | Tear tissue paper into strips |
| Step 2 | Apply glue to the base of the outside of the jar and start affixing tissue paper |
| Step 3 | Once you reach the top, seal the tissue paper with a final coat of glue or Mod Podge |
| Step 4 | Add a handle to your lantern by twisting two colours of pipe cleaner together and securing them to the neck of the jar with a third piece |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare your jar with glue and coloured tissue paper
To prepare your jar with glue and coloured tissue paper, start by tearing your tissue paper into strips. There is no right or wrong way to do this; any size or shape will work. The Northern Lights typically include colours such as green, blue, purple, pink and black, so you may want to include these colours in your tissue paper strips.
Next, apply glue to the base of the outside of your jar. You can use a glue mixture of half school glue and half water, or white glue. Start affixing your tissue paper strips to the jar, pressing them into the glue. Cover the tissue paper with another layer of glue, using a brush to tap over the top.
Continue covering the remainder of the jar, adding a little glue at a time, pressing tissue paper into it, and then covering with another layer of glue. Work your way up with light to dark colours to create a Northern Lights effect. Once you reach the top, seal the tissue paper with a final coat of glue or Mod Podge.
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Use a variety of brushes for different textures
Painting the Northern Lights on a jar is a fun and simple project for both kids and adults. The Northern Lights are known for their vibrant and surreal colours, including shades of green, pink, purple, red, blue, and yellow. To achieve the ethereal glow of the aurora, you'll need the right tools and techniques.
When it comes to brushes, having a variety is essential for creating different textures and effects. Flat brushes are ideal for broad background strokes and covering large areas, such as the sky. You can use a flat brush to paint the entire sky with left and right strokes, creating a smooth and even base. For painting the Northern Lights, a 3/4" flat brush is a good size to work with.
Round brushes, on the other hand, are perfect for more detailed work. You can use a round brush with a fine tip to add intricate details to your painting, such as tree branches, stars, or snowflakes. The size of the round brush will depend on the level of detail you want to achieve.
Angle brushes are another type of brush that can be used to create unique effects. To paint the Northern Lights, you can double-load your angle brush by dipping it in two different colours. Then, hold the brush so that the top tip of the angle is opposite to the direction you are painting in. This technique will create beautiful spiral lines that mimic the dancing lights of the aurora. Practising this technique on paper first will help you get a feel for it before applying it to your jar.
Additionally, you can use the dry brush technique to add texture and depth to your painting. This involves using a small amount of paint on a dry surface to create a textured effect, perfect for depicting a starry sky. You can also try the splattering technique by loading a flat brush with white paint and splattering it across the night sky to create the impression of distant stars.
By using a combination of flat, round, and angle brushes, along with different techniques, you can create a stunning and vibrant Northern Lights painting on your jar. Don't be afraid to experiment with different brushstrokes and textures to achieve the desired effect.
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Choose a reference image for guidance
To paint the Northern Lights on a jar easily, it is important to choose a reference image that appeals to you. This image will serve as a guide for your painting. The Northern Lights are best known for their vibrant and surreal colours, including shades of green, pink, purple, red, blue, and yellow. You can find reference images online or in books that showcase the Northern Lights in all their glory.
When selecting a reference image, consider the composition you want to create on your jar. Will it be a simple depiction of the Northern Lights, or will you include additional elements such as mountains, trees, or animal silhouettes? Choosing a reference image that includes these elements can help you plan the layout and colour scheme of your painting.
Additionally, pay attention to the lighting and mood conveyed in the reference image. The Northern Lights can vary in appearance depending on the time of day, with darker shades representing a night sky and lighter shades depicting an early evening sky. Consider whether you want to capture the vibrant, dancing lights of the aurora or the more subtle, ethereal glow.
Reference images can also provide guidance on the painting techniques you can use. For example, you might want to use the wet-on-wet blending technique, dry brushing, or glazing to achieve different effects and textures in your painting. By studying the colours, lighting, and overall atmosphere of your chosen reference image, you can gain a better understanding of the specific techniques you may need to employ.
Lastly, keep in mind that you can use multiple reference images for inspiration. You might find one image that captures the colours perfectly, while another showcases the composition or lighting in a way that resonates with you. By combining elements from different references, you can create a unique and personalised painting of the Northern Lights on your jar.
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Layer your paints from dark to light
To paint the Northern Lights, you will need a variety of brushes, including flat and round ones, to create different textures and effects. You will also need acrylic paint in black, white, and shades of blue, green, pink, and purple.
When painting the Northern Lights, it is important to layer your paints from dark to light, keeping in mind that the lights tend to be brighter towards the horizon. Start with a base layer of dark blue and black to represent the night sky, or use a lighter shade for an early evening sky. Then, introduce gradient colours to represent the Aurora Borealis, working quickly to blend the colours while they are still wet. Acrylic paints dry quickly, so it is important to blend the colours promptly to achieve a smooth transition.
You can create the Aurora Borealis effect by using thin layers of paint, which will enable you to blend colours more smoothly. Remember that acrylic paints dry slightly darker, so take this into account when mixing your colours. You can also use the wet-on-wet blending technique, which involves applying wet paint directly onto wet paint, allowing the colours to blend together naturally and create a smooth transition between shades.
To add texture and depth to your night sky, you can use the dry brush technique with a small amount of lighter paint to create the effect of distant stars. You can also use sponging to add additional texture and create atmospheric effects or clouds in your sky.
By layering your paints from dark to light, you can create a realistic and vibrant Northern Lights painting with a sense of depth and contrast.
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Add a silhouette, such as a wolf or a bear
If you want to add a wolf or bear silhouette to your northern lights painting, you can follow these steps:
Selecting a Silhouette
First, decide whether you want to include a wolf, bear, or another animal silhouette in your painting. You can find a variety of silhouette options on websites like Pixabay, which offer royalty-free images that you can use as a reference or trace for your artwork. Choose an image that you like and resize it to fit your canvas or jar.
Preparing the Canvas
Before adding the silhouette, ensure that the sky background is completely dry. This will prevent the colours from mixing or smudging when you add the silhouette.
Drawing the Silhouette
Once you have selected and resized your silhouette image, you can draw it onto your canvas or jar. You can print out the image and use it as a reference, or you can trace it directly onto your surface. Position the silhouette in the middle of your composition, leaving enough space around it for the northern lights and any additional elements, such as trees or rocks.
Adding Details
To add depth and interest to your composition, consider including additional elements such as trees or rocks. For example, you can add a flat rock below your wolf silhouette to ground the composition and create a sense of perspective. Vary the heights and sizes of any additional elements to create a natural and dynamic effect.
Painting the Silhouette
When painting the silhouette, start with the darker tones, using black paint and a sponge or wide brush to fill in the outline of the wolf or bear. Blend the paint smoothly across the silhouette, creating a gradual transition from dark to light. Then, add lighter colours, such as green, pink, or yellow, using soft streaks or waves to create a glowing effect. You can also add highlights with white or metallic paint to make certain areas stand out.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need coloured tissue paper, white glue or a craft sealer like Mod Podge, a mason jar, and an LED tealight. You will also need paintbrushes, a palette, paper towels, and a water container.
The Northern Lights are known for their vibrant and surreal colours, including shades of green, pink, purple, and blue. You can also add in some black tissue paper to create shadows of mountains, hillsides, or trees.
Start by tearing your tissue paper into strips—any size or shape will work. Then, apply glue to the base of the outside of your jar and start affixing the tissue paper, working your way up from light to dark colours. Once you reach the top, seal the tissue paper with a final coat of glue or Mod Podge.
Yes, there are several painting techniques you can use. Wet-on-wet blending involves applying wet paint directly onto wet paint to create a smooth transition between shades. Dry brushing involves applying a small amount of paint to a dry canvas to create textured effects, such as the appearance of a starry sky. Glazing is another method where thin, transparent layers of paint are applied on top of each other to add depth and luminosity.
