If you’ve ever wondered how to paint delicate, beautiful bubbles in watercolor, Galacticat is here to show you how to turn them into mesmerizing, galaxy-inspired orbs.
In this tutorial, Galacticat will walk you through two different techniques for creating these magical bubbles, each with its own unique twist.
Whether you’re new to watercolor or an experienced artist, these methods are easy to follow and will help you create something truly stunning.
So, let’s dive in and learn how to paint galaxy bubbles step-by-step with Galacticat!
Contents
What They’ll Need to Get Started
Before they start, they make sure they have all their materials ready. Here’s a quick list of what they’ll need:
- Watercolor paper: They recommend Arches 300 gsm cold-press paper for its texture and durability.
- Brushes: A smaller and a larger brush will be perfect.
- Watercolors: They’ll need several colors, like pink, blue, green, yellow, and purple.
- A palette or ceramic plate to mix paints.
- A water container and a clean paper towel to keep their brushes clean and their workspace tidy.
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Object to create circles: They can use a compass, a small disc-shaped ornament, or a mug.
With their supplies ready, let’s jump into the first technique!
Technique 1: Creating Beautiful Bubbles with Hand-drawn Circles
The first technique they’ll teach is using hand-drawn circles to create a larger bubble effect. This one will let them play with overlapping bubbles for a more dynamic and fun design.
Draw Their Circles
To start painting their galaxy bubbles, they’ll need to create circles. They recommend having a few objects on hand to help them draw the perfect circle.
They can use a compass, a small disc-shaped ornament, or even a mug. The beauty of this technique is that they can play with different circle sizes.
They suggest using a variety of sizes to fill their page—just making sure some overlap. The overlapping bubbles will create a mesmerizing effect when completed!
If they’re heavy-handed like them, don’t worry—there’s an easy solution. They can lighten their circle lines using a kneadable eraser.
This will ensure the lines are barely visible and won’t interfere with their painting later.
Mixing Their Colors
Once their circles are ready, it’s time to mix their colors on their palette. They’ll use pink, blue, green, and a hint of yellow for this galaxy bubble effect.
But they shouldn’t feel limited—feel free to experiment with different colors they love!
Blending the Edges for a Smooth Transition
They start by dipping their paintbrush in pink (or whichever color they choose) and tracing around the circle’s outline.
Remember, they’re jumping right into a larger circle here to make sure the technique is clear, but they can always start with smaller bubbles if that feels more comfortable.
Once they’ve outlined the circle, they dip their brush in water and blend the paint. The goal is to smooth the line and prevent any harsh, dry edges.
They want the color to blend seamlessly into the rest of the bubble. They don’t let the edges dry out, as it will make blending difficult.
They recommend going back and forth with the colors—using blue on the outer edges and pink toward the center.
This technique requires a bit of speed and precision, so they keep the circular shape as even as possible.
It’s okay if the lines aren’t perfectly smooth—this is part of the watercolor magic, and those “wibbly” edges will only add to the unique look of their bubble.
Creating That Magical Shine
As they paint, they leave a small white shine line in the bubble’s center. This shine will give their bubble a reflective, glossy effect, similar to the natural sheen on real bubbles.
However, they’re cautious, as too much water may muddle this shine. If that happens, they gently blot the area with a paper towel to bring back the shine.
Now, they add blue to the edges of their circle, focusing on making the outer areas darker.
The edges should have the most intense color to create a shadowed look, while the center remains lighter.
Then, they mix in some greens, yellows, and even a touch of purple. This will mimic the colorful, iridescent sheen on real bubbles, similar to the oil-slick effect when light reflects off them.
They switch to a larger brush once they start working on the bigger bubbles. The larger brush will allow them to blend their paint more easily and smoothly.
They make sure their brush stays wet as they blend, and they’re not afraid to go back and add more blue to deepen the edges, while also adding more yellow and green in the middle.
This colorful combination will help achieve that shimmering, bubble-like effect.
Darkening the Edges for Depth
To create a more defined, bubble-like appearance, focus on darkening the edges of the bubble.
Use blue or purple to make the edges the darkest part of the bubble, adding depth and dimension.
The interior can stay lighter, mimicking how real bubbles look when light catches them.
If they lose their shine line during this process, they don’t worry! They simply use a clean paper towel to mop up any excess paint or water from the center, and they’ll restore that shiny effect.
Working with Multiple Bubbles
Once their first bubble is completely dry (they can use a hairdryer to speed things up if needed), they can start painting over it with smaller bubbles.
The technique is the same, but now they’ll be painting on top of the dry bubble, which creates the “see-through” effect bubbles naturally have.
Letting the first bubble dry completely before layering on the next one is essential.
This technique of overlapping the bubbles adds a fantastic dimension to their painting and is one of their favorite aspects of creating watercolor bubbles.
If they find the larger bubble challenging, they’ll probably find the smaller bubbles easier to paint since they cover less surface area.
By following this technique, they’ll see how watercolor interacts with itself, and they’ll quickly get the hang of blending and layering.
If they’re just starting, they should practice on a few smaller circles until they’re confident!
Technique 2: Using a Mug to Create Watercolor Bubbles
They’ll show how to create beautiful watercolor bubbles using a mug in the second method. This technique is handy if they find it tough to keep their circles neat and even by hand.
Paint the Outside Rim of the Mug
First, they grab a mug or a glass—anything with a solid outer rim will work. They dip their brush straight into their watercolor paint and start painting directly onto the outside edge of the mug.
This step might initially feel unusual, but it’s a fun shortcut. They’ll probably find this much easier if they’ve struggled to keep a steady circular shape with the first technique.
The circle might not be perfectly crisp, and the edges could look a bit wobbly. That’s just the nature of watercolor, and it still creates a beautiful effect.
Stamp the Painted Rim onto the Paper
They turn the mug upside down once they’ve got enough paint on the rim. They find the circle they previously made with the mug and gently stamp it onto their paper.
They don’t need to press too hard—just a light touch will do the trick. When they lift the mug, they’ll have a lovely painted circle ready to work with.
Turn the mug upside down to create a circle
Blend the Edges Quickly
Now comes the important part—they need to work fast! They grab their water-filled paintbrush and start blending the edges of the circle immediately.
If they wait too long, the paint will dry and leave a harsh, stubborn line that’s hard to soften.
They ensure their brush has enough water, and blend out those edges quickly to get a smooth, soft look.
Adjust Based on Their Paper Type
The results of this technique can vary depending on the paper they’re using. They’re working with 300 gsm cold press paper, but if they’re using hot press paper, their experience might be different.
Actually, if they’re using hot press paper, they might even find this method works better for them than the first technique! It depends on their style and what feels right for them as an artist.
Blend Just Like Before
From here, they’ll use the same blending method they taught earlier. They dip their brush into clean water and carefully soften the edges of their circle.
They find that using the mug helps a lot if they’re struggling with maintaining that perfect round shape.
It gives a little extra guidance and can speed up the process when creating multiple watercolor bubbles.
Adding Details and Shimmer
After the bubbles are dry, they darken some of the edges. They don’t outline the entire circle—just parts—to make the bubbles look more crisp and realistic.
Add Shimmer Drops Paint
They pull out their Shimmer Drops paint. This special ghost paint has a beautiful blue undertone, and they love it.
They start by applying the blue-toned ghost paint to one side of the bubble. Then, they use a pink undertoned ghost paint on the opposite side. It adds so much depth and dimension!
Feel free to skip this step if they’re already happy with how their bubbles look. This part is totally optional—it’s just them being extra!
Add Tiny Stars for a Galaxy Effect
This step is totally optional, but if they want to make their bubbles even more magical, they can add tiny stars. They use some white gouache to dot tiny stars across the bubbles.
It gives them a dreamy galaxy vibe, which they love. Again, they don’t have to add this part unless they want to—their bubbles will still look amazing either way!
Wrapping Up
Painting galaxy bubbles with watercolor is a fun and creative process that allows them to explore different techniques and colors.
Whether they use hand-drawn circles or a mug for precision, both methods offer unique ways to create beautiful, dreamy bubbles.
Want to add a touch of magic to their next painting project? They can try out these techniques and see how stunning their watercolor bubbles can be.