Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial for Beginners: How to Paint Northern Lights

If you’ve ever gazed at photos of the Northern Lights and thought, “Wow, I wish I could capture that on canvas,” then you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving into a beginner-friendly tutorial on how to paint the mesmerizing Northern Lights using acrylics. This step-by-step guide will help you create your own glowing masterpiece, even if you’re a total beginner. So, grab your brushes and let’s paint some magic! 

Why Acrylics Are Perfect for Beginners:

Before we start, let’s talk a bit about why acrylics are a fantastic medium, especially for beginners. Acrylic paint is water-based, dries quickly, and is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re going for bold and vibrant colors or soft and subtle blends, acrylics have got your back. Plus, if you make a mistake, no worries—you can just paint over it!

Lets gather our supplies:

To paint the Northern Lights, you’ll need just a few supplies:

  1. Painting Surface: Begin with 8×8″ or 8×10″ canvases or canvas panels. But you can also just use paper but use masking tape to hold it down. 
  2. Acrylic Paints: A basic set of 12 colors, like Liquitex Heavy Body. I like to recommend to invest in paints over anything else as they can really improve the quality of the  piece. 
  3. Paintbrushes: A set that includes various sizes, plus a 1″ wash brush. They will last you for a lont tiime
  4. Palette: A Sta-wet palette or Red Grass XL to keep paints wet. Especially in a wet climate it is important, but this is a DIY version that I sometimes make myself. 
  5. MISC: 2 Water jugs for painting and pencil to sketch it out.

Optional: You do not need it but it is a nice to have an apron, a wooden easel. 

1. Easy Acrylic Painting Northern Lights

This beginner-friendly tutorial is perfect if you’re new to painting with acrylics. The video starts with a simple, dark night sky background and guides you through creating soft, colorful streaks that mimic the Northern Lights.

2. Mini Canvas Northern Lights Painting

Don’t have a lot of space or time? This mini canvas tutorial is ideal for those looking to create a quick, beautiful Northern Lights scene on a smaller scale.

3. Landscape Aura Acrylic Painting

You’ll learn how to use a combination of brushes to create texture in the landscape, making the scene more dynamic. This tutorial is excellent for those looking to challenge themselves with a bit more complexity.

4. Mountain Landscape Aurora Borealis

This tutorial is perfect if you’re drawn to the majestic presence of mountains under the shimmering Northern Lights.

5. Easy Landscape Acrylic Painting Idea

Looking for a simple yet stunning landscape painting idea? This tutorial focuses on creating a peaceful and serene night scene with the Northern Lights dancing overhead.

6. Beginner Northern Lights Painting

For those who are just starting out with acrylics, this beginner-friendly tutorial offers a simple approach to painting the Northern Lights.

Final Thoughts

Painting the Northern Lights with acrylics is not only a beautiful project but also a relaxing and rewarding experience. Remember, the beauty of art lies in its imperfections and your unique touch. So, don’t stress about getting it perfect. Just enjoy the process and let your creativity shine. Who knows, this could be the start of an exciting painting journey!

Now, go out there and create something beautiful. Happy painting!