Different Ways to Spray Paint Planets!

Brief Summary:
This video showcases five easy and creative techniques to paint planets using spray paint. Whether you're a beginner or already familiar with spray paint art, you'll learn fresh tricks—ranging from classic layering to unique crackle effects and even techniques for painting planet rings! Throughout, the artist gives lots of tips, explains materials, and encourages experimentation for beautiful, out-of-this-world space art. 🌌

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1. Introduction and Getting Started

The artist kicks things off with a warm welcome and an exciting promise:

"Hello everybody! So today I have not just one tutorial, but multiple tutorials actually. We're going to go ahead and paint a bunch of different planets."

She explains that planets are one of the easiest things to paint and that many spray paint artists start their journeys creating planets. Why? Because it's super easy, there aren't many strict rules, and it's pretty random by nature, giving room for creativity.

"It's where most spray paint artists begin their spray paint journey—and there's a reason for it. It's super easy, it's pretty random, there's not really a whole lot of rules around it."

The artist notes that she typically sees everyone use the same technique for planets, but today she's "here to show you some new ways and some new techniques that you can try if you want to diversify your space paintings a little bit."

Her standard setup:

• 11x14-inch glossy poster board (she always paints on the glossy side)
• Uses a plate or tray from Walmart as a stencil
• Paint choice is varied: "Colors don't really matter in planet paintings—you can be completely random with it."

The first steps set up the background and planet stencil, including outlining with black to show where to place colors.

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2. Classic Magazine Technique: Layering and Texture

For the first planet, she demonstrates the classic and most common technique, popular for its simplicity and reliable results.

1. Paint colors from light to dark: Starting with yellow-orange, blending into darker orange, and finally a dark red (almost brown). She emphasizes:

   "The rule that I follow is going lighter to darker."

2. Add shading and highlights: Decide which side will have shading (black) and which will have the highlight (white).

   "We need to figure out what side of our planet is going to have the shading, and what side is gonna have the highlighting."

   She places white in the upper left and black in the bottom right.

3. Keep the paint wet: If it dries too fast (especially in warm climates), use clear coat spray to rewet the paint.

   "Clear coat will re-wet the paint for you so you can get back to doing whatever you're doing."

4. Create texture: Crumple up a magazine sheet, dab or drag it across your paint to create a unique pattern.

   "Tap down or swipe down very gently and lift... Completely random."

5. Make finishing touches: Shade the planet edges, flick white paint to create stars, then dry (she uses a blow dryer to speed up).

   She notes this technique is quick, has minimal risk for mistakes, and shows off all the colored layers:

   "This is probably the most common technique that I've seen—probably because of how quick it is and how little can go wrong... It really makes a beautiful planet."

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3. Striped and Swiped Planets: Adding Movement

The second method brings in more creative freedom and motion, using stripes swiped with your hand:

1. Lay down stripes: She chooses her color combo (gold, brown, orange):

   "I like to do just random stripes. I usually have them all going one way…"

2. Keep paint wet: Use clear coat again.

3. Swipe with your hand: (Advises wearing gloves for safety.) Swipe gently in the direction of the stripes, or try the opposite direction for a totally different look.

   "Both will give very different looks, but it's basically the same idea."

4. Add highlights and edges as before. The result: a planet with dynamic, streaky bands—think gas giants like Jupiter.

   "I feel like I don't see a whole lot of people using this technique—and it's crazy because it can look so good. Any colors really work for this. This just so happens to be my favorite color combo for this technique."

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4. Spun Texture Planets: Letting Randomness Rule

On to the third technique, where randomness really shines!

1. Layer up random colors: She chooses pink, blue, and white.

2. Keep it wet with clear coat.

3. Lay magazine sheet flat (not crumpled): Place it completely flat on the still-wet paint.

4. Twist and spin:

   "Spin the page until you get around the entire thing, and then lift."

5. Finish with highlights and shading after lifting the stencil.

The result is a unique, marbled swirl—no two attempts look the same!

"I absolutely love this technique."

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5. Crackle Effect Planets: Unique Surfaces

The fourth method is especially eye-catching thanks to a crackle finish.

1. Use Montana's Crackle Effect spray paint over Montana White spray paint for best results (she notes it may work with other brands, but her luck varies).

   "This stuff, in my experience, works best with other Montana brands… Montana Gold is also a great one for the crackling."

2. Apply thick coats: The crackle needs a generous layer.

   "This crackle does work best with a thick layer."

3. Let it dry: Unlike earlier planets, patience is needed here!

   "You do have to have a little bit of patience. You do have to wait for this one to dry in my opinion—which kind of sucks because I'm extremely impatient—but the results I think may be worth it!"

4. Once dry, add highlights and shading as with previous techniques.

The outcome: A planet with dramatic cracked lines and surface—perfect for creating an alien world.

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6. Simple Solid Planet with Hand-Made Ring

The fifth and final planet is a perfect reminder that simple can be impressive. Instead of fancy textures, she uses a single steady color:

1. Spray one solid color: This time a yellow-orange shade.

   "We just went one steady color—no texture, no magazine, no smearing—nothing like that."

2. Highlight and shade as usual, but this planet gets a twist: the addition of rings!

   • Spray clear coat to rewet, then tear a small piece of poster board, crease it a bit, and swipe/curl it through the paint to form a realistic ring.

     "There's something about going the entire way that is really unnatural to me—so I like to do just part of a ring."

She encourages viewers to remember that this type—the single-color planet with a ring—is often overlooked, but adds loads of interest:

"Not a whole lot of people do the ring—it can be a bit difficult at first. Even I don't do rings very often, mostly because I just forget about them existing! But it definitely adds something to your paintings."

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7. Final Thoughts

"If you guys have any questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them!"

Throughout the video, the artist's main message is clear: Don't be afraid to experiment, and there are no strict rules when it comes to painting planets. Whether you prefer classic techniques or want to try something bold, each method can produce dazzling, unique results. So grab some spray paint, a stencil or two, and let your imagination take off! 🚀