Simple Northern Lights Step by Step Acrylic Painting on Canvas for Beginners

[@kamilarybak-przybylska5179]

It is first painting in my life, and I just want to say THANK YOU! It was so easy to follow you. I've just finished and I think I didn't waste paint or warp. My "art" isn't as beautiful as yours, but still not bad. I am going to try another tutorials from you. Dreams came true, I do paint :)

[@maureengoller3213]

Brilliant and simple, as usual Jane. I want to paint your surreal tree on a cliff-top, the black and white one, but now I have another one on my list to paint. I’ve done your Girl in the Rain, with red umbrella, amidst the tall buildings, last year. Everyone loves it. Thanks so much for your brilliant explanations during painting.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Maureen! I hope you get to go through all of them!

[@jamiemcclelland3923]

Love your Northern Lights, ❤❤

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you😊

[@wendyst.germain4482]

I am so glad I found your channel. You and Bob Ross are the best at explaining things and not flying through the technique. Oh, and I love Mr Moon! He’s gorgeous. I had a lovely cat just like him. Her name was Ming.

[@linericher]

Love these quicky paintings once in a while! This was fun and messy!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Line! I'm glad you liked it :D

[@deborahhalcomb4562]

I see several responders want realistic paintings but I have always preferred your style. Shows creativity and imagination. Realistic is boring. ;) This one is WOW and hopefully as easy as you make it look when I try this afternoon. Thanks a bunch.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Aaaw, thank you so much, Deborah

[@nancyshenk2732]

I love northern lights, this is perfect for me to paint! Thank you Jane! ♡

[@PaintingwithJane]

You're so welcome, Nancy! Thank YOU

[@norahmiles5267]

Beautiful Jane. Mr. Moon is a real beauty. Thanks for the inspiration Jane,!!!!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Norah! Mr. Moon says hi!!

[@donnadiesburg7451]

It was OK, The lighting. Beautiful, I loved it! Thanks Jane!

[@sandraodell1072]

Perfect Jane! I love this! Your technique to create the Northern Lights is just phenomenal!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Sandra!

[@clare1119]

Very beautiful, perfect painting

[@christenchandler5221]

Love love love that trick to make the northern lights!! Never thought to drag my brush like that lol. I guess bc its simple. My mind thinks too much into things lol!!

[@PaintingwithJane]

I'm so glad you like it, Christen!! :D

[@glendacrosbywilkins4246]

That is SO PRETTY... Good Job JANE!!!!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Glenda!!

[@chelseawatson4930]

Absolutely love this! Northern Lights can be done in so many way's! I am definitely trying this today!! 😊

[@NasoMessina-g8q]

Lovely painting Jane and....I love your hair.

[@SusanBishop555]

Thanks for another GORGEOUS painting! Now I hope to have some downtime to do this and a couple other of your sky type videos! Thanks for showing that beginning application of black! That is what I need to remember...I do NOT load my brush enough. I do it on one side and no wonder I have to keep going for more paint. lol DUH! Mr. Moon talks and my cats look! lol Thanks again Jane and Big ART Hugs to you. :D

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Susan! Enjoy ♥♥

[@dcampbell5054]

Absolutely love this technique. Thanks Jane.

[@PaintingwithJane]

You're so welcome, Donna! Thank you :D

[@AC-xv9zr]

Another great painting! I’m going to do this one soon.

[@edwill62]

Another epic tutorial.....and a Great Mr Moon visit

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Ed! Mr. Moon says hi :D

[@gloribellmelendez9522]

I keep looking out my window every time I hear Mr. Moon meowing! LOL! Loving this tutorial Jane! ♡

[@paintingattiffanys8694]

Gloribell Melendez i paused the vid and went looking for my cat, he never meows so i got worried lol took me a minute to realize who it really was

[@PaintingwithJane]

LOL! He gets confused by his own meowing when he hears it in the videos, haha!

[@deborahhalcomb4562]

I do too Gloribell. LOL

[@Valeriearts2]

Gorgeous painting. Love the brush techniques you used.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Valerie!

[@janawallace378]

Northern Lights, very nice, Jane

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Jana :D

[@Geier_Meier0815]

i'm so happy that i found your Videos here on KZbin! you make difficult pictures look so easy and possible to paint for everybody! and... it works! I really love your tutorials, your speech and all the advice you give! Great Work!! Greets from Germany!

[@lynnmehal8919]

Really pretty Jane. Thanks

[@viannilopez-mayer7835]

Hi Jane: Here in WI news they showed today an actual photo taken by some one of last night aurora boreal is. It was a beautiful green, kind of neon with purple and reddish like yours. Well done. Thanks once more. May the Lord bless your art. Love. Vianni

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Vianni! I wish I could see the lights in person. Someday I will!

[@margielee2088]

Love it! You make me look forward to Tuesdays!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Yay!! Thank you so much, Margie

[@artsirene8611]

Bonjour Jane, super super beau!!! Merci. Irène FRANCE

[@PaintingwithJane]

Merci beaucoup, Irène!!

[@jessicastacey44]

I absolutely love this!

[@trishcoomerphelps9321]

That was Cool Jane ,it was like the witch background technique.. I loved painting the witch painting. Hope I can do this. This was cool. Thanks Jane ❤️

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Trish!!

[@vanitagulabrai6293]

Just wow!!!! Thank you for sharing your talent🙏🏼💜

[@PaintingwithJane]

You're so welcome! Thank you :)

[@ericawilhelm9060]

A good way to make stars i learned besides using a paint brush is take a old but clean tooth brush and use your finger to flick paint that way through the the bristles.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Yep, that's another great way to do it!

[@LisaVanDyke]

Thank you Erica for that tip! I just wasn't getting my stars right any other way!

[@jenniferaustin8623]

Erica Wilhelm I remember this in middle school. Used it many times over the years.

[@judith-annmauro2943]

Love this,, amazing the way you tap on the brush to make the stars, I've always used an old toothbrush this is so much cleaner...after you finished the tree started on the land I noticed you added a "black bear" looking at the stars (it's right on the hill😊) thnx again Jane u r my #1

[@X.ghOstie]

This is beautiful!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much!

[@sharondempsey157]

well I painted this tonight... but I had difficulties with the application using the cloud brush. (I have your 5 brush set) .. you make it seem so easy... I seem to be all thumbs..lol I did some repeat of under colours to make them stand out more.. Your instructions are so easy to abide by.. maybe because I have not painted for a couple of months (you started me last year) so, maybe after a couple ... But you are the best painting instructor!!!!

[@rosebinder8394]

love this one! tried to do it with one of my old brushes and now have a ball of bristles on a handle. Can't wait to get my new brushes that I ordered from Jane and try it again. Hurry up Mister postman. lol

[@Freyaaaafurry]

thanks to you I have a painting to enter the fair!!! thanks 😊

[@leoy9937]

Hello Jane! I love this kind of painting the last time i painted similar with this is the starry night with the used of water but it turn out really great. Thank you once again. Ill try this one soon. 😊😊😊🌺🌸🌼

[@PaintingwithJane]

You're so welcome, Leo! Have fun :D

[@leesam3012]

Beautiful. I need to head to Michael's to get canvases then I will get busy. Have a great day. ❤👨‍🎨👩‍🎨

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Lessa! Have fun :D

[@brooklyn17rm]

Awww Mr.Moon🐈🐾

[@ShelliMinton]

Working on this one and noticed I was having a harder time getting the blending on the lights using my Heavy bodied paints, went back to the basics for it and was much easier. Just trying to help others here!! Happy painting!

[@luminitabarbu73]

Beautiful.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Luminta :)

[@domydgo1068]

I'm a beginner at painting and my daughter asked me to paint northern lights for her ! I just painted my canvas in black for the moment and I'm scared to start anything else !!! But I will !!! I have to !!! Thank you for all your explanations. It's always very clear ! Wish me luck !!!

[@PaintingwithJane]

Don't be scared! What's the worst that could happen!? If you don't like it, do it again. You'll do great, and your daughter will be thrilled! 💛

[@domydgo1068]

@@PaintingwithJane Thank you Jane ! I'll start tomorrow as I can't give it enough time today. Maybe I can show you when it's done?

[@nobsuj]

Thts truly mesmerizing..,

[@PaintingwithJane]

Aaaw, thank you so much!

[@squatcher77]

This looks like an awesome technique for painting fire. Kinda looks like witchfire, lol!

[@PaintingwithJane]

I think it would be awesome as fire!! Did you see my Enchanted Apple video where we used this technique the first time? Pretty much witchfire :D

[@lissalaughery5363]

LOVE it!

[@nicolettagabrielli6684]

Thank you, Jane!

[@PaintingwithJane]

You're so welcome, Nicoletta! Enjoy :D

[@beatrizcruz584]

I love this... Thanks 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️

[@CRSART-om9pj]

Great video jane :-):-)

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Christine!!

[@anna62932]

I like the black paint thing but I just use gesso much easier because I love black canvas.

[@ottolees7208]

Loving it :3

[@zeynepeveri9670]

I love to hear Mr. Moon's voice. Hiiiii Mr. Mooooooooooooooon :*

[@FatPeanutsFat]

Zeynep Everi heh I told my cat to shush and then I realized oh that's not my cat

[@PaintingwithJane]

LOL!!! He's a loud and silly boy :)

[@zeynepeveri9670]

FatPeanutsFat This is funny 😅😅😅

[@averyprince1170]

Wasnt the most easy painting ive ever done..but your looks really good

[@aliaajafeer560]

Awesome

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Aliaa!

[@krissyschwab4691]

If you don't have a #12 cloud brush, what would you recommend using instead? Thanks!

[@aquamarinebutterfly3202]

I'd like to know this too

[@3DWhispers]

Jane thank you for another great video, this looks like a cool technique for doing Northern Lights, I'm going to give it a try. I have a question if you don't mind. I know that you use Liquitex Basics, where I see a lot of other painters on youtube recommending to use the more expensive paints. If you feel comfortable answering, I would like your advice on the topic. Again thank you for your great channel, I've learned so much !

[@PaintingwithJane]

It's a great question! Liquitex Basics is a perfectly acceptable and quality paint. Yes, it's a student grade paint, but it's lightfast and just as archival as professional grade paints. The main difference you'll find is that Basics has a lower pigment load than professional grade paints. That's one of the reasons why it's less expensive. There are actually many very accomplished painters who use Basics as their primary paint. I do use Heavy Body as well, but I don't feel like it's right for every application, just like Basics isn't right for every application. I think it's important to use different types of paint so that you can expand your knowledge, for sure. There are many times that I specifically choose Basics because of its transparency. For example, the video I'll be doing next week I use Basics in a certain area rather than Heavy Body because I want the transparency of the Basics. The Heavy Body would be way too opaque for what I want to achieve. Another reason I use Basics is because a large portion of my viewers are newer to painting. When people are just starting out, it can be intimidating to run out and buy hundreds of dollars in professional grade paint. I want to show people that you don't have to break the bank to create art. I hope that helps!

[@3DWhispers]

Painting with Jane Thank you for the great explanation! Makes sense.

[@iamaleo247]

✨✨✨LOVELY!!!✨✨✨

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you, Joelle!!

[@kmierta83]

What can i use for the cloud brush? I have so many brushes right now and shouldn't really buy anymore until after our big vacation in June for our 20th wedding anniversary.

[@mariebergen4468]

Hi Jane, I just love your tutorials, i also love your red ring. wondering where you got it. If you don't mind sharing:)

[@jenniferaustin8623]

When you paint the canvas Black, have you noticed a difference in the final product when you use Acrylic Paint instead of black gesso painted/black canvas?

[@brishtiguha5398]

Hi Jane. Just had a question, is there any substitute for quinacridone and green?

[@ady341]

is the cloud brush and mop brush the same thing?

[@PaintingwithJane]

No, a mop brush is much, much softer. My cloud brushes have bristles that are quite a bit firmer than a mop brush so they can really push the paint around.

[@DustyBeans13]

What colors can I mix to get Q-magenta

[@PaintingwithJane]

Unfortunately, that's one of those colors you can't mix :(

[@mariannehagen83]

You make it look so easy! But when I try I end up with a mess that doesn't look like anything, so frustrating.. Love your videos and pictures though, you're a good teacher! 😊 It's just me that sucks 😜

[@PaintingwithJane]

You don't suck, Marianne! All it takes is practice. I promise. If you're kind to yourself and encourage yourself to continue, you will see so much improvement! Trust me when I say that I wasn't born knowing how to do any of this. It all comes from practice. I can't stress that enough. Don't get frustrated

[@knoakes8309]

what can i use intead of Quinacridone Magenta

[@paintingattiffanys8694]

Kim Noakes you can make a dark pink with red and white, or mix blue and red and white to make purple and lighten or darken it to your liking

[@knoakes8309]

Tiffany Tucker I am new to this and welcome your input thank you

[@paintingattiffanys8694]

Kim Noakes we all start somewhere! The most important thing is that you just do it, even if you feel like you're not getting the results you want. You will learn something from every attempt, whether it is a technique you love or simply what not to do or what you don't like. When you are ready, i highly suggest watching a couple videos on color charts and make one for yourself. I learned so much about colors and what i can get even when I'm missing a specific color that teachers are using. I watch a couple different artists because everyone explains things differently, jane is by far my favorite though, i am so grateful to have found her channel.

[@PaintingwithJane]

Aaaaw, Tiffany, you're so sweet. Thank you, friend, and thank you for helping out a fellow artist! Kim, everything Tiffany said is true ♥

[@MonicapatelPrecise]

Hi Jane, I just had some questions, While doing the under-painting what difference will it make if spread the paint using lot of water? Also sometimes it happens that when I am scrubbing on black under painted canvas my white gets gray and all muddy with black and is not as bright and fresh as yours what could be the reason for this?

[@PaintingwithJane]

Hi Monica! Yes, if you use too much water, your paint will get very thin and you'll have a hard time covering the canvas. Also, if you use too much water, you run the risk of underbinding the paint. When you paint over it later, no matter how long you let it dry, that paint will come up and mix with the paint you're trying to put over top of it. Just use a good amount of paint and use some patience when covering the background like I showed you here. It seems to take awhile at first, but once you've got your technique down, you'll be able to do it much faster.

[@MonicapatelPrecise]

Thanks for the reply Jane, just one more question, rather request, sometimes when you use various colours for your painting can you also tell us how we can mix colours to make that shade? I would really appreciate if you can also teach us about colour mixing.

[@viannilopez-mayer7835]

Jane sweetie, I have a question for you. I can't make the paint that I put in my dish to last for the whole paint as you do. I have to add more. Sometimes even adding some gel will not help. I think I' m doing something very wrong here. Can you give me some advice on it? Thanks sweetie. May the Lord bless you. Love. vianni

[@samruddhisalokhe9676]

I love ur cat. 😍😘 N ya no need of telling u again n again that ur drawing is beautiful 😍😻💋❤💙💚💛💜💓💕💖💗💝💞💟

[@PaintingwithJane]

Thank you so much, Samruddhi! ♥♥♥

[@ladyshadow79]

Hi.. I was wondering how to get in touch with you to ask you a question?

[@PaintingwithJane]

You can email me at [e-mail]

[@ladyshadow79]

Painting with Jane Thanks so much. I sent you an email..

[@ahuman6804]

your art style is beautiful, I inspire to be as good as a painter as you are someday! -Abigail Eppens (age 7)

[@toqaalsger5216]

تسلم يدينك حبيييييييييت جدا

[@listentome5322]

جميل جدا حبيبتي 😀😀😀😀

[@PaintingwithJane]

شكرا لكم دائما، هانن!

[@lovejunkie999]

What is a brush similar to your cloud brush?

[@judith-annmauro2943]

Jane...just when you were finished you cremated the bear 😯..that's ok it was still a beautiful painting

[@janana6786]

I got up to check if my exact twin of Mr Moon, Lil Foot, was meowing. Restarted the video and you said Mr Moon says hi. I thought he was mine. :-)

[@FatPeanutsFat]

Is it just me or is one camera view a really funny color when you zoom in it's fine when you switch to the camera that's panned out it's not or is it just me

[@PaintingwithJane]

Nope, it's not just you. I set my cameras for a cloudy day because it was really dark outside. The light kept changing, and I forgot to check them again :/

[@FatPeanutsFat]

Painting with Jane k wanted to make sure I was wasn't having a stroke lol

[@PaintingwithJane]

LOL!!!

[@poirei1]

hi

[@mammam3490]

Labai grazu

[@donnadiesburg7451]

The lighting changed! I couldn't watch it