Want to add a magical glow to your acrylic paintings? In this easy beginner art tutorial, I’ll show you how to paint simple string lights that glow against the dark background. This tutorial is perfect for painting Christmas scenes, festive decorations, or any artwork that needs a touch of warmth. With just a few basic brush techniques and colours, you’ll learn how to create that glowing halo effect that makes lights shine.
If you’d like to watch the video tutorial to see the painting in process in action, just watch it below or head over to my Youtube channel.
If you’d like to watch full length video tutorial in real time with full step by step instructions, where I explain all of the paint colours I use as well as all of the techniques in detail to paint these string lights, then head over to my Patreon. By joining me on Patreon you’ll get instant access to all of my full length art tutorials!
If you’d rather read the step by step instructions for how to paint these fairy lights, then just scroll down!
To paint these glowing string lights you will need:
- Acrylic paints – dark blue, light blue, orange, yellow, black and white
- Paintbrushes
- Sponge (optional)
- Pencil
- Glazing medium (optional)
- Water
Step 1:
Begin by sketching out a rough outline of where you want your string lights to be. Use a pencil to mark out the lines for the string and pencil in rough circles for the bulbs. This doesn’t need to be exact as we will paint over this, it’s just to use as a guide so we know where our lights will be.
Step 2:
Paint the whole of your canvas in dark blue paint, leaving the circles for the lightbulbs. This will make it easier to paint the bright lights over the top.
Have a look at this reindeer painting tutorial to see how you can incorporate this painting technique into your animal or landscape paintings!
Step 3:
Use a lighter blue shade of paint to paint a glow around each lightbulb. Then use a sponge or a paintbrush to blend the light blue paint into the dark blue paint. It helps to do this while your dark blue background is still wet.
Here’s a video showing you the BEST ways to blend acrylic paints!
Step 4:
Dip a paintbrush into some watered down white paint and then tap the end of the brush to splatter the paint onto the canvas. This will create the effect of stars in the night sky.
This is my favourite technique for splattering acrylic paints, check out my detailed tutorial on this here.
Step 5:
Mix some yellow, orange and white acrylic paint together with either some glazing medium or some water to make it more transparent. Then use a paintbrush to add this mixture around each light, leaving some of the light blue glow showing around the edges. This will create the glowing effect of the string lights.
Step 6:
Mix some bright yellow with a little bit of white paint, and then use this to paint in the round light bulbs. Then, use white paint on its own and add a dot to the centre of each light. This will make the lights look extra bright.
Step 7:
To finish your glowing string light painting, dip a thin brush into some black paint, and paint a fine line across the top of each row of lightbulbs. Then paint a small square at the top of each light, attaching them to the string.
And there you have it, warm glowing string lights – perfect for glowing landscapes, festive animal paintings and so much more!
Don’t forget to check out the full length tutorial over on my Patreon, where you can paint along with me in real time!
Happy painting!
