Want to learn how to paint a shiny foil heart balloon in acrylics? In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the techniques I use to create that shiny, metallic effect that makes foil balloons really pop. It’s a fun and easy painting project that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, or anytime you’re in the mood to paint something bright and playful. The written step by step instructions are below, and if you’d rather watch the painting process, here’s a video showing it in action:
There’s also a full length version of this tutorial over on my Patreon, where you can paint along with me in real time, while I explain exactly how to paint this love themed painting.
In the full length tutorial I include all of the paint colours I used, brush techniques, reference images and line drawings. So if you want to improve your painting skills, come and join us!
Okay, let’s get started. To paint this foil heart balloon you will need:
- Acrylic paint: red, dark blue, white
- Paintbrushes
- A surface to paint on (e.g. canvas or paper)
- Reference image (if you want to use the image I’m working from, it’s available with the full length tutorial)
Step 1:
Use a shade of bright red paint to paint a heart shape onto your canvas. Add a little section at the point of the heart to create the neck of the balloon.
It may help to sketch the outline of the heart onto your canvas before you add the paint.
Step 2:
Mix some dark blue paint into the red paint to create a dark shade of red. Use this dark red to paint a frill around the edge of the heart. This will really make it start to look like a balloon as it has that wavy edge that foil balloons have!
Step 3:
Use the same shade of dark red paint to start painting in the shadows. It’s at this stage that you really need to use a reference image, as the shadows can fall in really random places! Getting the shadows in the right place can make this Valentines heart balloon look much more realistic.
Step 4:
Continue to paint the shadows of the balloon. Then mix up an even darker shade of red to paint the darkest shadows. This creates more contrast which helps to make the balloon look extra shiny.
Step 5:
Mix some red and white paint together to get a lighter shade, then use this to paint in the highlights of the balloon. Again, it really helps to use a reference photo for this. Mine is available with the full length tutorial.
Then use white paint on it’s own to paint the brightest highlights of the balloon.
Step 6:
Use a thin paintbrush and some dark red paint, and paint small lines around the edge of the heart. This will create the creases that you see around foil balloons. Then use a lighter shade of paint to paint a highlight to these creases to make it look extra shiny and more realistic.
Step 7:
To finish your love themed heart balloon painting, use a small paintbrush and some dark red paint to paint the string coming out of the bottom of the balloon.
Finished Valentines heart balloon painting:
And there you have it, a shiny foil heart balloon painted in acrylics, that’s much easier than it looks!
Painting a foil heart balloon is a fun and rewarding acrylic painting project that lets you play with shine, colour, and reflection! Whether you’re creating art for Valentine’s Day, a handmade gift for someone special, or simply exploring new acrylic painting techniques, this tutorial is designed to help you build confidence and achieve a realistic, glossy effect.
I hope these tips inspire you to keep experimenting with light, highlights, and bold shapes in your art. If you enjoyed this Valentine’s inspired art tutorial, be sure to check out the video above and the full-length lesson on Patreon, and most of all, have fun painting something made with love!
