Painting a Galaxy in 10 Minutes (Well... More Like an Hour)

One of my favorite ways to practice painting lately has been following along with "10-minute painting" tutorials.

The name is a little misleading.

At least for me.

While the tutorials might be designed to be completed in ten minutes, I've been averaging closer to an hour. But honestly, that's still pretty fast compared to many of the projects I work on. It's long enough to be relaxing and creative, but short enough that I can finish the entire painting in a single sitting.

This time, I tackled a galaxy painting.

Why I Like Quick Painting Challenges

Sometimes I don't want to spend days or weeks on a single piece of artwork.

Don't get me wrong—I enjoy larger projects. But there is something satisfying about starting with a blank canvas and ending with a finished painting before the evening is over.

These quick painting exercises are also a great way to practice techniques without feeling pressured to create a masterpiece.

If it turns out great, awesome.

If it doesn't, you've still learned something.

That's a pretty good trade-off.

Starting With a Black Canvas

Like many galaxy paintings, this one begins with a black background.

The entire canvas gets coated in black paint first, creating the perfect backdrop for stars, nebulae, and glowing cosmic clouds.

One thing that continues to surprise me about these tutorials is how few supplies they require.

For this painting, I only needed four colors:

• Mars Black
• Titanium White
• Primary Blue
• Primary Red

That's it.

No giant collection of specialty paints. No complicated color palette. Just four basic colors mixed and layered together to create the illusion of deep space.

Honestly, it's impressive how much variety you can get from such a simple selection.

Less Really Is More

The more painting tutorials I try, the more I realize that artists often rely on fewer supplies than beginners expect.

When I first started painting, I thought I needed dozens of colors and every brush imaginable.

Now I'm discovering that many paintings use surprisingly limited palettes.

Not only does this save money, but it also forces you to learn color mixing and understand how colors work together.

This galaxy painting was another reminder that sometimes less really is more.

Following Along and Learning

As I worked through the tutorial, I found the process fairly straightforward compared to some of the other paintings I've attempted.

The techniques were simple enough that I could relax and enjoy the process rather than constantly worrying about whether I was doing everything correctly.

Of course, my version didn't look exactly like the instructor's.

But that's okay.

I think that's one of the most important lessons for new artists to learn.

Your goal shouldn't be to create an exact copy.

Your goal should be to learn.

Every painting teaches something, even when it doesn't turn out perfectly.

The Finished Galaxy

By the end of the session, I had a galaxy painting that I was actually pretty happy with.

Was it perfect?

No.

Did it look exactly like the tutorial?

Also no.

But I liked it.

And that's what matters.

The colors blended nicely, the galaxy effect was recognizable, and the overall painting captured the cosmic feeling I was hoping for.

Sometimes that's enough.

The Tweaks Never End

Of course, being an artist means you're never completely finished.

The moment I stepped back and looked at the painting, I immediately started seeing things I wanted to change.

I think I'd like to add more white highlights to certain areas to create a stronger glowing effect. A few brighter spots could help the galaxy feel more luminous and give it a little extra depth.

And then I had another idea.

Glow paint.

I think adding a few subtle glow-in-the-dark accents could make this painting really fun. During the day, it would look like a standard galaxy painting. At night, hidden details could suddenly appear and create an entirely different experience.

As someone who loves spooky and unusual artwork, that idea is hard to resist.

Why I'll Probably Paint More Galaxies

One thing I enjoyed about this project was how forgiving it felt.

Galaxy paintings don't require perfect realism. They're expressive, colorful, and open to interpretation. If a blend isn't perfect or a shape turns out differently than planned, it often still works because space itself is chaotic and unpredictable.

That makes galaxy paintings a great practice subject for artists who are still learning.

And since this one turned out reasonably well, I can definitely see myself trying another version in the future.

Maybe with more colors.

Maybe with glow effects.

Maybe with a few spooky cosmic creatures hidden among the stars.

We'll see where inspiration takes me.

Final Thoughts

This galaxy painting reminded me why I enjoy these quick art challenges so much.

They're fun.

They're low pressure.

And they provide an opportunity to practice without getting overwhelmed by a massive project.

Even though my "10-minute painting" once again took closer to an hour, I still ended the session with a finished piece and a few new ideas for future experiments.

That's a successful art day in my book.

Have you ever tried painting a galaxy? Do you prefer quick painting projects or larger, more detailed pieces? I'd love to hear about your favorite creative challenges.

Until next time, stay spooky and keep creating. 🎨✨🌌👻