"Each atom of our body
was once a star.
Vincent Freeman
A week ago on our creative instagram @miftvorchestvo we launched a competition for the best assignment from the notebook "642 ideas of what to draw" . The task sounded simple - space. Many creative and creative works. You can see them all by the tag. We publish best work and give step by step master class how to learn to draw space.
The best works for the contest #642 ideascosmos
"If you can't fly into space, make it fly to you." Photo by @al.ex_kv.
And when darkness sleeps beside you, And the morning is far away, I wanna hold your hand and guide you…” Parov Stelar ft. Lilja Bloom - Shine. Photo by @julia_owlie.
Are they really cool? 🙂
Step by step master class
If you did not participate in the competition, but also want to learn how to draw space, save yourself somewhere these step by step instructions what and how to do to make it bright and beautiful.
1. In order to draw the Universe, only 3-4 colors are enough. At least that's how much you can start with. Important: watercolor sheet should be very dense so that it does not wrinkle from water and so that the paint spreads nicely and evenly.
2. The outline can be outlined with a solid with a simple pencil to indicate the space that you will wet with water. Wet some of the allocated space.
3. Apply paint to wetted area. Try to keep the outlines nice.
4. Wet the rest of the space with water and paint a different color. Selectively make bright inclusions throughout the pattern. The drawing must be wet so that the paint spreads beautifully.
5. After the drawing is completely dry, apply the stars. It can be white or yellow paint with an old toothbrush.
6. Some stars can be drawn more carefully.
Photo for the master class from kitty-ink.tumblr.com.
If you sprinkle salt on a wet drawing, then the structure of the cosmos will turn out to be even more interesting. Salt will absorb some of the paint, and shaking it off after it dries completely, in place of the salt there will be beautiful white dots and clouds.
On our creative Instagram @miftvorchestvo we will regularly hold competitions for notebooks "642 ideas what to draw", "642 ideas what to write about" and "642 ideas what else to write about" (new!). Subscribe to be aware of everything creatively interesting and creatively fun.
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From this short lesson you will learn how to create a simple shining space background. We'll start by creating a gradient mesh, then add some glowing stars using the Symbol Spray, and finish our picture by adding a colorful planet made up of simple radial gradients. This tutorial is great for beginners who want to learn more about transitions, symbols, and gradient mesh. Let's begin!
Step 1
Create an RGB document of any size. To get the best colors and to get the shine, the document must be in RGB format. Draw a rectangle the size of the artboard and fill it with black (R=0 G=0 B=0).
Step 2
Create a new rectangle above the black rectangle you just made, and then go to Object > Create Gradient Mesh (Object > Create Gradient Mesh). I have 8 rows and 4 columns. If you want to use more colors, then you should increase the number. I want to use purple and blue, so I kept the number of columns and rows to a minimum.
Step 3
Use the Direct Selection Tool (A), select a few points and distribute them over the rectangle. I moved the left and right columns of nodes closer to the periphery.
Step 4
Select a few of these points by clicking on them while holding Shift and using the Direct Selection Tool (A). Color the selected points using the color bar and deselect. Repeat the same process with other grid points and choose a new color. You should end up with something that looks like the image below. Don't forget to leave some parts black, this will make your background look more like outer space.
Step 5
When you're done coloring the mesh, select it with the Selection Tool (V) and open the Appearance Panel (Window > Appearance). Go to the bottom of the Appearance panel and click on the Add New Effect button ( f(x)), there go to Deformation (Warp) and select Fisheye (Fisheye). I set the Bend to 84%, you should choose the warp according to the size of your document. better fit. You can evaluate it by checking the View option.
Step 6
With the gradient mesh selected, go to the Opacity options in the Appearance panel and set the Opacity to 10%.
Step 7
Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a circle. The circle should be twice the size over size the stars you want to make. Fill it with a Radial Gradient from Black to White. Open the Gradient panel (Window>Gradient) and make sure that there is a white dot in the center. You can see the gradient settings I used in the image below. Open the Symbols panel (Window > Symbols) and drop the circle into the Symbols panel.
Step 8
Take the Symbol Sprayer Tool (Shift + S) and spray your stars over the artboard. I sprayed mine around to make room for the planet. The symbols form a group, so after you finish creating the stars, select them with the Selection Tool (V) (Selection Tool) and go to the Appearance settings. In the Opacity Settings, change the blend mode to Lightening Basics (Light. Basic - Color Dodge) and set Opacity - 30%.
Step 9
While the stars are selected, click the Add New Effect button in the appearance bar (fx) and then select Warp and Bloat. I set the bend to 75%, you should look at your drawing and see what value suits you best. If necessary, enable the Preview option. Some of your stars may be outside of the drawing, scale them to fit within the rectangle created in step 1.
Step 10
Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a large circle in the middle of the artboard. Fill it with a Radial Gradient from White to Black. Go to the Gradient panel and make it so that you get a black dot in the middle, and that it is clean. white area on the border. You can see my settings in the picture below.
Step 11
Go to the Opacity settings and set the Blending Mode to Color Dodge.
Step 12
To finish creating the planet, click on the Add New Effect button f(x) in the Appearance panel and select Styling> Outer Glow (Stylize> Outer Glow). I set the glow to 100% opacity and 50 px blur. The blend mode is unchanged, as the blend mode for the circle will be applied. Click OK.
Step 13
Make a copy of the stars Command + C, and then double-click on the circle for the planet. Paste the stars Command + F (Paste Front) and go to the bottom of the Appearance panel and click the Add New Effect button (fx), go to Warp, and then apply a Fisheye Warp. Change the opacity for the stars to 80%.
Step 14
Make a copy of the circle for the planet (Command + C) and then paste it above the second set of stars (Command + F). Select the stars and the planet and make a Clipping Mask (Command + 7). Double click on the artboard and navigate back to the main illustration.
Conclusion
You now have a glowing space background. You can later add big stars, more planets, or draw a character or some objects. I hope you enjoyed this lesson.
There is no doubt that any person, thinking, so to speak, about the eternal, imagines the depths of space with its unexplored expanses and tries to express his feelings in the form of a picture or drawing. Let's see how to draw space, using various tools and techniques.
What do we associate outer space with?
paramount association outer space even on a subconscious level, for any person it comes down to infinity, although not everyone imagines what it is.
If you approach the question of how to draw space in stages, you should pay attention to some of the elements that are depicted in the paintings most often. First, a spatial structure is created. These can be galaxies or nebulae with rarefied gas, then stars visible to the naked eye or through modern telescopes fit in here.
Only then can one assume planetary system, although in most cases the question of how to draw space comes down to depicting objects known to us in solar system, because we do not know how the surfaces of the planets of other star systems look like (the nearest distance is 4 light years - Proxima of the constellation Centaurus).
And, of course, to depict his view of what may be there, even a novice artist uses completely different instruments best suited to his imagination.
If you look at all the drawings and paintings, you will notice that most often they depict stars (constellations), nebulae, galaxies and planetary systems.
In the first, second and third cases, the question of how to draw space is solved quite simply. On any dark background (even black or gray color) are interspersed in the form of stars that differ in size and light activity. This is the easiest way.
As for nebulae, they often look colored not only in the ultraviolet or infrared spectrum, but also in the visible human eye range. It is from this perspective that it is worth considering the question of how to draw space in watercolor. It is best suited for this due to the fact that when mixed with water, you can get smooth shades and transitions that are not available, say, gouache or oil paints. But more on that later.
How to get inspiration?
If you are already thinking about how to draw space, or rather, to get a certain charge that can give impetus to a surge of emotions, for starters, you should just look at the night sky in clear weather.
Alas, in our hemisphere the sky looks only like darkness interspersed with stars. Another thing - Southern Hemisphere, Where Milky Way(this is the name of our galaxy) looks in all its glory.
On the other hand, music is quite a powerful tool for activating thoughts. If so-called space music used to be associated with bands like Space or Zodiac, today it's enough to listen to compositions in the style of Ambient, Chillout or Downtempo, which use complex sound effects.
How to draw space with paints?
Now about paints. Based on the foregoing, the most solved question will be how to draw space in watercolor.
Here it is worth paying attention to the colors themselves. First you need to apply a dark background to the sheet, let the paint and paper dry a little, and then dilute the depth by simply adding water. You understand that outer space cannot be equally dark.
After that, you can start drawing images of galaxies or planets. By the way, it is with the help of watercolor that it is best to depict colored gas nebulae. But you can specify some elements with the help of additional funds in the form of gouache or oil.
How to draw space with a pencil?
With pencils, the situation is somewhat worse. The fact is that it will not be possible to achieve the blurring inherent in space.
Here it is better to use vertical, horizontal or oblique hatching with a long stylus. In addition, even drawing some global elements requires knowledge of additional effects.
Additional effects
In the case of paints, everything is clear. The usual dilution with water gives a fairly powerful effect. But few people know what else Soviet times a method was invented to obtain smooth transitions when drawing with a pencil.
You just need to grind off the stylus a little on a separate piece of paper, then take the powder and smear it over the image on the paper. The effect is simply amazing. By the way, this applies not only to simple, but also to colored pencils. This is called retouching.
Separately, it is worth noting that in the question of how to draw space, some authors of paintings are not limited to using standard tools. So, for example, the addition of sparkles, symbolizing the stars, is a fairly hot topic.
What is better to use?
Now a few words about which is better: a computer program or hand drawing? Both. Of course, applications for creating and processing graphics have their own quite powerful capabilities, but many people first fix the flight of thought on paper, after which they scan the picture and translate it into the desired format.
However, programs like Adobe Photoshop or the same Corel Draw package offers to use complex gradient fills as templates, which are simply not possible to obtain with ordinary drawing.
Based on this, you can simply advise, initially make a sketch of the future drawing or painting, and only then decide whether it is worth processing it in computer program or leave it unchanged. In principle, both options are acceptable. Although the solution to the question of how to draw space with paints in the usual way seems to be more preferable.
Another thing is if the artist does not want to digitize the picture. This is understandable, because a sheet of paper or canvas looks natural. Unlike computer images, when viewing, you can touch the picture and see the paint application technique used by the author of this or that masterpiece.
While listening to a new composition by jazz singer MaryAnna "Purple spaceship", I wanted to create something cosmic in a glamorous style in Photoshop. Then I went to the Internet in search of photos of the performer. After reviewing many resources, I finally found what I needed - a photo provided by photographer Alina Magdalyuk. To complete the lesson, you can use your photo or take from the archive the one that I found.
Materials for the lesson:
Step 1. So, let's open our photo. In order to create a new background for it, let's first get rid of the existing one. I carved a girl with a tool Pen (Feather ), hair using function colorRange(color range) and tool Background Eraser(Background eraser). You can do this in any other known and convenient way for you.
Step 2 Now we need to understand what gives us an idea of the cosmos ... The first thing that comes to mind is the various planets, many stars ... Yes! The stars are exactly what we need! On the Internet, I found a photo provided for free by Skywalker79. Open the photo with the stars in Photoshop. Now, since our composition will be vertical, let's rotate the photo vertically. To do this, having selected the layer with the stars, go to the menu Image>RotateCanvas>90o(Image > Rotate Canvas >900) . Now let's drag this background into our main document and place it below the girl's layer (name it "Stars"), you should end up with this:
Step 3 So, now we have something cosmic in the background. But he looks somehow separate from the girl, and she is still in weightlessness with us, which, you see, does not look very pretty. Since our task is to create a glamorous background, let's change the color of the stars, for example, to magenta. Make sure the "Stars" layer is active, then press Ctrl+U to bring up the window Hue/Saturation(Hue / Saturation), check the box next to the parameter colorize(Toning) .
Please note that the background color with stars has changed, which means that our function is ready to use, now it is enough to move the sliders to select the desired color, its saturation and brightness, and then click OK. For my work, I set the following values:
Hue(Color tone): 302
Saturation(Saturation): 44
lightness(Brightness): -41
Here's what happened:
Step 4 The color is beautiful, isn't it? Only thing I don’t like is that our dress seems to be transparent, and in some areas it shows through the old background:
With a tool Pen(Pen) select the desired areas, right-click inside any created path, and select from the menu that appears MakeSelection(Create Selection) , Featherradius(Feather Radius) set to 1. Now press Ctrl+X to cut out the selected areas, and then Ctrl+V to paste them on a separate layer (note that the layer with the cut details is best placed above the layer with the girl). If the pieces have moved after insertion, return them to their original position using the tool move(Move). Now let's change Opacity(transparency) layer with pieces of fabric up to about 50%. This is how we should be:
Step 5 Well, what kind of star can we have without a stage! To make it, let's go back to the "Stars" layer, activate it and press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + J to create a duplicate. You should have two layers star background, we work with the top one, for convenience, name it "Scene". Then we will reflect the "Scene" layer vertically, for which we go to the menu Edit>Transform>FlipVertical(Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical) and, using the tool move(Move), move it down half way. Then go to the menu Edit>Transform>Perspective(Edit>Transform>Perspective) and transform it as shown in the image below (I removed the main background so that you can better see how to apply perspective).
Step 6 It seems to me that if the stage is oval, it will look better. In order for our scene to take an oval shape, we will use the tool. Let's apply it like this:
Now press Ctrl+Shift+I to invert the selection and use the Erase Tool Eraser(Eraser) excess (it is better to take an eraser with soft edges). Here's how it should look like:
To prevent the scene from looking harsh, apply a little Gaussian blur to it ( Filter>Blur>GaussianBlur(Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur)) . A value of 0.4 was enough for me.
Step 7 For realism, let's add some shadows and reflections to the scene. To create a reflection, we need to make the girl's layer active and duplicate it (Ctrl + J) (I had to reduce the size of the girl a little before duplicating to put the reflection at the bottom and leave a place for the inscription on top). Now we are working with the layer that will be located below (that is, with the original). Make it active and go to the menu Edit>Transform>FlipVertical(Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical). Place the resulting image as shown in the picture.
As you can see, the reflection is not very realistic. Go to menu Edit>Transform>Warp(Edit>Transform>Deform) and warp our future reflection so that it is in contact with the entire foot. Then, when everything is ready and you are happy with the result, install Opacity(Transparency) layer about 55% and erase with the tool Eraser(eraser) with soft edges unnecessary details. You should end up with something like this:
Step 8 Look at the original photo, the shadow is barely visible and radiates away from the girl. We will try to depict the same in our work. To do this, create a new layer above the scene layer and name it "Shadow". When creating the shadow for my image, I used a 50px black soft-edged brush, then set Opacity(transparency) of the "Shadow" layer by 39%. Here's what it should look like:
Step 9 It seems to me that the composition lacks a bit of dynamics. Let's do this: go back to the "Stars" layer and duplicate it once (Ctrl + J), name this layer (top) "Shine". Now let's go to the menu Filter>Blur>RadialBlur(Filter > Blur > Radial Blur) and set the settings as in the image below:
We will get the following:
Now apply a mask to the "Shine" layer:
Choose a black brush with soft edges and erase the area behind the girl and a little around her. This is what my mask looks like:
And here's what we have with the image:
Step 10
Now let's move on to the layer with the girl. Double click on it to open the window layerstyle(Layer styles). Activate the option OuterGlow(Outer Glow) and set the following settings:
blendmode(blend mode):Screen(Lightening)
Opacity(Transparency): 46%
color(Color): 4e174e
size(Size): 46
And here is the glow we get:
Step 11 Pretty good, in my opinion, but a bit boring. Let's dilute this composition with an interesting lighting effect. To do this, we need to use the tool Rectangle(rectangle), set it to mode shapeLayers(contour layer). It doesn't matter what color you draw the rectangle, then we will change the color for it anyway.
Draw a rectangle like this (don't forget to place it above all layers):
Click in the layers palette on the icon of the resulting rectangle with the right mouse button and select ConverttoSmartObject(Convert to Smart Object) . Name this layer "Strip". Install Fill(Fill) for this layer at 0%. Double click on it to open the window layerstyle(layer styles) . Choose an option Gradientoverlay(Gradient Overlay) and set the following settings:
Here's what your rectangle should look like with these settings:
Convert the rectangle to a Smart Object again. Well, here already give free rein to your fantasies! You can duplicate this rectangle several times, change the size, opacity, blending modes of some of the copies, and position them however you like. Finally, rasterize the layers with rectangles (right-click on the layer > Rasterize(Rasterize)) and erase their edges with a soft eraser so that they are not so rough. This is how it turned out for me:
Step 12Attention, if you are working with a different photo and a different scale, then these settings must be set individually, otherwise, a similar effect will not work.
Now let's add an inscription at the top. I chose the font EkaterinaVelikayaOne .
The font is very pretty, but to fit our composition, let's give it some style. To do this, double click on the layer to open the window layerstyles(Layer styles). Set the following settings:
Here is what should be the result:
Step 13 In conclusion, you can add a few more stars on the letters, on the girl and around her. Create a new layer above all layers. Select the standard Star 70 brush, set its size to 50 and randomly arrange some stars. Then create another layer, also place some stars, but set the transparency of this layer to about 60%. After I applied all these effects, it seemed to me that the edges of the scene were still harsh against the general background, I chose the tool EllipticalMarquee(Oval selection area), set in its settings Feather value(Feather) at 30, and then repeat in step 6.
That's all! Thank you for your attention. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I would be glad to see your options in the comments to the lesson!
In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create an incredible space-themed composition using elements taken from images released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Skillfully using many techniques, such as giving depth to an image through the use of many layers, applying transparency, as well as deftly manipulating tools such as: Twisting e (Twirl), Spherization(Spherize) and filters Plastic(Liquify filters), we'll show you what to achieve desired result much easier than you thought. As the workflow progresses, we'll also show you how to create a custom "star brush" using a method that you can then adapt to create your other custom brushes.
This tutorial uses stunning images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope. This is a great image resource, even for non-space art. Always choose to upload images to highest quality and use images in TIFF format.
Note: Some images are missing from the tutorial source. In the archive you will find Alternative option materials for the lesson.
Step 1
Let's start our work by creating a new document of size Width(Width) 1500 pixels and Height(Height) 2000 pixels. Fill our base layer with black: Editing - Fill(Edit > Fill) or Shift + F5 and select black in the dialog box. Now let's use the tool Ellipse(Ellipse Tool (U)) to draw a circle roughly in the center of our document. Doesn't have special significance what color it will be, since this circle will only serve as a guide for us in the first steps of our work, in the future it will need to be deleted, so you can make it the same as in the screenshot.
Step 2
Download an image of the Carina Nebula ‘Mystic Mountain’. Next, use the selection tool oval area(Elliptical Marquee tool), set it to feather radius(feather radius (shift+f6)) 100px to soften the edges. Click on the image and drag to select a portion of the image similar to the one shown in the screenshot. Copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) this fragment into your main document on top of the created circle.
Step 3
Transform the inserted image fragment using the tool free transform(Free Transform tool (Ctrl + T)), compressing the width of this fragment by about three times. Then place what you got to the left of our reference circle. Next, use the command Filter - Distort - Spherize(Filter - Distort - Spherize), followed by the command Filter - Distort - Twist(Filter - Distort - Twirl) to create a ripple effect. Experiment with these filters until you get something like a curved flash at the edge of your reference circle, as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 4
Download images of other nebulae from http://hubblesite.org. On these images, repeat steps 2 and 3, using several selections of different sizes from the two images. The main idea is to use these curved flares to form a kind of ring-like shape. Once you are able to form this ring-shaped structure, you no longer need the reference circle layer, and you can delete it accordingly.
Step 5
Now, we will add even more of the same flashes, so that we already have something more like a kind of nebula. We'll do it the same way, just repeating steps 2 and 3, but this time stylizing our new flares so that it looks like they're breaking out of the ring and crossing it.
Step 6
To add depth effect, work with each flash layer individually and try adjusting the opacity level for each layer. Lowering the opacity will create the effect of flash fragments falling into our black background. Next, try blending the intersections between flares with the tool Eraser(Eraser tool (E)) and a soft brush for each layer to make it all look more natural. The main goal here is to create an organic feeling of movement.
Step 7
Now, we'll move on to processing our background layer by adding what I call "cosmic particles" to it. Create a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+N) on top of black background layer(background), then take soft brush(soft brush (B)) and select Blue colour as shown in the screenshot below by setting it as main(foreground color). Using alternately high and low values opacity(opacity), paint over the entire document, but mainly focus on the top right and bottom left corners.
Step 8
Add another layer above this, set as background colors(background color) black. Then we use the command Filter - Rendering - Clouds(Filter - Render - Clouds). Next, adjust the Levels (Ctrl + L) in such a way as to make the effect easier. Then add an adjustment layer Layers - New Adjustment Layer - Hue/Saturation(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Hue/Saturation). Saturation(Saturation) set +6, Brightness(Lightness) -15.
Step 9
We reduce opacity(opacity) of the layer you created in step 7 to 10%, thus creating a very light effect for the background layer. Now let's create a kind of vapor trail in the lower left by duplicating one of the darkest and most transparent of the flare fragments you created earlier and moving it away from our created ring nebula. Move this layer down below all layers, but so that it is directly above the "cosmic particles" layers.
Step 10
Select plastic filter(Liquify filter (Shift + Ctrl + X)). Apply the settings below:
- Brush Size(Brush size) 300
- Brush Density(Brush Density) 0
- brush pressure(Brush pressure) 100
- Brush Rate(Brush speed) 0
- Turbulent jitter(fluctuation) 50
- Reconstruct Mode(Reconstruction mode): revert(recovery)
Next, work with the tools PuckerTool(Crinkle / "S" key), Blow Tool(Bloating / "B" key) and Turbulence(Turbulence / "T" Key) along our created vapor trail until you reach your satisfaction. Graphics tablet would make this task much easier for you, as it gives you much more control over the brushes you are working with.
Step 11
To seamlessly blend the vapor trail with our background and cosmic particles, desaturate it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + U, then set blending mode(blending mode) for this layer Screen(Screen) and level opacity(opacity) lower it to 20%. Repeat steps 9 to 11 a few times to create many of these vapor trails around our composition.
Step 12
For this composition, since it's space themed, we need to add some stars using the "star brush". Upload an image and edit it height(height) up to 2500 pixels (Ctrl + Alt + I). Next, invert the image (Ctrl + I) and desaturate it (Ctrl + Shift + U).
Step 13
Adjust the Levels (Ctrl + L) as shown in the screenshot. Select the entire image and apply the command Editing - Define brush(Edit - Define Brush). Name your custom brush ‘Star Brush’. It should now appear at the very bottom of the brushes palette.
Step 14
Returning to our composition, select our newly created brush, after setting it as foreground colors(foreground color) white. Now, add a new layer on top of all the others. To quickly change the size of your brush while working, use the keys with square brackets, in the Russian layout these are the letters X and b. Then click once on different places to place our stars. Also, if suddenly you didn’t like the location of the stars somewhere, you can use the tool Eraser(Erase tool (E)) with a soft brush to remove these unwanted fragments.
Step 15
Our nebula still looks a bit muted, so let's add a new adjustment layer. Layers - New Adjustment Layer - Brightness/Contrast(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Brightness/Contrast). Brightness(Brightness) +60, Contrast(Contrast) +10. Create another new layer and paint it with different colors all over the document using a soft brush as shown below. Install opacity(opacity) of this layer 70% and blend mode(blend mode) overlap(Overlay). This will improve the overall color of the image. All is ready. Congratulations!
