Spacecraft images over five decades have revealed our planet’s history, climate and geology to us while inspiring artists.
By the close of the 19th century, astronomers had amassed a vast library of written and painted depictions of Mars.
These works could be considered works of astronomical realism.
Paint by Numbers
Paint by Numbers (PBN) is an art form in which numbers are used to indicate which areas of a canvas need painting. PBN provides an easy and enjoyable way to learn to paint for those with limited time or no artistic talent, and also helps non-artists create works of art that appear professionally done. PBN makes for an enjoyable activity you can do alone or with friends!
Paint by Numbers can be an ideal way to commemorate any special event, from birthdays and Christmas to creating special paintings for someone you care about by uploading their photo and customizing a template with their personal details – producing something truly personalized that will surprise them and warm their heart!
A mars planet painting can make an elegant addition to any home or office, whether displayed on the wall or framed for easy viewing. Its colorful, detailed representation will draw the eye and spark conversations about space exploration. Part of Miguel Angel Aranda’s Cuerpos Celestes series, this painting’s organic shapes evoke its mysterious existence while inviting dialogue about space travel.
The paint by number kit includes everything you need to start painting, such as high-quality linen canvas and acrylic paints. When setting up your painting session in an well-lit area and with water ready at hand for cleaning your brush between colors, practicing brush strokes on paper before starting is also helpful – it will prevent overflow and too much paint being put onto canvas!
Once your painting is complete, be sure to seal it with clear acrylic sealer to protect it from dust particles and bring out its vibrant colors. Doing this will also enhance its beauty; for added peace of mind you might consider framing your masterpiece to avoid it getting damaged by dust and other stains.
Paper Plate Planets
This innovative planet painting project employs paper plates for an eye-catching effect. Kids can add vibrant paints to each plate in different hues to represent each planet in our solar system and add rings for Saturn as desired – creating stunning artwork which would look amazing displayed anywhere space themed classroom or home!
This simple and enjoyable planet craft is the ideal activity for younger children exploring our solar system. They will delight in drawing out and coloring each planet with vivid crayons before applying a wash of dark blue and black paint diluted in water for an eye-catching visual effect.
Younger children may use a similar paint technique to produce more accurate depictions of our solar system with this clever idea. Squirting paint onto two paper plates and then smooshing them together creates an incredible effect that recreates moon surfaces and planet hues perfectly!
This versatile art activity can easily adapt to a range of themes. Planets glued onto paper plates then dropped on pieces of wood can serve to demonstrate gravity; or textured planets may be used to explore magnetism as each is placed with its north and south pole.
Another incredible space theme activity uses polystyrene balls to create an amazing planet mobile. Simply paint each ball to represent one planet before using a marker to add details like Saturn’s rings – learners can then move each one around like in real life! It is also an effective way of teaching learners the order and distance of planets from our sun!
Paper Plate Moons
One of the best space craft ideas for toddlers and preschool children is a paper plate moon, an easy and cost-effective project using supplies you likely already have at home. Plus, this activity makes a great companion piece when reading Goodnight Moon!
puffy paint can help create a more realistic moon surface. Just allow enough time for it to dry before using different colors to represent various moon phases or features – though drying times will depend on which brand of puffy paint you select. For even greater visual impact, try using different hues to represent these features of our moon surface.
This stunning paper plate moon craft will look lovely displayed. Although more time consuming than some other projects, this craft remains relatively straightforward: paint a large yellow circle in the center of a plate and add swirls of orange around it before painting its outer edge black to represent night skies – younger children may benefit from having you trace a template onto their plates for ease of completion.
Craft a vibrant solar system using colorful polystyrene balls and acrylic paint for an enjoyable art project that would make an excellent science fair entry. However, younger students may struggle with handling polystyrene balls; therefore older students might benefit more.
Watercolor planet painting offers kids another creative outlet when building a solar system. This technique offers more adult expression than simply dousing poster paints with color; and can even provide therapeutic benefits for young minds. Give this simple technique a try to create an engaging planet craft for home or classroom display!
Download and print out a Phases of the Moon template, cut out its pieces, and trace each full moon phase on black paper and white paper for each full moon phase, plus one large circular Earth shape on blue paper for glueing each moon phase onto round black cutouts with blue paper Earths on top of each phase. Help children label each moon phase they wish!
Spray Painting
Created a planet painting is an engaging way to demonstrate your fascination with our solar system and provide unique artwork that marries science with art. A Mars planet painting will surely delight friends and family!
Initial Step: Create the Background | For Mars, this would normally consist of using a chalk pastel with hues closest to its brick-dust red hues. Shave off some powder onto a paper plate or similar surface, and use a fine brush to spread it over your drawing blank planetary map. Don’t be shy about applying thickly as this will produce more realistic albedo features!
Once again using the tipped end of your pencil, sketch out a light outline sketch. Remember to draw lightly as the final drawing will likely be quite dark; use cotton buds to smooth pencil lines for added realism. With soft pencils you may even attempt shading some areas with equatorial markings to produce more natural-looking shadings that more accurately represent their real colour contrast and help represent when certain periods in Mars’ year the polar cap becomes yellow or orange due to dust accumulation.
As an alternative, you could also try sketching the outline of a planet using a black marker pen. While not as neat and precise, this method is quicker and easier. Once completed, just a few thin applications of water will soften pencil markings and blend them in to the painted background seamlessly.
Add extra dimension and movement to your planet painting by including clouds, moons, mountains obscuring the view, distant stars and other celestial bodies such as distant planets in our solar system. Use this technique for all planets within it if desired!