A black background perfectly illustrates the deep void of space.
Painting an outer space mural or canvas using spray paint is creative and fun. There's no limit to the possibilities, since much of outer space is still unknown. Paintings of space can be done to mimic what's seen in science books or school textbooks, or can be done completely from your imagination.
The Void of Space
The basic background of your painting should indicate the general emptiness of space, the darkness that you see when you look up to the sky at night. Paint the entire canvas or wall black. Don't worry at first about adding stars or streaks of light; these things can be added later, once planets are in place.
Planets
You may find that painting perfect circles with spray paint is difficult, so don't be afraid to use a stencil. Create one using a coffee can. Trace the top of the can on a piece of cardboard, then cut out the traced circle. Use a large piece of cardboard so that when you spray through the circle, any stray paint gets only on the excess cardboard and not on the rest of your painting. Spray half of your planet a dark shade and the other half a light shade if your planet will have a sun and a moon rotating around it. It's OK if your colors blend into one another, as spray paint tends to do.
Planet Rings
You may want to add rings to your planet, such as with Saturn. Do this freehand with quick, wispy movements. Spray paint is naturally wispy if you don't hold it on one spot for long, so one swipe of your arm at about a foot's distance from your canvas should do the trick. The spottiness of the paint on the rings will give the illusion of the rings being made up of gas and rocks, as they are in reality.
Comets
One of the better way to give movement and life to your outer space painting is the addition of comets. Since comets aren't perfectly round, there's no need to use a stencil, although you can if you'd like to. Simply hold your spray can close to your canvas and spray the same spot until it looks like a dark circle. Then use the same wispy technique you used with the rings to paint one line or multiple lines from the circle to wherever the comet will be coming from in your painting.
Experiments
If you're not painting a scene that's supposed to be accurate to the discovered outer space shown in books, you have freedom to be creative. Make planets with multiple colorful moons, for example, or paint different rings all around them. Add different shades of blue and purple to your background. Use a spray paint with glitter to give the illusion of more stars and sparkle.
