Paint a simple and electrifying watercolor painting of a lightbulb on black watercolor paper using these simple steps! Use what watercolor paints you already have and mix with white watercolor paint (like I did) or white gouache.

(Painting the finishing touches on my lightbulb with black paper background)

Step 1: Draw an Outline using White Watercolor Pencil

(Sketch the lightbulb's colorful highlights using a white watercolor pencil. Avoid shadow areas)

To sketch this lightbulb, I used a reference photo from Unsplash for inspiration and guidance.

(Alessandro Bianchi photograph of a light bulb used for inspiration and guidance in my painting and sketch)

Why use black watercolor paper?

For reference photos and paintings that have dark or black backgrounds, black watercolor paper is a great paper option. Use a white paint, like white gouache or white watercolor paint, and mix with your current watercolor collection. Remember, using this black paper acts opposite to using regular watercolor paper. Colors will dry darker, unlike on white watercolor paper. I used Stonehenge black watercolor paper 140lb cotton.

(Paint a mixture of water and white watercolor paint or white gouache paint along the brightest sketched lines of your lightbulb on black watercolor paper)

(Add highlights to the metallic bottom of the light bulb and the center of its coils using more white paint)

(Create a mixture of yellow and white watercolor paint. Then, mix with a hint of red to apply the yellow and orange neon center. Use more/less red depending on how orange you want your coils)

(Position brighter white regions to your painting for depth. Paint in the center rod too)

Next, Read and try out another great watercolor tutorial on black paper, painting the moon!