How to Paint a Black Hole

Black holes are great subjects for colorful paintings.

Black holes are one of the most fascinating objects in space. When a large star collapses, matter implodes, creating a region of infinite gravity known as a singularity or black hole. Drawing a black hole can be done by examining various images and artist renditions. Powerful forces generate huge clouds of swirling hot gases. These are what will add color and excitement to the drawing as the black hole itself is invisible and can only be shown as a black sphere. It is what happens around the black hole that is interesting.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas
• Reference images
• Sketch pencil
• Ruler
• Compass
• Brushes
• Paint

Instructions

1. Study images of the different types of black holes we know exist. Use whatever drawings and images you can find to establish a concept for your drawing. Choose an image of an active black hole enveloped in clouds of gas such as a quasar. Imagine a black sphere ejecting colorful light rays in powerful jets. Do not copy images that are artists' renditions, but create your own version from these.

2. Draw a small circle using a compass to represent the actual black hole in the center. Remember, this circle represents the event horizon of the black hole, beyond which no light can escape. Use a drawing pencil and a straightedge to mark the emanating light beams. Draw a straight line from edge to edge aligned with the center of the circle, which represents the black hole. Draw this line at an angle so it does not go straight up and down or left to right.

3. Draw energetic lines to embellish these light beams. Remember, the beams are being blasted away from the black hole. Use your imagination to depict these as spiraling beams or like narrow laser beams. Sketch a ring meant to represent clouds of hot gas rotating around the black hole. Draw these to look similar to the rings around Saturn but thicker and fluffy, like clouds. Imagine a wheel with a pole through its middle -- the rubber being the cloud ring and the pole the beams of light. Paint the canvas black, except for the area of the light beams and clouds to represent space, and let it dry.

4. Add vibrant colors to the light beam areas with long strokes going away from the sphere. Continue to add bright colors freely to create a spectacular contrast with the black. Paint a very thin white line around the sphere, and begin to add colors to the ring of clouds. Use different colors to offset these from the light beams. Make the black in the sphere of the black hole a shade darker than the black used to depict space. Shape the cloud ring carefully to create a three-dimensional effect, giving your painting a touch of realism and movement.

References

• NASA, Goddard Space Flight center: Black Holes
• Chandra: GB1508+5714: Most Distant X-Ray Jet Yet Discovered Provides Clues To Big Bang