Follow the Star Junior Artist Kit: Nativity Painting Steps

Quick answer

Start with the sky and the glowing star, then build each camel and rider as a simple silhouette. The Follow the Star kit is a forgiving nativity painting for kids because the dark figures hide small brush slips.

Step-by-step star painting steps for the Follow the Star kit

1. Paint the night sky first: Cover the canvas with a dark blue or black background, leaving the area for the bright star slightly lighter if you want a natural glow. Common mistake: painting the sky too thickly, which makes later layers slide. Keep the first coat thin and let it dry. Check that the sky is fully dry before adding stars or silhouettes.
2. Add small stars across the sky: Use a small brush or a toothpick to dot white or pale yellow stars around the upper half of the canvas. Vary the size slightly for a natural look. Common mistake: clustering all the stars in one corner. Step back and spread them loosely. Leave the main star area empty for now.
3. Paint the Star of Bethlehem: Paint the brightest star as a large four- or five-pointed shape in the center or upper third. While the paint is still wet, add a ring of diluted yellow or white around it to create a glow. Common mistake: making the star too small. It should be the clear focal point. If the glow looks patchy, let it dry and add a second thin ring.
4. Sketch the camel and rider silhouettes: Lightly pencil the outline of each camel and rider in a row along the lower part of the canvas, spacing them so they appear to travel. Keep the shapes simple: a hump, a neck, a head, and a seated rider. Common mistake: drawing the camels too large. They should sit below the star and leave sky visible. Check that all three fit before you paint any of them.
5. Fill in the silhouettes with dark paint: Use black or very dark brown to fill each camel and rider shape. Paint from the top down to avoid smudging. Common mistake: leaving light gaps between the pencil line and the paint. Fill slightly past the pencil line, then tidy the edges after drying. Let the first silhouette dry completely before starting the next if you worry about smears.
6. Add the glowing effect around the star: Once the star is dry, use a dry brush with a tiny amount of white or pale yellow to dab a soft halo around it. Build the glow in thin layers rather than one thick blob. Common mistake: using too much paint, which dulls the star. Wipe most paint off the brush before dabbing. The glow should fade gradually into the sky, not form a hard ring.

Product facts

• Follow the Star: Paint these Three Wise Men silhouetted against the star-studded sky as they travel across the land. The dark silhouette approach means kids can paint the figures as solid shapes, which is easier than detailed faces and robes.

  

• Follow the Star: Create a glowing effect for the brightest star, and learn how to build the silhouette of each camel and rider step by step. The kit is structured around two skills—glow and silhouette—so you can split the project into two short sessions if attention spans are short.