Ocean Vibes in Under 10 Minutes: Balloons, Not Brushstrokes!

Hey friends! Karen here with Over the Artsy Moon, and today we’re diving into something a little different—and a lot of fun.

Have you ever painted with a balloon? No brushes, no perfectionism... just a squishy, colorful good time. Whether you're in the mood to loosen up your creativity or looking for a fun activity to do with your kids (or grandkids!), this balloon background technique is a must-try.

Let’s Talk Supplies

For this project, I used mixed media paper, but this would be so fun to do on canvas too. Here are the paint colors I chose—all from DecoArt:

• White
  
  
• Ultra Deep Blue (think deep ocean vibes)
  
  
• Bahama Blue (a dreamy Caribbean hue)
  
  
• Teal Mint (because a little mint makes everything pop)
  
  

A Little Messy Fun

I started by dipping a balloon into white paint and dabbing it all around to keep everything light and airy. From there, I moved into the darker Ultra Deep Blue, and this is where the fun begins. You can dab, smush, roll, or bounce the balloon—each motion creates a new texture or effect.

Once I laid down the base colors, I started layering in Teal Mint and Bahama Blue, watching them blend and swirl into one another. If you work fairly quickly, the paints stay wet enough to blend beautifully. But don't stress—if something dries too fast, you can always add more layers later!

Tips & Tricks

• Don’t overthink it. This is all about fun and the magic of this technique is in the unexpected outcome. Let go of “perfect” and embrace the playful chaos.
  
  
• Try rolling the balloon instead of dabbing—it creates cool, wave-like textures.
  
  
• Leave some white space or go all-in with full coverage. Either way, the results are stunning.
  
  
• Add contrast at the end. A final pop of white paint brought everything together for me.
  
  

Try It Yourself!

Seriously, this was a quick, relaxing way to loosen up and let the paint flow. If you want to see in real-time how I created this background using balloons, check out the video replay here. 

What's Next?

This background turned out so dreamy. It could totally become the base for an ocean painting or abstract piece. If you loved this balloon background and want to dive deeper into creative, relaxing, and fun painting projects, come and join the Artsy Moon Paint Club!

Inside the club, you’ll find over 120 step-by-step painting tutorials for every skill level, from beginner to advanced. It’s the perfect place to grow your skills, explore new techniques, and connect with other creative spirits—all from the comfort of home.

Join the Artsy Moon Paint Club today and make painting a joyful part of your everyday life. I can’t wait to paint with you! Until next time, happy painting—and don’t forget: sometimes the best tools are the ones hiding in your junk drawer.