Stars & Cosmic Ceilings

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the paints safe ?

Yes - the paints are water based and non-toxic.

As with most paints the glow paint will emit a slight odour when drying but being waterbased they dry within a couple of hours and the odour will fade away.

Does the ceiling have to be painted black first ?

Absolutely not. A white ceiling is perfect for the paints to glow at their best.

Can the effect be painted onto an artexed ceiling ?

Yes - I can paint stars and nebulae onto artex or textured ceilings although it will not be possible to create the planet and comet effects as these work best on a smooth surface.

How does the paint glow ?

The paints are phosphorescent which means they can absorb sunlight and artificial light (known as charging) and slowly release this light during darkness.

UV or black light is ideal for charging these paints.

What is UV ?

UV is short for Ultraviolet light (or black light). UV light has a wavelength shorter than that of visible light and cannot be detected by the human eye.

While UV light itself is invisible, it causes many substances to glow or fluoresce in a variety of colors that are visible and you will probably have seen the effects of such lighting at themeparks and nightclubs.

How long will the stars glow for ?

The paints will glow for up to 10 hours if they are given an adequate charge of light. Normal lighting will do the job but for the most outstanding results a UV black-light will charge up the ceiling better & faster.

Is the paint visible durng the day ?

In daylight the paint is a very pale cream colour so if painted onto a white or off-whiite ceiling the effect is almost invisible.

How long does it take to complete a Star Ceiling

I would allow at least four hours for a cosmic ceiling star mural that includes planets and comets on an 80-100 sq ft ceiling.

Will I be able to paint over a Star Ceiling ?

Yes - you will probably need about 3-4 coats of emulsion before the effect finally disappears although I would be very surprised if you ever wanted to do this.

Will I have to remove furniture from the room to be painted ?

I use plastic sheeting and dust covers to protect the walls, floor & furniture but I do ask that the room is cleared as much as possible - especially of any fragile and valuable items.

After you complete the ceiling will I have to wait until night-time to see the effect ?

Not at all. Before I start painting the ceiling I have to block out the daylight with blackout material - this is to simulate the night-time. Once I have finished the ceiling I will give it a good charge with a UV light so you will be able to see the effect before I leave.

Can I watch whilst you paint a Star Ceiling ?

Of course you can - If I am working in your home it would be extremely rude of me to prevent your access into the room I am painting. I have been working as an artist and muralist for over 20 years and I have always been happy to talk about my painting techniques so working in secrecy has no appeal to me.

Are the star pictures shown on this website your actual work ?

Yes they certainly are. I believe it is important to show you the actual images even though they cannot compare to seeing the effect in the flesh.

It isn't difficult to photograph these star ceilings - all you need is a camera on which you can adjust the length of the exposure and a tripod to keep the camera steady. The paint needs to be charged with a UV light and the photo needs to be taken with a long exposure a second after the light is turned off. My photos came out fine.