There are some subjects that just seem to flow onto the canvas, and my latest painting was exactly that. From the very first brushstroke to the final star, the process of creating this piece was incredibly straightforward and filled with genuine joy.

For this painting, I wanted to bring together all the elements I love most: swirling clouds, distant stars, and deep galactic nebulae. My goal was to create a misty, majestic planet that looked as though it had been plucked straight from the pages of a children’s storybook—something magical, soft, and inviting.

The Inspiration: A Real-Life Wonder

While the style is whimsical, the subject is very much a real discovery. This painting is my interpretation of WASP-193b, an extraordinary exoplanet that was identified quite recently.

I first came across this planet through some captivating posts on social media, and I was immediately struck by the scientific descriptions. WASP-193b is often nicknamed the “Cotton Candy Planet” because of its mind-bogglingly low density. Despite being about 50% larger than Jupiter, it is seven times less massive. In fact, its density is so low (about 0.059 grams per cubic centimetre) that it is comparable to the sugary treat you’d find at a fairground!

Bringing Science to the Canvas

Knowing that this planet is essentially a giant, fluffy ball of gas inspired the “misty” look of my painting. I used layers of pink, peach, and soft blues to mimic the idea of a world made of clouds. By surrounding it with dark purple galactic clouds and bright, twinkling stars, I wanted to emphasise just how much this “super-fluffy” world stands out in the vastness of space.

Creating this piece reminded me why I love painting: it’s a way to take a complex scientific discovery from 1,200 light-years away and turn it into something tactile, colourful, and dreamy.

Whether it’s a “fluffy” gas giant or a storybook world, WASP-193b is a reminder that the universe is far more imaginative than we often give it credit for.

Sources & Further Reading:

• NASA Exoplanet Catalog: WASP-193 b

• Wikipedia: WASP-193b

• Inspiration Post 1: Instagram @astro_juno

• Inspiration Post 2: Instagram @cosmic_background