Painting a Sunset - Learn How To Paint
Landscape Sunset, 2023, Oil on canvas, 14” x 18”, commission, sold
I’ve provided an image of a recent commission to complement my process of creating a sunset landscape below.
Essentially painting a sunset is broken down into these three parts:
The application of a warm undertone to the canvas
Establishing the generally warm and cool sections of the landscape painting
Focusing on detail and more contrast where needed
Starting - Applying the Warm Undertone
Start by adding a few coats of gesso to your canvas, and sanding the canvas after it is dry to make it smoother.
Next, paint the entire canvas with a light orange tone using alizarin crimson and cadmium yellow and titanium white. Gamblin or M. Graham oil colors are my preference. Be sure to add an oil medium to the mixture to keep the layer thin enough, about 70% paint to 30% oil. I use M. Graham walnut oil medium.
This gives the canvas a warm undertone to work over.
2. Applying Cooler Tones To Your Sunset Painting
Painting Water
Add more ultramarine for the water, especially closer to Jewell Island, seen as a line of trees on the horizon line.
In the lower center of the painting in the water, you’ll also see a focus on pinks, using alizarin crimson + white.
Painting Sky & Clouds
In a sunset painting, I suggest making the clouds slightly warmer.
In a sunset painting, I suggest making the clouds slightly warmer (as opposed to cool). You can do so by adding more red with white (pink tones) and by also applying this right above the horizon you’ll achieve the red-orange glow.
For the top part of the sky use cerulean with a touch of ultramarine blue to give the sky a cooler effect while ensuring the value is light enough.
Adding more blue and some alizarin crimson to half of the warm area above the tree line horizon creates the soft purple tone you see.
If you do apply cooler tones to the sky, I recommend primarily using ultramarine blue, alizarine crimson, and just enough cadmium yellow. This mix can be used for the shadows under the clouds for contrast.
Adding more yellow below the blue accentuates the warmed-to-cooler transition.
Softening the Edges
The magic of painting a sunset is the way the colors merge together, which softens the edges. This effect captures the peacefulness of the warm light contrasting with cooler tones.
In addition to softening, be sure to make the values light enough so they create depth. This will generate the overall feeling of the sky.
3. Adding Detail & Contrast to Anchor the Sunset
“The skiff is placed at the bottom of the painting and toward the right to create the entryway into the painting. ”
The last stage of the painting is the shadowing of the rocks along the shore and the skiff, both of which “anchor” the painting.
I recommend using ultramarine blue again + alizarin crimson + a little yellow to get just enough warmth while allowing for a darkening effect at the same time. This results in the right amount of contrast.
Shadowing of the rocks along the shore and the skiff, “anchor” the painting.
The skiff is placed at the bottom of the painting and toward the right to create what I refer to as an entryway into the painting. This entryway technique moves the eye out and around the painting toward the lobster boat and near the center. Adding just enough light to the boat gives the boat attention while at the same time making it something that requires close observation.
The warmth of the trees on Jewell Island was created using a little ultramarine mixed with cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson. Making this mix of paint slightly darker will help you accentuate the trees along the horizon. This process can result in leading the viewer’s eye toward the center of the painting.
Finishing The Painting
The “icing on the cake” is the addition of a red buoy across from the lobster boat, enhancing the warmth in the painting and acting as a centering device for the viewer.
To learn more about these techniques for painting a sunset, consider a private lesson. Together we can go into more technical depth with composition and color.
Contact me for lessons or with questions
Lessons are available for beginner, intermediate, and experienced painters.
Please contact me about your process, technique, or lessons. I’m happy to answer any questions.
