Paint Stunning Watercolor Sunsets Like a Pro

Here in the Midwest we don't have the most interesting terrain, but the sky can really take your breath away. I'm captivated by the light in the sky always, but especially at the end of the day.

The sunset is the most evocative display of light, and it's inspiring to me as an artist. That's why today I'm going to share with you three tips for painting impressive sunsets.

3 Tips For Stunning Sunsets

1. Paint Dark Enough.

It happens often that students will approach a light-infused scene and make the mistake of painting too lightly to really get a full spectrum of values. To achieve the light, bright glint of a sunset, it must have something to contrast with. This means you need those middle and dark values in your painting too. 

Don't be afraid to paint too dark. Your color will fade some as it dries, and it's imperative to have strong values for the light to really shine.

2. Don't Overwork or Try to Replicate a Sky.

It can be tempting to find or take a picture of a gorgeous sky, bring it to your studio, and try to copy the exact shapes and colors in your reference. I strongly suggest this not be your strategy, as it most often results in an overworking of your painting. When you become too focused in on one area, other parts can dry up, and the painting ends up falling short of your vision. 

Remember that you are not trying to transfer a photo into a watercolor painting. You're using the photo as inspiration as you create a one-of-a-kind work of art.

 3. Use a "Buffer" Color to Avoid Green

Do you ever find it difficult to transition from the cool colors into warm without creating a green hue between them?

This is a common problem I see in students' work, but there's an easy solution: use a buffer color like Rose Madder Permanent between your blue and yellows. This buffer color prevents the blues and yellows from mixing and creating an unwanted green in your sky.

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