When painting a sunset, colors are darker and colder the further from the Sun you go.
The power and majesty of the sunset has captured countless dreams and imaginations. As the Sun sinks below the horizon, the sky can light up with colors that are bright, warm and vibrant or deep, brooding, ominous and foreboding. Photographers and cinematographers call the period while the Sun is setting the "magic hour" for the way it can transform mundane landscapes and subjects into pieces with depth and emotion. The sunset is a favorite subject for artists for the same reasons. Capturing the beauty of the setting Sun in acrylic paint gives you versatility and color along with the ability to work swiftly with emotion and spontaneity.
Instructions
1. Select a source to work from. The easiest source material for capturing a sunset is a photograph. You can paint a sunset from memory, but your mind may not be able to remember the fine, subtle detail that adds depth and realism to a painting. Have your paints and canvas prepared before sunset if you are working from real life. You won't have a lot of time while the sun is setting so you will have to work quickly.
2. Sketch the basic shape of the horizon and any foreground objects you'd like to include in the painting. Use a hard pencil and a light touch while sketching so that you only leave faint markings that won't show on the final piece.
3. Paint a quick wash of the sky. Use the primary hues that make up the sky for the wash. This will form the foundation of any detail and further color you will be adding to the sky. Work your way from darker hues to warmer and lighter hues the closer you get to the Sun. Use water to thin the paint and lighten a color if needed. Work quickly to blend the hues of the sky together. These hues should transition smoothly from warm colors to dark.
4. Add a dark wash for the land and any objects in the foreground. Mass your shadows and foreground objects together to solidify the shapes and draw the eye back to the focus of the painting. Don't worry about fine detail at this stage.
5. Work further layers of paint into the piece, adding more detail and depth of color as you go. Use the layers to further blend transitions of color in the sky or ground. Form deeper shadows and solidify foreground objects as well as craft cloud shapes. Use your source image as a guide to building up to the final hues and colors in the painting.
6. Fashion the final details of the painting using a thin brush. Form a distinct line for the horizon and add highlights to the undersides of the clouds. Use a gentle and subtle touch when adding detail. Take your time and refer to your source often.
