Paint a Sunset With Eight Acrylic Colours
· For painters
A smooth sunset is easier when you mix your colours first and apply them in a clear order. This ten-step method uses White, Black, Red, Brown, Dark blue, Light blue, Pink, and Yellow.
Set up your palette
Step 1. Place White, Black, Red, Brown, Dark blue, Light blue, Pink, and Yellow around the edge of your palette. Keep the middle open for mixing, and give White extra space because you will use it often.
Step 2. Mark the horizon lightly below the middle of the canvas. Use a wide flat brush for the sky, a medium brush for the horizon, and a small brush for the sun and final details.
Mix the sunset shades
Step 3. Prepare five sky mixes before you start. Mix Dark blue with a little Light blue for the top, Light blue with White for the upper middle, Pink with White for a soft lower band, Yellow with White for the glow, and Yellow with a small touch of Red for the warm area near the horizon.
Step 4. Make a deep horizon mix with Brown and Dark blue. Keep Black separate and use it only for the darkest finishing marks. Too much Black can quickly flatten the warm colours.
Blend from top to bottom
Step 5. Paint the top of the canvas with the Dark blue and Light blue mix. Add the Light blue and White mix directly below it, then sweep the brush side to side across the join while both areas are wet.
Step 6. Wipe the brush, but leave it slightly damp. Paint the Pink and White mix below the light blue area, followed by the Yellow and White mix. Finish near the horizon with the Yellow and Red mix. Blend only where two neighbouring bands meet so the whole sky does not become muddy.
Build the glow and horizon
Step 7. Add more Yellow and White around the brightest part of the sky. Use light horizontal strokes and reduce the pressure as you move away from the centre. Paint the sun with White mixed with a small amount of Yellow.
Step 8. Paint the horizon with the Brown and Dark blue mix. While it is still wet, add a little Black along the lowest edge or in a few distant shapes. Keep these shapes simple so the bright sky remains the focus.
Soften and finish
Step 9. Stand back and check the transitions. If a join looks harsh, place a small amount of each neighbouring mix on a clean, damp brush and sweep gently across the line. Do not keep brushing once the paint begins to feel sticky.
Step 10. Let the sky dry before adding final details. Use Brown mixed with Black for a few foreground shapes, or add thin clouds with Pink and White, Light blue and White, or Dark blue mixed with a touch of Red.
Quick takeaways
- Mix the main sky shades before painting.
- Work from the top of the sky down to the horizon.
- Blend only neighbouring wet bands.
- Clean the brush before moving into Yellow and White.
- Save Black for the darkest final details.