Easy Sunset Paintings: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 6 min read

There's something undeniably magical about a sunset. The radiant hues, the tranquil setting, and the ethereal beauty of nature's daily curtain call—it's no wonder that sunset paintings have been a favorite among artists for centuries. If you've ever wanted to capture this enchanting spectacle on canvas, you're in the right place. This step-by-step tutorial will guide you through the process of creating easy sunset paintings, even if you're a complete beginner. So, let's get started!

1. Gather Your Painting Supplies

Before we dive into painting that breathtaking sunset, let's first ensure you have all the necessary supplies ready. Here's what you'll need for your painting adventure:

Acrylic Paints

Acrylics are a popular choice for easy sunset paintings due to their versatility and ease of use. They dry quickly, allowing you to layer and blend colors without waiting too long. For our sunset, we'll mainly be using warm tones—think reds, oranges, yellows. However, don't forget to include some cool tones like blues and purples to create depth and contrast.

Paint Brushes

The right brush can make all the difference in your painting. For this project, you'll need a larger flat brush for broad strokes—this is particularly useful for painting the sky. A smaller round brush will come in handy for detailing and creating textures. Remember, quality brushes can last you a long time if you clean them properly after each use.

Canvas

Canvases come in various sizes and textures; for beginners, a medium-sized, pre-stretched canvas is a good place to start. These are readily available in art supply stores. While you can certainly paint sunsets on other surfaces, a canvas will give your artwork a professional look and feel.

Palette

Lastly, you'll need a palette—a flat surface where you can mix your paints. This can be anything from a special artist's palette to a simple piece of glass or even a disposable paper plate. The goal is to have a space where you can blend your colors and create the perfect hues for your sunset.

Now that you're all set with your supplies, we can move on to the exciting part—creating your masterpiece!

2. Choose Your Colors

Choosing the right colors can significantly impact how your sunset painting turns out. But don't worry, it's not as intimidating as it might seem. Let's break it down:

Primary Colors

Every color palette begins with the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. These colors are the building blocks for all other colors. To create the warm, glowing hues of an easy sunset painting, you'll be using a lot of red and yellow, mixed together to create different shades of orange.

Secondary Colors

Secondary colors are created by mixing primary colors. For instance, mix red and yellow, and you get orange; mix blue and red, and you get violet. These secondary colors add depth and contrast to your painting. For example, a touch of violet in the sky can make your oranges and yellows pop even more.

Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They create a vibrant contrast when used together. In the case of a sunset, think of a deep blue ocean against a fiery orange sky. It's this contrast that makes sunset paintings so captivating to the eye.

Remember, the goal is to capture the essence of the sunset, not to replicate it exactly. So feel free to play with colors and let your creativity shine. Now, with your colors ready, let's sketch out our sunset scene.

3. Sketch the Sunset Scene

With our colors chosen, it's time to create the basic outline of our easy sunset painting. Sketching the sunset scene first helps us visualize the final painting and allows us to make changes before we start painting. So let's get started:

Outline the Sun

Start by deciding where you want your sun to be. It could be at the center of the canvas, or towards one side. Draw a small circle for the sun — this will be the main source of light in your painting. Remember, the position of the sun will affect how the colors spread across the sky and landscape.

Draw the Horizon Line

Next, draw a straight line across your canvas to represent the horizon. The position of this line can greatly change the mood of your painting. A high horizon line can make the sky appear vast and dramatic, while a low one can emphasize the landscape.

Add Details

Finally, sketch in any extra details you want in your painting. These could be silhouettes of trees, mountains, or a body of water reflecting the sunset. Just keep it simple — remember, this is an easy sunset painting, and the focus should be on the beautiful colors of the sky.

Now that we have our sunset scene sketched out, we're ready to bring it to life with paint. Let's dive in!

4. Start Painting

Now comes the exciting part — bringing your sunset scene to life! The key to creating an easy sunset painting that captures the splendor of nature is to start with the background and gradually add details. Let's get our brushes ready and start painting:

Paint the Sky

The sky is the canvas for our sunset, so we'll start here. Begin by painting the area around the sun. Use light colors like yellow and orange, blending them into darker shades of red and purple as you move away from the sun. Remember to blend while the paint is still wet to create smooth transitions between colors.

Paint the Sun

Next, paint the sun. Use a bright, warm color like yellow, and make sure to leave a bit of white around the edges to give the sun a glowing effect. This technique will make your painting pop and bring a touch of realism to your sunset painting.

Paint the Landscape

Finally, paint the landscape. Use darker colors here to create contrast with the bright sky. If you've sketched silhouettes, fill them in with black or deep blues and purples. Remember, in a sunset painting, the landscape is generally dark with hints of colors from the sky.

Congratulations, the main parts of your painting are now complete! But we're not done yet — let's add some finishing touches to really make your sunset painting shine.

5. Add Final Touches

Adding the final touches is like adding seasoning to a dish — it enhances the flavors and brings everything together. Let's jump into these final steps to elevate your easy sunset painting to the next level:

Add Highlights

Highlights are the areas where light is hitting the hardest. In your sunset painting, these might be the tips of clouds or the tops of trees. Use a small brush and a lighter color of the area you're highlighting to gently add these in. Think of it as a subtle glow that adds depth and dimension to your painting.

Add Shadows

Just as you have highlights, you also need shadows. Shadows give your painting a sense of realism and depth. Use a darker shade of your base color and add shadows where the light from the sun would not reach, like the underside of clouds or behind structures in the landscape.

Add Reflections

If your painting includes a body of water, reflections can add a beautiful touch. They mirror the colors of the sky and landscape on the water's surface. Create these by using the same colors from your sky and landscape, but make them lighter and less saturated.

Add Textures

Textures can bring your painting to life. If you're painting trees, consider using the tip of your brush to dab on leaves. If you're painting water, use horizontal brush strokes. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you and your painting.

And there you have it! By following these steps, you've created a beautiful sunset painting. Remember, practice makes perfect. So, the more you paint, the better you'll get. Happy painting!

If you've enjoyed mastering easy sunset paintings and want to explore more ways to express your unique artistic vision, we highly recommend the workshop 'Expressing Your Unique Artistic Vision' by Michael Ryan. This workshop will help you dive deeper into your creative process and unlock new techniques for developing your personal art style.