Sunset
A picturesque sunset is an inspiration for many artists, especially since there are so many different kinds of real and imagined sunsets. Oils are ideal for painting a sunset because they blend seamlessly and are easily manipulated with painting mediums to change drying time or the finished look of the paint. Painting a sunset using oils requires several techniques for blending, color selection, light and reflection. Knowing the proper techniques will save you time and money so that you utilize materials efficiently and create an oil painting of a scene that you will be proud to display.
Instructions
1. Squeeze a small dollop of oil paint onto the palette from each tube you will be using, separating each color by at least 2 inches.
2. Mix a small amount of the cobalt with a tiny bit of white using a palette knife; this will be your sky. Pour about two tablespoons of liquin onto the palette next to this mixture. Using a large flat-edged brush, mix in a bit of liquin and brush the mixture across the canvas, in a side to side motion until half of the canvas is covered in this color. Mix in a bit of linseed oil and add more paint if the mixture becomes too transparent. Squeeze your brush inside a paper towel to take out most of the color.
3. Mix a bit of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue; paint in the horizon using a small to medium brush, preferably with a flat tip. You can change any colors in the horizon by wiping your brush well on a paper towel and adding that color directly to the canvas, without blending it in. Blend the two colors you used for the horizon with some liquin and use the brush you used in step one to blend the colors down to the bottom of the canvas. Add more paint and linseed oil as needed.
4. Paint in the sunset colors with the farthest background color first using a mixture of cadmium orange, cadmium yellow and a touch of white; use your own judgment based on your reference picture. To blend colors seamlessly with the sky, wipe the paint off of the brush and blend; repeat as needed.
5. Blend a touch of red into the deepest orange part of the sunset and blend. Add more yellow or orange as needed. Add in any silhouettes of people or trees using black paint and a tiny brush.
