Your project is to create your own watercolor sunset painting! You can follow along with the step by step process explained in this class, or you can change it up a bit and use the techniques we have learned here to create your own unique masterpiece.

Class Outline

1. Introduction

An overview of the class and what we will be covering. We will first begin by going over the specific tools and supplies we will need in watercolor. After that, we will do some practice gradients, I will explain the different techniques from choosing colors to painting even strokes and how to control the water to paint ratio. We will then move on to our sunset painting, applying what we learned and start from planning, sketching, to painting.

2. Tools and Supplies

For this class, you will need the following

Pencil and eraser
Watercolor brushes (a large flat brush for big washes and a small round brush for details)
Watercolor paints (red, yellow, blue and brown)
Watercolor paper
Water
Mixing palette (you can also use a plastic plate)
Towel or napkin
Masking tape (optional)

* The specific paint tubes I used in the class are Quinacridone Scarlet, Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine Deep, and Burnt Umber by the brand Holbein Watercolors. The paper I used here is 300gsm Cold Pressed Arches Watercolor Paper.

3. Painting Gradients in Watercolor

We will begin by discussing how to create gradients in watercolor. This will be beneficial as sunsets are essentially a transition of different colors. In the four gradient examples, I will explain the use of an analogous or complementary color palette, as well as the effects of using a watery paint mixture versus a thick paint mixture.

4. Painting the Sunset (From Gradients to Sunsets)

We will paint the sunset in this lesson. I will first explain the four colors that we will be using (red, yellow, blue, brown), and then go step by step in creating the sketch and the first layer of our sunset. We will mainly focus on painting the sky in this section, and practicing how to paint the clouds on a layer that is still wet.

5. Finishing the Sunset

This is the final part of the class, where we will add the finishing touches to the painting. This will include painting the small boats, and adding ripples and water textures to our sea. In contrast to the previous section, we will be painting after the first layer has dried.

6. Sharing Your Work

Now it is your turn! Thank you for completing this class, be sure to share your own creation here in the “Your Project” section. You can upload:

Your watercolor gradient practice
Your process
Your final sunset painting

You can also tag me on Instagram @rainb.w, I would love to see your work there! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I am always here to help.

My Website: http://rainbw.art

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After this introduction to painting sunsets, I have another class on painting cityscapes, we will apply a lot of the techniques we learned here and put them into practice.

Morgen Machen

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