Paint a night landscape that shimmers with colour. In this class I guide you through a cosmic forest where pines meet a sky that seems lit from within and a calm lake mirrors everything back. We will work loosely and let the paint travel, building a scene that is playful, calming and wonderfully expressive.

We will use flowing washes for aurora light, gentle lifting to suggest mist, and crisp silhouettes for trees and shoreline. Colour harmony and value design do the heavy lifting, while tiny spatters and soft blooms become stars and atmosphere. The composition stays spacious so the sky can breathe and the water can echo the story above.

In this class you will learn:

How to plan big shapes and a clear value design
Warm-to-cool transitions that create glow and depth
Wet on wet washes for sky and water that feel luminous
Lifting for mist and negative space for light paths
Reflections that read instantly without overworking
Simple tree and headland silhouettes placed for rhythm and balance
Spatter, blooms and granulation for stars and texture

Create an atmospheric forest at dusk that opens into a starry sky. Think in broad colour fields, soften edges, and let shapes echo in the water. Keep the marks simple and intentional so mood leads the scene.

These ideas translate beautifully to night harbours, mountain skies and any subject where atmosphere tells the story.

Share your painting in the project gallery. I cannot wait to see your version of the night.

Thank you so much for your interest in this class!

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Try this class to explore your creativity...

I’ve been painting for many years now, taken part in many exhibitions around the world and won awards from well respected organisations. As well as having my work feature in art magazines. After having success selling my originals and 1000s of prints around the world, I decided to start traveling with my brushes and paintings. My style is modern and attempts to grasp the essence of what I’m painting whilst allowing freedom and expression to come through. I simplify complicated subjects into easier shapes that encourages playfulness.

You'll Learn:

What materials and equipment to need to painting along
Basic technique to complete your first painting
How to avoid common mistakes
Choosing the right colours for your painting
How to blend colours and create textures for different effects
Making corrections and improvements
Finishing touches that make a big difference

When enrolled, I’ll include my complete ‘Watercolour Mixing Charts’. These are a huge aid for beginners and experts alike. They show what every colour on the palette looks like when mixed with each other. Indispensable when it comes to choosing which colour to mix.

Don’t forget to follow me on Skillshare. Click the “follow” button and you’ll be the first to know as soon as I launch a new course or have a big announcement to share with my students.

Additional Resources:

Here are the art supplies I recommend
Follow me on Instagram
Check out my website

Music by Audionautix.com

Mel Hadfield

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