In this watercolor sunset tutorial, we’ll walk you through how to create a serene and glowing sunset scene, complete with its reflection on calm water.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to practice how to paint reflections and light effects, this step-by-step guide is an excellent exercise in both color blending and atmospheric composition.
Table of Contents
Materials You'll Need
To create this landscape watercolor painting, use good-quality materials for better results:
Use 300gsm cold-pressed watercolor paper, which is thick enough to handle multiple wet washes.
Prepare a range of transparent and vibrant colors such as Naples Yellow, Permanent Yellow Light, Opera Pink, Permanent Yellow Orange, Crimson Lake, Cerulean Blue, Permanent Violet, and Neutral Tint.
These hues will help you achieve a wide spectrum of warm and cool tones.
Use a large flat brush for wetting the paper, medium and small round brushes for painting the sky and trees, and a detail brush for the finishing touches like grass and birds.
Have an HB pencil for sketching, masking tape to fix your paper, and clean water and tissue for softening and blotting as needed.
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🎨 30 detailed stages – from the very first step of wetting the paper to the final touches and highlights
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Step-by-Step Sunset Watercolor Painting
Step 1: Sketch the Composition
Begin by lightly sketching the horizon line and a small circle for the sun.
This gives you a visual guide as you work through each layer of the painting.
Secure your paper onto a board with masking tape to avoid warping.
Step 2: Prepare the Paper with a Water Wash
With your flat brush and clean water, gently wet the entire surface of the paper—except for the sun circle.
The goal is to have an even, glossy sheen to help your paint blend softly when applied.
Step 3: Paint the First Sky Wash
Apply a soft gradient beginning with Naples Yellow and Permanent Yellow Light near the sun.
Then, blend in Opera Pink and Yellow Orange to build warmth in the sky.
Finish the top of the sky with a cooler wash of Cerulean Blue and Permanent Violet.
Let everything dry completely.
- Keep brushes like New with this lemon-scented Cleaner and preserver
- Even Old, hardened, oil paint brushes may be restored to their original snap and luster
Step 4: Add Deeper Colors and Clouds
Once dry, rewet the upper sky area. Add another layer of Opera Pink and Yellow Orange to intensify the glow.
While the paper is damp, use a mixture of Crimson Lake, Violet, and Neutral Tint to paint loose, soft-edged clouds across the sky. Keep the cloud shapes gentle and irregular.
Step 5: Warm Clouds at the Horizon
Closer to the horizon, clouds become more orange and luminous. Mix Opera Pink, Yellow Orange, and a hint of Violet.
Use this to paint warm clouds just above the sun. These should be softer and brighter to reflect the sun’s direct glow.
Step 6: Create Mist and Distant Tree Line
Rewet the horizon area and glaze it lightly with diluted Brilliant Pink. This will suggest soft mist above the water.
Then paint the distant tree line with a blend of Yellow Orange, Opera Pink, and Violet.
Keep the base edges soft by painting while the paper is still damp.
Step 7: Add Depth with Shadow in Trees
Deepen the distant tree line using a darker mix of Violet and Neutral Tint.
Touch this into the damp tree shapes to build volume and atmosphere.
Repeat this process on the opposite side of the sun, keeping the middle lighter to emphasize the sun’s brightness.
Step 8: Paint the Water and Reflections
Once dry, rewet the lake area. Glaze warm tones (Yellow Orange + Opera Pink) with horizontal strokes to mimic calm water.
Increase pink and add hints of violet as you move into the foreground.
Once dry, rewet again and paint soft tree reflections using Purple and Neutral Tint mixes.
Step 9: Foreground Grassy Bank and Trees
Rewet the grassy foreground and glaze a base color of Yellow Orange, Yellow Light, and Crimson Lake.
While slightly damp, deepen selected areas. Let dry and add the darkest shadows with Violet and Neutral Tint.
Then, paint tree foliage with a warm mix and trunks with a darker version using a detail brush.
Step 10: Final Details and Enhancements
Finish the painting with a few sharp grass blades in the foreground for contrast. You can also add flying birds to give the sky movement and life.
These small details pull the viewer into the scene and add a poetic finishing touch.
Key Tips
Patience is key in watercolor. Allow each layer to dry fully to avoid muddy colors. Work from light to dark and preserve the white of the paper for highlights like the sun.
Use wet-on-wet techniques for soft backgrounds and skies, and wet-on-dry techniques for sharper details such as trees and foreground elements. This contrast of edges adds visual interest and structure to your composition.
Conclusion
This sunset watercolor step-by-step tutorial shows how layering, timing, and restraint can lead to a glowing, atmospheric painting. Don’t rush—take your time, enjoy the process, and practice often. Each attempt will help you better understand how to paint reflections and control your washes.
Happy painting!