Sunrise and Sunset Painting Tips

Want to capture the breathtaking drama of a sunrise or the fiery glow of a sunset in your paintings? In this vibrant and practical lesson, Katie Liddiard takes you right into the heart of plein air sky studies, sharing her favorite techniques for painting these fleeting, magical moments.

Katie starts by explaining why skies can be such a powerful selling point in landscape art, and how different times of day create completely different moods and palettes. You’ll discover why sunrises often lean cooler and sunsets warmer, and how elements like dust in the atmosphere or the time of year subtly influence the light and color.

With plenty of real-life examples from her own sky studies, Katie shows how to break a scene into quick, time-based snapshots—capturing the shift from deep purples and soft pinks to glowing oranges and golden tones as the sun moves. You’ll learn her favorite pigments for these effects, including cobalt blue for luminous skies, cadmium yellow and orange for fiery clouds, and quinacridones for those rich, glowing transitions.

In the demo, Katie reveals the surprising truth about value: what looks too dark on your palette can read perfectly once it’s in the context of the whole sky. She walks you through placing pure color confidently, adjusting surrounding tones, and resisting the urge to chase the light—because skies change fast!

By the end of this lesson, you’ll have the tools and mindset to approach any sky, from delicate pastel dawns to blazing evening displays, with confidence and joy. Whether you’re working on location or in the studio, Katie’s approach will help you create skies that feel alive, luminous, and unforgettable.