plate no. 9171

Study of Sky, Setting Sun

pastelRomanticismlandscapeskysunsetlandscapecloudshorizon

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending pastel colors to create soft transitions and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the hills and clouds.
step 02
Begin with the sky, applying light blue pastel in broad strokes and blending it downwards.
step 03
Add hints of yellow and pink to the sky near the horizon to create the sunset effect.
step 04
Use orange and red pastels to define the sun and the surrounding glow.
step 05
Apply darker blues and grays to the hills in the foreground, layering and blending to create depth.
step 06
Add subtle details to the foreground, such as small bushes or trees, using darker colors.
step 07
Soften the edges of the clouds and hills by gently blending the pastels with your fingers or a blending stump.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall contrast and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · light blue · yellow · orange · gray

secondary · pink · red · dark blue

Mix light blue and white for the sky. Blend yellow and orange for the sunset glow. Combine blue and gray for the hills.

techniques

·pastel blending
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·soft edges
·color gradation

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, resulting in muddy colors.
→Using too much pressure, making the pastel look heavy.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making the foreground and background appear flat.