In this workshop, students will explore the unique challenges and beauty of painting nighttime scenes. The class covers the basic techniques of landscape painting with an emphasis on creating night time effects and rendering artificial light sources. Students will study on site from life, and use photo references to create nocturne paintings in a studio setting.
Students will learn how to create a convincing depiction of the night from value, color, and composition. Topics include applying the right value system to capture darkness, using color design to enhance the atmosphere of night time, simplifying complex forms into manageable designs, and creating luminous focal points in the composition.
By the end of the workshop, students will produce one night-themed painting, along with a stronger grasp of how to convey mystery and atmosphere through their nocturnes. Students of all skill levels are welcomed.
The workshop will include:
- INTRODUCTION (~10 min.)
- We'll introduce history of nocturne painting
- PAINTING DEMO Part 1: Value and Design (30 min.)
- We will start nocturne demonstration, talking about composition, value design, and completing a monochromatic underpainting.
- THUMBNAIL SKETCHING (20 min.)
- Students will do composition and value studies from reference photos. They will receive feedback and finalize their design for the painting.
- UNDER PAINTING (40 min)
- Using the value studies they just completed, students will do a monochromatic underpainting of the nocturne.
- PAINTING DEMO Part 2: Color Block In and Design (25 min.)
- We will continue with nocturne demonstration, talking about color design, color temperature, and using a limited palette for nocturne.
—- BREAK —- (~20 min.)
- Student Painting (~60 minutes)
- Students will work on blocking in their nocturne paintings and receive feedback.
- PAINTING DEMO Part 3: Details and Focal Point (30 min.)
- We will finish the nocturne demonstration, showing students how to refine details and build up the focal point. This segment will also cover the techniques of painting glowing artificial lights.
- Student Painting (45 mins)
- Students will work on their nocturne paintings and focus on building up the focal point and creating light effects.
- CRITIQUE (~20 minutes)
- Students will present their nocturnes collectively, and get feedback from the instructor and their peers.
Recommended Materials- Your Oil Painting Supply Kit
- Brushes, palette, paint solvent, medium, towels
- Bring the paint set that you already have. Your instructor supplies some supplementary specialty colors for nocturnal effects.
- Panel or canvas no larger than 9’’ x 12’
- A small sketchbook and drawing supplies
- A list of colors we use for nocturnes. Feel free to add any of them to your palette if you want to try them out (*Not Required for class)
- Titanium White
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Yellow Ochre
- Burnt Umber
- Cadmium Red
- Cadmium Orange
- Alizarin Crimson
- Radiant Red
- Ultramarine
- Cerulean Blue
- Cobalt Turquoise
- Quinacridone Violet
- Cadmium Chartreuse
- Viridian
