As the darkest time of year approaches and we feel the effects of the lack of daylight, the best thing we can do is embrace what winter has to offer. Every season brings new painting challenges and different light conditions to explore. The best dusk skies are in the winter when the air is crisp and clear. With a clear atmosphere, we see intense reds, beautiful coral pinks and rich orange hues glowing with such a spectral purity they are almost straight out of the tube!
began this painting with the darkest value seen in the landscape. Finding your darkest dark first will prevent you from going too dark with your sky. At this stage colour was barely detectable in the land and trees but the sky still had some bright blue in it
Twilight periods last longer on days closest to the solstices. As we approach the winter solstice the after-sunset effects are more drawn out, allowing us more time to paint that transition period between day and night. As we head out into the atmospheric nighttime landscape, our senses become heightened to the sounds, smells and sights in the mysterious low light.