“The Sun will not rise or set without my notice and thanks.” Winslow Homer
Ever since I picked up a brush, I have been captivated by the fleeting beauty of sunset and sunrise, whether it be the fiery display of sunlight or the more subtle dance of pastel colors in the sky. They are the perfect subjects for exploring and conveying color and light. They are also simple and elegant, yet deeply challenging to perfect. Few artists paint them well and we are inspired by those who do.
Introducing the Sunrises and Sunsets Workshop
In this workshop, we will dive into the world of painting sunrises and sunsets.
We will go through the entire painting process together, from picking a sunrise or sunset to paint, to bringing it to life on the surface, to reflecting on our efforts. By the end, we will all have created a beautiful sunrise or sunset painting that we can be proud of. We will also showcase your work alongside other students so you can see how everyone went (unless you want to keep your work private, which is fine!).
Hi, I’m Dan Scott
I’m the artist behind Draw Paint Academy, which I run with my wife Chontele. For the last eight years, we have dedicated our lives to helping aspiring artists.
I invite you to join us in this workshop so we can create some beautiful paintings together.
Workshop Highlights
Part 1: Subject and Idea
- What it takes to find good subjects to paint.
- Why painting is so much more than just placing colors on a flat surface.
- How to use color studies to capture your ideas and impressions of the subject.
- How to combine color studies and reference photos to get the best of both worlds.
- The limitations of painting from photos and how you can side-step them.
- How to deal with the logistical difficulties of plein air painting when doing studies.
- The challenges of painting sunrises and sunsets and how to overcome them.
- Why photos struggle with fleeting subjects like sunrises and sunsets.
- How to use the palette knife to paint quickly and capture the subject before it fades.
- How to narrow down on a big idea that you can build your painting around.
- How to identify interesting aspects and features of the subject that you can highlight in your painting.
Part 2: Planning and Strategy
- How to start a painting with momentum and confidence.
- How to identify key challenges you may face during the painting process.
- How to develop a strategy that will bring your ideas to life most efficiently and effectively.
- How to spot opportunities to showcase your skills and artistic flair in the painting.
- How to adjust the subject to ensure it is conveyed in a positive light.
- Questions to ask yourself when preparing your studio for the painting process.
Part 3: The Painting Process
- How to pivot when something's not working out as planned.
- How to paint with both brush and palette knife.
- How to use the palette knife to scrape away paint and create thin, transparent layers of color.
- How to mix colors you see.
- Different ways you can adjust hue, saturation, and value.
- How to create the illusion of light using contrast.
- How to overlay multiple elements of contrast and why it's important.
- One of the number one pitfalls to avoid regarding titanium white.
- The tradeoff between value and saturation that you'll often experience when painting sunrises and sunsets.
- How to mix and apply clean colors without mixing.
- How to use your finger to soften edges.
- How to make an area lighter, darker, richer, weaker, warmer, or cooler without changing the fundamental structure of the painting.
- How to fix the color temperature of a painting late in the process.
- How to sign the painting in a way that complements the rest of the painting.
- How to take an honest photo of the painting.
Part 4: Reflection
- How to reflect on your work so that your next painting is just a little bit better.
- How to view your work objectively and without ego and bias.
- Three simple questions you can ask yourself when reflecting on your work.
The Resource Hub
You'll also get access to a comprehensive resource hub that contains a curated master painting gallery, reference photos you can paint from, and a cheat sheet for painting sunrises and sunsets. Many students find our resource hubs to be worth the price of admission alone.
What to Expect Once You Enroll
Once you enroll, you’ll get an email welcoming you to the workshop and providing you with the next steps. If you’re new here, we will set you up with an account and provide you with login details.
You’ll be able to access the workshop from your student dashboard. This is an online portal that you can access from any device, as long as you have an internet connection.
You’ll have immediate and lifetime access to all the workshop content. We will also use email to guide you through the workshop and provide additional information as needed.
If at any point you have questions or need help, we will be happy to help.
Suitable for All Traditional Mediums and Representational Styles
I use oils and paint in a realistic/impressionistic style, but the workshop is suitable for all mediums and representational styles. So far, we have had all kinds of artists go through the workshop and submit exercises. Past students have used oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, and pastels.
One of the ideas behind this workshop is to see all the different approaches for conveying sunrises and sunsets. So I welcome all kinds of artists to join. I also never try to push my style or preferences onto you as an artist. I would prefer to give you the tools you need to develop your own style and preferences.
"I work in watercolor, and am very much a newbie. The technique used in the demonstration videos was so very different from what I'm working with, yet I found things that I could apply to what I was doing." - C Wilson
Lifetime Access for a One-Time Payment of $57 USD
Is This Beginner Friendly?
Beginners are welcome, but this workshop emphasizes practical application rather than theory. If you are new to painting, you should consider going through the fundamentals course first.
"As I am fairly new to painting, and have no formal training, I am not the best at talking about specifics. But I can say that, without a doubt, this class helped me. Your classes are affordable, and you share your expertise in a clear, easy to understand manner. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone." - M Cooper
Your Questions Answered
All lessons have a comment section where you can leave any questions about sunrises and sunsets. Chontele and I will be available to answer these questions. Other students might also lend a hand. You can also email us directly if you need help.
Testimonials
We have welcomed over 890 students since launching our Workshop in September 2024. Here are what some of our students have had to say about it:
"The course was so well set up and beautifully presented - clear, step by step, and with lots of really helpful resource material , and master works to look at and be inspired by. Even though this isn't a 'live' course as such, in that there are no live demo's or webinars, it did actually feel intimate, there was a strong sense of being part of a group, and I was impressed by how Dan and Chontele are very hands on and available to students. And can I just say what great value for money all of Dan's courses are.
Dan is a wonderful and generous teacher." - F Carboni
"I like Dan’s approach to teaching which is really just a way of delivering information that we interpret and use as it supplements what we may already know. He doesn’t tell us “how to paint” but how to approach thinking about a painting. I also get a lot of inspiration from seeing the other student’s work. There are so many ways to look at a subject and I learn from the work of others as much as reflection on my own work." - L Wilson
"The studies were very interesting and also the pallet knife approach. This is exactly why I wanted this course, to begin to be more abstract and have more movement in my paintings. I think now I can tackle the sunsets we photograph from our deck. Thanks for this course." - A Kikta
"I just wanted to thank you for the Sunrises and Sunsets Workshop. I truly appreciated the insight you provided on planning and strategizing a painting—it gave me a clearer approach before even picking up the brush. I also found it so helpful how you emphasized the importance of not simply recopying, but instead bringing a personal touch and style to the work.
The reference photos you included were inspiring, and the tips on palette and brushwork were valuable. I’ve also found myself going back to the theory you shared—it's been a great resource whenever I need a refresher.
Lastly, thank you for the thoughtful critique of my final painting. It gave me a lot to think about and helped me grow. (Especially avoiding the straight lines.....I’m grateful for your generosity in sharing your expertise." - J Davidson
"This was a fun refreshing course. I find skys a challenge, so this study helped me with the values of a sunrise, and trying to get the brightness of the rising sun along with the dark silhouettes it creates. I will keep doing more sunrise/sunsets to progress in this area. Thank you for all the reference material you put out, it’s a great learning tool." - K Thompson
"Sunrises are intimidating, but I was able to push through the fear and just paint. I think getting started with a framework is helpful. I was able to take one of my favorite photos and make something." - R Jeffers
"I really enjoyed the course, and learnt a lot about the differences in sunrises and sunsets. I had quite a few images on my phone taken over the last few years of both sunsets and sunrises, all taken in my local area, so it was a great opportunity to make use of them and learn how to go about it. I was quite happy with my results, thanks to Dan's instruction and guidance, and hope to use this knowledge to do more paintings.
Dan has a great way of teaching and passing on his ideas and methods to us students, and I thank him for this. I have enrolled in many of his workshops in the past, and have found them great value." - S Daley
"I really enjoyed the course and got a lot out of it. I feel it has helped me to take a step forward in my painting progression, I wouldn't call it a career lol! One of my favorite things that you do in all of your courses is your bringing in a wide variety of artists and artwork as examples. That and your own excellent work of course!
I hadn't heard of the Ukrainian artist Arkhip Kuindzhi or the Red Sunset on the Dnieper but I certainly looked them up after you mentioned them on reviewing my class submission, that was a pleasant surprise! It certainly makes me want to keep going back to the easel and brushes! I'm working on making the sky glow, thanks for the hard work you both put in. I recommend your courses to all my "Art" friends, they are the best and a valued resource!" - S J Fox
"I have been following and taken many of Dan’s workshops and find that I always learn something new and informative to help me progress in my pursuit of becoming a better painter. I mostly like portraiture but I’m trying to become more proficient at landscapes because natural beauty is challenging to portray and Dan has a unique impressionistic style but he does not limit that to those of us who try to paint more realistically in his teaching which also helps me to loosen up and try impressionism. I love trying different styles and subjects and learn from each." - G Koch
"I don’t know what to say aside from that I very much enjoyed this class. Sunrises and sunsets are something I love to paint, and with your guidance, I feel like I have made at least some improvement in my ability to paint them. I still have a very long way to go to get close to producing paintings that look how I want them to look; but with each class I take from you, I feel a bit more hopeful that I just might get there someday." - M Cooper
"I enjoyed this workshop and learned different ways to capture the beauty of the sky." - P Hruda
"Yes, I much enjoyed it. I am 85 years old, an age when it is normal to feel drawn towards the power & beauty of sunsets.
I have been very busy with other things this year but inspired by Dan’s super workshop! I did some gouache works on paper, sometimes using photos as start triggers. This sent me back out next evening to look again; when of course the sunsetting colours & shapes were all different...
I was hoping to let the process grow towards some more considered larger works with acrylic, that’s coming next." - J Pelly
"Yes, I found the Sunrises and Sunsets workshop most enjoyable. In particular, it helped with how to not only focus on making the sun brighter but to also consider darkening its surroundings to emphasize the light. This was very helpful to me.
I always appreciate, Dan, how well you articulate through your writing your love of painting. I read your various articles routinely and learn so much from all the information you share. Thank you for being a source of inspiration and support." - H Skibeneckyj
"I enjoyed the workshop very much. In particular I find the demonstration videos very helpful. I love oils as they enable me to paint slowly with many layers. Although I do envy your ability to complete a painting in a few hours. Thank you so much for your informative emails and workshops." - S Daley
"I enjoyed the workshop, a lot! I really did enjoy reading the critiques of the other works. Thank you for introducing us to many artists, current and historical!! Your posts are always interesting and inspiring. My medium is pastel, but I find there is enough crossover to be helpful." - L Adams
"I really liked the workshop as it was. I especially appreciated the time you took to respond and critique my painting. You're very kind, by the way!" - J Bodenheimer
Frequently Asked Questions
My 100% Guarantee
Your satisfaction is my number one priority. If for any reason you do not enjoy the workshop, just send me an email within 60 days of purchase and I will refund you in full.
If you have any questions, you can email me at admin@drawpaintacademy.com. Hope to see you in the Workshop!