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“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 to 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 flare 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 pivit 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. Deep abstract is not covered.
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.
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.
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.
What About Critiques?
The workshop is designed to be self-study, but I will provide brief comments for students who join during the launch period and submit a completed painting (nothing too extensive—just a few comments on what you did well). You will also have the student gallery to see how other students went.
Testimonials
This is a new workshop, so we don't have any testimonials to share with you. You can be one of the first students to take part. At the end, we will invite you to share your testimony and feedback. Here's what students of our other products have had to say:
"I like that it was not a class about learning how to paint like you do. I like that you are part technical in your explanations of how color works and also part how it feels to see and use color. I like how you view painting as more like a puzzle where you are uncovering how to place colors where the artist feels like it makes the most pleasing image. One of the things I liked most was that you expressed concepts in ways that I would have if I had such knowledge. What I mean is it's like you understand how I think and that gave me confidence to continue in the way I like to work. I don't think of myself as an "artist". I know how much I enjoy looking, peering at a painting that draws me in and I feel blessed to be able to appreciate the work that went into creating it. This class helped me to enjoy and appreciate what I can capture and express through painting. Thank you!" - T Amonette
"This course was very thorough. I took an in person painting class and the instructor didn't cover even half of the important elements that you did. The exercises are excellent. I am glad I have this for life because my ability to do all the exercises was limited at this time." - D Bodell
"This is one of the best art courses I've taken and I recommend it to all artists, new and experienced. I learned so much and it changed how I perceive color and how I translate that color to the canvas. I feel more confident because of this course. Thank you Dan!" - C Martin
"There comes a point in one’s development as an artist when you realize that intuition isn’t quite enough. I found your course very helpful in furthering my knowledge of color theory. I found the reference material tremendously helpful and the exercises accompanying each module were a great source of learning via direct application. The cherry on the proverbial cake is the inclusion of art history which ties it all together beautifully. I would recommend this course to any one who wishes to strengthen or refresh their knowledge base. Well done! I will be referencing this course material frequently as I continue to work on improving my abilities. Thank you." - A Niebel
"I liked the clear, concise instructions along with the many examples of paintings you used, both from other artists as well as those of your own. I also very much enjoy the student galleries. I love seeing what other folks are doing along the way. As I have mentioned, since I am stone cold beginner, I was pretty intimidated to be taking a class with people who have studied art, and in some cases painted for many years. You have managed to put together a course that works for artists of all levels though, and I thought it was just great!" - M Cooper
"The course is clearly laid out into segments that are defined with clear explanations, multiple examples and exercises. It was easy to follow for beginners like me and was certainly worth doing. I learnt a lot. Not only that, but I now have a resource library to draw from." - L O'Regan
"I thoroughly enjoyed this course; Dan is a teacher who speaks to me!
The modules were informative and well thought out. The exercises were helpful and doable! And I want to turn them into daily exercises/warm-ups.
Most importantly, this course got me painting more. I will continue to "play" with my watercolors but, down the road, I would like to revisit this course using a different medium." - A McCall
"It covered so much more than l expected. I’m hoping I can improve my painting over time by using the techniques and having them become second nature." - D Weisman
"I really enjoyed the course Dan, I found it very helpful. Thank you. I look forward to putting all the information to good use!
I find colour so challenging, warm, cool etc, so I feel I need to have my own "go to charts" for reference. Often when I paint, creating the colours is the hardest part, hence why I studied the course.
Thanks again Dan, keep the great work up!" - R Weaver
"Not only was the course extremely informative, but it was FUN! I learned many new techniques and creative ways to express myself. Thank you so much." - C Gussler
"I liked the clear explanations, relevant exercises and the motivation to complete them, videos, the chance to get personal feedback and share work. Areas I knew about were refreshed and enhanced, the new ideas will change my style.
Above all, I was pleased with the final exercise which really encouraged me to deliberately try out a load of new techniques which I was pleased with and will definitely use again - thank you!" - J Ashworth
"Dan, taking your color masterclass course was the best decision I've made in getting serious about painting. It was fifty years ago that I 'played' with painting. Now in retirement, I want to know this art form well. Putting brush to canvas again was a big step. Each day, I look forward to spending time in my little studio -- to practice, try different techniques and even create an image that pleases me. I constantly search the web for styles that I like (loose impressionistic) and try to apply my own version to those styles. Re-reading my art history books is more informative than the first time. Watching your painting videos was key to beginning my own painting experience -- especially with knowing how to use color. Your ability to explain painting processes is very understandable and not intimidating -- thank you." - M Ryglisyn
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.
NOTE: Enrollment is currently closed! Join the waitlist to be notified when enrollment opens again.
If you have any questions, you can email me at admin@drawpaintacademy.com. Hope to see you in the Workshop!
