Dreaming of capturing a glowing beach sunset with acrylic paints? You’re in the right place. Before diving into creative ideas, let’s walk through a beginner-friendly tutorial based on M. Stuart’s popular video: “How to Paint a Sunset Beach with Palm Trees”. I’ve broken it down into simple, easy-to-follow steps to help you get stunning results.
Acrylic Beach Sunset Tutorial: Easy Steps to Follow
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Canvas (primed with a burnt sienna wash)
- Acrylic paints:
- Titanium White
- Lemon Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow
- Luminous Orange
- Matte Orange (or Cadmium Orange)
- Cerulean Blue
- Cobalt Blue
- Iris Purple
- Raw Umber
- Ivory Black
- Brushes: Big flat brush, blending brush (optional), fine liner brush
- Chalk for sketching
- Painter’s tape (for straight horizon line)
Step-by-Step Guide: Acrylic Beachscape Painting Tutorial
1. Set Up the Canvas
- Pre-tint the canvas with burnt sienna.
- Sketch a rough horizon: 2/3 sky, 1/3 ocean and beach.
2. Create the Sun Glow
- Titanium White: Paint a small white circle for the sun at the center.
- Lemon Yellow: Circle around the sun, smudging outwards to create a glowing effect.
3. Add Warm Colors
- Luminous Orange + Matte Orange: Blend outward from the yellow to build a warm sunset gradient.
- Match the reflection on the wet sand below the horizon line.
4. Deepen the Sky
- Mix: Orange + Purple + Cobalt Blue + Dot of Black + White.
- Blend this muted warm-gray tone from the edges toward the center for a framed look.
- Keep the middle brighter, the edges darker for a natural focal point.
5. Paint the Water
- Use the same blending technique with a slightly cooler mix for the ocean.
- Heavier paint on the edges, lighter toward the sun’s reflection.
6. Block the Upper Sky
- Mix a beige tone (Orange + Purple + White + a touch of Yellow).
- Add a cooler, darker bluish-gray (Cobalt Blue + Purple + White) to the corners for depth.
- Blend everything using X-shaped brush strokes for seamless transitions.
7. Paint the Beach
- Mix Raw Umber + Iris Purple with a little Blue for the sand.
- Make the sand darker toward the corners to frame the center.
8. Perfect the Sunset Glow
- Once dry, go back with dry brushing:
- Use Lemon Yellow and Cadmium Yellow to enhance the bright glow.
- Softly layer Luminous Orange for richer color transitions.
9. Add Water Details
- Use a flat brush with a peachy mix (White + Yellow + a bit of Luminous Orange).
- Create soft horizontal strokes for wave highlights and shimmer reflections.
10. Draw the Horizon Line
- Tape across the dry canvas.
- Mix Cobalt Blue + Purple + Brown + White for a soft horizon.
- Paint carefully along the tape to get a crisp straight line.
11. Detail the Waves
- Use pastel blues and tan colors for distant waves.
- Darken the waves in the foreground using Raw Umber + Cobalt Blue for contrast.
12. Add a Palm Tree Silhouette
- Mix Black + Raw Umber + Cobalt Blue.
- Use the thin side of a flat brush to paint:
- A curving trunk.
- Curved stems for the leaves.
- Diagonal brush strokes outward to create spiky palm leaves.
- Add clusters at the center for coconuts.
13. Final Touches
- Enhance the shimmering reflection under the sun using Titanium White and Lemon Yellow.
- Sign your painting in one of the darkened corners!
Quick Tips:
- Dry Brushing: Keep your brush dry for smoother blending.
- Layering: Always work from light to dark for realistic sunsets.
- Symmetry: Balance color transitions on both sides for natural compositions.
Also try checking out:
How to Paint Realistic Trees with Acrylics
How to Paint Realistic Water in 10 Simple Steps with Acrylics
best Acrylic Paint Sets for Artists, top Picks and Reviews
Acrylic Beachscape Painting Ideas for Inspiration
Now that you know the technique, here are some creative beachscape painting ideas to explore:
Conclusion
Painting a vibrant beachscape with acrylics is all about mastering color transitions, layering light and dark, and using simple brush techniques for powerful effects. With a little patience, you can create stunning coastal scenes that glow with warmth and realism.