Paint a Sunset
Over the Ocean 🌅

Using your pencil, lightly draw a horizontal line across the middle of the canvas — this is your horizon line. Then draw a small circle sitting right on the horizon line in the center — this is the sun. Keep the lines light and loose, they'll be covered by paint.

Load your large flat brush with Scarlet and paint the top half of the canvas down to about two-thirds of the way. Then rinse your brush and shake off the excess water — you want it clean and slightly damp. Load it with Gamboge and paint from the horizon line upward, overlapping the Scarlet while it's still wet. Use light horizontal strokes where the two colors meet to blend them into a smooth gradient from red at the top to orange-yellow near the horizon. Work quickly — acrylic dries fast!

Using a medium round brush and Titanium White, fill in the circle at the horizon. Apply thickly for a bright, glowing effect. While still wet, add a little Gamboge around the outer edge of the sun to blend it softly into the sky.

Load your large flat brush with Cerulean Blue and paint the bottom half of the canvas with smooth horizontal strokes. Work from the horizon downward. Apply the paint evenly — horizontal strokes give the water a calm, flat look.

Using a medium brush and Titanium White, paint a vertical streak straight down from the sun into the water. Make it widest at the horizon and taper it slightly as it goes down. Then add short loose horizontal strokes of Gamboge on either side of the reflection to suggest light shimmering on the water.

Dip your fine brush in Lamp Black. In the upper sky area, paint 2–3 tiny "M" shapes to suggest birds flying in the distance. Make them small and simple — just two curved strokes each. Scatter them at slightly different heights for a natural look. Your sunset is complete! 🌅