I usually paint sunset skies with a healthy dose of Quin Coral (PR209), which I find to be the perfect color for that orangey-pink cloud glow.
(Specifically, I use DV Quin Red, but I find Quin Red an ambiguous color name so I stick with Quin Coral.)
But I like having multiple ways to do things, so recently I tried an experiment. Can I make that glow without PR209?
I was most successful with a color I didn’t expect: Pyrrol Scarlet (PR255).
I think of Pyrrol Scarlet as a heavy, opaque, lugubrious color. I have often found that when I use it with a heavy hand, it looks like gouache, and mixes become chalky. I have previously relegated it to niche use cases such as a woodpecker’s crest.
However, I’ve since realized that opaque colors like Naples Yellow Deep can still glow when used in dilute. And it turns out the true is same of Pyrrol Scarlet. In fact, I loved the two of them together.
The following sequence have colors painted quickly from life, and landscape elements added later. Diluted Pyrrol Scarlet was the basis of the sunset reds, with New Gamboge to make it yellow.
Do you have usual “go-to” color combos and do you like to shake them up every so often?
Comments
4 responses to “Shaking up my sunset colors”
Beautiful post! Your sky scapes are wonderful!
Thank you!
W&N Quinacridone red is pure magic. Almost flourescent. Look alot like DS’ Quin Coral, but more smooth and not the same amount of granulation as I feel Quin Coral has from DS (dot card).
But the color/value/Chroma is 99% the same (both are PR209).
That is also what I prefer about DV Quin Red (also pr209) – smooth, not streaky like DS.