When painting or depicting a night sky, choosing the right colors can be tricky. The night sky is full of variation and subtle hues that can be difficult to capture accurately on canvas. As an artist, having a solid understanding of what colors are present in a night sky and how to mix them will help you paint beautiful and realistic night scenes. In this article, we’ll explore the colors that make up a night sky and offer tips on how to mix and apply them for the best results.
The Blue Hour
The blue hour refers to the time just before night fully sets in, when the sun has dipped below the horizon and residual sunlight scatters blue light across the sky. This soft blue lighting lasts for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the time of year. During the blue hour, the sky takes on a gorgeous blue tone ranging from light periwinkle to cobalt. This is caused by the dominance of shorter blue light waves in the illumination of the sky. To capture these blues:
- Mix ultramarine blue and white to depict the lighter blue shades
- Use cerulean or cobalt blue for medium tones
- Opt for Prussian or phthalocyanine blue for the deepest shades
Apply these paints while the sky still has hints of light to capture that transitional blue hour look.
Early Twilight
Once the blue hour fades, the sky enters the early stages of twilight. This phase is defined by the disappearance of direct sunlight, while the sky remains somewhat bright and illuminated. With the sun 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon, residual orange and red light is scattered at high altitudes. The result is subtle peachy and pinkish tones blended among the darker blues. To recreate this:
- Start with a base of ultramarine
- Add small amounts of alizarin crimson and cadmium orange
- Use cobalt or cerulean blue mixed with white for lighter areas
Blend the colors lightly to mimic the gradual shift from day to night. Apply darker blues at the top of the canvas, transitioning down into peaches and pinks.
Deep Twilight
Once the sun reaches 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon, the sky enters deep twilight. Upward scattering of light ceases, giving way to darker blues and purples. With less light pollution, stars also begin to emerge. To mix rich twilight colors:
- Prussian blue makes a great base
- Add a small amount of alizarin or purple for tone variation
- Incorporate white for wispy clouds backlit by the night sky
Build up transparent layers of these deep hues to capture the atmospheric quality of the fading twilight sky.
Total Darkness
When the sun reaches 18 degrees below the horizon, astronomers classify the sky as fully nighttime. With the brightest stars shining and the Milky Way visible, the backdrop takes on a rich navy blue or purple-black tone. To recreate this:
- Use phthalocyanine or ivory black as your base
- Incorporate Prussian blue into darker areas
- Add a touch of ultramarine blue or purple as desired
Don’t make the tones too dark or black. Keep the shades deep but maintain a touch of blue for believability.
The Moon
When painting a night sky, the moon illuminates everything in cooler, bluer tones. To capture its light:
- Use white with a touch of blue
- Incorporate light blues into your shadows
- Reflect cool blue tones in water or other surfaces
The moon washes out warm colors, so keep your palette limited to blues, purples, grays and whites when depicting moonlit scenes. Apply highlights and shadows based on the moon’s phase and position.
Planets and Stars
Don’t forget to incorporate specks of brightness from stars, planets and other celestial bodies. Use:
- Titanium or zinc white for stars
- Cadmium or lead reds and oranges for Mars
- Lemon yellow with green for Venus
Keep stars small and varied in size. Use brighter colors for planets but apply thinly so they don’t overpower the darkness of space.
Night Clouds
Clouds come to life at night with sides lit by moonlight. To capture this:
- Base with midnight blue tones
- Use grey mixes to show shadows
- Pick out edges with bright pure white
Backlight the clouds with touches of light blue and violet to depict the atmosphere. Break up the edges for a fluffy effect.
Airglow
For an extra magical effect, consider adding airglow to your night sky. Airglow refers to the atmospheric nighttime light emissions that can cause gorgeous horizon bands of green, orange, red or yellow. To simulate:
- Use light, semi-transparent glazes of acrylic or oil paint
- Try combining yellows, greens, reds and oranges
- Focus the colors along the horizon line, blending up into the sky
Use a fan brush to create soft, hazy airglow bands reflecting the natural variations in the upper atmosphere.
Conclusion
The night sky presents a complex range of colors, from deep blues and purples to hints of red, orange, yellow and green airglow near the horizon. Master mixing a palette of phthalocyanine, Prussian and cobalt blues, touches of alizarin crimson, cadmium orange and titanium white. Observe how scattered sunlight and moonlight alter hues. With practice, you can learn to capture breathtaking tones that mimic the real night sky in your artwork.
The richness of the nocturnal world invites experimentation and imagination. So grab your paints and brushes and look to the skies for inspiration as you craft your own gorgeous interpretations of the night. Let your creativity shine against the limitless darkness and twinkling stars.
| Color | Description | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Ultramarine blue | Rich mid-tone blue | Base blue hour sky, twilight sky |
| Cerulean blue | Bright sky blue | Blue hour sky highlights |
| Cobalt blue | Deep vivid blue | Blue hour sky shadows |
| Prussian blue | Dark midnight blue | Deep twilight base |
| Phthalocyanine blue | Deep greenish blue | Night sky base |
| Alizarin crimson | Cool red | Twilight sky accents |
| Cadmium orange | Vivid orange | Twilight sky accents |
| Titanium white | Bright white | Moonlight, stars, clouds |
| Ivory black | Neutral black | Night sky shadows |
| Cadmium yellow | Bright yellow | Airglow effects |
| Viridian green | Bluish green | Airglow effects |
