Moonlit walk by Wenda Ayshford

Very good attempt on a difficult subject. I would use cool colours for the beach.

Yes you're right. As i'm quite new to painting i struggle to know what colours to use. When you say cool colours which ones do you mean? I really didnt know what best to use for evening sand.

This is very good for someone new to painting! As your scanner has decided to alter the effect of moonlight on your scene, I would just accept that it looks like early evening, just as the sun is fading. Interesting choice of colours, a delightful picture, well done.

I like the atmosphere shown here Wenda. it may be slightly over-exposed by the scanner but it still works nicely - if you added a warm glaze (your sand colour) over the lower sky and on the bottom of the clouds it would give the impression of dusk. The figures and dog provide an excellent focal point in just the right position. Thanks for uploading!

Scanners do tend to flatten out the colour; if you could take a photo with a digital camera (out in the daylight preferably) it would probably help. Cool colours would include the blues, lilac, the cooler greens, the more lemony yellows. In the case of the beach, probably raw sienna rather than the hotter and richer yellow ochre; or Naples Yellow, although actually I rather like the colours of your beach. I think (if you want criticism!) that your figures are just a little bit heavy - just sketch them in, I suggest - or apply full strength and then blot - and that the upper right portion of the sky could be a little bit lighter: just feather in the cloud there, just gently lift it out with a little kitchen roll against the blue: the one place you don't want heavy colour or tone is in the sky and clouds. While the paint is still wet, apply a touch of kitchen roll (never, ever loo roll) or natural sponge, or even a bit of cloth. Don't be too careful with watercolour - it doesn't thank you for taking care, it prefers a light touch, a little lifting out with tissue or a slightly damp brush. Keep practicing - you get to have a feel for it after a while, and realize that you can take all sorts of liberties with it with a big brush, plenty of water, and a good quality paper. Good luck.

Thank you for your comments. Robert, just before i read your comment i was thinking perhaps the figures were to heavy. I plan to recreate it again when i get the chance. I'd like to make the sky even darker and add in a couple of stars.

Hi Wenda. Had a go at mixing colours for moonlight atmosphere. Grey Paynes springs instantly to mind. Hovewer it does not have the same richness of colour variations within it as the Blue-Greys you can achieve by mixing several colours( The tints you can vary by mixing more of one colour than the other). Try experimenting by mixing ultramarine with different yellows ( from lemon (coolest) to yellow heading towards orange, definitly using more ultramarine to get the cool greys). You can achieve even more Greys by mixing yello ochre, or burnt sienna instead of range of yellows. For the sand: Step 1: I woul try a weak wash of burnt sienna , slightly stronger in the foreground, leaving some white spaces to give texture and hint of moonlight. Step2: To cool it down, while it is still wet bring in slightly stronger mix of Ultramarine+rawsienna which is closer to green-blue color getting stronger to the foreground. Step3: When it is dry put some shadows from figures with the same mix but which is closer to blue. I would even try to drop a little bit of alzarian to give it a darker sort of purple tint. For the sand perhaps I would use yelow

Hi Wenda. Just for inspiration google Kuindzhi, ( Although he worked in oils and on quite large scale, he has done few stunning moonlight paintings). Use Wikepedia site which has got an an external link " Kuindzhi painter of light ( it has got more pictures of his works) His Moonlight works include Night on Dnepr, Moonspots in the forest, Daryal pass, Night grazing.

many thanks Olga. I'm gonna check out his paintings now! Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. x