The twilight hour is a magical time for the landscape artist—the fading light and deepening shadows imbue a scene with an ethereal, almost otherworldly quality. In our 15 years installing… As the sun dips below the horizon, an intriguing interplay of light and shadow emerges, casting the landscape in dramatic chiaroscuro. For those willing to embrace the challenges of nocturnal painting, the rewards are immense—evocative, atmospheric canvases that captivate the viewer and convey a profound sense of mood and emotion.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Mastering Moody Atmospheres with Acrylic Painting
Whether you’re drawn to the moody drama of urban cityscapes or the tranquil serenity of rural vistas, acrylic paint is an incredibly versatile medium for capturing the essence of nighttime landscapes. One artist who has truly elevated the genre is Marcia Hill, whose striking nocturnal scenes brim with a palpable sense of mystery and intrigue.
“The key to successful nocturnal landscape painting in acrylics is learning to wield light and shadow as your primary compositional tools,” Hill explains. “By strategically placing areas of deep shadow and luminous highlights, you can imbue your work with a true sense of atmosphere and drama.”
Hill’s process often begins with a tonal underpainting, laying in broad, gestural strokes of Payne’s grey and ultramarine blue to establish the overall value structure. “I’ll then gradually build up layers of transparent glazes, gradually adding warmer hues like cadmium orange and yellow ochre to suggest the glow of artificial light sources,” she says. “It’s all about creating that sense of depth and dimensionality through the interplay of light and shadow.”
Another crucial technique in Hill’s arsenal is the judicious use of impasto textures. “I’ll often apply thick, viscous paint straight from the tube to create the illusion of atmospheric haze or the rough, weathered surfaces of buildings,” she explains. “These textural passages help to ground the viewer in the physicality of the scene, providing a tactile counterpoint to the ethereal, atmospheric qualities.”
Ultimately, Hill’s nocturnal landscapes are a masterclass in creative experimentation and unconventional media. By embracing the unpredictable nature of acrylics and pushing the boundaries of the medium, she has developed a distinctive, highly personal style that resonates with art enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Dramatic Darkness with Pastel Drawings
While acrylics offer unparalleled opportunities for innovative painting techniques and creative expression, pastel is the medium of choice for many artists seeking to capture the elusive, ephemeral quality of nocturnal light. Renowned pastel artist Nancie King Mertz is a true master of the genre, her luminous, atmospheric drawings evoking a profound sense of mood and emotion.
“Pastel is such a versatile medium, allowing you to build up layers of rich, velvety color while retaining a wonderful, spontaneous quality,” Mertz explains. “When painting nocturnal scenes, I love to exploit the medium’s innate capacity for bold, gestural marks and soft, atmospheric effects.”
Mertz’s process often begins with a charcoal sketch, using “tick marks” to establish the basic composition and perspective. “I find that starting with a charcoal underdrawing helps me to nail the proportions and placement of the key elements,” she says. “It’s a great way to map out the scene before I start laying in the pastel.”
From there, Mertz builds up her layers, starting with broad, bold strokes of dark pastel to establish the shadows and silhouettes. “I’ll then use a fan brush dipped in denatured alcohol to ‘knock back’ the darks, creating a more atmospheric, glazed effect,” she explains. “This helps to unify the composition and establish that sense of depth and distance.”
As Mertz progresses, she gradually introduces the mid-tones and highlights, always mindful of maintaining a harmonious balance of light and shadow. “I love to use the white of the paper to my advantage, allowing it to shine through in key areas to suggest the glow of streetlights or the reflections on a still body of water,” she says. “It’s all about finding that perfect equilibrium between the bold, gestural marks and the soft, atmospheric passages.”
Mertz’s pastel drawings are a testament to the power of creative exploration and artistic intuition. By embracing the medium’s inherent expressiveness and spontaneity, she has developed a singular style that captures the elusive, ephemeral qualities of the nocturnal landscape with unparalleled grace and sensitivity.
Harnessing the Elements of Design
Whether you’re working in acrylics or pastels, mastering the elements of design is crucial to creating captivating nocturnal landscapes. From the strategic use of color and value to the thoughtful application of texture and line, every design decision you make will ultimately shape the mood and atmosphere of your work.
One of the most important considerations is color palette. Typically, nocturnal scenes are dominated by a cool, muted color scheme, with shades of blue, grey, and purple taking center stage. “I love to use a limited palette of ultramarine blue, Payne’s grey, and white as my foundation,” says Mertz, “then gradually introduce warmer accents like cadmium orange or yellow ochre to suggest the glow of artificial light sources.”
Equally crucial is the management of light and shadow. “Dramatic chiaroscuro effects are the key to creating a true sense of depth and atmosphere,” explains Hill. “By strategically placing areas of deep shadow and luminous highlights, you can guide the viewer’s eye through the composition and evoke a profound emotional response.”
Textural elements also play a vital role in nocturnal landscape painting. “I’ll often use a palette knife or other unconventional tools to apply thick, impasto layers of paint, creating the illusion of atmospheric haze or the rough, weathered surfaces of buildings,” says Hill. “These tactile passages help to ground the viewer in the physicality of the scene, providing a counterpoint to the ethereal, atmospheric qualities.”
Ultimately, the most successful nocturnal landscape paintings are those that strike a delicate balance between technical mastery and creative expression. By harnessing the fundamentals of design and color theory while embracing the unpredictable nature of their chosen medium, artists like Marcia Hill and Nancie King Mertz have developed highly distinctive, emotionally resonant styles that captivate and inspire.
So, whether you’re drawn to the dramatic, moody chiaroscuro of acrylic painting or the atmospheric, expressive qualities of pastel drawing, the key to unlocking the magic of nocturnal landscape art lies in your willingness to experiment, explore, and push the boundaries of your chosen medium. With a keen eye for design, a deep understanding of light and shadow, and a healthy dose of creative intuition, you too can harness the power of darkness to create evocative, unforgettable works of art.
Tip: Experiment with different media to discover your unique style