from Andy Evansen

Painting a night scene, or a nocturne, can be both challenging and fun. Unlike daytime scenes, where most everything is light with a few dark details,, nocturnes focus on darkness, with just a few spots of light. In this post, Andy walks you through how to paint a night scene step by step, and shares tips to make your nocturnes stand out.

Focus on Dark Colors

When painting a nocturne, you’re working with mostly dark colors and middle tones. Think about how night scenes look—everything is vague and shadowy, and the light only comes from a few places, like streetlights or the moon. These small light spots help guide the viewer's eye through your painting and create a sense of mood.

Start with Tinted Paper

Starting with tinted (colored) paper can make your nocturnes easier. Some artists like to use warm-toned or tan paper, which helps build a softer background for the dark colors. Artists like Rowland Hilder used oatmeal-colored paper for his night paintings, layering darker washes over the warm tones to create an atmospheric feel. This base can help your mid-tones blend more seamlessly into the darks, giving your night scenes depth and warmth.

Paint on Location or Take Notes

Painting nocturnes from life can be tricky but rewarding. Our eyes adjust to the dark better than a camera can, allowing you to see more subtle information than a photo can capture. Standing on location—even with just a small sketchbook for color notes and shapes—helps you accurately translate the mood and lighting of a night scene. If you're painting from a photo, remember that shadows and details will often be more vague, so keep your forms simple and your focus on the mood and light.

Manage Your Light

When painting nocturnes, one of the most important elements is how you handle the small but essential light sources. Use opaque gouache or white paint sparingly to add highlights and contrasts, whether it’s the soft glow of a window, the bright moonlight hitting a snow-covered roof, or firelight illuminating figures. It’s the play between these small lights and the surrounding darks that brings nocturnes to life.

Create Strong Contrast

The key to making the light sources in your nocturnes stand out is to contrast them with very dark values. When you paint the areas surrounding a light source, make sure the darks are deep enough to make those lights pop. If you don’t go dark enough with your shadows, the light won’t feel illuminated, and the mood of the painting will fall flat.

Step-by-Step: Painting a Nocturne

- Sketch It Out: Start with a light sketch to block in your main shapes. Keep it simple—just focus on getting the angles and big shapes right.

  - Paint the Light First: Begin by painting the light areas, like windows or streetlights. Use warm colors like golds and pinks for glowing light, and let the paint softly blend into the surrounding areas.

- Add the Middle Values:  Next, paint the sky and snow using middle tones—think blues, lavenders, or grays. You want a smooth, soft wash to give the scene its night-time mood.

- Work in the Darks: Once the middle tones dry, add in your darkest areas like trees, buildings, or shadows. This is where the night really takes shape. By surrounding the light spots with darks, you’ll make them stand out more.

- Finishing Touches: After your dark areas are in place, you can add details like figures, tree branches, or soft reflections in the snow. Don’t forget to soften any edges where the light meets the dark for a natural glow effect.

Nocturnes offer a lot of room for creativity. You don’t need to follow strict rules when painting night scenes. Some of Andy’s favorite nocturnes were painted spontaneously, capturing a moment or mood quickly. Don’t worry if your first attempts feel challenging—painting watercolor nocturnes can be complex and it takes a while to get used to how much paint you need to use , but with practice, you’ll start to see the magic in those dark, moody compositions.

Nocturnes allow you to explore new ways of using color, light, and shadow. They’re a perfect exercise in simplifying shapes, exaggerating contrast, and capturing atmosphere. Whether you’re working from a reference photo or on location, remember that the essence of a good nocturne lies in its ability to evoke the quiet, mysterious beauty of the night.

Andy’s teaching approach focuses on building strong fundamentals while encouraging your unique style. Join Andy below: