How to Paint Alpenglow in Watercolor: Create Light From Color

To paint alpenglow, start with a sky gradient that goes from blue to yellow to a little orange and then pink, and bring the pink all the way down to the bottom of the painting. Add a little yellow onto the pink for the glowing peaks, then finish with a very light layer of purple at the top of the horizon.

Why This Matters

In real life, light creates color, but in painting, color creates light. Alpenglow is a great example of that idea, which makes it an excellent way to practice creating light from color.

If you've been lucky enough to witness alpenglow, you know it's a feast for your eyes and your soul. Painting it is a good way to see how a handful of colors can make a painting glow.

Try This

1. Paint a sky gradient that goes from blue to yellow to a little orange, then pink.
2. Bring the pink all the way down to the bottom of the painting. If the colors blend into each other, don't worry about it. Just leave it alone.
3. Create the glowing peaks and add a little of that yellow onto the pink.
4. Add a super light layer of purple right at the top of the horizon, so the alpenglow pops even more.
5. If you masked a moon, let the sky dry, then remove the masking fluid.

The trick is to bring that pink all the way down to the bottom of the painting.

I wasn't able to record how I painted the mountains in this reel, because my storage was full.

Want to Go Deeper?

This reel doesn't show how I painted the mountains, so you may find this related Quick Tip helpful. It covers an easy way to paint snow on mountains:

Watercolor Snow Mountain: The Easiest Way to Paint It

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