Do you want to learn how to paint the mesmerizing Northern Lights in watercolors? In this advanced tutorial, I'll guide you through the steps to create a dramatic and beautiful night sky with auroras that glow vibrantly against a snowy landscape. Whether you're a seasoned watercolor artist or looking to challenge yourself, this step-by-step guide will help you achieve a striking painting filled with color and atmosphere.
Materials You’ll Need:
- 100% cotton watercolor paper (loose sheet or watercolor block)
- Phthalo green watercolor
- Cerulean blue watercolor
- Indigo blue watercolor
- Masking tape (if using a loose sheet)
- Flat and round brushes
- Water and a spray bottle
- White gouache (for stars and snow)
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Prepare Your Paper
To begin, tape down your 100% cotton watercolor paper to a canvas board to prevent buckling and make it easier to move your paper around while painting. If you're using a watercolor block, you can skip this step. Once your paper is secured, apply a generous layer of clean water to the front of the paper using a large flat brush. Be sure to go over it multiple times to evenly saturate the paper, allowing you more time to work wet into wet. You can also apply water to the back of the paper for extra moisture, which is particularly helpful in warm or dry conditions.
Step 2: Mix Your Colors
For this painting, we'll be using just three colors: phthalo green, cerulean blue, and indigo blue. I recommend using watercolor tubes so you can easily get the amount of pigment you need. Before applying paint to the paper, I add another layer of water to ensure the surface remains evenly moist.
Step 3: Apply the First Color for the Northern Lights
Tilt your board slightly, so the paint flows downwards as you work. Using a flat brush, mix phthalo green and cerulean blue to create a turquoise hue. Starting at the top, paint a thick, slightly diagonal line to represent the brightest part of the northern lights. As you move downwards, gradually make the lines thinner, adding in some zigzag shapes to mimic the movement of the auroras. Paint more turquoise lines wherever you'd like the lights to shine through. At the bottom, create a base layer for the snowy road using the same blue color.
Step 4: Build Up Darkness with Indigo Blue
Next, mix indigo blue into your turquoise blend and start applying this darker shade between the lighter areas of your auroras. Vary the thickness of your brushstrokes to add movement and depth. Remember, watercolors dry lighter than they appear when wet, so don't be afraid to use more pigment than you think you need to avoid a pale result. Keep building up the darkness, especially at the top of the painting, where the night sky is darkest. Leave the bottom half lighter for contrast and to allow room for additional details like trees and the road.
Step 5: Add Highlights Using the Lifting Technique
Now that you've established the base colors, it's time to lift some paint to create highlights. Using a clean flat brush, gently lift the paint from certain areas where you want more brightness in the northern lights. Be sure to clean your brush regularly and blot away excess moisture with a paper towel to avoid adding more water to the paper. You can also use this technique to create swirling details and add more variety to the shapes of the lights.
Step 6: Paint the Landscape
Once the sky is mostly dry, it’s time to add details like trees and the snowy road. Using a round brush with a fine tip, start by painting trees along the sides of the road. To create the trees, paint a straight line for the trunk and then dab on the paint in a zigzag motion to form the branches. Trees closer to the horizon should appear smaller, while those in the foreground can be larger and more detailed. If the trees feel too dark, blend them out slightly with clean water to soften their appearance.
Step 7: Add Stars and Snow
For the final touches, mix white gouache with water to create a splattering effect for the stars in the night sky. Tap the brush to sprinkle white droplets across the painting, and for an added touch, mix a little bit of blue paint into the gouache for snowflakes that reflect the northern lights. Focus more of the snow near the lower part of the painting for a cohesive winter scene.
Final Thoughts
And that’s it! You now have a breathtaking watercolor painting of the Northern Lights with a snowy landscape. This advanced technique of wet-into-wet, lifting, and using contrasting colors helps create the magical, swirling auroras and the calmness of a winter night.
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Want More Watercolor Tutorials?
If you enjoyed painting the Northern Lights, don’t forget to check out my No-Fail Watercolor Book. It's packed with more fun projects and step-by-step guides to help you develop your watercolor skills.