Lowcountry Sunset...Getting that Sunset Glow

'Lowcountry Magic'          10 x 20     pastel          ©Karen Margulis    purchase $150 with Paypal

close up view of 'Lowcountry Magic'

close up view of 'Lowcountry Magic'

There is magic about the sunset in the South Carolina Lowcountry.  I have seen some spectacular sunsets. Some of my favorites have been in the Southwest. But I have to give the prize to my most spectacular sunset to one I witnessed by accident in Beaufort South Carolina. Never had I seen such a wonderful combination of sky and water glowing with orange and golden light.  It is hard to capture this in a painting without it looking fake. But it was very real!
There are a couple of things I try to do when painting a sunset to give it an authentic feeling.

• I try to go bolder and more intense with my color. I find that photos often don't show the true colors and unless I am using the correct setting the photos often look washed out. I like to pump up my colors to compensate. So instead of a pale peachy color I will go for the intense oranges.
• I try to infuse some of the sky color into the edged of the trees and land shapes. If the sky is glowing orange I will scumble some orange over the edges of the trees. This both softens them and gives a little glow to them. 
• I pay attention to the colors in the land or foreground. Often photos show the foreground as a black or very dark silhouette. In real life you would see more color though it will be dull. So instead of using black I use some of my dull dark and dark-middle value colors. (see my close ups)

I will be spending a week this Fall on Pawley's Island in a cottage on the beach and marsh. I have my fingers crossed for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets!