The Colors of the Night

Mastering the Nocturne

We tend to paint nocturnes year round, but for most artists, the first warm, moon-lit nights of spring signal that nocturne painting season is open again. We firmly believe that more painters should try painting at night because there are many learning benefits in the practice for an artist. For instance, darkness forces us to focus on the large masses first. That discipline helps us to see the daytime world with greater clarity. At night we also learn to create simplified compositions which are strong in design instead of superfluous details. That skill improves all of our paintings. We learn how to use and exploit a limited color and value palette to suggest spatial depth and form.

Moonlight, January Pastel John Hulsey