A moonlit lake is one of the most satisfying night scenes you can paint in acrylics. Ryan O'Rourke of Stay Creative Painting finishes this one in about ten minutes with three colors: titanium white, primary blue and Mars black. You end up with a glowing sky full of stars, dark mountains, black bulrushes and a bright path of moonlight across the water.
How to paint a moonlit lake: the short version
- Paint a light blue glow in the middle of the sky and blend it out to dark edges.
- Tap and spatter stars while the sky is still wet.
- Add dark mountains, then lay in the lake, light in the middle and dark at the sides.
- Paint pure black bulrushes and grass up close.
- Pull the moon's reflection across the water with short sideways strokes, then add clouds.
Why three colors are enough
Every color here is a mix of white, blue and black. That keeps the whole scene in one cool moonlit key, so nothing looks pasted on. The mountains and the dark water get black mixed into blue. Only the bulrushes and grass get black straight from the tube. Pure black is the darkest value in the painting, and putting it closest to you is what pushes the mountains and the moon far back.
Keep the sky wet
Ryan starts with a damp brush. The extra water slows drying, which buys you time to blend the glow, tap stars into it and fix the gradient. If the dark edges creep too far in, add more white and blue to the middle and blend out again. Acrylic is forgiving here. You can always push a patch lighter or darker.
Smooth, streaky or starry
You have three choices for a night sky. A soft touch with plenty of paint gives a smooth, empty sky. Visible strokes give a lively, Van Gogh feel. This painting goes for stars. Pick one look and carry it across the whole sky.
Make a star brush
The tapping brush is an old square brush with bristles that splay in every direction. Each stray bristle leaves its own dot, so you get hundreds of faraway stars in a few seconds. No old brush? Bend back the bristles on a cheap flat brush until it looks scruffy, and keep it for texture work.
Common problems
- The moon looks dull. The sky was still wet. Plot the moon early, then go over it with pure white once the sky is dry.
- Spatter dots are blobs. Add more water and pull the bristles back gently. Test on a paper towel.
- The reflection looks like a stripe. Soften its edges with a light touch so it fades darker toward the sides.
- The mountains vanish. Go over them with a darker blue and black mix.
Size and display
A small canvas around 8 by 10 inches suits a ten minute painting. A black canvas, or a black base coat, gives you a head start on the night. Paint three with different moons for a calm wall group, or set one on a tabletop easel as a gift.
More night and water paintings
For a sky-only version, try how to paint a full moon night sky, or go bigger with how to paint a galaxy. Brush up on blending acrylic paint, then practice painting water and painting clouds on their own.
