Wonders & Wanders

How to draw it

An LA sunset is all about layering warm-on-warm and letting the colors melt into each other. The key is to build the gradient from light to dark, blend generously, then keep the silhouettes for last so they sit crisp on top.

1. Step 01

   Block in the horizon

   Lightly pencil the horizon line without details, just to get the idea where to color and blend the sky.

2. Step 02

   Lay and blend the warm sky

   Pull broad horizontal strokes from the horizon up — pale yellow at the sun, then peach, coral, and a warm lavender as you climb. After the full sky coverage, use blending sticks to gently soften the transitions and create the smooth gradient.

3. Step 03

   Shape the buildings with blue tones

   Draw in the building shapes with blue gray, haze blue, prussian blue, and dark violet pastels. Blend lightly with the colorless blender to soften them, but keep the edges defined enough that they read as structures.

4. Step 04

   Push the hot core

   Layer hotter magenta, burnt orange, lavender purple right at the horizon for tall buildings shape, then re-blend. The color constrast with the upper sky reads as twilight.

5. Step 05

   Drop the silhouettes

   Press deep plum or near-black for palm trunks and rooftops last, so they sit cleanly on the gradient. On the silhouettes, layer a bit orange pastel into the edges and use palette knife carve thin lines for palm leaves texture.

6. Step 06

   Final highlights

   A whisper of pale yellow back across the sun's center and a tiny rim-light along the palm fronds. Step back, squint, and stop while it still feels like a memory.