Watercolour Tip from PETER WOOLLEY: The Northern Lights

[@MaryRoseOutdoorGearCoach]

This is a brilliant explanation of how to paint the Northern Lights, so clear and simple and it works! Thank you!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

It does indeed work... it just needs a little practice. Thanks for the lovely comment Mary!

[@MaryRoseOutdoorGearCoach]

@@peterwoolleyartist I have now done a couple of experiments and was so excited. I had spent a weekend before finding your video, fiddling and ending up with aurora that looked like clouds. I’ve lots of practice and experimenting to do but it was so exciting to be getting the effects I knew had to be there. Thanks so much again.

[@FREEMAN....]

You're a great pedagogue and a true master. All your paintings are filled with poetry.

[@rockyhudson3346]

Excellent !. Perseverance pays.

[@hazelsmith9198]

Awesome teacher, great lesson

[@hazelsmith9198]

This was wonderful, and I just subscribed. I do not believe, however, that you just mastered this. Great techniques for learners.

[@jomifohe]

Wonderful painting, I really like your skills. It's always a pleasure to see you paint.

[@suel4269]

That’s beautiful! I’m just starting to paint the Northern lights and yes it’s not easy.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Sue - good luck with your painting!

[@davidm3569]

Inspiring. Thank you.

[@TheBohemianCrow]

Thank you for sharing your technique Peter. I am in Alaska now. The scenery is so inspiring, I took a two hour trip for water color paper.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

+cyndi nash Wow! That's dedication... I would love to visit Alaska one day...

[@patriciah3235]

Cyndi Nash ME TOO! I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO FAIRBANKS TO SEE THE LIGHTS.

[@bobbigascoigne5232]

Fantastic! This is definitely something for me to practice on! Well done Peter!

[@tracyespinosa7634]

Thank you SO much for this tutorial!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome Tracy - I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@kauseressaji876]

Beautiful

[@capbin146]

I am trying to paint an aurora. Had 2 goes that were poor and overworked. So good to see a pro had trouble learning this. Now to watch this video. Thanks

[@jjab99]

Many thanks for this truly inspirational piece. You are a very gifted artist and should be proud of your work and of your willingness to share your skills and advice on here. Thank you so very much.

[@NMranchhand]

Fab video. I lived in Alaska for many years and I'll buy your results as convincing. I really enjoy your teaching style. Got your book today and was delighted with it. Thanks.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Many thanks for that; 'convincing' will do me, and high praise indeed. I hope you enjoy the book. Cheers, Peter

[@ullazitabinder2091]

beautifully done!

[@emilianobre9398]

beautiful Peter thank you so much for tips

[@Britgirl58]

Thank you for your video - I found it very informative and interesting. Your voice over was both educational and soothing. My Sister and Brother-in-law have just returned to their home in England from a cruise to Iceland. Their favorite part was the Northern lights (actually the one thing they felt they must see). They were supposed to come to visit us in the US this April, but that now has been canceled, so I think a gift of these lights is appropriate. Your tutorial is perfect.

[@englishskillboard7821]

you explain brilliantly... your compositions are amazing... It's really interesting to watch your video clips...

[@kelajno]

absolutely stunning! thanks for sharing!!

[@speedytheturtles]

very beautiful!

[@Uni356]

What a wonderful lesson :)

[@nknana3]

Awesome!! I love it!! Thanks so very much

[@n3bie]

I have recently subscribed to your channel and I just wanted to thank you for your videos! This one in particular, showing how even a veteran like yourself might go through several attempts to capture a particular effect or image, really inspires those of us who are new to watercolor to work through those many dreadful paintings that result from experimentation. Thank you so much for your tutorials!

[@susannah1948]

wowww thanks so much - brilliant

[@jasonjoseph12]

I loved it

[@binsonfeng1205]

amazing!

[@readpostcard]

Wonderful, Thank you so much

[@floortjeps]

I agree Eunice,:Wonderful!!

[@crystalheart9]

Beautiful, thank you for this demo on how to paint the northern lights:)))

[@nuckkingfuts2743]

This is awesome

[@andymandyandsheba4571]

excellent peter

[@fearlessdreamsxx]

Thank you teaching your technique! I've always wanted to paint the Northern Lights but I don't know how. Will make a timelapse of my painting for my new channel!

[@ellalulla]

You must heave read my mind Peter..... I heave been painting Northern lighs and practising for weeks ,my method is poring the colors for maximum transparency,yours is easier. Thanks !

[@TheRokkis]

Thank you for the tips Peter! I live in Finland at Arctic Circle and at the moment we're living the best part of the year to spot the Aurora so the inspiration is on the sky. Besides it's been a great year when it comes to Northern Lights, the Sun has been rather active even tho we're coming to bottom of the solar cycle =) I just recently picked up painting and I've been struggling the whole day on painting Auroras, so your tips are seriously golden!

[@TheRokkis]

After 18 tries each one uglier than previous I'm losing my hope to ever be able to do this. Too much water, not enough water, blue too dark, added red and it turned everything brown etc. And in the only one I managed to blend the colors even remotely right all the colors are wrong and shape is so weird that it doesn't even look like northern lights, more like some schizophrenic painting. I wonder if this would be easier if I wasn't painting with unbranded cheap watercolors and neverheard paper. You'd think that you'd be able to copy something from video in 25 hours, but apparently I don't have enough experience with watercolors for that =D

[@Isaacpokefriki]

Hi Peter...me fascinan las auroras boreales, son el color hecho luz pura. Me gustaría poder ir a verlas algún día...😊. Me encanta tu versión. He hecho alguna con acuarela...es complicado captar esa misteriosa luminosidad. Gracias por compartir y sí, a mí también me gusta tu voz y esa música...que has utilizado, todo un acierto. Hasta la próxima. 🌻

[@moyamacgregor6739]

TheRokkis. 3years on you’ve probably realised good quality materials usually help, especially the paper w/water colour best wishes with all creative activity!

[@malkum04]

good job!

[@debrabannister6922]

You are right, this subject is very difficult to paint, sort of like capturing the luminosity of fire, capturing the luminosity of the aurora is also a huge challenge - like trying to capture an angel. I am going to try again to paint this subject and you have given me stimulated me to think about how inject greater luminosity, movement and that see through feeling when it comes to these amazing phenomenon.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Hi Debra, I like that... 'Like trying to capture an angel'... The thing to always remember is that, in pure watercolour, all your light comes from the white of the paper, nowhere else... that's the element that must be allowed to punch through at all times... its where the luminosity comes from. If in doubt, keep your washes light...

[@candycooper6275]

Wow, I thought I had to be the only one to start over and over trying to paint the norther lights. This is a great technique. I can't wait to try it. One question, What do I do if it does start to dry out? Thank you

[@peterwoolleyartist]

If it starts to dry out... panic! No - seriously - don't panic, just speed things up , because once it dries out it's game over.

[@siriratngampasutadol4694]

Wowwwww!!! You are the great!!! I want to paint the north light but my teacher said he could not do it, tell him if I know how to paint it. This make me feel it's very super difficult and impossible to paint. But you can show me how to paint . I'll do it in your way. Thank you very much to show this.

[@linzertube]

I would love to see this phenomenom one day.

[@daud314]

very helpful tqvm

[@pinkpineapple9663]

Thats a very interesting idea for stars. Normally I'd see people put white paint on a toothbrush and and run their thumb on the bristles to splatter the paint, but this looks really good, and this looks very fun to paint :)

[@peterwoolleyartist]

The only downside of this method is the challenge of creating something that appears totally random, and natural. It is fun, though!

[@bunny_ta07]

Thank you so much for this video I'm from Mexico City I send you I lot of grettins from here

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Hi Hani... Thank you... greetings all the way back to you in Mexico City from North Yorkshire UK

[@abluebellaa]

good job

[@connieehrhardt7141]

Just checking of you have attempted the Milky Way..???? Always love a challenge.

[@connieehrhardt7141]

Any progress on the milky way in watercolor???

[@Bushy-73]

I have always wondered how to do the northern lights in watercolour. I have done these paintings in oil no problem but not in watercolour

[@Katekaktus]

Thank you so much for explanations! Usually people just videotape the process and i'm like "wait! What did you do?! Staph! I don't get it!". But your comments are very useful. Thank you!

[@TaraDobbs]

Thanks for posting this. I'm about to work on a bookmark commission that will showcase the Northern Lights with dark trees in the middle ground and an ice skater silhouetted in the foreground.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Tara - I'm pleased you enjoyed the demonstration - Good luck with your commission!

[@JaunRaza]

fun stuff

[@andy6477733157]

Any tips on achieving this with watercolor pencils?

[@englishskillboard7821]

you have many fans from all over the globe.. by the way I m from India..

[@DadBodDrumming]

Its good to know that even the masters don't get it right the first time. :P I am going to try this one.

[@stefanocarlo7564]

This tutorial is AMAZING! Probably the best on the subject I've ever seen! Plus, I love your voice! Yet, I'm still struggling so much to pull off this technique. The water dries so fast :/ would you recommended wetting the paper with a water-filled airbrush?

[@eugeniabotezatu2423]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@sallychimarusti487]

What is the brush you used for this painting?

[@connieehrhardt7141]

Hello Peter, I've been searching dates of new works from you.. Are there any that I could look at and study??

[@danialseman1901]

cool! reminds me of tie dye shirt

[@francisdeasis2812]

low thx for tricks I'm Francis and I'm begginer in painting hope you help more

[@connieehrhardt7141]

I FINALLY DID ONE.. SPLATTERING WAS THE TRICK ON WET ON WET TECHNIQUE, WISH I COULD SHOW IT TO YOU..

[@peterwoolleyartist]

+Connie Ehrhardt Hi Connie... that's good news! My website address is in the information above; all contact details can be found there (if you wish to send me your result, I'd love to see it...). Cheers, Peter.

[@connieehrhardt7141]

I would love to see you paint the Milky Way.. I am having a terrible time creating it in Watercolor.. Would you Please??

[@peterwoolleyartist]

+Connie Ehrhardt Oooh! Now there's a challenge (I'm thinking a spattering of masking fluid....). I'll see what I can do...

[@theadelapena2475]

you r using bondpaper or watercolor paper po?

[@peterwoolleyartist]

+Thea dela Peña watercolour paper

[@rhondaflanders9]

And I thought I was the only one having trouble painting the northern lights.

[@connieehrhardt7141]

Hi ,, I sent my picture to your info email.. I hope you get it.. thank you.

[@urssysplace2622]

I'm am currently taking a watercolor course and according to our teacher your 'values' are incorrect..we are told that when painting the 'northern lights' that there needs to be three degrees of strength colors...Strong...med...light. I followed your tutorial and painted a small rendition and I thought it was really nice...but teacher said NO...not enough contrast because the values of the different colors are all the same....boo hoo...lol I still like the outcome...but what do I know.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

I couldn't possibly contradict something your teacher has told you (even if I don't altogether agree with it, with regards to the Northern Lights - the absolute proof must be to search for any colour photo of the aurora and then turn it into a monochrome image, and see what happens...). As a general rule, breaking things down into three distinct tones is a healthy way to go. Bottom line is, though... if you're pleased with the outcome, then that is really all that matters.

[@yticivam]

T_T this was a painful undertaking indeed. My nth try finally looked a tad decent: instagram.com/p/BciUVh4Fu0M/?taken-by=mavicity

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Good work Mavicity... practice makes perfect... (the trick is to work quickly so that the hard lines don't take a hold)... thank you for sharing it!

[@yticivam]

I'm enrolling in your online class starting January! I am beyond excited. In the meantime, I'll keep trying out the tutorials you've uploaded here. And thank you for responding!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Excellent! I look forward to that!

[@yticivam]

I hope I can get some of the watercolor enthusiasts here (Philippines) to try your online workshop. It's actually a better deal than the local face to face workshop we have. I reckon if I keep posting my output on my Instagram they're bound to take notice of the improvement. I'd love to be able to do that because my art has progressed a lot since I discovered your channel!