Sunset Painting

Through this Photoshop tutorial you will learn to create Sunset painting using simple Photoshop Tools and Techniques.The dimensions used in this tutorial is : width 200px, height 300px and resolution 72px. This tutorial demonstrates the use of Brush, Smudge, Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee and Gradient Tools. From this painting we will learn to create Sun, Sky during Sunset, Grasslands and a Palmtree. Using this technique, at the end of this tutorial you can create your own paintings.

Create a new document of dimensions 200x300 px with Black background.

Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and make a rectangular selection.

Click on the Create a new layer button in the layers palette to create a new layer. Press G to select the Gradient tool . From the tools option click on edit the Gradient and set the colors as shown in the image.

Select the Radial Gradient from the Tools option.

Click to enlarge

Place the cursor on the bottom center of the selection and drag the cursor to either one of the top side (left / right) and release.

Press Ctrl + D and your image should look like. Name the layer as bg.

Next we will create the Sun. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool (M) and make a circular selection.

Set the foreground color to #ffdc04. Click on the Create a new layer button in the layers palette to create a new layer and press Alt + Backspace to fill the selection with the foreground color. Press Ctrl + D. Name the layer as Sun.

Next select the Smudge Tool and make circular rays as shown in the image below.

Goto Filter > Blur > Radial Blur. Set the Blur amount to 3, method to Spin and Quality as Best.

Then right click on the Sun layer in the layers palette and select Duplicate Layer.

Press Ctrl + T and in the Tools option set the width and height to 130%.

Click to enlarge

In the Layers palette set the Blend mode of the duplicate layer to Overlay and the Opacity to 30%.

Next we will create Grassland. Select the Brush tool and from the Tools option select the Feather Brush.

Create a new layer and run the cursor over the image to make a grassland. Name the layer as Grass.

Next select the Smudge Tool and smoothen the Grass layer by making circular movements with the cursor.

Next we will create a Palm tree. Select the Brush tool and from the Tools option select the Hard brush of 5px diameter. Create a new layer and make the shape of the the Tree trunk.

Next we will create the Branches and palm leaves. Create a new layer and using brush tool create an abstract shape.

Select the Smudge Tool and run the cursor over the layer.

Create a new layer and select the Brush Tool . From the tools option select the soft brush of 1px in diameter and make the palm leaves.

Use the Smudge Tool and smoothen the layer.

The Final painting should look like this.