Painting a Misty Sunrise: Capturing Light, Atmosphere, and Reflection in Watercolor ✨

Welcome, dear friends!
In this video, I’ll take you on a creative journey as I paint a serene misty sunrise inspired by the quiet beauty of a foggy morning near Crystal Springs Reservoir. This piece captures the interplay of light breaking through the mist, reflections on the water, and the peaceful atmosphere of nature waking up.
Along the way, I’ll share my process, struggles with creativity, and techniques for mastering wet-on-wet watercolor. Whether you’re here to paint along or simply relax and enjoy the process, I hope this video inspires you to embrace the beauty of nature and find joy in creating.
If you’re new to watercolor or looking to improve your skills, this video is perfect for learning how to:
Create soft atmospheric effects with wet-on-wet techniques.
Paint light and reflections in water.
Mix harmonious colors for depth and mood.
Add final details like trees, shrubs, and grasses to anchor your composition.

Materials Used
Here’s everything I used to create this painting:
Paper: Arches 300lb Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper

Brushes:
5-line flat brush to wet the paper. You may use a simple sponge.
Medium round all-purpose calligraphy brush. You can use any size 10-12 round brush.
Sword brush (or liner brush) for fine details.
Smallest round brush for trees and grasses.
Stick for scratching texture into the paper.
3-line flat brush used as a main painting tool. You can use any 1 inch and larger flat brush.

Pigments:
Naples Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Chromium Orange
Davy’s Gray
Lunar Blue
French Ultramarine
Opera Pink
Transparent Brown
Phthalo Turquoise
Sap Green

Key Moments in the Video:
Pre-wetting the paper and mixing colors for soft transitions.
Painting the first wash to capture light breaking through mist.
Adding depth with cool blue-greys and warming tones for atmospheric perspective.
Anchoring the scene with trees, shrubs, and reflections using muted greens and browns.

Let’s Connect!

Thank you so much for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please like it, share it with someone who loves watercolor, and leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you have!
Don’t forget to subscribe for more watercolor tutorials and inspiration:

Support & Resources

If you feel inspired to help those affected by recent wildfires in Southern California, please check out the links below to donate to official charities supporting displaced families and first responders:

Direct Relief - Provides emergency medical supplies, N95 masks, and hygiene kits to those affected.
Donate here: https://www.directrelief.org/emergenc...

California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund -
Focuses on long-term recovery, including rebuilding homes, mental health support, and emergency communications.
Donate here: https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfir...

California Fire Foundation - Supports wildfire victims and communities with financial aid and resources.
Donate here: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/

American Red Cross Wildfire Relief Fund
Offers shelter, food, and emotional support to evacuees.
Donate here: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our...

World Central Kitchen - Provides meals to first responders and displaced families during disasters.
Donate here: https://donate.wck.org/give/654000?ga...

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank - Supplies food to affected families through its network of local partners.
Donate here: https://www.lafoodbank.org/

Thank you!!

With Love and Peace,
Elnura

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

0:35 - Inspiration Behind the Painting

1:00 - Tearing the Paper

1:45 - Objectives

1:58 - Thoughts on Wildfires in LA

2:34 - Colors and Materials

4:04 - Sketch first

5:15 - Pre-wetting the paper

5:51 - Pre-mixing colors

6:13 - Laying the First Wash

7:24 - Carving out the Sun

7:48 - Adding Depth with Blue-Greys

10:00 - Adding depth and dimension with Hills

13:34 - Laying the Second Wash

17:27 - Thank You & Closing Thoughts