8856 Desert Sunset
Jerry Yarnell – Inspiration of Painting PBS Television Series

A dramatic desert sunset glows across the horizon as a towering cactus silhouette rises against a sky filled with warm oranges, purples, and soft cloud formations. In this beginner level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry guides you step-by-step through creating this striking Southwestern scene in a 51 minute session on a 20x24 canvas, focusing on bold color contrast and simple, powerful composition.

You’ll learn how to build a strong composition using silhouetted foreground elements, allowing the cactus and desert plants to stand out against the glowing sky. Jerry demonstrates how to block in major shapes first, then refine them with controlled brushwork to maintain clarity and impact.

Special focus is given to painting sunset skies using layered color blending techniques that create smooth transitions between warm and cool tones. You’ll also explore how to paint distant mountains and atmospheric haze, adding depth while keeping the foreground bold and simple.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting dramatic skies, working with silhouettes, and creating strong visual impact with minimal detail. This is an excellent project for beginners looking to develop color blending skills while producing a bold and visually captivating desert scene.