The Magic of the Sky
Have you ever found yourself completely mesmerized by the sky?
Maybe it’s the way a fiery sunset spreads across the horizon, or how a rolling storm turns the world moody and electric.
For me, the sky is that one thing I can never stop watching. Every day is a brand-new masterpiece, painted in real time by nature itself.
Some mornings greet me with gentle pastels, soft and dreamy. Other evenings bring bold, saturated hues—pinks, reds, oranges that set the sky on fire. And then there are the storms, those dramatic, brooding skies that carry a feeling of anticipation.
No two skies are ever the same, and that’s exactly why I love creating skyscape paintings.
Early Morning Splendor – A vibrant skyscape painting by artist Jenna Lueck, capturing the soft glow of sunrise over the Midwest horizon.
The Challenge of Capturing the Sky on Canvas
Recreating these breathtaking scenes isn’t just about choosing pretty colors—it’s about understanding how light, movement, and atmosphere all come together. And let me tell you, it’s a challenge!
Did you know that any vibrant sunset painting—those fiery reds, pinks, and oranges—actually starts with a layer of yellow underneath?
That’s the secret to creating that glowing warmth. If I’m painting a stormy sky, I can let bits of that yellow peek through, adding an eerie intensity. But if I’m painting a smooth sunrise or sunset that transitions into blue, I have to be extra careful. Yellow and blue together? That makes green—definitely not a color you want to see in a peaceful morning sky (unless a storm is rolling in!).
In Touch of Heaven, artist Jenna Lueck paints sunlight breaks through playful clouds that cast golden beams across a brilliant blue sky.
Painting the Night: A Complete Shift in Technique
When I decided that I wanted to create northern lights paintings, I had to adjust my process. These are completely opposite from every other painting inspired by nature that I’ve ever created! Normally, I begin with a light canvas—white, yellow, maybe a soft blue. But for the northern lights, I had to do something completely different:
I started with darkness.
Whispers of the North – a northern lights mini skyscape painting by artist Jenna Lueck. A lone road winds into the horizon beneath a breathtaking aurora, where shades of green and red cascade across the night sky in a mesmerizing dance of light.
Dancing Across the Midwest – a luminous skyscape painting by artist Jenna Lueck. The northern lights sweep across the sky in waves of green and violet, casting a soft glow over the silhouetted trees below. This piece captures the rare beauty of the aurora over the Midwest landscape.
Instead of building up from light, I began with a deep navy blue or even black canvas.
From there, I layered in white streaks to act as the foundation for the shimmering northern lights. Only after that did I add in the glowing greens, purples, and blues that make the aurora come to life. It was such a shift in my process, but I loved the challenge of painting light emerging from the dark rather than the other way around.
Why Skies Speak to Us
There’s something magical about the sky, isn’t there?
Sunrises set the mood for our days, spark emotions, and remind us of moments we’ve experienced before. Maybe a golden sunrise brings back memories of early mornings at the lake. Maybe a stormy sky makes you feel the excitement of an oncoming summer storm. That’s the beauty of paintings inspired by nature—they hold stories, emotions, and memories.
Golden hues and deep purples fill the sky in Sunset at the Soccer Complex, as the sun sets behind the iconic Dubuque, Iowa, water tower. This vibrant skyscape by Jenna Lueck captures a familiar scene in a breathtaking light.
So next time you find yourself caught up in a moment, staring at the sky, take it in.
Let it inspire you.
And if you ever want to bring that feeling into your home, I’d love to help you capture it in a skyscape painting. 💙
P.S. Are you looking for a sunset painting, northern lights painting, or a skyscape painting to add beauty to your space? Explore my latest works and find the perfect piece for your home!
