Chasing the Golden Hour: The Story of ‘Ochre Sunset’

‘Ochre Sunset’ - Original Acrylic Painting by Mary Burtenshaw

The Inspiration Behind Ochre Sunset

Every artist knows that the final moments of a sunset are the hardest to capture. The light shifts in seconds which is why I like to be spontaneous and play with the colour. This acrylic painting is of a hazy Autumn sunset with yellow and pink clouds in the sky, rich colour on the horizon and dark shadows in the green landscape.

‘Ochre Sunset’ portrays that point just as the sun sets, drawing mist across the landscape whilst the warm tone colours of Autumn cling to the horizon, and the clouds pale into the sky and shadows lengthen on the ground.

It depicts the subdued colours of an Autumn sunset showing the effect on the light in the sky and the longer shadows on the landscape. I relied heavily on the earthy yellow ochre palette rather than relying wholly on the yellows and oranges. This choice allowed me to capture the atmosphere, light and the sense of stillness.

My style:

My style of painting can change. Sometimes larger brushstrokes with larger brushes and sometimes smaller brushes with a fluttering of brushstrokes to create the initial spontaneous outline and then more deliberate strokes to complete the abstract form.

Every brushstroke was layered to make the sky feel alive, radiating the glow and texture that changes slightly depending on the light in the room where it hangs.

Styling This Painting: Bringing Warmth to your Space

With its luminous golden hour tones, Ochre Sunset is designed to bring instant warmth to a minimalist space, pairing beautifully against neutral, grey, or crisp white walls as seen on the image below. It is ideally sized for a smaller space but could still be a focal point with the right space around it and would look equally good on a shelf in your home, office, bedroom or small nook in your living room.

Original Painting Available for Sale

Title: “Ochre Sunset”

Style: Abstract Impressionist Landscape

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions: 22 x 20.5 cm

Framing: Unframed but with a white mount

Availability: Original painting available for Worldwide Shipping (see below for details)

Price: £180.00 (including a mount)

You can view all my smaller affordable paintings here.

How to secure your original artwork

• Shipping: Fully tracked and signed for postage at a small charge of £15.00.

• Secure Payment: Safe and encrypted payment via PayPal link or direct transfer.

• Newsletter: ‘Love this style’ Subscribe to my Collector’s Club list for 10% off your first original painting.

Note: This post was originally published in 2024 and has been completely updated

and expanded for accuracy and detail.