Night scenes are a favorite of mine to create because I like the many options available. Somehow in a night scene I feel more free to create... people or no? lights here or there? let's change some colors! etc.
Art Ideas & Watercolor Notes: for those who wish to try this in water media I'd focus on the idea of control/chaos presented in the demo. Both the narration and visual example of paint getting applied shows how structure yet freedom can be employed to create a painting. Finding this balance (for YOU) is the foundation of understanding watercolor... too much control makes a 'tight' image that feels stiff, too much freedom yields art that does not have staying power or feels like a brief unfinished study. This is my opinion (having done many watercolors that were too loose), you will need to make these aesthetic choices yourself and this must be done by trial and error. Don't fear the failed attempts, remember this is part of the process to find your own visual path. If you are just starting out, this might seem like fuzzy advice that is just conceptual. In the beginning students do need technical how-to nuts and bolts, or control of the medium. For this start with knowing where the light bits are (building, car headlights, etc.). Place very pale and pure color in these spots to preserve the light and plan to 'paint around' these light chips, carving away at them with medium and dark color washes. You can pre-draw with very pale washes in Burnt Umber or Cobalt for rough placement of objects if you like, or in pencil (I rarely use pencil however, but this is up to you). Review the Fundamentals section on watercolor painting for application tips.
I believe I would not be able to paint my oils as loosely as I do if I had not painted in watercolor for many years. Watercolor and transparent washes teach an artist about trusting the process.
Have fun following along, or use the creative options shown here to make your own choices in a night scene.