Creating Loose, Lively Skies in Watercolour - Paint & Drawing Tips

Creating a loose lively sky in watercolour is not for the faint hearted.

You have to be brave.

You have to be prepared.

And you cannot dilly-dally.

But. . . .It's worth it!! 

A Great Day to Ride - SOLD 
Billowing Clouds add lots to this Mountainous View.  wc on 300lb Opus Paper

Loose lively watercolour skies are one of the most magical things that only watercolour can do. 

Sweet Peas & Driftwood - SOLD  
Even a touch of colour can create clouds and set the mood.  wc on 140lb Arches 

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Special Note: I have a YouTube video with more discussion and examples for this topic - Capturing the Sky in your Sketchbook 

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 So what does it take to make one of those lovely skies. . . .

1.  Decide on your colours:  I like to use at least two different blues, a warm blue and a cold blue in my skies. You can also sneak a little bit of yellow or pink into the sky to warm things up and add more interest.  But for starters try 2 colours.

 2. Mix your paints: make sure you have a good puddle of each colour so that you’re not trying to mix in the middle of painting your sky. 

Baker Hiding in the Sky Line - Matted 5 x 7 $130
Note the 2 different blues in the Sky - wc on 140lb Arches

 3. Wet your paper:  make sure your paper is damp not sopping wet where you want to paint the sky.  

 4. Test your colours: make sure your puddles of colour are not too creamy and dark. Remember,  your paint will be diluted by the water on the paper and will dry lighter than it looks when wet. You may want to do a few practice pieces to see how dark you want it.  You only get one chance.  This is not something you can fiddle with. 

 5. Think dark at the top and light on the bottom of your sky area.  

 6. Lay your paper flat: 

Tidal Pool - SOLD 
It is important to let the colours move and settle on their own.
wc on 140lb Arches  

 7. Start at the bottom with your light blue:  You want to use a nice soft wash brush and make your brush dance across the lower part of the sky.  Try and leave White spaces and do cloud like movements with your brush.  Let your paint swirl around on the wet paper as you move up to the top.

 8. Grab your darker blue:  As you move up in your sky, start grabbing some of your darker blue. It isn’t necessary to clean the other blue off  your brush.  Let the two colours mix as you continue the dance with your brush. Finish the top with your darker blue.  

Sketchbook: Sky & Tree at Miracle Beach
That drop of Teal Blue added a real Spark to this changing Sky
mixed media sketchbook

 9. Drop in a bit of dark:  if your sky is light, it’s always interesting to drop in a little bit of a dark.  To do this, make sure your brush is damp and collect a little bit of your darker blue.  Gently drop in a bit of this dark colour onto your wet sky. Give it a swirl in your wet surface and then leave it. No blow dryer. Just let the sky dry on its own.

10.  Add a few horizontal lines: When things are dry, I often drop in just a few thin horizontal clouds to give my sky more depth.  The edges will be a harder than your other clouds so they really stand out.  They should be just a touch darker than the other clouds.  

Note how the Horizontal Lines add more depth to the Clouds

A note of caution before you start.  The paper you use will have a great deal of affect on how your clouds work out.  Some papers grab the colour which makes it hard to get those soft wispy edges. Others float the colour and they end up mixed together and you loose all your beautiful shapes.  You need to practice a bit with your paper to see how it will respond. 

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Special Note: I have a YouTube video with more discussion and examples for this topic - Capturing the Sky in your Sketchbook 

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 Not too late to try Outdoor Sketching!!!

Outdoor Sketching 2.5hr Classes this summer 2024 -
August 8 & 15, 10-12:30pm – 2.5 hr.  $60 Max. 3 per group.  Local parks in N Surrey & Langley Contact Wendy  to register.  I am available for private bookings as well. 
I look forward to going 'out sketching' with you.  

Online Classes coming in October

Enhance Your Drawing Skills using Ink & Watercolour
Thursday, October 10, 17 & 24, 6:00-8:00pm PST (Zoom)

Ink & Watercolour love to Play together. Using pen and watercolour, this series of lessons will focus on developing your drawing skills: Light and Shadows, Edges, Relationships and Composition.  Wendy will pull from elements of nature and urban settings for her subject material. 


Cost: Early Bird $75 Before Oct 8, $90 after

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

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Have a great Artful Day,

  

Wendy