How to Paint Clouds

Cloud No. 1  painted in Watercolor

Cloud No. 2  painted in Watercolor

In a landscape painting you will almost always have to paint a sky; and clouds are important as a landscape element.  The time of day and the location of the clouds in the sky are essential planning items in the composition  for the sky. . The "rule of thirds" is a good guideline:  One-third sky and two-thirds clouds or one-third clouds and two-thirds sky. Taking photos and sketching clouds outside is the best way to learn how to paint clouds. You need to find a variety of shapes and sizes.

There are several techniques to painting clouds. 1. Paint wet-on-wet sky colors leaving white paper to form the cloud shapes.  The wet-on-wet technique gives an abstract look for the sky and you never know what it will be until the paint is dry. 2. Paint  the sky, then lift  the sky colors while they are still wet to form the cloud shapes.  Lifting the sky color with a tissue gives more control of where and how large the cloud areas will be.  3. Another method I use often is the wet on dry technique.  Painting the sky colors around cloud shapes and then adding colors to the cloud shape after it is dry..

The two cloud shapes shown above were created by the wet-on-dry technique.

• Draw a cloud shape with a light pencil line. 
• Mix the sky color.  Choices are Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue and Ultramarine Blue. Blue is used for a sunny day, Other colors are grey for a cloudy day and yellow, orange, and red for sunrise and sunset. 
• Load a large flat brush and paint the sky colors (varied from light to dark) around the shapes of the cloud.  Vary the edge shapes and values by adding water, blotting and changing the brush stroke using the sides and flat parts of the flat brush. The key here is to vary the edge shapes. 
• After the sky color is dry, mix a variety of cloud shadow colors. Choices are Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, and Quinacridone Violet.  
• Using a large flat brush, start in the center and apply the lightest color using three different sizes. Change color and apply the darker/grayer colors to the underside of the cloud. Using a horizontal brush stroke on the bottom to give the flat shape. A variety of gray colors are important to shape and give dimension  to the cloud.
• Blend the damp colors with a dry brush moving the brush in different directions i.e., up, down, left, right. 

An interesting article from Outdoor Painter discusses how to paint clouds. The title and link are shown below.

How to Paint Clouds en Plein Air

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