We are going to try to fix this and several other things in the next steps.
How To Paint Clouds: A Step By Step Exploration Of Cloud Painting
Ever since I first started painting I have always wanted to do a series of cloud paintings. Simply just to practice painting them and understand how to get the different types of clouds that there are.
There is no better time than now to figure out how to paint clouds better! I encourage you to join me in this exploration! I’m going to try to break this down into do-able steps no matter what your reference picture is. My goal is to enable your creativity and give you the tools needed to create the images you want. Even if that means showing you my embarrassing failures and moments of doubt along the way. Hopefully by doing so that will help give you the inspiration and strength to make it through your own frustrations. You have to keep pushing through it to build that skill and get to a quality result.
For this first exploration, we will be using this photo that I found on Pinterest here.
It originates from a Tumblr account called Chele Belle’s Lair. I can’t tell if this is the original photographer or if it is just someone who collects cool pictures of the moon.
Since the reference picture is darker and comprised mostly of the color blue I’m going to try and make this painting monochromatic.
I’m going to be using only primary blue, titanium white, and ivory black.
If you are using a different reference picture just do your best to choose the closest colors you have. For our paintbrushes, we are going to use large flat brushes for our broader layers like the background and basic layout. As we work our way down to the smaller details we will work our way down to smaller brushes. Sometimes it’s not so much a matter of the type of brush you are using but how you are using it. There are many approaches to painting clouds. Keep reading to watch me mess up every one of them
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Paint Your Background
You will want to start by painting your background.
You’re looking to get a basic layout and gradient. As you can see from the picture above I tried to get the basic areas of dark and light between the background sky and where the clouds will ultimately go.
At first, I used just my primary blue and then I started to add a bit of titanium white to my blue as I got to the area where the clouds will be.
There’s nothing too special happening in this step. Other than this totally wicked awesome Instagram Reel I did over here on my Instagram account!
Go check it out here and follow me to keep up to date on what’s currently cooking in the Art With Marc lab!
I used a large square brush to make it easier to apply more paint at once.
For the area with the clouds, I did start to move the brush in a bit of a circular motion towards the top puffy parts of the clouds but that’s about it. Just a little something to create that misty dispersed effect.
Just keep in mind for this layer we are just trying to lay things out. We will make the necessary adjustments as we go.
Darken Background Further and Outline Clouds
In this step, we want to adjust the colors as needed and start to define our clouds a bit further.
For me to get my painting a bit closer to the reference picture I needed to darken the background a bit further.
While I was making this painting, I was very invested in learning to document the process using Instagram’s new Reels feature so neglected to get good pictures for these steps.
I did have fun making those videos though! Check out this step’s video on my Instagram account here!
To darken the background I added a dab of black to my primary blue then added more blue as I worked my way down. I used this opportunity to make the outlines of the clouds just a bit better by darkening the sky behind them.
Next, we move on to trying to lightly outline our clouds. I tried to make a bluish grayish color which likely should have been a bit darker for this step.
Either way, it served its purpose. Lightly outline your clouds by dry brushing on your paint lightly in a circular motion or maybe even a dab.
I’m using a messy frayed brush with soft bristles. Using an old frayed brush to dry brush it on will help you to get that misty cloudlike softness to your clouds.
First things First
What are the materials you need?
Just the paints (whichever you prefer, be it watercolors or acrylics), brushes, a paper, or a canvas on which you would like to create that masterpiece.
If you ask about the brush specifically, we must say that you can use any brush, to be very honest. It would help if you were comfortable using it. If available, I prefer to use a round brush which is mainly used for painting clouds.
Also, keep a pencil and rubber handy, trust us when we say you will need it even if you are painting with the paints.
Let us begin with different approaches for both watercolors and acrylics.
Painting Clouds with Acrylic Colours
Step 1. Paint the background.
First, paint the background. When using acrylic, remember they are opaque. So, do not think that it will later mix with the clouds.
Whatever you are painting, whether a scenery or a simple sky, adding the background first helps to set out a base for adding colors further.
Use the shades of blue and white to paint a beautiful background of the sky. You can use light shades of blue or can make one by mixing ultramarine blue and white.
Step 2. Blending (skip if you already know)
Blending is easy when you know the trick.
Use wet-on-wet technique. This is the simplest way to blend. But it would help if you were quick as once the paint dries, it would not work. Try following this way as a general way of blending.
Some general steps for blending:
- Use a brush with a broad surface so you can cover much space at a particular time.
- Take the canvas. Start by painting the darker shade. For example, if you are using white and blue for the sky. Start with blue.
- Use a damp brush. It should not be dripping wet. Start painting blue from the top. Stop at the middle or a bit lower.
- Use the same brush without washing it for painting the second colour. Start where the first layer ends.
- Mix well the two colours where they are meeting.
You can dry paint as well if you are more comfortable in doing so.
Step 3. Use a pencil.
Now, once you have painted the background and it has dried completely, use a pencil very lightly to make the shapes of clouds wherever you want them to be. That is the trick.
Use the pencil very lightly. It will give you an outline to follow while using the paints. That is how you will not end up creating weird shapes in the name of clouds.
Look at some easy outlines of clouds you will want to paint from Google and draw them with pencil. If you make a mistake you can correct it with a rubber. But once you use paints you cannot do the same with them. Hence, use this simple trick.
Step 4. Paint the clouds.
Use dry paint for this one. Take white colour on your brush and start filling in that drawing. You will have a white cloud. This will work as the base. Pencil outline will be covered once paint gets on it; if not, you can erase them carefully later when the painting is complete.
Step 5. Add shading.
Once you are done with the base, it is time for adding some shades to those clouds.
Use grey or a bit of darker tone such as rosy, white, for shading.
Use a different brush for this. Add a little colour, wipe off the extra. Gently add the colour to the underside of the clouds. This will give them layer and depth creating a good effect. Make clouds smaller when you want to show them at a distance.
You can also use pencil colours or pastels for giving shading to the clouds.
Step 6. Add highlights.
You can do this optionally if you want to make your clouds look more real.
Adding highlights involve using lighter tones than the base colour. Just take some colour in a different brush and add a little bit on the areas where you want to throw light on.
Adding highlights is an impressive way of showing more light balance in the painting giving out a better finish.
You can also use pencil colours or pastels for highlights in your clouds.
Painting Clouds with Watercolours
Pro tip: Be quick while working with watercolours because they dry quickly and once dried, you will not be able to add and merge colours. It will stand out and the painting will not get a good finishing. Hence, keep ready with all the colours, brushes and water you need in advance.
Step 1. Make outlines.
Watercolours are transparent colours. So, make outlines of clouds with pencil already before starting with the paints.
This will give you a fair idea of the spacing and sizing in your painting.
Step 2. Dampen the canvas.
Start by lightly dampening the canvas you are working on. If you are using a paper for painting with watercolours, make sure it is not too thin or it will completely get soaked in water.
Step 3. Start with the background.
Start with the background first, that is the sky you are making. Add a bit of yellow or green or whichever colour you would want to use in the sky, at the bottom of the canvas.
Now take the shade of blue you are going to paint your sky with. Watercolours after drying become light, therefore use a darker shade of the colour you would want to paint.
Paint the colour across the top of the canvas. It will get lighter with going down.
Keep doing this and add lighter layers at the bottom.
Step 4. Painting Clouds
Take a different brush or wash the one you are using and dry it completely. Now, dab the brush across your outlined clouds. The colour will be picked up by the brush leaving white areas on the canvas giving out the shapes of clouds.
Once the brush has absorbed the paint, wash and dry it again.
Step 5. Adding shades and highlights
Use the dried brush for shading the clouds. Take some grey paint and roll it over where you want to create the shading effect.
Do similar while highlighting. Be very careful while doing this. Add a lighter shade to the areas where you want to show the light.
You can always use pencil colours later when the painting has dried completely to add shades and highlights. Many times, we are not not confident enough to add shading and highlights to our painting thinking it might get destroyed if we are not careful enough.
In such a case, you can always skip the shading and highlighting part for later and get it done with the pencil colours or light pastels. It is a safer option for giving your painting an incredible finishing without the risk of spreading paints or uneven pigmentation in the final work.
