ESSENTIAL. Paint SKIES & CLOUDS. Clear video demos. Easy.

Name: ESSENTIAL. Paint SKIES & CLOUDS. Clear video demos. Easy.
Rating: 4.2 (73 reviews)

Do you struggle with painting skies & believable clouds in watercolor paints? Follow this selection of simple techniques

Created byNicola A Blakemore

Last updated 8/2023

English

What you'll learn

Students will better understand how to lift off paint in different ways.
Students will learn how to use the white of the paper to create clouds.
Students will be able to adapt what they learn from these sky demonstrations.

Course content

4 sections • 15 lectures • 1h 43m total length

Where to find your downloads, ask questions etc4:06
Please do this lecture, it could save you a lot of time and frustration.
PLEASE NOTE.
1 Each lecture will have a description ( please read ) and either a video or an article as content.
2 After the content there will be a 'resource' such as a PDF or picture where appropriate.
3 From time to time Udemy will offer my courses at a reduced price. When this happens please approach me directly for a coupon code for the same amount. That way I get to keep more of the revenue. Thanks

A clear blue sky.3:58
Mastering laying a wash is an important part of watercolour painting.
Start of small and gradually build up to a larger piece of paper.
Always remember to mix your colour, then wet your paper and use a brush which is the right size for the job.
Mix different blues.4:13
Make a chart.
I often say Cerulean blue is a good blues for skies, but what about making a chart by mixing other blues with that and see what you get.
You could also use white and try other colours.
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
Early morning sky with clouds.9:06
Morning sky with clouds.
Here we work from corner to corner in a diagonal fashion, again using cerulean blue and some ultramarine.
Both putting the colour on and lifting it off.
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
A blue sky with fluffy white clouds ONE3:34
Blue sky with fluffy white clouds first pass.
This little video got some super reviews on my You Tube channel. So I though it would be a great starting point for this course.
Mark up some postcard sized rectangles and use them for practice. That size is not intimidating, so It's a good place to flex your painting muscles before we start to paint bigger.
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
A blue sky with fluffy white clouds TWO5:04
Use the fist painting and see they changes we can make.
You can either paint number one again or do what I did and make the changes on the same one.
Just see how you can still change things and how easy it is to create another sky from a basic model.
RESOURCE
Picture of the second sky.

Storm clouds with rain falling. TWO colours10:35
Stormy sky with two colours.
Here I use just white and paynes grey to create a stormy cloud including the appearance of rain falling by using a dry brush.
RESOURCES
Photo of painting
Storm clouds with FOUR colours13:03
Storm clouds with FOUR colours
Here I introduce raw umber to get a really threatening look and with a bit of naples yellow to make it look sulphurous

Setting sun with clouds.14:18
Setting sun with clouds.
Tricky but worth the effort.
Put your landscape horizon in first then tape the circle for the sun.
Then following me gradually add the colours working intuitively
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
Sunset over the sea - ONE6:38
Sunset over the sea.
This is a fun one to do and again masks over the sun, but after a first wash has been put down.
A different process to learn.
I did this one on Canson Fontenay 100% cotton 300g cold pressed, nice and smooth
Colours used:
cerulean blue, lemon yellow, scarlet and a bit of ultramarine to warm the purple.
Sunset over the sea - TWO2:50
Sunset over the sea - THREE7:38
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
Night sky with full moon.6:58
Night sky with full moon.
For this one you will need some masking tape and a wash of paynes grey, plus some salt. Don't sprinkle too much on as I did.
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
Crescent moon with clouds.10:32
Another slightly different process for you to try and change to suit your needs.
RESOURCE
Photo of finished sample.
NEW BONUS LECTURE - special extras just for you.1:01

Requirements

Students will need to be familiar with using watercolour paints.
Students will need to understand how to use very pale watercolour washes.
Students will need some 300 g/140 lb watercolour paper.
Students will need a broad flat brush and a number 10 round brush.
Students will need some watercolor paints, containers for water and some kitchen towel

Description

UPDATED January 2026

A MUST DO course, especially if you want to paint landscapes.

I am often asked how to paint believable skies and clouds. Follow these simple techniques and you will soon find it a lot easier.

Follow me as I take you from a clear blue summer sky, to fluffy cloud, winter skies, stormy skies and sunsets.

If there is one thing that ruins clouds is the lack of forethought about the brush marks. Use the right brush and be mindful of how you are putting the paint on or lifting it off.

There will be a sky for every painting.

What are the main things you will learn ?

How to work very wet.
How to work quickly
Learn how to lift off paint being conscious of the negative marks you make.
Master blending different colors.
Learn to observe.

Get to grips with these techniques and you will find it will really make a big difference to your landscape painting.

Why choose one of my courses?
Because, as a self taught artist I understand how a lot of people feel about their creative work, sometimes anxious, sometimes overwhelmed and often that it's not 'good enough'. I will hold your hand as you overcome these fears as I offer a friendly, relaxed and sensitive teaching style.
I also have years of experience of teaching people of all levels both in person and via the internet.
Do one of my courses and you will feel as if I am in the room with you every step of the way.

Enjoy your painting, love Nicola

Who this course is for:

This is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their painting techniques.
This will help build painting confidence.
This will improve painting brush strokes.
This course will help students paint a wash.

ESSENTIAL. Paint SKIES & CLOUDS. Clear video demos. Easy.

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 4min

Day time skies.5 lectures • 26min

Stormy skies.2 lectures • 24min

Evening and night time skies.7 lectures • 50min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: