Water colour skies

[greatbadger]

Hi all

I love to paint landscapes and as the sky is an important part of that its a real struggle to get it right. A variegated wash is not a problem but its the clouds I find the hardest as anyone got any suggestions on how to do it?

Regards

Pauline

[Val]

Hi Pauline... there are a number of ways to do clouds. They can be lifted out by rolling a brush across the sky in the area you want them, or lifted by using a paper towel.  In any case, the paint must be quite wet to lift effectively. Took some practice and a bit of experimentation to figure out when best to lift them. Its pretty much all a matter or timing. 
I also found when I first started that the rougher the paper the more problem I had. Try practicing on a fairly smooth paper first.
If you still have troubles, I'd call in Dennis, our master of watercolour! 

[liz]

I have a tough time with skies and clouds working with oils sometimes.  But Pauline, you are quite a prolific water color artist You do GREAT work :flowers:I just LOVED looking at your gallery of pictures. I can tell that painting makes you very happy and I am so inspired by you I wish I had your time and energy, but for a few weeks I'm busy taking grandkids to swimming, music and art classes.  All I can do right now is think about what I'm going to paint when they go back to school in August. Thanks for sharing

[nolan]

and you thought your days of carting the kids around were over eh Liz 

[liz]

I appreciate your sympathy Here are jokes that my husband sometimes shares with folks. We have 7 beautiful grandchildren from the league of nations (racially mixed).

"If I knew grandchildren were so enjoyable, I would have had them first." The other that goes with it is: "Grandchildren are our reward for tolerating our children!" Thanks anyway. ?

[nolan]

 

[dennis]

Well said. 

[greatbadger]

Thank you for your suggestions I will give the smoother paper a try I have always painted on rough so will be new thing for me to try.