Painting Clouds: Different Approaches.
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Let's look at some different approaches to painting clouds.
Dramatic:
This is a painting I did from imagination. I used some paintings and photographs I had for reference. In order to complement the dramatic lighting, I made the clouds bold and powerful.
There is a combination of light and heavy shadow. Storm clouds are very dramatic. I added some cream/yellow color to the highlights of the clouds.
Big, dominant shapes are very important for this style. Exaggerate the darks to make them even darker. Don't be afraid of a little color.
Expressive:
This is a study of a painting I did by Moran. His painting wasn't quite as loose as mine. I added in bold sweeping brushstrokes.
Make your strokes diagonal for more action. Use bold colors. Don't worry so much about actually making them look like clouds.
Use plenty of paint. Thick paint is easier to make expressive than thin paint. Keep your brushstrokes to a minimum. Make each stroke bold and important. Don't go back over strokes too many times if at all.
Subtle:
This is a painting of a local scene on a semi-cloudy day. I wanted the sky to help set the mood but not be overpowering. When painting a cloudy day, try to use some subtle warm and cool colors.
Make some areas darker than others, even if it means adding in some values that aren't there in the scene. Don't get too colorful.
Flat:
This is a study I did of a N.C. Wyeth Painting. The clouds are pretty flat, so they are basically just shapes. For this scene, that is good because if they had too much detail, they would overshadow the characters.
Since this is a fantasy painting, be sure to use a good amount of colors when painting the clouds. I used some cool blues, and warm colors like red and yellow.
In your scenes, feel free to change the shape of the clouds to improve your composition.
A Quick Way to Practice:
The easiest way to get better at painting clouds is to practice painting an existing painting. In other words, don't work from life or a photograph just yet. Find a painting that you thinks looks like what you want to aim for, and paint it.
In doing so, you can take your mind off of "translating" the photo into a painting and just paint what you see.
You don't have to copy it exactly. Try to do one of the methods above. It's probably better to work from paintings that are older. You don't want to worry too much about copyright.
You can do multiple studies. They don't even have to be fully finished. You can even do them on scrap or cheap canvas (or whatever material you like).
Painting clouds gets easier once you do a few of them. Remember, always look for light, color, and shape.
I also have a couple of videos on painting clouds over at the complete course.
Read articles related to Painting Clouds.
Related Links: Old Masters Copies to Improve Your Art Quickly. Bob Ross Painting: Is There a Better Alternative? How to Oil Paint: What You Really Need. |
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