Stress-free skies in watercolour
A crisp blue sky with wispy clouds is so uplifting.
But have you tried to paint skies in watercolour?
You might have felt that you ought to use some wet-in-wet techniques. But they can be unpredictable and can quickly get messy.
Whilst it may be tempting to reach for a different medium to portray your skies, it’s really worth sticking with watercolour for this job. In my opinion, there is nothing better than watercolour at capturing the delicate weightlessness of clouds. After all, water is what clouds are made of!
So in this video I show you an enjoyable and reliable method to layer up and get your skies looking exactly the way you want them.
It’s slower than a wet-in-wet approach but hey, what’s the rush? Slow down and relax into it.
There is something deeply meditative about painting skies, particularly when you take your time over them.
Have you painted skies in watercolour before? What techniques have you tried, and how have you found them? Were there any aspects you particularly struggled with? Have you developed your own methods for achieving the result you wanted?
If you found this video helpful, or if you’d like to share your own experience of painting skies in watercolour, please leave me a comment below, I love to read them!
Happy painting,
Browse more blog posts
Share this post!
35 Comments
Leave a Comment
Take the free class!
Sign up below to receive an hour-long video class and prepare to wow yourself with your results!
Free Pear Class [Organic]
The information you provide here will be used only to deliver the videos, along with other relevant updates from me. You can unsubscribe anytime. CLICK HERE for our privacy policy.
Share this post!
Subscribe to blog updates
Blog Updates
The information you provide here will be used only to deliver the email course, along with other relevant updates from me. You can unsubscribe anytime. Click here for our privacy policy.
Great tips! Thanks for posting this!
Loved your way of painting skies! No fuss and very effective. Thanks again, Anna!
Hi. Thank you for your tips on making the sky with watercolors. I appreciate it. It is like magic as that sky comes into its own.
Beautiful ,love watching. Thank you. Judy
hello anna, I had to come away from your school, as I found it difficult to make time, I shall be returning soon, and I love watching the sky watercolour, hope ben is ok now. regards patricia.
Thank you Patricia. Ben is doing really well now. I look forward to seeing you back in the School soon 🙂
Enjoyed this very much. It seems to me a departure from your controlled paintings of flowers and birds.
Thanks
Marcia
Same method, different subject. Always fun to do something different now and again. Thank you for your comment Marcia 🙂
Excellent video with easy to follow instructions. Thank you for sharing and well wishes going out to your adorable Ben for a speedy recovery.
A very good reason for using a small brush, I must try it. The effect was really natural. What paper did you use?
Anna, I was very eager to take your color class offered by Bluprint. Unfortunately I was not allowed by there system to sign up for only your class. No matter how many times I attempted to buy only your class I was rerouted to the monthly bill for all of Bluprint. Unfortunate. I have found your on line class and have signed on for 6 months. I am a colored pencil artist who has been away from my work while being a caregiver. I will continue to go back and forth between pencil with ink and your methods. I’m very much looking forward to studying your methods.
Carolyn
Thank you Carolyn and I’m sorry you had those issues with BluPrint. Nevertheless I think you’ll get great value from your membership! Enjoy – and please do share your work with the community!
Lol, well that’s a first, but it works for you, you must have way more patience than me as well.
I’m a wet into wet skies person, though I might try this for small paintings, or for cards, can see that working well
Kind regards to you Anna
Loved them xx
Really amazing seeing it come to life. I’m curious though as to how long the sky part took for you to do with the drying time involved. But really, beautriful
Oh it wasn’t too long (its all relative!) I think it was probably around an hour.
This looks lovely, and I will give it a go. Also love the tree-something I have struggled with
Enjoy all your tips, and I love your book I purchased’ ‘the modern flower painter ‘. Much needed inspiration when one feels a bit stumped! Thank you from N.Z.
I’ve always painted wet on wet but will try this method. Thank you for the tips!
Thank you, Anna. I so apprehensive opportunity to learn your methods of watercolor painting. A couple of days ago I finished my pear under your tutelage and I feel so happy to know that I can succeed in following your careful. Instruction. Thank you for the sky tip video. I look forward to more opportunities to learn from you. You are a superb instructor, thorough, patient, kind and precise.
Thank you so much Ginger – I’m delighted you enjoyed painting the Pear!
Sorry…I so appreciate…
Thankyou for showing us these tips Anna xx
Thank you Anna! Your paintings are amazing! Thank you for sharing with us. I have watched a few of your tutorials and they are very inspiring and helpful.
HI ANNA….I WILL TRY YOUR METHOD NEXT TIME AND LET YOU KNOW.
Dear Anna!!! Now the struggle for a true sky is over! Thank you for this long awaited video! Will schedule the time to attempt this fun and inspiring video, yet another delightful and peace full moment.
My GOD Bless Ben for a full recovery with his Mommy!
Thank you, Thank you and Big Hugs! Will you be showing us How to paint sunsets? Mine turn out so pinky kitchy, unnatural looking. HELP!
Thank you Anna,
I normally paint my sky wet into wet, however can be messy as you say.
Shall try this, sky looks very real.
Hi Anna,
I must say I like your method of painting sky’s. I too have always used wet into wet. I will try this method and hope I can improve. You explain thing so well it is clear and precise. Makes painting much more enjoyable and not so scary.
Is the full video of the sky and landscape included in the membership tutorials?