Loose Landscapes
Lessons

Lesson 2 of 4 · 35 minutes

Skies

Paint a sunset sky in one wet layer, lift the clouds out with a tissue, and set it over a low hill and shore.

You'll need

Four coloursYour three, plus burnt sienna for the greys
One brushThe 1-inch flat
For liftingA clean tissue, crumpled
PaperA quarter sheet, taped down

Step by step

35 min

  1. Stage 1: wet the sky, lay the gradient

    1 of 3

    Wet the sky, lay the gradient

    Wet the top two thirds. Stroke ultramarine across the top, rose through the middle and ochre at the horizon, and let them meet on their own.

    You have about two minutes before the paper loses its shine.

  2. Stage 2: lift out the clouds

    2 of 3

    Lift out the clouds

    While the sky is still damp, press the crumpled tissue in to lift soft clouds. Touch a grey of ultramarine and sienna under each one.

    Hard edges mean the paper was too dry: lift a little earlier.

  3. Stage 3: add the land

    3 of 3

    Add the land

    When the sky is bone dry, paint a dark band of field and a ragged line of distant trees along the horizon.

    Keep the trees low: the sky is the subject.

Lesson 2 done on : its pan is full

Lift clouds while the paper still shines

Next: lesson 3

Finished all three steps?

Mark the lesson done and pan 2 fills in your paintbox.

Your assignment

Nadia's painting for this lesson: a watercolour sunset sky fading from deep blue to warm ochre, with soft lifted clouds over a low hill and shore

A sunset sky over a low hill and shore, on a quarter sheet.

Photograph it flat, in daylight, and hand it in. Nadia writes back within 3 working days.

Hand in your painting

Your hand-ins for this lesson

All
Your painting for this lesson
Feedback ready

Lesson 2 · Skies

Handed in on

  1. Sent
  2. Reviewing
  3. Notes ready

Nadia replies within 3 working days of handing in.

I lifted the clouds with a tissue but the edges came out hard. Did I wait too long?

Nadia's notes

Lovely soft sky, and the green hill sits well under it. The hard edges mean the paper had lost its shine: lift a minute earlier, while it still glints. Your shore is spot on.

Nothing handed in for this lesson yet. Your painting and Nadia's notes show here.

Hand in your painting

You'll need

Four coloursYour three, plus burnt sienna for the greys
One brushThe 1-inch flat
For liftingA clean tissue, crumpled
PaperA quarter sheet, taped down

Your assignment

Nadia's painting for this lesson: a watercolour sunset sky fading from deep blue to warm ochre, with soft lifted clouds over a low hill and shore

A sunset sky over a low hill and shore, on a quarter sheet.

Photograph it flat, in daylight, and hand it in. Nadia writes back within 3 working days.

Hand in your painting
Step 1: Wet the sky, lay the gradientIllustrated, with a tip
Step 2: Lift out the cloudsIllustrated, with a tip
Step 3: Add the landIllustrated, with a tip

This lesson is in the full course

Lessons 2 to 4 and written feedback on every painting you hand in, for £12 a month. Stop any time with Manage billing.

Back to lesson 1

Lesson 2 of 4 · 35 minutes

Skies

Paint a sunset sky in one wet layer, lift the clouds out with a tissue, and set it over a low hill and shore.

Part of the full course, £12 a monthLessons 2 to 4 and written feedback on every painting. Stop any time.

Sign in

Or start with lesson 1, free. Your first sign-in sets up your account. For adults aged 18 and over.