[ceenda]

A number of people have replied to recent posts stating that they would like to see me do a tutorial on painting clouds. I am very hesitant to use the word 'tutorial' as I am very much a student and not really in a position to teach, so let's just call this a personal approach to cloud painting. Of course, whilst it is my hope this small essay will be of use to the masses, I also welcome any criticism that anyone has to offer with regards to my methods.

This has been quite a quick pic to prepare (2 hours) so apologies for the rather rough approach of the picture.



It's good to have an idea of the scene you want before actually painting it. I wanted some large cumulous clouds which were being lit from the right. Starting out in Painter, using a large brush at around 30% opacity I set out the atmosphere for the pic. A dark turquoise going through to a hazy and neutral blue.



In this part I began to set out some of the cirrus type clouds. These reside often at high altitudes. They look like the trails that Jets leave behind. Here I'm just using a thin brush to put in a very pale blue/grey. Going for horizontal strokes, occasionally using the add water tool to blend in certain areas.



Now, using a mid tone grey hue I set in the basic shape of the clouds. Use a medium sized brush to block in large areas of cloud and use a smaller brush to create wisps. Don't forget, clouds have form like any other object. They cast and recieve shadow. I tend to place smaller clouds closer to the horizon in order to give a sense of scale.

[ceenda]

EDIT - Had to break up the post because of posting restrictions...


Now, I add in the shadowed areas of cloud. Given that the light is coming in from the right, much of the left area of cloud will be in shadow. I am going to use a warm pink/orange for the light areas, so I use a cold grey/blue for the shadowed areas.



Here, I've used the add water tool to blend the shadow tones. The add water tool works differently to the blend tool in Photoshop and is well worth experimenting with.



Lastly, I've gone in with a warm pink/orange (on the other side of the colour wheel to the dark turquoise if you like to think of it that way) and set out the areas that are recieving direct lighting.



Finally, I touched up some areas and 'broke up' the cirrus clouds in the background.

Nick

[This message has been edited by ceenda (edited February 13, 2001).]

[Jezebel]

What a neat "approach to cloud painting" Ceenda, thank you

Beth

[edit: Changed "tutorial" to "approach to cloud painting" ]

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Take off your clothes. It's OK - I'm an artist.

http://div.dyndns.org/FOO
http://div.dyndns.org/beth/photography

[This message has been edited by Jezebel (edited February 13, 2001).]

[Cuddly]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[Gecko]

Thanks!

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Gecko
[email protected]
GeckoArt.Net

[ASHBURRN]

I'm sure this will prove useful! Thank you!

[janne]

thank you! much appreciated.

janne

[Superbug]

That was most informative

[BooMSticK]

Very nice Ceenda. Thank you very much for sharing.
,Boom

[digitalmar]

Thanks for the tutorial. Don't sell yourself short. If I learned from your approach, it's a tutorial to me!

Thanks again!

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We were born to create. It is our lot in life.

digitalmar

[Dryfire]

yipee!!! i always wanted to knwo how to make some nice clouds. Really k00 idea for a tut, nice job

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-=DryFire=-
'Reality is just a dream'
GoD Graphics

[Anthony]

Looks good Ceenda - why not add it to our list of good informative threads in the discussion forum?

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-Anthony
Carpe Carpem

[Awetopsy]

"add favorites" thanx this is great.
-awe

[A.Buttle]

666 rah!

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Joe Dillingham
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by your mutha (edited April 15, 197-deuce).]

[Zeio]

Thanks ceenda, another very useful tutorial to add to the favorites folder. Appreciate it

-Z

[Tree Merchant]

Thanks so much ceenda, this was incredibly unnecessary, but completely appreciated.

You are a saint!

Now that I have been satisfied with my long-craved ceenda-tutorial, I am still awaiting something from janne and CapnFlushy

[el tigre]

cool man, I was just trying to paint clouds and had given up just before logging on, da-da-da-da da-da-da-da (tales of the unexpected)

ceenda you is da man!

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Couldnae hit a coo in the arse wi a banjo if uh wis huddin it by the tail. :�

[Simon Gustafsson]

Very good!
thank you.



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simonworks
[email protected]

[topeira]

wow. thank u so much for that one.
u r great

one question - i hardly use painter and i know i should get da hang of it and sooner the better so i ask this-
u said u use a brush in 30% opacity, but i didn't understand what brush is it? what kind of tool? oil? water? chalk? i'd like to know what kind of brushes u USUALY use to do your stuff (not only those clouds).
again- thanks a lot for the "personal approach" :-)

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ToPeirA

[Rinaldo]

*claps*

good show old chap