How To Paint Clouds With Watercolor - Best Cloud Lesson For Watercolor Realism by Deb Watson

Рет қаралды 198,109

Күн бұрын

Learn how to paint realistic clouds in watercolor the quick and easy way - wet on wet, with Deb Watson's best cloud lesson. It's scary to paint clouds wet on wet but with thirty minutes practice, you'll be well on your way to watercolor mastery.
Access the full tutorial at:
watsonwatercolor.com/clouds-b...
COLORS:
Cobalt Blue
Quinacridone Red
Aureolin Yellow
BRUSHES:
1 1/2" Hake wash brush
3/4" oval wash brush by Silver Black Velvet
size 6 round synthetic sable
-------------------------------- ABOUT DEB WATSON --------------------
I'm a well known artist and love to teach.
My parents discouraged art as a waste, so I became a nurse, but kept painting. Eventually my art began selling and winning awards and I finally became a full time artist late in life.
view my art www.debwatsonart.com
Facebook: / debwatsonart
Happy Painting!
Deb Watson

Пікірлер: 211

@elizathepainter8604 4 жыл бұрын

Deb, after seeking countless How To Paint Clouds videos, yours is *by far* the best. Amazing job! You are very talented. Thank you for sharing your skills with us.

@reidharvey3191 2 жыл бұрын

i know im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost my account password. I would love any help you can give me!

@drummergirl9481 7 жыл бұрын

i have been challenged in my attempt to do clouds, but your tutorials are going to be very helpful when I do my next painting. Thank you so much!

@robertg786 5 жыл бұрын

GREAT instruction on the clouds. Thank you for INSTRUCTION. So many people are uploading videos that say nothing at all. We are stuck just watching them paint with out a word about what they are doing and why, while they play some silly music in the back ground. We're not psychic.

@marnieclark5957 7 жыл бұрын

Deb your Painting on clouds is excelent. I have been strugling with this technique and you explain it well. Thank you Marnie

@marmur2184 7 жыл бұрын

Love your cloud demonstration. Going to try that.

@gatorlana 4 жыл бұрын

Stunning clouds! Thank you for sharing!

@jaspermartin7444 5 жыл бұрын

beautiful thank you! I've tried making clouds only by lifting out the paint and.. for whatever reason I just can't get the hang of that. So I really appreciate watching you paint an outline around clouds, plus your use of gouache. You gave such a good explanation and very effective demonstration, it was very relaxing to watch, thanks again!

@jeanmiller5120 6 жыл бұрын

OH you make it look so doable :) Cant wait to try this one. Thank you!

@daveleequinn 7 жыл бұрын

Debby, your an absolute gem , thank you.

@tbluemel 6 жыл бұрын

Love your videos and your wonderful love of painting and art, Deb!

@patrickezechieleart 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Watson, nice and clear tutorial.

@fredh8733 7 жыл бұрын

that is so cool... im going to steal your righteous water brush-dabbing paper towel highlight technique!

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

Steal away - and pass it on to others. Painting makes the world a better place!

@brendaclague5462 7 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial, can't wait to try this, thank you 🎨😀

@EnriqueSantiagofly 5 жыл бұрын

Thank U Deb. God bless your hands! Nice!

@fionahoey6922 15 күн бұрын

Very cool!! I never thought of adding the yellow and red to the blue. I also like the way that you blotted out the white areas of the clouds! Good lesson.

@DebWatson 14 күн бұрын

Thank you, Fiona! Most people think clouds are white but they are actually different shades of gray.

@MargaretLee0121 6 жыл бұрын

Beautiful! Love the layering and techniques you used. I could not have imagined how beautiful it would turn out after that first wash... :)

@suehamilton8531 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the lesson! Just lovely!

@corikay 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you Deb! That is a very realistic and beautiful sky! Practice and patience is what I need now! Oh, and of course to watch this video a few 100 times more!!!!

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

One student had three sizes of paper. She first did a quick post card size, then immediately did a 7 x 10 size, then took her time doing a bigger size. Working fast on the first and slowing as she went, it seemed like she mastered more at the workshop than any other student.

@DavidSoekana 5 жыл бұрын

Wow good tutorial Deb Watson, I'm also an painter, That's why I love it!

@joycesnodgrass7068 5 жыл бұрын

Love your sky technique! Thank you.

@susandsilva1437 5 жыл бұрын

Loved the clouds. Learnt a great deal from this class

@gemini0794 7 жыл бұрын

Now I know how to paint clouds ♥ Great video. thank you so much for your job.

@peterhunt1207 5 жыл бұрын

Nice clouds, thankyou for sharing.

@Bohemian-Nilda 7 жыл бұрын

I LOVE your cloud-painting technique! As a watercolor newbie, I've struggled painting believable skies, but your method has truly helped me so much that I'm no longer frustrated and discouraged to paint skies! I thank you SO VERY MUCH!!!!!

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! I like tutorials that are easy to understand and follow, so I try to make mine that way.

@belindahall5220 6 жыл бұрын

I love this!! Thank you so much!

@luvthisscrap 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I think they're perfect :)

@karendangelo6879 3 жыл бұрын

Gorgeous! Your clouds came together like magic and are so beautiful. Thank you for this great tutorial!

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Karen! Don't be afraid to play with your paintings a bit, you'll learn a lot.

@ullazitabinder2091 6 жыл бұрын

That looks awfully easy :) I struggle a lot with my clouds (new comer to watercolor), will try your method! Thanks for sharing :)

@yunzers 2 жыл бұрын

This is a great tutorial love the way you let the colors mix on the paper. Thanks so much!

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

It can be hard to leave it alone but brush stroking will not make it better. Hope your skies are great

@boubella11 4 жыл бұрын

Deb, this is a wonderful gift! Thank you for your offering here. I have struggled with clouds for a couple years and watched multiple videos but so far none have helped much. If i really want to frustrate myself, i try to paint clouds again. But you have me inspired and encouraged. This seems possible once again.!

@DebWatson 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Kathy, I try to find the easiest way for the best results (I'm impatient and lazy, although I don't mind experimenting a lot). I hope your clouds are not great.

@marcpearsall4225 Жыл бұрын

Definitely the best lesson on painting clouds I have seen, by far. I can’t wait to try it myself. I will be looking up Deb for more lessons, for sure. Thank you Deb!

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

Thanks you so much, Marc!

@arlenemurphy804 7 жыл бұрын

Lovely

@lessatwi1 5 жыл бұрын

What a brilliant tutorial. Thnx.

@carolynteague3043 7 жыл бұрын

I always enjoy ALL of your videos. Thank you for sharing.

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Carolyn!

@causetherat308 7 жыл бұрын

I've been watching water color videos on how to paint clouds for almost a year now. Yours is the absolute best! THANK YOU for not be a traditionalist and not use white.

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

Make your own rules - whatever works for you.

@causetherat308 7 жыл бұрын

Art is art. A football game needs rules.

@neillinneball 5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful! Nice explanation and very helpful

@manojvaprani2345 6 жыл бұрын

nice painting I love it

@jillqqzhou 5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful technique and very clear teaching. Thanks! Adding white ink highlights in the end really lighted the painting up

@jillqqzhou 5 жыл бұрын

I tried it this evening. Doesn't look too natural though. I'll need to plan the cloud's shape better.

@joyceyip1701 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the brilliant idea of using pearl white to highlight the fluffy clouds. They looked real and beautiful. Superb! 😍

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Joyce! If it's easy and works well.

@kimesch9698 4 жыл бұрын

It really is the best cloud lesson. Gorgeous and easy to understand. Thanks so much!

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Kim. Thanks for posting. I hope your skies and clouds turn out great.

@dylanatkinson1426 3 жыл бұрын

Really like to look of those clouds. Thank you.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! It's a simple way to get realistic clouds without overworking them or too much stress.

@connieostroha8423 4 жыл бұрын

Wow Deb! Beautiful clouds - beautiful sky! 💕

@DebWatson 4 жыл бұрын

Connie, clouds aren't nearly as hard as most people think (or make them). Just paint your sky, dry and use a toothbrush in a circulate motion to reactivate the paint. You can just push the reactivated paint to the bottom of the cloud area and lift up a bit on the top by dabbing with a paper towel. Quick, easy and very professional looking clouds.

@milagrosrodriguez7975 7 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial! Thank you

@hananusif9282 3 жыл бұрын

This is just so beautiful

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I love clouds and skies.

@lizwarner8524 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial!!!! Beautiful results!!!

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Liz. I know it looks scary while it's wet, but it usually dries lighter.

@deborahjoy2013 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing clouds!!! Stunning!!!

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. With a little practice and the right techniques, clouds aren't that hard.

@sahasra55 4 жыл бұрын

I thank you for this lovely demo for clouds which I was longing to learn Thanks

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome, Vimala! It's hard to let the colors alone on the paper but you'll get the best clouds that way.

@rajpereira7280 5 жыл бұрын

super touch.nice to see.

@savindyajayasinghe7888 3 жыл бұрын

I also have been looking for cloudy landscapes for years. For sure I recommend this to all as the best one ! This sky is amazing. When i saw the thumbnail, i was like "no wayyy" . Such a beautiful painting! Nice to meet someone truly talented like you !

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Watercolor painting can be easier with some simple water/paint techniques, but not everyone is brave enough to try!

@gingerj102 4 жыл бұрын

Great video...I learned so much!....Thanks

@aliciashackley5830 3 жыл бұрын

That’s a wonderful cloud tutorial. Thx very much. 🥰

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting, Alicia! Clouds can make an impressive landscape.

@johnkelly3178 3 жыл бұрын

Deb as a beginner I found your demo on how to paint a sky the best I’ve seen. I am 67 and took up painting last week lol, but find that mixing colour is probably one of the hardest things to do. You are an incredible teacher and very talented that sky is one of the very best I’ve seen so far on here. Most of the online how too videos expect you to have prior knowledge, my prior is trial and lots of errors. My next picture is going to start with your sky, thank again

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words! You're in good company having issues with mixing colors. You'll learn a lot faster if you stick to three to five one pigment colors until you get used to mixing. Cobalt blue, lemon yellow and quinacridone red or rose make a great soft color triad. Phthalo Blue, winsor yellow and winsor red are all super strong intense colors if you want a strong triad. I have a lot of free lessons and painting material info at debwatson.org that I hope help.

@kathleenhoward7070 3 жыл бұрын

Love this. Great sky! Thank you

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Kathleen! I hope this helps you with your skies.

@sooart5333 6 жыл бұрын

beautiful~!

@sharononeal1225 4 жыл бұрын

That was so amazing and helpful. Thank you for sharing.

@DebWatson 4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Sharon! Thanks for commenting.]

@mediagambar Жыл бұрын

I love Technic Cloud, Thank U for Learning

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

It's my pleasure

@ginnywagner6161 5 жыл бұрын

Great demo!

@tariqsaddique4080 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent tutorial ma'am.

@rosemariefargas8573 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your tutorial, you really are the best art teacher.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Rose Marie! You made my day.

@prasadugaonkar 4 жыл бұрын

Very nice and inspiring......

@jamesbrizendine962 4 жыл бұрын

Hey Deb I have always wanted to paint a picture clouds and skies i some pictures of rain clouds on my phone and they be ideal to try

@vassopapadaki7394 7 жыл бұрын

very usefull video, thanks!

@marthiescholer4565 6 жыл бұрын

Yes excellent THANKS

@delynveaudry6008 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful, thank you!

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, too, Delyn! This week I'll be posting an easy way to scrape rocks in watercolor.

@williamvanstory6782 5 жыл бұрын

Very nice... thank you for the information..

@kallak9676 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much🌼

@evelyneself4938 4 жыл бұрын

Smashing.

@eloisewalker352 6 жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@jeannetteantry1086 2 жыл бұрын

I am going to add that extra touch of white to my clouds. You make it look easy. Thanks for sharing. Not too many good tutorials for clouds in watercolor.

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting, Jeannette! I use Pro White by Daler Rowney or Bleed Proof White by Dr. Martin. They both come in a jar, aren't expensive and cover in one coat. Another trick to make your clouds look whiter is to paint another coat of more intense blue behind them.

@viewfromthetop176 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video.Thanks, Deb!

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome, Ruma! I hope your clouds turn out just the way you want them.

@essietangle9931 7 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed the layers of paint you used in the sky and then the work on the clouds. On Steve Mitchell's channel he said the Kuretake white ink 30 is good to use for highlights. I haven't tried it yet.

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried that one, but the Pro White Ink is excellent and around $5 a jar, which will last a long time if stirred occasionally. Ink is just a term to designate medium used for writing, most are a type of gouache.

@essietangle9931 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@marcpearsall4225 Жыл бұрын

Very well explained Deb. Many thanks!

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Remember that it looks dark while wet and will usually dry much lighter.

@katherinesimonds622 6 жыл бұрын

Fabulous Kansas kind of sky. Tall clouds mean thunderstorms 😀

@DebWatson 6 жыл бұрын

I love looking at all the different skies - different colors across the nation. Our Pennsylvania skies are usually light, with a lot of yellow. The Montana skies are deep blue with no hint of yellow.

@iyan_ard 3 жыл бұрын

very useful tutorial.. thanks for sharing it.. 🙏😁👍

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

This was done on Arches 140 lb. which is a very tough paper. Test your paper on a piece of scrap paper before you try this on a valued painting.

@margoreilly9881 5 жыл бұрын

First, I love your pen and ink paintings.......I am a newbie, and just wondering two things...what would the difference be if I attempted this on Arche's cold press...and what is the purpose of having the water sit for 5 min, and repeating application?...love your videos

@stephenferren999 Жыл бұрын

Lovely demo, explained simply and well.

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@ranjanachand9306 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful.. Thanks

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you too, Ranjana, for posting! Try a wet sky with just a few colors. It's easy and turns out well.

@bonztube1 3 жыл бұрын

GREAT DEMO!!!!!

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@charlesz8531 3 жыл бұрын

This is a very well demonstrated and explained video. I also like the Deb's calm voice.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Charles! I watch a lot of videos, too, and I hate when they talk so fast, I cant tell what they're saying, so I do try to speak clearly.

@delithnutkins6017 11 ай бұрын

Your clouds are amazing and I haven’t seen them done with the method you used wetting edges and blotting them off but how effective it is. I shall have a go and thank you

@DebWatson 11 ай бұрын

Thanks so much 😊I hope your painting turns out just the way you want it.

@artistjanbeasley4264 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you Deb, I appreciate your techniques, and all your videos!! I'm definitely going to try this I think it would be great also for oceans?

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

I don't paint many oceans, but I know one artist would lifts his white caps.

@artistjanbeasley4264 7 жыл бұрын

Is he on KZfaq Deb, I would like to see some of his work? Wished I could show you one of my watercolor! Thank you again for the wonderful videos❤

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

I don't think he is, but he painted the ocean in big loose washes of color. Then he tore a piece of paper so it had ragged edges. He tapped the ragged edges on and used Mr. Clean to wipe color from the edges down, so the top was his whitecap - white with ragged edges and it taped out from the top back to water. Hope that helps.

@artistjanbeasley4264 7 жыл бұрын

Oh yes Deb, Thank you I appreciate your help!! Ingenious way to it I will definitely be trying his method out hope you have a wonderful evening🌹

@danielburgess1806 5 жыл бұрын

Deb, do you have instructional dvd,s for sale? I've searched everywhere and can't find any. I love the fact that you want realism in your paintings. Seems every instructor discourages that. And you use white paint!!! Yes!!!!

@marioalejandro7549 Жыл бұрын

The clouds were fantastic. I feel the ground needed a little bit more attention. Either way is a great painting and love the way to tech 🤗🙏🏼👍🏼

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😀

@tectec9125 4 жыл бұрын

Will give try wet on wet clouds . Thank you for tips

@DebWatson 4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Clouds are actually fun when you have an easy way to paint them.

@tectec9125 4 жыл бұрын

@@DebWatson just noted added too much water on paper should had let water drip as you showed 😊 . I definitely will have to practice few times to get hang of it

@prabhapanth6762 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for a great tutorial. You have demonstrated the cloud painting so nicely. For the second layer, is the paper still damp? Thanks

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

Yes, the second layer went on while the paper was still damp, but you could do it on dry paper also.

@AntonioCandela-qo6un 9 ай бұрын

Brava bello !

@DebWatson 9 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@m96920 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent! But what type of brush is this at 9.00?

@svamberiv7999 Жыл бұрын

Just found you..... I'm obsessed 💖☁️

@DebWatson Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@abcd1234783 3 жыл бұрын

Deb. I am painting for 3 years already. Just for pleasure. I am strugling on painting skies. I found difficult and I have looked tutorials on net. Yours are really very very good.easy to understand. I will just try righrt away. You are really good one.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Dian, Thank you for the kind words. I am on Patreon and Teachable with watercolor lessons. Both have the same classes, Patreon is $5 a month and teachable is $8, just because the site costs more to maintain. I like teaching and am happy to help with issues and answer questions. www.patreon.com/watsonwatercolor and www.debwatson.org/. Hope your painting has more fun and success and less struggle. (P.S. You can try lots of free lessons - click the free lessons at the debwatson site.

@abcd1234783 3 жыл бұрын

@@DebWatson Thank you for your answer. I would like to know more about what do you mean with teachable. Can please you explain me more? I am interested to know about about it. Dina

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

@@abcd1234783 The teachable site is www.debwatson.org. It has nice pictures of each lesson, though you have to click 'all courses' at the top to see a list of all the available classes. They have outline pages, written instructions, video demonstration and more for each class. If you click the free classes button, you can try out some. The multiple free class lesson has older lessons. I'm trying to improve the lessons as I go and get feedback from students on what helps, etc.

@sullyduke 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great cloud instruction! What exactly is that pearl white you are using for highlights? Acrylic paint?

@Bees123Knees 7 жыл бұрын

It's actually called Pro White. I think it's made specifically for watercolors, not for acrylics. Although she does say you can use a white acrylic if you don't have the Pro White.

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

It's Pro White by Daler Rowney - an opaque white gouach (they call it an ink) that illustrators use - inexpensive and covers completely. For all my materials, I have a free material lesson on my realism school - watson-watercolor-realism.teachable.com/courses. Lots of videos on the best basic watercolor materials.

@elsagrace3893 7 жыл бұрын

Oh, those are the most beautiful watercolor clouds ever. I will practice clouds. What exactly is that pearl white? What is the brand?

@DebWatson 7 жыл бұрын

Pro white by Daler Rowney, usually about $5.

@lynncisar5622 5 жыл бұрын

Deb, this has been so helpful to me and I thank you. Are you using Arches 140 lb. cold press paper????

@DebWatson 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, Arches takes a nice wash and stand up to a lot of corrections, or cloud lifting techniques - well worth buying

@marylouniebrugge9174 5 жыл бұрын

How do you stick mat to painting? Where to get that white pen?

@melissab3038 3 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial on clouds and skies! Probably my favorite of all I’ve watched for three years now.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Melissa! Realism is a lot easier if you use easy to mix colors and can soften edges at the end.

@melissab3038 3 жыл бұрын

Deb Watson Thank you for showing that you really only need the primary colors to make any color.

@sriramyapooja.s9672 4 жыл бұрын

from india tamilnadu very superb

@sriramyapooja.s9672 4 жыл бұрын

superb

@DebWatson 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Sri Ramya Pooja!

@jamestierney7123 2 жыл бұрын

👍🏻👏🏻

@DebWatson 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, James!

@torbjrnlund903 3 жыл бұрын

I took a little too much of yellow, and the sky turned green. Quickly I dabbed it off with some kitchen paper and managed to save it somehow. However, before I could darken the skies a bit the painting was dry so I had to stop. This isn't as simple as it might seem, but I learn a little for every mistake. I'm a newbie, and I realize that to be good at this craves a lot of practice.

@DebWatson 3 жыл бұрын

Use a misting bottle (a spray bottle that spritzes tiny droplets of water) to keep your paper damp and workable as long as you want. When the mist first hits, it might make a pattern in the wash, but that will spread out and create a workable surface again.

@torbjrnlund903 3 жыл бұрын

@@DebWatson Oh, thank you very much.

@innad1000 6 жыл бұрын

Dear Deb, your clouds are amazing, I have a question. I saw that you are using a hair dryer to dry the paper after the first wash and before you start yo paint the sky, but you say that the paper is still evenly damp, does it mean that you just dry it a little bit and start to add cobalt to the sky before it dries completely? Did I get it right?

@DebWatson 6 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the confusion! I dried the initial wash completely, then rewet the surface. That didn't get shown. By drying it between washes, the color from the first wash stays where I put it, even when rewet