Preserved Topic: Painting clouds...

Just out of curiosity, I sometimes try to paint clouds just for the hell of it and sometimes they come out looking pretty good, other times.... not so good.

What are some techniques/tricks/etc that you all use when doing this?

And please, spare me the "look at clouds, paint clouds" posts. That kind of shit grows very old very fast.

We're talkin' brushes, opacities, other tools, layer tricks, etc that you've used in the past with success.

"Tawk amongst yaselves."

Check this one out Krets. Great stuff.

I was just looking at your submission in PS Pong (4th post down)

I found this with a search on google. Pretty good actually...

Hope this helps

{edit: you beat me to it bob}

[This message has been edited by Nolp (edited 12-23-2002).]

Gunna have to second DB's post of Myles' tutorial. I think it's the best on the block.
If I ever try to paint clouds, I always have that tutorial up on the other monitor.

Unfortunately, I really dont' have much to say on top of that.
I haven't tried to paint any clouds in the last month or two... but don't stick solely to soft brushes as a lot of people try to do...
You didn't tell us what sort of setting you're going to use clouds in..... realistic or fantasy...
But I've found with letting your mind wander with this, you can take some really outlandish colours and put them in the sky together.

Oh... another mistake I see people make all the time....
If you're going to paint clouds...... you gotta paint the sky.
Too often one colour gets slapped in the background. I don't think you'd do that... but it's something to keep in mind.
I usually start there.... laying in the sky from just above the horizon..... working up a little ways.... and then working down to the horizon..... and the all the way to the top.......
After that I block in the rough dark and light areas where I plan to bring the clouds out from.

I don't know what to say beyond that.
Read that tutorial, man..... it's brilliant.

... good to see you around, too.


FAQs n' Bits: Michael

Hell, I'll be the third to mention that tutorial. Good stuff it is.

*Edit: I'd also like to mention that I beat Emps to it :P
:FAQ: Link



[This message has been edited by synax (edited 12-23-2002).]

Ditto to Michael's comments.

Reference images or a window also helps a lot. Trying to form an image of clouds in your mind it like trying to remember your mothers face -- you've seen it in so many forms, emotions, ages and shapes that they all muddle togther and you relly can't get a clear picture unless you think of a specific time or event that stood out. Although clouds are even worse in that respect.

The sky outside your window is as close as you'll ever get to the perfect live model so use it as much as you can.

Synax try it this way:

:FAQ:

and 1001 FAQs!!!!!!

[edit I started an FAQ on using the FAQ icon:

:FAQ:

enjoy]

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Yep, that's a great tut.

I was just meaning in general Mike. Anything goes. Stratus, cirrus, cumulus, whatever you got.

ah well..
here's something I started on a while back...
just kinda stopped working on it after a night...



Nothing spectacular... (*cough* as izz reminded me early on... *cough*)
Just laying in the foundations for some things.
Daubed the sky in first...
then went back... went with some darker shades where I planned on giving depth...
Went back over it with a large soft brush so I could better visualize where/how I wanted to go with things.
It's such a bitch because the lighting on clouds is obviously what gives the intrigue. Whereas on objects you can "cheat" by giving things somewhat of a lightless form.... sketching here and there... darkening an area that you want further away... etc...
The clouds need to really play with and off of the light source.

Hrmm... well... I realize not much of this is all that helpful.
Just my piece of mind.
At any rate...
if you make some pleasant progress I'd love to have a looksee and hear any comments you might add, yourself.



FAQs n' Bits: Michael

Sad that it "grows old fast" since it really is the best advice that there is.

Noting the way that the tones of the sky behind clouds change with distance, as well as how the lights casts shadows from the vapour is indispensible. Layer tricks? Yeah, paint your sky in layers moving from midtones to darker shades, then darken down and keep making passes at the areas of cloud that the light angles will oppose. Now lighten up and make passes in areas that the light will intersect. Rinse and repeat

The best things that I find are to work with hard-er brushes first. Block out general ideas of your lights and darks and don't concern yourself too much with it feeling "gauze-y" at first. Then start moving in with softer textures. Blend...blend brush..harden some edges, blend some out...


~shrug~ Layer effects....~grin~

You also might want to look at getting more of a watercolour effect by working in some wet edge brushes for blends and strokes. Careful of your opacities there. Remember, you can always play with the darkening and lightening features of your brush itself (on one friggin' layer) if you're not feeling confident with your tone skills.

Other than that...


look at clouds, paint clouds.


Although you could always look at pictures and paintings of clouds as well.




[This message has been edited by DarkGarden (edited 12-23-2002).]

*pinches Peter's cheek*

You're so cute when you're being sarcastic.

Thanks Mike and Peter, those are the kinds of things I was looking for.

I think I read on Loki's site that a horizon grid really helps sell the depth perspective when painting clouds. That should help you keep your perspective in, err, perspective and allow you concentrate on the other pieces of good advice here.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned in Myles' tutorial since the link won't open for me, but it really helps.