Painted clouds. Outlining the new light overlaid by the previous blended layer

What will you create

You also sometimes admire incredible beauty sky? In this lesson I will tell you how to draw beautiful, realistic clouds at help from Adobe Photoshop.

I'll teach you how to create cumulus, cirrus and storm clouds using different brushes. In the process, I'll cover my favorite tools and techniques for creating incredible, realistic effects.

Looking for source images? These drawings, for example, were inspired by Envato's amazing collection of clouds. Here you can search for high quality stock images.

How to work with almost any cloud image

Many people are against using source images for fear that such an approach will lead to laziness. However, this view is a little outdated.

We absolutely need to understand what we see!

Most of what we draw imitates already existing objects. And for this lesson, it is important to understand that in your drawing you can simulate the general atmosphere or composition of any photo. Try to recreate some special moments that you can also change to create some kind of effect of your own.

I'll be using a few stock images from Envato Elements. You can also look for your own sources if you feel the need.

I didn't rely too much on the first image, while the other two helped me create different color schemes and lighting schemes. This is another reason to keep stock images close at hand.

Organize your workplace

Now you need to organize your workplace so that it is convenient for you to look at the source.

Click Window>Arrange> 2-UpVertical(Window > Arrange > 2 up, vertical).

This solution is very handy if you prefer to keep the source in a separate file: it will help you to better examine the photo for realistic details.

Now let's draw!

1. How to draw a regular cumulus cloud

Step 1

Let's start with the background!

In Photoshop, create a new document that is 900px by 450px and 300px per inch. Small documents are good for practice.

Click on the background layer to create a new one. Then add a layer style gradient overlay(Gradient overlay, type - linear) sky blue (using the following shades: #b3d0dd, #90dcff and #68c1f0) with the following settings:

Translator's note: in the screenshot of the layer style settings: Blending mode - Normal, Opacity - 100%, checkbox Align to layer, Angle - 95 degrees, Scale - 81%.

Here's what happens:

You will need a graphics tablet for the following steps.

Then, using a large round soft brush, paint a soft blue dot (color #3a6997) - this will be a shadow, and the cloud will stand out well against its background.

Step 2

On a new layer:

Using a hard round brush (100% hardness(hardness) and Opacity(opacity)) draw a cloud shape with color #adb7c0. Start with a simple shape before moving on to more complex ones.

Start placing light shadows on the cloud.

Make the new layer a clipping mask to the original layer and change its blending mode to Multiply(Multiplication). Use the same color as before to paint the shadows on the cloud, and a clipping mask will help keep the shadows in place.

Start painting with the brush at 100% hardness and opacity, and then gradually lower both values ​​as you soften the shadow.

Translator's note: The names of the layers in the screenshot from top to bottom: (layer clipping mask) 0% Hardness, (layer clipping mask) 100% Hardness, cloud, shadow, Layer 0 (background layer with layer style Gradient overlay)

Step 3

Create the main texture.

Using the brushes from the previous set, paint light curved vertices on the cloud. Use white and light gray (#94a8bc) colors to start creating your lighting scheme right away.

Translator's note: The author uses the Wet Gouache and Acrylic Quick Strokes brushes from her set, 80px and 175px respectively.

Add some of blue color from the background, and then merge the clipping mask layers and original form clouds.

I used brushes Fast Acrylic (Fast acrylic) and Wet Gouache (Wet gouache) in this step.

Lightly erase the hard edges with the tool Eraser(Eraser) (E) with 20-40% opacity.

Step 4

Now that we have good foundation we can move on!

As before, start painting more shadows on the cloud. Zoom in on the drawing to 200% to draw the lines of the texture, this will give some extra depth. Make sure the option is enabled penPressureforOpacity(Using pressure to determine opacity).

Switch to a hard round brush with opacity adjustment using pressure from standard set brushes. Use it to work on small areas where the cloud merges with the sky.

Clouds have "pockets" of light and shadow (see below), so further plan for areas where you want to create depth and movement. Add some gray blotches for a realistic transition.

Step 5

Let the cloud develop naturally. Return to sources periodically, but don't let them distract you.

Use a soft round brush with 0% opacity to surround the cloud with a soft mist.

Step 6

Let's adjust the colors with adjustment layers.

First, add a new adjustment layer GradientMap(gradient map) light blue (#c6cbd4 and #b4cbdc), change the blend mode to colorBurn(Base darkening).

Create a New Adjustment Layer Levels(Levels) with the settings as in the screenshot below. This will add definition, which is necessary for this image.

Step 7

Now that we have reached the required intensity, we can move on to painting the details. First, let's balance the sky.

A quick way to paint the sky is to simply use a new layer. On it with a soft round brush, paint with a light blue color.

Constantly change the opacity, and don't worry if it looks sloppy!

A soft brush is more suitable for cirrus clouds, but a hard edge will help bring out the details.

Keep working on the background, adding small clouds somewhere in the distance. Create a sense of depth by painting puffs of mist around the cloud.

Step 8

Now that we've got desired colors, we can focus on finishing touches.

Add new layers and try to paint swirls on them with brushes various forms. Switch to brush Chalk(Chalk) to add realism to your clouds - the extra texture will immediately make them more alive and real.

Finally add some yellow to show the influence sunlight to cloud and sky.

And here is the final image!

2. How to draw storm clouds

Step 1

To depict a thundercloud, we will need to change the lighting scheme.

Let's start with the sky. Create a document with the same settings as before. Right click on the first layer and go to BlendingOptions(Overlay options).

Select Gradientoverlay(Gradient Overlay) and use the colors #373984 and #6364ad to create a purple gradient.

Translator's note: In the screenshot of the layer style settings: Blend Mode - Normal, Opacity - 100%, Angle - 90 degrees, Scale - 95%.

Here's what should happen:

Step 2

I felt that there was no need to create sketches for these drawings. For me personally, the best way to get started is to create a new layer, and paint the shape of the clouds in purple (#5354a6) color.

As before, I create a clipping mask for each shape to paint the first layer of light and shadow.

At this stage, I used the tool Brush(Brush) (B), namely a soft round brush with hardness 0% and opacity 50%.

Draw as you see. Draw dark (#33367f) round bumps to represent the shadows, and lighter dots to represent the light areas. It will look very strange at first, but clipping masks will help you develop your skills.

Create a new layer under the clouds layer. On it add a soft (brush opacity 1-40%) white glow behind the clouds, because now it's too dark.

Step 3

Add more background elements. Start with dark fluffy clouds and then add a shadow at the bottom of the drawing - this is our city. Use the tool to select colors. eyedropper(Pipette) (E), and paint with those shades that are already present in the image.

On new layers draw lightning.

Trust your intuition. Note that the drawing changes as I change the original composition. (https://elements.envato.com/lightnings-in-genova-PT5D3YJ?_ga=2.159379450.1386686125.1504629647-250820929.1491318132)

Now mix, mix, mix!

Lower hardness(hardness) to 0% and on new layers soften the sky. Make it big, determined and also swirling

movements so that the result looks like real clouds.

Keep working on your drawing. Try to achieve a softer result before moving on to the details. Later, once you've got the foreground details out of the way, it will be harder to soften the background elements.

You can also play with the shape of the cloud in the upper left corner a bit to make it more interesting.

Step 4

Take a tool Gradient(Gradient) (G) and choose a linear gradient from black to transparent.

Use it to draw a deep shadow that dissipates towards the top. Adjust the opacity if necessary. This will symbolize the city. Sketch lightning.

Add an Adjustment Layer colorlookup(Color search). Change the 3DLUT file to Fuji F125 Kodak 2393.

Then make the colors even more intense with an adjustment layer. brightness/contrast(Brightness/Contrast, settings 54/34 respectively).

Step 5

Take a soft round brush to create fluffy clouds. Thunderclouds are very hard, so we will need to paint on several layers.

For best results, experiment with opacity. High opacity is good for sharp details, while lower values ​​will help blend colors that are close in tone.

If you have to press too hard on the tablet, the opacity is too low. This can create discomfort - believe me, I already know!

Continue working on your drawing. Study the light as it passes through the clouds.

Make the city darker, and add bright, crisp lines - these are our lightning bolts.

Step 6

If you think that the picture is too dull, then brighten it up!

Use an adjustment layer brightness/contrast(Brightness/Contrast, settings 25/39 respectively).

Step 7

LinearDodge(Add) (Linear Dodge (add)).

soft purple draw lightning to make them shine. Zoom in and add specks of red, green and white color at the bottom. This will create an image of a small town, and the image will be even more spectacular.

Do not forget to periodically look at the original!

Too intense colors? Change them with an adjustment layer.

Add an Adjustment Layer colorlookup(Color lookup) with 3DLUT 2Strip.look file. Lower Opacity(opacity) up to 47%.

As always, keep working on the drawing until you are happy with the result. For example, I decided to add small white dots to create the effect of a starry sky.

Small details can make a big difference in your drawing, making it even more impressive - don't forget about them!

And here is my final drawing. storm clouds.

3. How to draw cirrus clouds

Step 1

Let's move on to the last picture!

Cirrus clouds are very mysterious. They are a mixture of soft, delicate shapes and hard highlights. I advise doing this part with a regular color scheme. Sunset colors are certainly very beautiful, but they can complicate the lesson and confuse you.

Nevertheless, if you feel a surge of courage let's get started.

Create a document with the same settings as before and start from the background. Go to BlendingOptions(Overlay Options), select Gradientoverlay(Gradient Overlay) and use the colors #334b82 and #b5c1dc to create a gradient.

Translator's note: In the screenshot of the layer style settings: Blend Mode - Normal, Opacity - 100%, Angle - -85 degrees, Scale - 93%.

Here's what happens.

Step 2

Using a hard round brush with 100% opacity at the bottom of the picture brown draw the earth - this will be the basis of the composition.

Apply vibrant sunset colors (#ffa466, #ce6764) using the previously mentioned acrylic texture brush.

Let's highlight the sky!

Create a new layer and change its blend mode to overlay(Overlap). With a tool GradientTool(Gradient) (G) Create a gradient from blue (#335f8e) to transparent. Now the sky looks better!

Gradient overlay, before and after.

Step 4

Use a soft round brush to add silky textures for a nice, harmonious look. Try not to linger for a long time on one section of the composition, periodically switching from one to another.

Add light yellow and blue shades. Zoom in on the drawing by 200% and make sure your shadows are fluid. Here it is important to go back to the source.

Continue softening and blending colors, even if you think you could add more clouds already.

Step 5

Add a New Adjustment Layer Curves(Curves).

In the RGB channel, make the curve high to increase the contrast.

Don't miss the opportunity to apply the skills that we have gained by creating the previous two drawings.

Cirrus clouds are not rigid. Here it is important to draw swirling clouds in different directions as if they are floating - this will make the drawing more characteristic and add movement.

Continue working on the sky, painting with bright orange flowers above the ground to show that the sun is setting/rising. Adjust the lighting on the ground to enhance the composition.

Multiply(Multiply) and paint the ground in green.

Decrease the brush size but increase the opacity. Add some details - draw small patches of grass.

Create a new layer, blend mode - overlay(Overlap). Paint in bright yellows and oranges to create beautiful effect sunlight.

Drawing on a tablet requires a lot of time and patience. No matter how many hours pass - keep working.

Finally, enlarge the drawing and put the details in order. Use a hard round brush at 100% opacity to get rid of the fuzzy areas. You can also experiment with adjustment layers to make the drawing even more dramatic.

Before and after using a hard brush.

That's last drawing clouds. Below you can find them all.

That's all!

Don't forget to bookmark this tutorial - it will help you in future work!

Drawing nature is one of the most better ways development. Carefully study the sources, and competently approach the workflow - so you can achieve the best results.

Start by looking at the sky

Ever since an artist friend suggested I include the sky in one of my paintings, I have often been in the clouds. I am constantly fascinated by the beauty of the sky, which we often do not notice. Over the past few years, I've been exploring the importance of toning the sky and adding clouds to improve the composition of landscapes. It seems to me that I could spend hours fiddling with every fluff of snow-white clouds!

Look at the sky and the variety of clouds. Take pictures of the clouds and you will be amazed at how much you will begin to "see"!

The role of the sky in the picture

Is it important to put the sky in the picture? There are no clouds in the sky at all - why should I shade it? I also used to think this way and many of my early work do not contain tinted skies. For a long time I didn't "see" the tones in the sky. It was only recently that I became aware of the influence of tinted skies in a landscape. Here are a few benefits of tinted skies:

1. It expands the range of tones of the picture. The white part of the paper can now only represent bright hues Images.
2. Creates uniformity in the composition of the picture
3. Gives the landscape extra realism.
4. Gives atmosphere and sets the mood of the landscape.

The following figure demonstrates the importance of tinted skies and why sky/clouds should be viewed in overall composition any landscape.

In this series of drawings, I chose a very simple landscape with a white barn. The only variable in the three figures is the inclusion of the sky and clouds.

There is no sky in the first picture. The picture seems frozen, and the sky (the whiteness of the paper) comes into competition with the whiteness of the barn.

The second drawing looks even better thanks to the addition of a tinted sky. The white barn is now the center of attention as the sky accentuates and highlights the entire scene much better.

In the third drawing, the toned sky is combined with clouds. Clouds add depth to the scene as they are further away from the viewer. Clouds also provide a visual direction to the viewer. They guide the eye across the painting and create visual interest.

Cloud formation and cloud types

• Stratus clouds - thin, smoky, light clouds
• Cumulus clouds - white, lush, fluffy
• Rain clouds and storm front
• Silhouette clouds - backlit

Adviсe:

• The sky should be lighter at the horizon and darker above.
• Clouds obey perspective—the further away they are, the smaller they are.
• If the sky is not the centerpiece of the picture, light smoky low clouds work best.
• Use clouds to guide the viewer's eye across the landscape
• Clouds have a shape and three dimensions, they just don't have clear angles.
• Thunderclouds should have a darker base

Drawing supplies:

This sample list accessories. Some items can, of course, be replaced. To adapt these techniques to your style of drawing, you need to experiment.

• .5 mm mechanical pencil F and 2H
• Suede
• Little shading
• Office clay
• white eraser
• small ruler
• Bristol board Strathmore 300 series
• Makeup Brush

Draw the sky with clouds in 4 steps:

Stage 1 - Cross Hatch

I use a free, uninhibited hand position when I draw crosshatching. The very weight of the pencil on the paper will create the desired strokes - light and uniform.

I apply three layers of graphite shading to the paper with an F-tipped pencil. The first layer is applied to the surface horizontally, and the next two are applied diagonally.

Stage 2 - Smoothing

With suede wrapped around index finger, I'm smoothing the graphite. Movements should be firm, with pressure. It may take several passes of suede for a smooth, even tone. Pay attention to smooth the edges and areas around buildings, trees and horizontal areas. It will be much easier to erase something later than to add the missing area.

Avoid touching the surface with your fingers. It is at this stage magically smudges and fingerprints appear. They can be very difficult to remove later and often have to start over.

Then I add two more layers of hatching with a 2H pencil and smooth everything again with suede. So we get a nice smooth surface. I clean up the edges of the drawing with a ruler and an eraser.

Stage 3 - Creating Clouds

I use a bevelled eraser and use it to "draw" the clouds in the sky. For light, smoky clouds, I use office clay, just drag it over the surface.

STEP 4 - Drawing details

Next, use the 2H pencil to darken the dark areas next to the white tops of the clouds. Feathering is used to smooth and work on details. With the help of erasing, highlighting, layering graphite on paper, clouds are formed.

Office plasticine is suitable for softening clouds. To make the clouds stand out better, you need to darken the background sky. This allows the lush white clouds to fully form. Keep in mind that if the clouds are not the focal point of the drawing, they should not compete with the rest of the landscape. They should be gentle, refined and gently guide the viewer's eye around the stage. As a rule, I use light smoky clouds and small cumulus clouds in my landscapes.

In the process of sketching a composition that includes clouds, you need to decide how much most they will take in the end. Do you just want to dilute the monochromatic sky with them, or did you decide to highlight the clouds and draw them in detail? Once a decision has been made, follow this step-by-step guide.

We will focus on cumulus clouds, which are most often encountered in the works. Cumulus clouds have the most different forms, they are dense and can be snow-white or menacingly dark. Below are three examples of images of cumulus clouds.

1. Wide and blurry cloud

A cumulus cloud is usually voluminous; through it, blue pieces of the sky are visible. It is dense, not as thin as feather, and of various sizes, so it is interesting to draw it. To create it, you need to depict several torn patches of the sky.

Step 1

For simplicity, I used the usual White list watercolor paper and one color is blue. Start with sketches of the "holes" ragged along the edges - the sky peering through the clouds. Do not press on the pencil so that the lines can be hidden in the process of drawing or erased with an eraser.

Wet the paper, including the places you just painted. Apply with light strokes blue paint to "holes".

Leave a sheet of paper (or at least a part with the sky) to dry for half an hour.

Step 2

Believe it or not, but you are already one step away from the final result! Add more blue paint to the areas drawn in step 1. While the paper was drying, the blue color probably blocked the outline made in pencil. This is good! So the clouds will look natural.

Another uneven layer of blue on wet paper will spread in places, in places it will remain. This is the effect we need.

Brighten up the color here and there and enjoy the end result.

2. Volumetric cloud

Such cumulus clouds are most often drawn. It is in them, smoothly sliding across the sky, that we try to make out familiar outlines. The good news is that these clouds are very easy to draw.

Step 1

Draw a curved round or oval shape. Since working on children's books, I've been making cloud borders sharp, as in the example below. Do not draw bold lines, just make a sketch that can be easily erased if something happens.

Draw several hill-like lines inside the cloud.

Step 2

Wet the area outside the cloud, leaving the cloud completely dry. Paint over the sky.

Step 3

Start working on the cloud when the sky is completely dry. For a depth effect, emphasize the bulging parts of the cloud shades of gray(#1 in the picture below).

Wet the area bordering the "hills" of the cloud and deepen the gray. Blend the edges with a brush (#2 in the picture below).

3. Spectacular cloud

These clouds appear when the weather changes. When creating a cumulus cloud, it is important to be mindful of dense white areas, especially in fluffy and hilly clouds.

Step 1

Designate the contour of the cloud as in the previous example. This time place the bumps one on top of the other and add "hills" both inside the cloud and along its edges.

Step 2

Wet the whole sky. You can moisten the cloud itself a little, this will make the work more interesting and give the cloud a showiness (#1 in the picture below).

In the process of creating volume, I saturated the color on the tops of the hills. This is another way to achieve the 3D effect.

2 ways to depict a cirrus cloud

Cirrus clouds indicate good weather, they are light and high in the sky. Cirrus clouds are speckled and hazy white, like marble and sea ​​wave. They can be drawn in two ways.

Blue on white

Wet the sky area and apply a few swirls of blue. Leave the paper to dry, highlight the curls again. Repeat the process a third time. So the color will get the effect of volume, and the edges will come out soft. Areas with sharp edges will fit perfectly into the final picture, so don't worry if the paper dries unevenly.

White on blue

Using this method, you apply materials to the finished blue sky.

The picture below is the sky I made. I painted it, left it to dry, mixed white gouache with a little water and made a couple of light strokes with it. Wetted the brush again and softened too sharp edges - and the drawing is ready! You can even use white pastel.

Use as many materials as possible

My instructions for creating clouds will work with other materials as well. I give an example of a volumetric cumulus cloud made with coal.

I painted the sky and cloud shadows with horizontal strokes, varying the pressure to create light and shadow.
Even the most ordinary clouds can become the heroes of an illustration that will delight you.

Today we will talk about how to draw clouds with a pencil. It is difficult, I will say right away, but the result is worth the effort and time spent. I will tell you how to convey emotions in a picture, and of course, I will show you step by step using one example. Let's take this picture: Cloud - inexplicable phenomenon, originating from smoke and dust, creating an atmosphere on the planet Earth and in the souls of people. And how can the atmosphere affect the souls of people? Well, for example:

• Rain clouds make me sad;
• Cumulonimbus - waiting;
• Layered grays, or whites - calm;
• Layered foggy - melancholy;
• Cirrostratus - hope;
• Fluffy - peace on the planet;
• Tough and clumsy - the galaxy is in danger;
• blue, yellow color- joy, childhood;
• dark blue, gray color- a harbinger of something bad;

Color and form convey the emotions of the artist, the emotions of the picture. Be extremely careful when depicting clouds in your painting. Not always the vision of the author coincides with the vision of mere mortals. Hence it turns out: the artist sees it this way. What I have described above are my personal associations with clouds. Perhaps you have a different opinion. This is fine. I wanted to show youth, calmness, softness and serenity in the picture. I hope you will see all this in the lesson:

How to draw clouds with a pencil step by step

Step one. Let's draw a horizon line, with the help of circles we will show clouds, a girl and in the background a forest, a lighthouse, islands.
Step two. With the help of smaller circles, we will show fluffy clouds. Let's draw in more detail the girl and the background.
Step three. Now slowly draw the clouds with light strokes. On background let's add vegetation, and on the front seagulls.
Step four. We add shadows with the help of hatching for realism and bring beauty.
If you don't succeed the first time, don't worry. Worth a try again! Better yet, attach your work under this article, and comment on the work of other readers. Let's find mistakes together and fix them! And try to picture again.

First of all, you need to choose realistic colors for the sky. So the super-bright acid colors immediately step aside.

Second, think about the weather.

If the sky is clear and goes from deep blue to light blue on the horizon, then there is not enough vapor in the air and it will be impossible to find any fluffy air clouds. Only clear, well-defined clouds are possible here.

Conversely, if the sky is almost uniform in color (with a slight smooth transition between two colors - dark and light), there is a high probability of observing fluffy clouds scattered across the sky. And that's exactly what we want!

So we have clear skies. But what does it take to get those damn clouds?

I'm sure you could paint them with a regular round brush, but I'll tell you about my method. And, of course, I have two special brushes:

Small cloud islands

GIMP users download

So, let's begin! For this cloud, I take a light yellow color: why not white? Because it looks better with blue, and because the sunlight falls on it.

Then we begin to form a cloud: in shape it resembles Dr.Slump's poop.

Then I reduce the size of the brush and go over the area with more light again. So much better, although still far from ideal.

We are working on the remaining areas of the cloud, adding density and volume to it: let it take on its shape (whatever it is)!
As you can see, my cloud is made up of three components, and all of them are already shaded.
Imagine that this is a mountain of balls, and illuminate those areas where, in theory, the light should fall.

Decrease the brush again and in the area of ​​​​shadows draw such small clouds that seem to break away from the total mass.
In fact, clouds have a very unstable shape, and it is not surprising if a small island flies somewhere near a large cloud.

Change the brush and add some "smoke" near the illuminated clouds.

At the end, blur in some places a light smoky layer of clouds. They look so unnatural!
I use the same brush for this as I used to paint the base of the cloud.