How to Paint Clouds

Clouds can be a little tricky to paint if you’ve never done it before, but with a little guidance, they’re a breeze! (Weather pun intended.) Clouds feature into a lot of landscape paintings, so this is a painting technique you’ll be able to use again and again.

Whether you’re getting into acrylic painting as a hobby at home, or joining us in-studio for painting and drinking with your friends – this is an easy technique to master after a couple tries. Relax, grab an adult beverage, and let those creative juices flow. Paint and sip events are all about having fun, so there’s no wrong way to paint as far as we’re concerned.

Disclaimer: You absolutely don’t need any artistic training to enjoy a paint and sip event, but if you want to feel extra prepared, here’s how to paint clouds like a pro. Keep in mind, this technique is for acrylic paints.

Don’t forget your glass of wine! Seriously, if you’re prone to tension, perfectionism, or over-doing your arts and crafts, a glass of wine will help relax your hand and make the painting process more natural. We do love wine, but the taste isn’t the only reason it pairs well with painting.


HOW TO PAINT CLOUDS WITH ACRYLIC PAINT

Check out the video for examples of each step. It’s easier to learn how to paint by watching someone else, but we’ve summed up the video below:

• You’ll need a medium flat brush, canvas, and white and blue acrylic paints.
• Start by painting the sky with your blue paint.
• While the sky is still wet, use white paint to draw arched tops for your puffy clouds.
• Now outline the flat bottom of the cloud with a light touch.
• Dip your paintbrush in water, then “paint” the watery brush onto the white paint on your canvas – just a little bit! This will water down the white paint to create a wispy look.
• Using the wet brush, blend some of the white paint from the tops of your clouds down to fill in the cloud.
• Use arched strokes that mimic the shape of the top of your cloud.
• Add more white paint or water as needed, until the cloud is filled in.
• The blue and white will blend to look like a fluffy cloud in soft, pastel shades of blue.
• Be careful not to over-blend, or the cloud will be too uniform in color. An uneven coat of white over your blue sky looks more like a real cloud.

There you have it! Now you’re ready to paint landscapes and skyscapes like a trained artist. As with any new skill, practice makes perfect. Grab a poster board or even an old cardboard box and practice this acrylic painting technique until those puffy clouds look so real you feel the urge to grab your umbrella.

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