Sky Trouble

[Vasper157]

I'm really getting into envirnment concepts, but I am having SOOO much trouble setting the mood because..well, I'm just not that good at drawing a digital sky.


Any tips?

[wanwan]

practice... harsh but troo

[Kitiker]

This guys got some good tips
http://www.steeldolphin-forums.com/htmltuts/cloud_tut.html

Otherwise, google is your best friend
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=painting+sky+photoshop&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

[Jason Ross]

Just to elaborate on wanwan's advice, work from photos and life. Best thing about painting environments is that most of your reference is right outside. Study the sky, trees, landscape, and such. Look for books on the subject as well. I have a book that's just photos of landscapes. Mixing and match them is a good way to create unique environments. Utilize perspective and atomspheric perspective to help create mood as well.

[wanwan]

That's true - maybe I was a bit blunt, sorry :( Try looking at the old masters of art. Look at Gauguin, Picasso, Monet. Even sit at night and watch the sun set. It's too easy to get stuck in front of the PC and forget the real world is out there :) good luck!

[Datameister]

All the above advice is very true.

As far as Photoshop workflow goes, here's what I'd suggest. Unless the final result is going to be an undramatic sky, start with a thumbnail sketch either in Photoshop or on paper; understand where the values will be darker and lighter. Then go into Photoshop and lay down a base coat over the whole canvas--this should be the sky's "midtone". Lay down lighter, lower-saturation colors near the horizon and darker ones near the zenith. Then begin painting clouds and/or the sun using large brushes, just blocking in values and colors. Then refine.

Reference will help big time! I have hundreds of photos of clouds I've taken over the last few years. They have little artistic merit on their own, but they provide the necessary "studying material" for me to understand the appearance of the sky better.