How to Paint a Sky in Watercolour

New Watercolour Landscapes for Beginners Course Available Now! 75% off
www.scottswins...
This is a pretty long video but it shows how you can build up layers of watercolour to create depth and mood. I do enjoy painting in this way. If you have not painted a watercolour sky in this way before you would probably want to start on a smaller scale. This video is about how to paint a gloaming sky in watercolour using mostly different size hake brushes.You have to dry the painting completely between layers which can take some time but not worth cutting that process short.
This painting was painted on a half sheet of Rives BFK etching paper which is about 28cm x 75cm.
I used cobalt blue, yellow ochre, mix of cobalt blue and light red, cobalt turquoise, mix of winsor blue (red shade) and light red and raw umber.
I mostly used my trusty 2 inch hake brush and many other hake brushes. At one stage I used my pure kolinsky round sable to softly soften some edges and lift out some lights. I also used the spray bottle to lift out some lights.
This painting will be available soon on my website to buy with free shipping.
My website where you can buy original artwork: www.scottswinson.com
My Two Most Popular Videos on KZbin:
Large Abstract Watercolour May 2020: • Large Abstract Waterco...
What to Know When Starting Watercolour (2020): • What to Know When Star...
Paints
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Tubes:
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/Yellow...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/LightR...
Winsor and Newton Cotman Tubes (student quality):
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Tape
3M Scotch Magic Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
3M Scotch Removable Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
Brushes
Round Sable - Size 12 round kolinsky sable from amazon: geni.us/SAAKol...
Imitation sable - amazon: geni.us/Escoda...
Holbein Hake Brushes: geni.us/Holbei...
Equivalent Hake Brushe 2” amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Nylon Flat Brush amazon: geni.us/NylonF...
Travel Brush set with covers amazon: geni.us/travel...
Mixing Brushes and other effect brushes amazon: geni.us/HogBri...
If you just want two hogs bristle brushes then the best thing to do is to head to your local art supplies store and buy them there.
Watercolour Paper
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed pad amazon: geni.us/ArchesPad
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed block which is glued on the outside so you don’t have to stick it down on a board amazon: geni.us/Arches...
Rives BFK etching paper. Probably best to source this from your local store so you can look after the paper and not have it posted unless you are buying a large amount of paper and it will be looked after. There is nothing worse than getting hundreds of sheets all with a indent in them. Having said that you can actually source this paper from amazon:
geni.us/RivesBFK
Some people have been extremely happy with the state of the paper when it arrived (and some not!)
I love this paper it is soft and lights are lifted easily from it.
Equipment Used to Film Each Episode
Camera - Canon 6d mark II with 24-105 lens amazon: geni.us/Canon6...
Iphone 11: geni.us/iphone...
Rode Video Mic Pro amazon: geni.us/RodeVi...
I also use: Rode Wireless Go Mic: geni.us/rodewi...
Aputure LED Lights from amazon: geni.us/apurtu...
Aputure LED Lights with stand from amazon: geni.us/aputur...
Mac Book Pro for editing: www.apple.com/
Friction arms
Manfrotto friction arm short one amazon: geni.us/Manfro...
Manfrotto magic arm longer one so my camera can be closer to the page from my overhead rig amazon: geni.us/manfro...
Neewer Friction arms cheaper than manfrotto and good for lighter things like lights from amazon: geni.us/neewer...
Hard Drive for storage WD 4TB amazon: geni.us/WDHard...
Hard Drive for projects Samsung T5 500GB SSD amazon: geni.us/Samsun...
Manfrotto Tripod and Video Head amazon: geni.us/Manfro...
Photo Editing - Affinity Photo: geni.us/Affini...
I use this for any photo editing that I might need to do such as stitching multiple scanned images of my original artwork together. It is a one off expense ($70 at time of writing this) rather than the monthly fee you have to pay with photoshop.
KZbin Thumbnails - Canva - free and easy to use! geni.us/CanvaI...

[@anneyangart]

Wow, you show how not to be afraid of watercolour, but sitting watching you is like sitting on a cliff edge! Thanks for generously showing your process and mastery.

[@suzannefitzpatrick6404]

Scott, you are a watercolour magician! Brilliant

[@michellekaptur5223]

Scott, after taking your classes it is a pleasure to see you work. You are so sure in your vision! A treat!

[@lena-ericafredrikssonposte1348]

My comments are not necessary. You painting and the way your way of teaching and describing is so good. Many thanks for everything😊❤

[@ScottSwinson]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jrapprentice]

Love this one Scott. With regard to a better rendition of the colours. Stuart Davies and others take a high quality, still photo of the finished painting and put that up at the end for viewers to see. It makes a significant difference.

[@soumenroy9548]

Sir the fact that amazes me is the way you use the very essence and nature of watercolor .........that proves you connect your soul with the colours............ greetings from the land of Abanindranath Tagore

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Soumen, thanks! I do love painting with a medium I feel completely connected to! When I paint in acrylics or oils I feel Ike a fish out of water! 👍🙏

[@owens711]

Wit a braw painting, Scott 🎨🖌️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@jaynedough130]

really enjoyed this longer video and seeing your process. thanks scott!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jayne, glad you liked it. I thought it might be a bit long but I couldn’t really make it any shorter without missing out big chunks of the process. 👍🙏

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Wow! What an exciting process Scott, beautiful work!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Lois! It can easily turn to mud, especially with yellow ochre but I do love that colour! 👍

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Thanks Glyn, that makes me very happy! 😊🎨

[@user-mj5bo8eb8c]

After doing an exhibition of oils and grafite drawing I want to get iinto watercolour These tutorials are really helping me to change technique completely

[@tanyaharris7514]

I knew it was going to be fabulous in the end..you didn't dissapoint..it's amazing !thank you so much for the demo 💕

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tanya! Thanks! I do love that style of painting and the moody seascapes! Thanks for watching! Cheers Scott

[@juliemoore5391]

GORGEOUS

[@brucewagner4394]

These tutorials are fantastic, we get to see/and watch what I think is a laughable painting. But when you guys finish with them ,it's a major transformation. That's a outstanding painting.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Bruce! I know it is a bit of an evolution! It's difficult to see the end at the beginning as a spectator! Thanks for watching and commenting! cheers scott

[@Mr.S65]

The sky came out amazing (the whole thing rather) as always 👍🏻

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Mr S! 👍

[@maryking7734]

Another truly amazing video. Your love of the medium is tangible and you teach so well. Thank you!

[@lisatighe7656]

Loved it! Please feel free to make more like this!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lisa! No worries. I really love painting like this. Lots of layers and some good depth of tone!

[@karolfrench5816]

Someone so talented and enthusiastic Wonderful. THANKYOU for inspiration and enabling us to see beauty

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Karol! I love to paint. I love to see the natural environment and then paint! It's an internal response that needs to come out! Cheers Scott

[@carolalford8156]

Another stunning painting Scott, can't wait to have a go at this one! Truly enjoying watching and learning new techniques. Thank you for sharing. Loving the journey you've sent me on with watercolours x

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Carol, I'm really glad you are enjoying the video tutorials! It is always a journey for me too in watercolour! That's why I love it! Thanks for watching! Cheers Scott

[@redmoon8217]

love your work Scott, so clean, few flicks of the brush, all about the light and flow. Once again beautiful work! Thank You

[@ScottSwinson]

You’re welcome! It’s always interesting to watch someone paint and the choices they make! Happy painting! 👍

[@jenfleming9412]

Absolutely beautiful Scott. Thanks for showing us another of your wonderful expertise.

[@ScottSwinson]

No worries Jennifer! Glad you liked it! 👍🙏

[@starvingartistscollective]

A gorgeous landscape Scott. LOVE the long portrait format, really striking! Thank you!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Starving Artist Collective! Thanks! Yes I do like that orientation and size really does make good proportions for many peoples homes! Thanks! Cheers Scott

[@phillipthomas9901]

I really like this orientation

[@pjakka53]

beautiful.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks PJ!

[@erieri69]

Adoro questi formati di carta! Grazie Scott...stupendo!!! ;)

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you like it Erieri! 👍🙏

[@elenaborowski2520]

Nice job! Rhanks for the demo!

[@eleanorsmart9249]

Absolutely stunning Scott, loving your work, it's inspiring. Blessings from Scotland 🙂

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Eleanor! I do miss Scotland! I lived in Falkirk for over a year in 2003. Did heaps of rock climbing and lots of munroe’s! Fantastic place for inspiration for moody watercolours! Thanks for watching! 👍🙏

[@jennyward6448]

Really like that one. It looks very moody.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Jenny! I f dad I like moody skies! 👍🙏

[@lena-ericafredrikssonposte1348]

Wounderful. You are the best, made my day😊

[@ScottSwinson]

So glad!

[@debbies4435]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@yvonnegeelen6571]

Amazing love it I like the longer video how you pull at all together at the end Thankyou

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Yvonne! Good to know! Quite a few people liked the longer video and process. It did all come together in the end! 👍

[@pammarks4385]

So simple and stunning!

[@rentedtux1883]

Really beautiful, Scott. I very much enjoyed this one

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Matt, it was enjoyable to paint a multiple layered painting! Have not done that in a while! 👍

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you liked it!

[@markdonovan1540]

Interesting paper size that works so well with this scene. It's amazing to see how you "push the paint", it seems aa though you are just waiting for the right effect to take place and then you almost remove it by another later or further brush strokes. I guess that's all your experience and skill that gives you the confidence to do that. I love the way it builds, transforms and finally comes together. The paper scratches to add the white highlights was a stunning finale. A question for you Scott: when you say "cohesion" in the painting, what are you aiming for exactly? What do you look to adjust in order to achieve the desired cohesion you're looking for? It would be interesting to understand that a bit more. Thank you

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mark! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you like it! I think when I'm talking about cohesion is not too much fuss. Not too much for the eye to get distracted by and a clear sense of subject and harmony of colours and tones. It is a very good question to which I am not sure I have a clear answer. I look at the page and some part of me "knows" (sometimes gets this wrong though!) there is something not right and then I do something from a kind of gut instinct to make it towards where I feel it should go. Very abstract language I know but I do think it is a part of my brain or body that is not logical and does not have the normal kind of cognition we associate with a task. Hard to explain but that's the best I can do for now. I should probably unpack a bit what that process is for others. Cheers Scott

[@markdonovan1540]

@@ScottSwinson thank you for your thoughtful and interesting reply. Perhaps these kind of things can't be unpacked, as it probably comes down to feeling and emotions that drive movements of the artist's hand. I'm not from an artistic background and I only started painting in watercolours about two years ago. I've been kind of teaching myself via KZbin ever since then. I only discovered your channel recently and it has got me back into the landscapes. Trying to capture some of that magic that you work on the paper is a very tall order for me, but I'm having lots of fun trying. Thanks for your wonderful videos.

[@janevance1694]

I love this! But, every time you go to add more I cringe thinking noooooo leave it but, it always turns out great! You must have bullet proof paper! Thank you!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jane! Yes the paper coped well with a lot of layers! 👍👍

[@VeronicaGillmer]

Thanks for the very concise demonstration and for sharing. I really enjoyed it. Inspiring indeed.

[@LorraineTapper]

Another fantastic painting.

[@maureencberry]

THIS is how I want to paint. Thanks Scott. New subscriber here and new to watercolor abstract. Cheers!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Maureen! Yes love the layers and moody seascapes!👍👍

[@soongloege3241]

Thank you 🙏

[@vesnacurak2250]

Beautiful❤

[@watercolour_ninja1114]

I struggle so much to get good loose sky's, which is a shame as I love doing landscapes. New to your channel and loving your work.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Ian, thanks for tuning in! Hopefully the videos on my channel will help you to paint in a style you want to. Let me know if you have any questions! 👍🙏

[@oart2472]

Excellent watercolor, contemporary art, watercolor contemporary art, watercolor contemporary art is difficult, you do well.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks o’art! It sounds like you have a scratch on your record! Lol 👍🙏

[@twilafoster3148]

Greetings from Alaska 😁 I thoroughly enjoyed this! I like to take a photo of an unfinished painting after it dries so if I’m not sure how to finish my work, and when I’m away from it, I’d look at it and see it at a different perspective.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Twila! I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska! Was meant to go in 2004 but the round the world ticket I had stopped going there! One day...I would love to paint some of the mountains there! 👍

[@nassrinfarquharson7766]

Loe your tec carry on Cnstable

[@begonalusarretaarrizabalag8445]

Beautiful Scott!!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Begona! It turned into a lovely painting! Thanks for watching many videos!

[@juliehopkins5784]

Another beauty Scott. 👍

[@ScottSwinson]

thanks Julie! 🙏

[@francoforleo4971]

beautiful work.... as usual . Thank you

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Franco! 👍🙏

[@christineandersen8366]

Just found you and love your process and paintings.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Christine! Welcome! Glad you enjoy the videos, paintings and process! 👍👍

[@pianogirlk]

Wonderful Demonstration. Great style! New to your site and I can’t wait to try this. Looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks from Kaye in Ecuador.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Kaye! Thanks for joining me on my channel! Any questions let me know! I do love painting like that with multiple layers! 👍👍

[@jhuvyg]

There you go! This painting caught my eye when I saw your profile from that watercolor group page that was sharing each other's social media accounts to follow ..and I for sure subscribed in this channel with the question if you have a video showing how you painted this!!! Thank you for sharing! Verrry interesting! I love your paintings!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jhuvy! Thanks! Glad you like the videos and find them helpful! Happy painting! 👍

[@Guylangloisartist]

Nice work

[@helenw6243]

just found you on youtube and instagram. loving your work - thank you

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Helen, glad you found me and are enjoying the videos and work. It is great to be able to share something I really love and enjoy. I am lucky to have learnt from a man named Tony Smibert from a young age and so it is a good thing to be able to pass on that love of watercolour to others. Thanks for watching. Cheers Scott

[@riefler0220]

Just found your channel loving your techniques. Gonna give a go at this size and orientation! Can't wait for lunchtime lol

[@ScottSwinson]

Good luck leanne! Let me know how you go! You can tag scott Swinson in the photo on Instagram or do #scottswinson and I’ll check it out! 👍

[@Mr.S65]

That’s half of an imperial size sheet, right ? ( 22x30 “ you kept the 30 so it must be 11x30”)

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes that's right! 👍

[@wedabru]

Bellissimo

[@ScottSwinson]

Thank you Bruna!

[@apattonfineart5121]

Very serene. Can you tell me more about how you use the razor? Can you do a video on that?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi APatton, thanks! I use a stinky razor and a metal ruler and run it back and forth. I can do a video on that at some stage for sure. 👍👍

[@apattonfineart5121]

Scott Swinson thanks. Never heard of a stinky razor

[@ScottSwinson]

@@apattonfineart5121 sorry!!! It is a Stanley razor! Spelling correction gone crazy!!!!!

[@apattonfineart5121]

Scott Swinson lol😃😃

[@tonybarillaro2753]

Bonjour Scott, j’aime beaucoup ce que vous faites, même si je ne comprends pas tout ce que vous dites. Alors et afin de comprendre mieux je cherche la description mais je ne la trouves pas toujours. Peut être je cherche mal ?🙁

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tony! I have changed the settings now so you should be able to see subtitles in French for this video. Hope that helps and is what you were asking… cheers Scott

[@gillberryman7154]

Where can I find more about the technique of pouring water to re-wet a layer of paint?

[@ScottSwinson]

I did a video of that at some stage. Maybe i should just do a video in wetting the page! 👍👍

[@atlantic2233]

Hi Scott, it was so interesting to watch your added layers turn into such an emotional painting! Wondering how you keep the paper flat while using all the watercolor? Do you ever iron the paper at completion?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi dragonfly! I is not completely flat it raises up a little! I should probably pre-stretch when it gets so wet but I often don’t! 👍

[@vibekenydal6961]

Hey Scott Really beautiful watercolors you make, wildly inspiring. I want to know who is playing the Music In the of your video. Bedst regards Vibeke Denmark

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Vibeke! I get my music from artlist.io and it was dusk-to-dawn_by_josh-leake_Artlist Hope that is useful. Cheers scott

[@vibekenydal6961]

@@ScottSwinson Thank you very much ❤️ I finde it. 🤗

[@vidhyasrifashionsandvlogs1319]

Super 👍❤️

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks!

[@tiffanyd4093]

Still enjoying your videos and techniques. I’ve got a few large sheets waiting for some paint but my fear has prevented me from touching the paper. Omg.... what if I mess up a $30sheet of paper. 😂

[@ScottSwinson]

I know what you mean Tiffany! If you can afford to buy 50 sheets at a time on special it can be much cheaper! Good luck! 👍

[@ErinneKennedy]

you need to use your long metal ruler to use as a tear bar haha

[@susannachaves1302]

This was very therapeutic... did you use a blade to scrap off the colour...?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Susanna! Yes I used a Stanley razor blade! 👍

[@ArtistAtWork]

Lovely technique Scott learnt some things today. #artistsatwork53

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you found it informative! 👍

[@marinagambarelli7649]

Fantastico

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Marina! 🙏

[@marinagambarelli7649]

@@ScottSwinson do you know shopkeeparty? they do online workshops with famous painters. can I propose to invite you? I think you have a lot to teach

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Marina, happy to chat to someone about it? Or be invited. Will have a look at it. Cheers Scott. 👍

[@marie5754]

What kind of board are you useing to tape your paper to?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Marie, it is mdf you can pick up from any local hardware store. 👍

[@ruthkoster4140]

What do you use to make a white streak/

[@ScottSwinson]

A razor blade! 👍👍

[@pammarks4385]

What did you use to scrape off for highlights?

[@Hagar_le_Horrible]

Like the tall thin portrait orientation. What size was the paper before you halved it? I plan to move onto a bigger size paper sometime soon. Need to work up to it though as I tend to use A5 size just now. Good job, lovely colours

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Paul, glad you liked the painting! I do love painting in that style! The sheet before I halved it was 56cm x 76cm. Good luck going large! I do go through a bit more paint snd paper! 👍👍👍

[@Karmakat59]

Wonderful, dramatic sky, Scott. Thanks for showing us and explaining your process,, I learn so much from your videos. I've only used watercolor paper and am not familiar with Rives 'etching paper' and it doesn't seem to be available on Amazon. Is the Strathmore Printmaking (or Canson brand) similar?? Thanks !!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Karmakat, thanks! You can use any watercolour paper that is cold pressed and medium and it would be very similar. You don’t need to use the rives bfk etching paper by arches. I’m not sure about the other two brands you mentioned. I’ll have to feel them in the art supplies shop. You can tell how similar by looking and touching them. Let me know how you get on! 👍🙏

[@colingoulding5311]

Hi great painting. Could you advise what weight paper you use please?

[@AnimaedArte_HesAll_PatriziaC]

Do you mull paints by yourself? If yes, what basic receipt do you use? Thank you for your sharing 😊

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Pat! I don't mull my own paints. Would like to try it when I have a bit more time. I just use tubes of Winsor and Newton artist quality paints. You are always welcome! Cheers Scott

[@AnimaedArte_HesAll_PatriziaC]

@@ScottSwinson I thought that because you use a lot of paint. I'm now helped by your reply to start such a kind of watercolor. Thank you for your sharing 😊

[@ruthkoster4140]

How much are your paintings? Like the 0one you are doing now,

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Ruth! Glad you like it. A painting that size sells for $260 with free shipping worldwide unframed. 👍👍

[@mtdebemigrant1435]

Do you use tap water or distilled?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Deb, I just use tap water!

[@jennyward6448]

How can I send you a photo of one of your demo. Paintings that I have had a go at doing. I would be interested to hear what you think of it. It was a lot of fun to do, took time because of layers. I thought it was a reasonable attempt for an 82yr. Old who has not been painting very long. Cheers Jenny Ward

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jenny! I would love to see you painting following this! There are a few ways but I think the best is to join the Ron Ranson Disciples facebook group and then post on there and tag me or mention me in a comment and I can have a look. Most of my paintings are painted freely with a hake brush and so appropriate for that group. If you don't want to do that you could post on instagram and again tag me in the photograph or put #scottswinson and I will see that. Hear from you soon on one of those places. Cheers Scott

[@mysticchords]

What did you use to scratch out the waves at the end? It made such a difference to the painting.. Really love this style.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mysticchords! I used a stanley razor blade! Used at quite a flat angle it does not dig into the paper too far but can create some lovely whites!

[@mysticchords]

@@ScottSwinson Thanks... Wasn't sure if it would be a blade on paper.. I'll be careful in my experiments

[@MerrrryBeth]

Hi Scott, Beautiful beautiful painting… I did learn some new techniques while watching your video. I’m sorry if I missed what you said: I tried to look through your description and your comments to find out what it was you were scratching the paper with at the very end, to get lights in the ocean?? Thank you so much😘

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mariners, I used a razor blade. I forget to list that in the description sometimes! Happy painting!👍

[@MerrrryBeth]

Thank you :)

[@redmoon8217]

Scott can I just ask were you got the mount board, not seen that size before?

[@ScottSwinson]

The mount board is just a big sheet of mdf from Bunnings that I cut up into the sizes I wanted using a circular saw. 👍