Paint a winter sky landscape that wows!

I love the dramatic wintry sky colours you see at this time of the year!

I couldn’t help but want to try and capture all of those wintry sky colours I am seeing to create this loose watercolour landscape painting. I took a photo of this beautiful winter sky sunset close by to where I live. What captured me the most were how many colours there were in the sky, and how they shine through the silhouette of trees below. How can I recreate this in loose watercolour? I had to try it!

If you would like to use the exact same reference photo I used please email me.

You can read more about my winter sky observations in this journal entry I’m sharing with you.

Here’s how I went about it:

What you’ll need:

Always remember, If you don’t have the equipment and paints I have, you can really creative an use what you do have.

Please email me for the reference photo if you’d like a copy.

• • HB Pencil (To outline your picture of the landscape marking out distintive areas (optional).
  • Paper: 300gsm Arches (140lb) cold pressed watercolour paper
  • My sheet size is: 56x38cm (22x15inch) Fairly Large)
  • Brushes: Jennifer Rose sizes, 3/0 and 0 Mop brush. Link here: https://www.rosemaryandco.com/jennifer-rose-mop.
  • Kitchen towel (to dab off any excess water) and to create shapes
  • Masking tape
  • Water in a pot
  • A scrap of paper to practice your colours with by your side.

  Windsor & Newton Paints:

  • Winsor Lemon
  • Burnt Sienna
  • French of Ultra Marine (blue)
  • Alizarin Crimson red colour
  • Burnt Umber
  • Permanent Rose
  • Rose of Ultramarine

1. I begin by using masking tape to tape and secure my landscape shape piece of paper to a board. I gently outlined distinctive areas with a pencil of where the little house is and where the distinctive patches of clouds were in the sky.
2. Referring to my photo, I begin by placing down my lightest colours first using my larger mop brush. This is so that I can cover a large areas quickly. I’ve taken care to preserve the very white areas within the painting, especially where the sun is shining through. Take care to keep these areas white.

3. Whilst my yellow paint is still wet, I drop in my red paint (alizarin crimson) so that it mixes on the paper with the yellow to create some gorgeous orange shades of their own. Using my paintbrush, I gently spread the newly created orange and red hues placing them to match my reference photo.

4. At this very wet stage, I then pick up some of my burnt sienna colour to outline the roof of the house, and the lower section of the painting which builds a base of where to build the silhouette of trees later on. Leave this section to dry and settle whilst moving next onto the sky area.

*Watercolour tip: As the paint is very watery at this stage, you’ll see very exciting effects take place on the paper as the paints merge!*

5. To begin creating the sky area, I use my large mop brush again to create a light blue wash starting from the top of my painting and working my way downwards to meet the yellow section beneath.

6. With the new blue sky still wet, I then begin to include my rose of ultra marine colour (purple shade) to create and form the clouds. Referring to my reference photo all of the time for placement and my faint pencil lines underneath for guidance.  This will be my first indication of where my clouds will be, and I will begin to build on once this first layer has completely dried.

7. In the centre photo above, notice how I then drop in some pure colour of my blue french of ultramarine shade to deepen the tone to a section of the cloud here.

Notice how the light washes of purple turn to some pink shades as they dry – I enhance these areas by including a little of my permanent rose colour too. 

8. Once my first layers of clouds dry back, I then increase the colour and tone with further placement of the same colours at a thicker consistency. Remember to leave some areas underneath to show through. Leave to dry completely once you have finished building up the shapes to the clouds.

9. Now the lower section of the painting is dry, I am going to begin building up the silhouette of trees over the top of my vibrant dry background. To do this, I use the tip of my smaller paint brush to create the twig branches with burnt sienna paint.

*Watercolour tip: When applying the branches and tree trunks, gently lift and soften the paint into the lower section to allow the dried yellow paint underneath to show through. It also creates lots of texture to the painted edges.*

10. Whilst applying your tree branches, drop in additional hues to them, like the red and yellow ones you have to create the glow from the sunset onto them. This adds a touch of realism to your painting. Soften some of the edges with the side of your paintbrush to merge into the background a little.

11. Once you are happy with your placement of trees and branches let them dry. I always advise to re-access your painting once it is fully dry and include additional enhancements where necessary. I have included some additional burnt umber paint to my branches to create further depth.

My finished painting! What do you think?

Have I inspired you to paint this winter sky landscape too ? Or have you a winter sky landscape photo of your own which inspires you to pick up your paintbrush? I would love to see your paintings and you can share them with me in the comments below or by emailing me personally at jenniferrose.gallery.

You can also tag me on Instagram and Facebook, and use the hashtag #jenniferrosegallery to see how you got on. I always love hearing from you.

Love

Jennifer Rose xx