I believe the sky is an important element when drawing a fantasy background.

Here, I will explain how to draw clouds.

You can draw clouds with various touches by changing the tools and brushes you use.

 

Clouds are drawn using a total of two layers: an underpainting layer and a shadow layer.

Clip to the underpainting layer and paint the shadows.

A. Oil Paint

These are clouds with a three-dimensional feel.

1. First, create the general shape with a flat brush. Draw by imagining multiple short strokes.

2. Further elaborate with gouache.

3. Paint the shadows using a fine gouache brush.

4. Blend the shadows with gouache and a fine gouache brush. Move the brush in a semi-circle from the bottom right to the top left.

5. Refine the shape by adding to the underpainting layer or erasing with a transparent color.

I used gouache, a fine gouache brush, dry gouache, and stippling.

6. Finish up. I added more to the left side to emphasize the three-dimensionality.

I also added shadows. Blend slightly and partially blur the outlines, then it's complete.

B. Watercolor

These are soft and smooth clouds.

1. First, create the general shape with opaque watercolor. Draw by moving the brush horizontally.

2. Further elaborate with opaque watercolor and transparent watercolor.

3. Paint the shadows with opaque watercolor.

4. Blend the shadows with opaque watercolor and transparent watercolor. The shadows were a bit too dark, so I added light blue to blend them.

5. Refine the shape by adding to the underpainting layer and shadow layer. I used opaque watercolor, transparent watercolor, and fill & blend.

I made the shadow color even lighter blue to create a fresh atmosphere. Move the brush horizontally to blend the cloud shape into the sky, and it's complete.

C. Lasso

These are stylized clouds.

1. Use the Lasso tool for underpainting. Keep in mind a shape like several ovals connected.

2. Paint the shadows with the Lasso tool. Aim for a slightly flattened shape. This completes it.

D. Chalk

These are clouds that make use of the brush shape.

1. First, create the general shape.

2. Refine the shape by moving the brush as if stippling.

3. Paint the shadows. Move the brush as if stippling. This completes it.

E. Rough Watercolor

These are clouds that make use of the brush shape.

1. First, create the general shape. Draw by imagining overlapping multiple short lines.

2. Further elaborate.

3. Paint the shadows. Move the brush as if stippling.

4. Refine the shape by adding to the underpainting layer and shadow layer. Be mindful of three-dimensionality. This completes it.

This concludes the making-of process.

Thank you for reading this far!