The sky is the most dynamic and glorious subject in landscape painting. You'll paint three small sky studies in one sitting: a sunrise, a dramatic storm sky, and a sunset. Each uses the wet-on-wet technique — painting wet color into a wet wash — which produces the soft, luminous blending that defines great watercolor skies. Pre-mix all your color puddles before wetting any paper.
Three pieces of watercolor paper cut to 5×7", masking tape, a flat board to tape paper to (foam board, plywood, a cutting board, or a sturdy book wrapped in a plastic bag), watercolor set, large flat brush, medium round brush, two water jars (one clean, one rinse), paper towels, a small palette or plate for mixing color puddles.
Prepare before touching paper. Mix color puddles for all three studies first: pale yellows and pinks for sunrise; blue-grays and dark indigo for storm; oranges, reds, and violets for sunset. Tape three 5×7" pieces of watercolor paper flat to a board.
Wet the entire paper surface evenly with clean water and a large flat brush. It should be damp and slightly shiny — not soaking, not dry. You have roughly 2–3 minutes to work.
Drop in your sky colors quickly with a well-loaded brush — just touch the tip to the wet surface and let the paint bloom outward naturally. Don't scrub. Work fast.
Tilt the board gently to encourage colors to run and merge. Watercolor rewards you for letting go of control and allowing the medium to do its own work.
Add a simple horizon silhouette while the sky is still slightly wet — a flat dark shape of trees or hills that anchors the sky and makes it feel like a real place.
Set it aside and do not touch it until completely dry. Watercolor always lightens significantly as it dries. Judge only after full drying.
The enemy of good wet-on-wet watercolor is overworking. Drop in your colors, tilt the board — then put the brush down and walk away. Every additional stroke after the first muddles and dulls the result. Restraint is the technique.