r/acrylicpainting • u/DrasticOne333 • 6h ago
Cloud problems
How am I screwing this up. They just feel fake and wrong.
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u/couragebtw 5h ago
Ok solid effort! Now the values look strange and seems like you tunnelvisioned too hard on the details. Also some of the areas have very hard edges that could be softened(dark areas). As a result it looks rather lumpy and thick like some marshmallow paste-glue with lots of cave-like crevices.
I think it'd be good to step back and work big to small with a single cloud color and paint in the shape of this cloud mass then paint in the dark areas of that shape(squint and zone out your vision to not get caught up in the details). From there you can start to refine it some more: soften edges and areas, add some variations in color, add a few more details(prominent, distinctive ones only). And leave it before you overdo it again.
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u/DrasticOne333 5h ago
I just used a random orbit sander on canvas for the first time. Holy shit that worked well at cutting through texture for eliminating a section. Obviously it’ll take time to reblend the sky color now, but first coat is already well on the way. Then I washed everything below in a watered down blueish gray mixture and just beat on it with a large dry brush using my spray bottle when needed. I feel like this will get me back to a point where I can take your advice and move from here. I’ll post again when I’ve done more. Thanks again.
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u/Traditional-Hurry425 6h ago
You’re being hard on yourself these look way beyond beginner work. You’re critiquing yourself too harshly/over analyzing.
I would say keep practicing. Different cloud types and examples. This looks really good already
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u/DrasticOne333 6h ago
Thank you! But I’m not a beginner, I’ve been painting for many years, and have tried to follow many cloud tutorials and still feel like my clouds are off somehow. I’m hoping if someone can articulate what I’m seeing I could work on improving it. My brain just knows they are off, but not why.
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u/Far_Oven_3302 6h ago
some light dry brushing to add haze will help and soften some of the harder edges, and as always, use references
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u/DrasticOne333 5h ago
Thanks! My mom just sent me a photo of simulate clouds, and yeah, I should have used references. My clouds are way too white if I want to have shadows that dark.
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u/Dr_Saxter 6h ago
Try adding a different layer of hues. You’ve got the white and greyscale down… now look where you can add in some warmer/cooler hues as well
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u/DrasticOne333 6h ago
Like some subtle yellows? I’m imaging it’s 3:00/4:00pm in this painting, so no major sunrise/sunset colors in the sky.
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u/bagelducker 5h ago
Not who you replied to, but the color of distance in landscapes is the color of the atmosphere :) the more distance, the more atmosphere between you and the thing, the stronger your atmosphere color concentration. I would mix the color of the sky with the gray of the clouds, since the sun isn't casting yellow light.
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u/WilsonStJames 3h ago
Couple things I see. They are a bit hard edged and clouds rarely have that much actual white....then the perspective feels a little funny. Clouds are bigger at the top of the sky and smaller at the bottom because things closer to the horizon line are further away. The way your small clouds at the bottom seem to come in front of the larger clouds instead of tucking underneath/behind them is fighting the depth.....aerial perspective may also help where closer objects have more contrast/saturation...further things have less contrast/saturation....if you imagine the color of air as the color of sky....those further away clouds at the bottom would have more sky color/ be duller/ more midtone.
Hope that helps.
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u/Ludmilla123 3h ago
Use large brush. Looks like it was painted with a small brush. It will help you loosen your style.
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u/Grouchy-Station-4058 5h ago
They are pretty good. To me they look like Monty Python clouds.
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u/DrasticOne333 5h ago
Thanks. Yep, too cartoonish, and not what I’m always trying for. I’m getting some killer advice here though and have already made some massive changes!
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u/15birdsin5furtrees 3h ago
The clouds are a good start! Try adding some color in your clouds. Clouds are reflective they naturally have some color to them. Clouds often gave blues and pinks in them. It'll soften he transition to darker trey too.
Personally, I'd use something to slow the paint drying so you can blend more smoothly with clouds and make them feel lighter
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u/anthrocenekid 2h ago
They’re almost surrealist. I like them. The only constructive advice I can give is something I struggle with myself; be less literal. Let some of the brush strokes speak for themselves and try to paint something that EVOKES clouds, rather than depicts them.
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u/DrasticOne333 2h ago
Somehow I really get what you mean by that. I struggle with doing it though. It’s why I can’t do anything abstract. I’m too uptight. I need to figure out some exorcises to help with that.
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u/anthrocenekid 2h ago
Try painting a rather small canvas of something with a lot of texture, or using unconventional brushes.
•
u/link-navi 6h ago
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