Watercolor Clouds Made Easy: Master Wet, Semi-Wet, and Dry Paper Techniques

Learn how paper moisture, brush type, and painting techniques can transform your watercolor skies.

Painting clouds with watercolor is one of the most versatile and rewarding skills for artists of all levels. There are thousands of ways to approach this technique, but understanding how watercolor behaves on different paper surfaces will instantly improve your results.

In this tutorial, watercolor artist Katanak shares a simple yet powerful method to master cloud painting techniques by comparing three surfaces: wet paper, semi-wet paper, and dry paper.

1. Wet Paper: Soft and Dreamy Effects

When the paper is fully saturated with water, watercolor pigment flows freely, creating soft, blurred edges perfect for dreamy skies or distant clouds. While you have less control in this stage, it’s a great choice for atmospheric landscapes.

2. Semi-Wet Paper: Balanced Control

By misting the paper with a water atomizer, you achieve a semi-wet surface. This technique allows the paint to spread easily but still gives you time to adjust details. It's ideal for blending cloud edges and creating smooth gradients in your sky.

3. Dry Paper: Crisp and Defined Shapes

On dry paper, your brush strokes stay sharp, giving clouds well-defined outlines. This is perfect for adding fine details and structure to your composition.

Pro Tip:

The brush shape you choose can completely change your results. Using a dagger brush lets you create both wide strokes and fine details, making it perfect for painting skies, landscapes, and even intricate cloud forms.

By experimenting with these three approaches, you can control the mood and depth of your watercolor skies—whether you want soft, airy clouds or bold, dramatic formations.

If you want to become an expert in painting clouds with watercolor, check out Katarzyna’s course on Domestika for step-by-step guidance and creative inspiration.