New York Academy of Art

Skyscapes are an ever-changing and magical part of our landscapes. From mysterious, gentle fog to blue skies and puffy clouds, to the power of an oncoming storm, or the breathtaking beauty of an evening sunset – an ordinary scene can transform from one hour to the next. The choices an artist makes about the sky can influence the mood of a painting. While the sky is beautiful, it presents many challenges with its variety of color, textures, and light effects. In this workshop, we will discuss the basic science that influences our skyscapes: how our sunlight and atmosphere interact, why the sky is blue, and how the blues change in different conditions. We will briefly review cloud types and atmospheric layers as they relate to color mixing and strategies for painting skies. Finally, we will explore the reflected sky as it appears on open water, and how to make paintings with large reflection. The workshop will consist of lectures, discussion, small studies from provided references, and one larger skyscape painting from a reference of your choice. Workshop is open to beginner and advanced painters working in any full-color media that can layer, such as oils and acrylics or any combination of watercolors, gouache, and pastels. All demonstrations will be done in oil paints. This workshop is part one in a four-part series. Students can register for one, multiple, or all parts. Please email [email protected] for registration questions.