The Easy Guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour (Paperback) - Stephen Coates

The ultimate, accessible, no-nonsense guide to painting watercolour skies.

There are some areas of watercolour painting that beginners often have trouble with, and one of these is skies.

A sky can make or break a landscape painting. In this invaluable guide, Stephen Coates leads you through some highly effective techniques that will demystify sky painting and turn a good watercolour landscape into a brilliant one.

Stephen takes a unique, no-fuss approach to watercolour, emphasizing the importance of planning, preparation and practise and explaining clearly which tools and materials you need, and how to prepare your palette before embarking on a painting. He then guides you through seven awe-inspiring skies, from blue summer skies to dramatic sunsets and storm clouds, introducing new skills and techniques as you progress through the book.

With numerous handy tips and many examples of Stephen's stunning landscapes throughout, this book will both instruct and inspire you to create beautiful, realistic skies with confidence.

About the Author

Stephen Coates was born in Sheffield in 1960. The son of a draughtsman, he was introduced to drawing at a very young age. He excelled in art at school but chose a career in retail, working first in the music industry for 16 years followed by another 16 years running his own catering business.

Over a period of 20 years, Stephen learned and specialized in watercolours in his spare time, and gradually developed his own style and unique brand of teaching. In 2011 he traded his sandwich business for a career in art and teaching. He became a full-time professional freelance artist, and set up his own studio in Sheffield with the purpose of teaching others watercolour painting. From here he runs courses, workshops and hosts his own amateur art groups. Stephen also demonstrates his skills and shares his expertise at art societies all over England, and exhibits at a variety of national art shows. Visit his website www.coatesart.co.uk.