Easy Guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour, The

The ultimate, accessible, no-nonsense guide to painting watercolor skies

There are some areas of watercolor painting that beginners often have trouble with, and one of these is skies. In Stephen’s characteristic style, he approaches the subject in a no-fuss, technique-led way that aims to demystify sky painting so that you, the novice watercolorist will be able to approach it with confidence.
 
Beginning with advice on key tools and materials, how to prepare your palette and achieve the right consistency of paint, Stephen takes you through seven common skies, ordered by difficulty: from simple plain blue skies and white cloudy skies to sunsets and storms. Every sky includes invaluable guidance on how to plan your sky, dozens of handy tips and clear step-by-step instructions and numerous examples. 
 
This is an essential book for watercolur artists starting out, as well as the more experienced looking to hone their landscape painting skills.
 

Stephen Coates was born in Sheffield in 1960. 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.
Largely self-taught, Stephen specialized in watercolors over twenty years, developed his own style and unique brand of teaching in his spare time. 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 a purpose designed teaching facility. He runs courses, workshops and hosts his own amateur art groups. He also demonstrates his skills and shares his expertise at art societies and a variety of art shows all over England.