Course work: The schedule called for drawing clouds today, but not a one did we have (in springtime here we typically have few clouds unless stormy weather appears). Unless some appear tomorrow, I will start drawing from my collection of over 300 sky photographs (clouds are a long-term interest of mine).
Research point: Clouds
Clouds can be roughly classified as stratus (sheetlike clouds, often associated with rain), cumulus (typically fair-weather clouds, commonest in warmer weather) and cirrus (high, feathery clouds most common in winter, or heralding the arrival of a strong weather system. Stratus clouds can be subdivided into fog, nimbostratus (usually seen with long rainy periods) and altostratus (sheetlike clouds at high altitudes, frequently foretelling rain). Cumulus clouds also include the ominous cumulonimbus thunderheads, the altocumulus clouds reminiscent of a flock of sheep, and the cirrocumulus clouds of mackerel skies. One could add the dramatic-looking but seldom-seen lenticular and mammatus cloud forms, but these are so infrequent that including them in a painting would not appear “natural” to most observers. This listing, while incomplete, should be sufficient for most purposes. A knowledge of cloud forms and the conditions in which they occur is useful to the artist (one wouldn’t ordinarily paint cumulonimbus clouds with a snowscape or altocumulus over a rough sea), and becoming familiar with the significance of cloud forms and wind directions in one’s own area has the practical value of reducing the risk of being caught in a downpour far from home with a heavy easel.
Reading:
Rose-Marie & Ranier Hagen What Great Paintings Say (Vol. 1)
Taschen, Köln, 2005
Pp 284-307
Personal sketchbook work: My reliable old friend, a towel on a hook (this at least is one thing I’m drawing better…perhaps I should do a series.)
Total time: 53 minutes
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