Are you...?

  • Not sure what colors to use in skies?

  • Would you like to learn how to paint big, atmospheric skies?

  • Do you struggle to paint believable clouds?

  • Are your skies always too dark? Too light?

  • Do you know how to create atmospheric perspective?

What you'll learn in this course

  • Gradation

    You'll learn about horizontal and vertical gradations of value and color in skies.

  • Perspective

    You'll learn how to use atmospheric and linear perspective in painting skies

  • Clouds

    You'll learn about different types of clouds, where they occur, and how to paint them.

Course curriculum

    1. The Vault of the Sky – Value

    2. The Vault of the Sky – Color

    3. Gradations – Maynard Dixon

    4. Gradations – Various Artists

    5. Gradations at Transitional Times of Day

    6. More Sky Examples

    7. Gradations Demo

    8. Sunrise Sky Gradation Demo

    9. Gradations Warm and Cool Demo

    1. Understanding Colors and Values in the Sky Part 1

    2. Understanding Colors and Values in the Sky Part 2

    1. Color Mixing for Skies

      FREE PREVIEW
    2. When to Paint the Sky

    3. Books for Painting the Sky

    4. Gradations and Clouds

    5. Atmospheric Perspective and Clouds

    6. Cumulus Clouds

    7. Drawing Clouds

    8. Seago Skies

    9. Cloud Examples

    10. Painting Clouds

    11. Another Cloud Painting Demo

    1. Painting Clouds Part 1

    2. Painting Clouds Part 2

    1. Painting Tips for Clouds

    2. Painting the Sun

    3. Value and Temperature Change in Clouds

    4. Some Skies and Their Palettes

    5. Indirect Painting Techniques for Painting Skies

    6. Indirect Painting Example

    7. Another Indirect Painting Example

    8. Sanford Gifford

    9. More Hurley Skies

    10. Cloud Study – Deborah Paris

    11. A Little Cloud Example

    12. Glow Demo

    13. Sky Indirect Painting Demo

About this course

  • $195.00
  • 48 lessons
  • 9 videos

Instructor

Deborah Paris

Deborah Paris is an American landscape painter, author, and teacher. She is the founder of The Landscape Atelier, her teaching studio, and the author of Painting the Woods: Nature, Memory and Metaphor (Texas A&M University Press 2020). Based on a foundation of intense and close observation, drawing, memory, and imagination, her work explores an intuitive connection to and her experience of nature.

Deborah’s work is represented by galleries throughout the US. She has been featured in Art of the West, American Painting Video Magazine, American Artist, Southwest Art, The Pastel Journal and Professional Artist Magazine. Her work has been shown at the Laguna Art Museum, the Albuquerque Museum of Art, the Panhandle-Plains Museum, the Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, The National Wildlife Museum, and the Gilcrease Museum.

When she isn’t painting or teaching, Deborah is an avid walker, birder, naturalist, reader, and writer. She lives and works in northeast Texas.

Visit Deborah at her website – https://www.deborahparis.com

For more about Deborah’s teaching philosophy and online learning, you can listen to this podcast.

What Students Are Saying

“When covid hit, I decided to take on-line classes and workshops to elevate my painting skills. I wanted to take a deep dive to fill in the skills I was missing. I have signed up for every class Deborah offers. I am thrilled with what I am learning and how it is advancing my painting skills.”

Susan Powers

“My landscape art has improved so much because of the Landscape Atelier with Deborah Paris. Her classes simplify the complex nature of landscape art. Deborah’s classes helped me breakdown the landscape so I could focus and improve on one part at a time. Deborah’s classes will help you find your visual voice in landscape art.”

Kathy Wood

“After finishing a year of classes at the Landscape Atelier, I can honestly say that Deborah is not only a top-notch artist but also a gifted teacher. She brings her experience as an artist to teaching with a generosity of spirit that make her classes both instructive and fun. The interactive online setting with not just Deborah but also the fellow artists who participate in her classes adds to the overall experience.”

Susanne Jantsch

“Deborah is a world-class teacher. She is thorough, thoughtful, kind, and very skilled. This atelier is the place where week by week you build on your skills and understanding with lesson plans, exercises, video demonstrations and zoom meetings. You have a sense of community with the other students and her platform allows you to see other people’s work for her appraisal and for yours. She replies quickly, kindly, thoroughly.”

Maggie Parkinson

“The Landscape Atelier offers a comprehensive set of courses for developing skills as a landscape artist. Deborah Paris is an excellent instructor who has put together a package of course materials that provides guidance and inspiration. I am on my seventh course, and the way the lessons from each course connect and build on each other has been very powerful in underscoring key concepts.”

Susan J.

“Deborah Paris’ deep appreciation for the fundamentals of her craft, her intimate approach to the natural world, and her enthusiasm for teaching the traditions of landscape painting is what makes the Landscape Atelier such a special place. It is a profound place for artistic development.”

Rob Wellings

FAQ

  • When can I enroll?

    You may enroll in an On Demand course at any time.

  • Do I retain access to my course?

    Yes, you will retain access to the course materials and videos after the course ends for as long as the site is up.

  • Will I get instructor feedback on my work?

    No. On Demand classes contain all of the same written and video content as the Full Access classes, but there is no course community or instructor feedback.

  • Can I cancel a course registration?

    Please see our cancellation policy on the “About Our Courses” page.

  • Are the courses just for oil painters?

    The courses on drawing, values, and composition would be appropriate for an artist working in any medium. Other classes involve techniques in oil painting, and all demonstrations are in oil.

  • Are the courses appropriate for beginners?

    The courses in drawing, color mixing, composition, and values would be appropriate for beginners. The other courses require some basic understanding of oil paint and how to apply it. They would be best for those with at least a year or two of experience working in oil. Our Creative Development courses are best for artists with at least two years of experience working in oil.

  • What materials will I need?

    The materials list for each class is available as a free lesson. Click on “Free Preview” above to access that lesson.

Learn to Paint Big, Atmospheric Skies! Join us!