Looking good

Rick

Your clouds look great to me.  Also like the way you have tapered into the lighter horizon colors.  Can't wait to see more.

360 degree blue

The blue ceiling really gives a big sky feel. Always a sunny day in the alcove!

Clouds

"At present it looks like too much clouds / too overpowering."

I don't think so, but part of what you're seeing could be that there's a lot of regularity up in that sky, and there are many clouds the same size, with almost no overlapping between the larger clouds.  That could be making you perceive an artificial pattern at work, and thus "telling" you something's off.

Overall, nice ... plus some insight

Rick:

Basically, looks nice.

However ... let me take this opportunity to point out clouds are objects too, and they get smaller as they approach the horizon just like any other object. That means clouds higher in the sky will be larger and more disinct as separate objects, while clouds lower in the sky toward the horizon will be smaller and more clumped together.

Overhead clouds also tend to be viewed more from underneath, while distant clouds tend to be viewed more from the side.

The photo below illustrates these points. Like always, it really helps to reference photos when modeling scenic elements rather than just relying on your imagination. Thanks to todays internet, a few minutes of googling will get you lots of photo references for general scenic elements like this.

Thanks, Jim!

Jim,

Thank you for your kind words.  It's times like this I wish that I was an actual artist.

Rick

Good call, Rob!

Rob,

You have a good eye and I appreciate the advice.  Joe's picture that he posted shows that overlap, along with the size difference.

Rick

Thanks, Joe!

Joe,

Thanks for your insight on the clouds.  My artist friend did point out the 'bigger clouds close up" but I just didn't quite pull it off.  I think that's because I'm a little frightened of "too big"  The good news is that I have lots of blue backdrop paint just in case things get out of hand.

Rick

Cloud perspective

It's true that clouds do exhibit perspective effects as they become more distant, at least on days when there are discrete clouds floating around.

The problem with modeling, I mean painting, clouds like that on a backdrop is unless you are standing in the right place the perspective looks off. Generally the more sideways you're looking at a backdrop with clouds the screwier they will seem.

This is why I prefer more amorphous clouds with a degree of haziness over clouds with distinct edges, there's not as much to casue your eyes to tell your brains "there's sumpthin wrong here'bouts".

Rick, I really like your haze effect down by the horizon!

Charlie

Cloud prespective

Charlie,

Thanks for you input - you have a good point on perspective.  When I first started my layout room I debated on having no clouds because of just what you describe.  I did decide to add clouds and it is true that where you are standing has a great deal to do with how the clouds look.

I'm glad that you like the haze on the horizon.  I tried a number of colors & effects before deciding to use my current process.  I first paint the area closest to the horizon a lighter color blue as I found that using white was harder to control.  I mix in some clear medium with the light blue to make it somewhat translucent. I start each airbrush stroke at the horizon and then work my way upward away from the horizon.  With this process I end up with more of the light blue at the horizon and a gradient going upward.  After the light blue paint has dried I go back with a light gray (mixed with the clear medium) and "dust" here and there along the horizon being careful not to put too much gray - which is very easy to do.

Rick 

Great clouds

I think they look great. Aren't clouds are like snowflakes, all individual? How can they not be. They are puffs of vapor, big ones maybe, but not made in a mold.

Clouds and backdrop

Rick:

In my humble opinion, it is spectacular!  I can't wait for you to post the progress photos.  You said something very interesting that might provide an opportunity:  you like the relief effect of having the scenery stop an inch or so from touching the backdrop.  Have you considered concealing recessed lights in that gap, pointing up at the backdrop?  Red and yellow lights on a dimmer could simulate a sunrise or sunset with the room lights down, and sporadic white flashes could imply "heat lightning" over the horizon from your scene.  Couple that with an audio recording of thunder rumbling, and you might expect the rain to start any minute!  As long as you plan to leave the gap, it might be easy to add lighting effects, too.

And a big thanks to Joe for the guidance on cloud perspective!  I only tried to paint my own sky backdrops once, and the effect was only okay.  I modeled a northwest timber town, and I cheated by making the sky rainy (a common view in northwest timberlands).  The clouds were all gray, with lighter billows on top and dark plateaus underneath.  I put a bit of white paint on the bottom of the clouds and then streaked it away at an angle with a sponge to imply rain.  The clouds faded into uniform gray at the horizon.  Rick, your "sunny day" clouds look like a much greater challenge, but you did a great job, and I agree that painting the ceiling blue adds a great "big sky" effect.

Keep the photos coming!

Roger

Thanks, Bob!

Bob,

I'm glad that you like the clouds - thank you.  I guess that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Rick

Thanks, Rodger!

Roger,

Thank you for your kind words.  As a matter of fact I have already given through to adding lights to the area between the backdrop and the scenery using rope lights on a dimmer.  It's on my "list of things to do" - I think it's number 14,104!

Rick

Clouds have to go, huh?

"Well, my artist came over tonight for "next steps" and when she saw the clouds she said "they have to go!""

Ouch is right - but I'd say this is a good indication that your artist cares about doing a quality job.  Now of course that sets her up for the next step - that her product will need to be a demonstrable improvement over what you had.  Sounds like she's confident it will be.  Make sure you provided honest feedback the other way!

Well said, Rob!

Rob,

After I got over my hurt feelings (and talked to my wife) I realized just what you said makes great sense and understand that this is for the good.  The artist brought a few of her paintings with her and I must say they look very good to me, so the finished product should be very nice.

This is a real learning experience for me working with this artist as the artistic mind works differently than I'm used to so I'm doing some growing along with the process.

Rick

Different Think

Yes, artists think differently, which is why they are artists.

As long as you like the end result, that's all that really matters. I have found that most of us have at least a little artistic talent, and that art really is in the eye of the beholder. I can throw paint onto a canvas, and there are some people who will call it art.

I have also found that a painting that I called "Despair" is looked at as a happy painting by others. I don't get it, but it's not important that I do.

Clouds are ethereal things, and no one can tell you that they "don't look like that". As soon as those words are uttered, a perfect real world example will jump out at you.

Absolutely Ken!

< < <

One time while out running errands, I saw a cloud formation that was in the perfect shape of an Imperial Star Destroyer.  Wish I had a camera on me so I could have taken a picture of it!

Ken L