Make Your Skies Stand Out: Master Skies with Simple, Clear Steps

Struggle with Skies? Never feel that they really add much to your images. By learning how to make skies the most memorable feature in your artwork, you give yourself a huge advantage as an artist. Skies make people FEEL, they touch the human-ness in us, they tell stories, and get an emotive response. So I feel learning the lessons in this course is often the quickest way to enhance your skills and your future artworks.

Whether you're just setting out on your journey as a digital painter, already have experience creating imagery, or are a seasoned illustrator, this course has something for you. It's best suited to someone who has an understanding of how to use Photoshop or Procreate and is learning to paint digitally and wants to get a solid grip on the fundamentals.

I feel that learning how to add dramatic skies to your work is an incredibly valuable skill, and one that has been vital for me on my illustration journey. It’s helped me get work in children’s book publishing, animation, editorial illustration, advertising and book covers, and I believe it is an asset to anyone out there who wants to make artwork and have a professional practice.

In this class, you’ll learn how to illustrate a beautiful sunset sky. I’ll walk you through my process step by step, showing you how to paint clouds and light, add texture to your work, and choose the right brushes. You’ll learn which skies to use for different outcomes, and I’ll give you a load of resources that you can use to improve your skies. Including my Complete Photoshop Brush Pack which has all my hand-made brushes inside!

The lessons in this class are demonstrated in Adobe Photoshop, and it is primarily is suited to follow along in Photoshop for an intermediate user. I don't cover the basics of using Photoshop so i'd advise doing this course once you have a basic understanding of the program

You can follow along in Procreate on an iPad if you know the program well and are ok with interpreting what I'm doing in Photoshop to do similar in Procreate. I have supplied Procreate resources, brushes and working files, so you have everything you need.

Lots of the lessons here are about the theory and fundamentals and I think that stuff is relevant whichever program you use, but the demonstrations later in the course are in Photoshop.

This course is ALSO available on SKILLSHARE - If you'd prefer to get it there!

Key Lessons Include:

• Understanding the Theory,
• Atmospheric Perspective
• Collecting Reference 
• Values / Tones
• Which Sky to choose when
• Cloud Shapes
• Choosing the right Brushes
• Painting the scene as I do it
• Using Adjustment Layers
• Adding the finishing touches

In a rapidly changing world where AI is increasingly capable of tasks that once took artists years to master, focusing on the theory and concepts behind image-making is more important than ever. While technical skills can be learned quickly—and are constantly evolving—the foundational principles of how to craft compelling visuals are timeless. These are the lessons that truly elevate your work. I believe there will always be a need for those with a strong eye for art direction and an understanding of how to create successful, engaging artwork. By mastering these core concepts, you're investing in skills that stand the test of time, no matter how the tools change.

Course Project: 

We'll be creating an illustration together. I'll walk you through the process with simple easy steps! By the end you'll have a beautiful finished artwork, and the understanding to take your work to the next level.

I’ll be using Adobe Photoshop 2024. I use a Mac but PC or Mac works the same. I use a Wacom Cintiq, but any Wacom tablet you use will work fine. You can follow along on the iPad using Procreate too.

THIS IS THE IMAGE WE'LL BE MAKING

Course Resources: 

I’ll be providing a bunch of resources for this class. 

1. 2+ Hours of Footage, with lessons, follow along videos and footage of my process explained
2. A template to draw your Final Artwork into. (Photoshop and Procreate Compatible)
3. A template for drawing values and for sketching out cloud shapes and perspective
4. A breakdown of different skies and what they say in your illustrations.
5. Layered PSD file of my Final Artwork for this Class
6. Access to me for my feedback on your results!

PLUS!! YOU'll GET ALL THESE FREE WITH THE COURSE!

MY COMPLETE PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES + ADDED EXTRAS FOR THIS COURSE

MY PROCREATE BRUSHES

MY HIGH RESOLUTION TEXTURED SKY STARTERS

MY SKY REFERENCE PHOTO's. 60 of my Favourite Sky Reference Pictures That I've collected over the years

ACCESS to my Discord to Share your progress and get my feedback and input!

THIS COURSE is also available on SKILLSHARE. sign up with my referral link and you do the class there and get access to loads of other amazing courses!

Thanks so much for taking a look at the course and I hope to see your amazing results!

Thanks

Tom