Do you feel stuck or unsure how to begin with watercolor? I recommend you try painting skies with watercolor. Why? It’s the easiest way to start learning.
I have made a list of 26 simple sky painting ideas. They are fun, creative, and beginner-friendly.
Need something to help you get started fast and feel confident with your brush? Check out the projects below!
26 Simple Watercolor Paintings of Sky Ideas
Below are 26 simple sky paintings with watercolor that you can start to boost your confidence and creativity:
Airplane
I really enjoy painting blue skies, and this idea is among my favorite projects. An airplane flying across a bright blue sky always makes me feel calm and free.
How to show the sky and clouds? My tip is to try soft blues and whites. It is very simple, but it looks amazing.
If you want to practice smooth brush strokes or color blending, this idea is always a great way to try, especially for beginners.
City Skyline
Want to explore your creativity? I suggest painting city skylines at night. The tall buildings, glowing buildings, and the reflections on the water. All of these things make me feel magical.
To start, I use black or deep blues for the background. Then, I apply white and yellow to light up the buildings. Sometimes, I add a little sparkle to the water, which makes everything shine.
Are you just starting out? Use simple rectangles for buildings. Don’t focus on the details, just have fun. Keep practicing, and you can create beautiful city skylines!
Cloudy Night
I always feel calm when painting a cloudy night sky. The clouds are fluffy, and the moonlight is soft. These things make me feel quiet and peaceful.
I also prefer to paint the clouds in light grays and use deep blues when painting the sky.
How to make the clouds look soft? From my experience, I blend a bit of white into the edges. Then, I add the moon with a gentle glow around it.
How about the stars? I often flick white paint with my brush. This painting idea is helpful if you want to practice light, shadow, and texture. It is simple but full of magic.
Dreamy
Painting dreamy skies with pastel clouds makes me feel happy and calm. I often blend three basic colors: light pinks, purples, and blues. They look pretty when they blend.
Need some tips to let the colors flow smoothly? I use lots of water to blend colors. Then, I try to make the clouds gentle with smooth brush strokes. The trick here is to keep them fluffy and light, like cotton candy.
This watercolor sky idea is simple for beginners, but it looks magical. Whenever I paint dreamy skies, I feel peaceful and relaxed!
Dusk
For me, the sky at dusk is so beautiful. The soft glow of golden light makes everything feel warm and peaceful. I love trying to capture that moment with watercolor.
I start with gentle yellow near the horizon. Then, I add soft oranges and a bit of soft red going upward. This way, I can create a smooth and glowing sky.
If you want to keep the colors flowing softly, consider using light brush strokes. I slow down and enjoy each step when trying this kind of sky painting.
Fall
Who doesn’t love fall skies, right? The colors are warm and cozy. When the sun sets, the sky glows with soft orange and sometimes golden tones.
For this painting idea, I start with a light wash of yellow and blend in orange. Then, I paint the fall trees red and brown. Their leaves look like they are glowing in the sunset.
To keep the sky soft and dreamy, I use smooth brush strokes. Do you need something to bring out your creativity? Try painting this scene. It is also a simple way to describe the beauty of autumn.
We can capture these colors easily, even as beginners. Using gentle brush strokes brings life to our painting. We can mix yellows and oranges to show the sunset’s warmth.
Golden
Whenever I want something relaxing and joyful, I often paint a golden sky. The warm colors feel bright and lively. This tone reminds me of sunlight stretching across the clouds.
For the sky, I like to combine light oranges and gentle yellows. I then use my brush to blend them to create a glowing sky gently. Seeing the colors come to life together is entertaining.
Are you just starting out with watercolor? Consider this sky idea. It can help you learn how color and light work. Don’t rush. Take time and let your creativity shine in your own way!
Lavender
Let’s move to a dreamy lavender sky. This tranquil scene brings happiness to my painting. The lavender sky creates a soothing feel that I really love.
How to paint the idea? I suggest using gentle strokes. Just mix white and purple. That way, I have dreamy pastels for this sky.
I find adding a touch of blue makes the sky prettier.
Orange Blue
Have you ever stared at the sky when it turns blue and orange at sunset? It’s magical and stunning. At this moment, the colors in nature blend beautifully together.
To start this idea, I mix orange with blue and apply the wet-on-wet technique to paint the horizon. I recommend working quickly during this stage, as the paint can dry before you can create smooth transitions.
I also build up soft layers for the sky. In this way, my painting comes alive with depth and warmth. I feel like each brushstroke makes my sunset sky more magical.
Grass
A sky filled with clouds is above green fields. This scene makes me feel joyful and peaceful. I like to paint the grass soft green. For the fluffy clouds, I mix white and blue.
Each brushstroke makes my sky painting alive. It’s another idea for beginner watercolor artists.
This project is simple, so give it a try and see how grass and sky watercolor painting can capture the peacefulness and beauty of nature!
Violet
I always feel quiet when admiring violet skies. When the dusk falls, the sky turns into dark violet tones. My painting captures this tranquil moment. I use gentle brushstrokes when blending colors together.
Sometimes, I paint a violet sky with twinkling stars. These details are tiny, but they can make my painting come to life.
Castle
A fairytale castle in the blue sky? Yes! It’s a unique sky idea you can try. The castle in my painting seems like it is floating over fluffy clouds. The twilight makes it more magical.
To start painting this idea, I mix purple and blue to paint the sky background. I always blend colors smoothly.
After that, I sketch my fairytale castle just with simple shapes for the towers. For the windows, I like to add golden light. This way, it glows beautifully and stands out against the sky.
Forest
A forest sky painting will surely make you feel peaceful. To add magic to my piece, I paint some sparkling stars with little white dots.
If you want to describe the night, I recommend using soft blacks and dark blues. This artwork reminds me of tranquil moments under the forest sky full of stars.
To add depth to the tall trees, I smooth out soft clouds by blending colors. Join me and try this watercolor idea!
Moon
The moon in the night sky is a timeless painting idea in watercolor. Let’s start painting this scene together!
For the background, I use deep blue and black and blend them out. I paint the moon golden, warm yellow. I also add a bit of white to make it stand out against the night.
To make my artwork more magical, I add stars with little dots around the full moon. This idea lets me explore various watercolor techniques. It also captures the beauty of a night sky with a full moon and stars.
Trees
One of my favorite scenes is the sky in the fall. To start, I use orange, red, and gold for the leaves of trees under soft clouds.
I combine blue and white to paint the sky. I can make drifting clouds that way. The colors blending together surprise me.
Are you new to watercolor? My advice is to start with simple shapes. Just apply easy techniques for the sky and trees.
Want to create fluffy clouds? You should always use soft and gentle brushstrokes.
Bookmark
For this sky bookmark, I use dark blue and black for the night background. Blend colors using soft brushes and add depth to my painting.
Next, I add the stars to make the night scene alive. If you need a project to learn how to blend colors, you can practice with this idea.
Colorful
Sunset colors are always magical to me! To paint this vibrant sky scene, I use oranges, yellows, and reds in my brush.
When I complete this piece, I let my imagination run wild. Just with simple techniques, I can achieve dreamy results quickly. This idea helps me express my feelings and embrace creativity!
Morning
I also love painting the sky in the morning – it’s peaceful! To achieve soft pastels, I mix light orange, yellow, and gentle pink. They blend well and create a soft glow in my morning sky.
This piece is simple and easy. I complete it with a few brushstrokes. It’s also a great idea to help me practice blending watercolor smoothly.
Purple
The colors of the sky change when the sun sets. I love painting a purple sky with twinkling stars. Then, I use gentle brushstrokes while blending purple. As a result, I can achieve a vibrant feel.
I mix shades of lavender and violet for a dreamy sky, creating magic in my artwork. It’s my way to explore simple techniques in watercolor and capture the tranquil moment of nightfall.
Rain
Need a project to practice light washes or blending techniques? Consider painting the sky with rain.
Firstly, wet the paper lightly. Next, drop in blue. When I first painted this piece, I imagined raindrops slowly falling from the sky. Want more texture and depth? Add darker spots like my painting.
Rainbow
Do you love rainbows like me? Let’s join me and paint this scene. Start painting the sky by applying a light blue wash. Next, add more layers with bold shades to create the rainbow.
I also add white clouds to bring warmth and depth to my artwork. The colors flow together, so I can easily practice blending watercolor techniques with this idea.
Sunrise
I love capturing the sky’s sunrise in my watercolor paintings. Whenever I watch this moment, I get more inspiration for my art. The scene feels more magical with the light and warmth of the sun.
I mix pink and soft gold for the background. It’s fantastic to see the clouds glow when the sunlight touches them.
Whale
This brings me back to the storybook. The whale moves slowly through the starry sky. I use blues and purples deep to put myself into the mood.
I love to blow the background just slightly and have the colours just overlap and overlap one another. White tiny star dusting spots with magic.
Geometric shapes and lines assist me in sketching the whale, and soft brush strokes imply clouds or an extraterrestrial planet. It’s a fantasy rendering of space and color. The scene, for me, is otherworldly, always ends up leaving me feeling revitalized.
Stars
Let’s move to a starry night sky! I paint sparkling stars against the dark sky. The midnight sky creates a chance for me to practice shadow and light.
I paint stars with tiny bursts and dots with simple watercolor techniques. I mix yellows and whites to make stars shine in my painting.
Sun
The sun shines warm and gentle, peeking through the clouds. The soft orange and yellow hues help me capture their warm glow. I layer the hues very slowly to create the shimmering effect of the sky.
Frosty white clouds that surround the lightning create volume to the artwork. Every layer conjures up a pinch of magic in the painting work. This small thought always releases and cheers my brush.
Skyline
City skylines always impress me. I draw the sky in warm washes and the large buildings in solid forms. The skyline holds its own against a sun going down or a perfectly blue sky.
Blues and grays, and touches of gold, I find attractive on buildings.
Its own shape and type come to each new page of drawing. Little windows or rooftops would bring it to life as a scene.
This technique is easy and entertaining. I’m able to work from contrast and tap into my own imagination.
Conclusion
I have suggested 26 easy watercolor sky painting ideas to inspire you to grab your painting canvas.
Each one provides its own magic, from stunning sunsets to mystical night skies. These are pictures that are fun to attempt and chock-full of inspiration.
Pick one that inspires you and then go and create. Have your brush follow the sky, and enjoy the painting moment!