How can I successfully draw clouds with a graphite pencil?

Ask Arlene©

By Arlene Wright-Correll

A recent email question asks, “How can I successfully draw clouds with a graphite pencil?”

Well, I do not know whether you will be successful, but I take my paper and figure out where the sky will be and then I sketch a few lines of where I want the sky to be.  Then I take my graphite pencil and draw many lines outside the cloud line (where the sky is) filling in the sky and leaving the cloud with no lines.  I make these pretty dark and then I take my graphite pencil and give the cloud area some darkness where I want it.  In other words I increase the contrast. I use a clean white eraser to clean up the white parts of my cloud.  Remember clouds are forever changing and usually have few sharp edges.

May the Creative Force be with you as you tread the earth lightly!