How to Paint a Blended Sky

How to Paint a Blended Sky

How to Paint a Blended Sky

Painting a smooth, blended sky in acrylic or tempera paint is all about preparation, confidence, and working quickly before the paint dries. Here’s a straightforward way to create a clean gradation from deep blue at the top to a soft, light horizon at the bottom.

Choose and Prepare Your Colours

For a classic sky, mix three blues:

A deep or ultramarine blue for the top

A mid-tone blue

A very pale sky blue, almost white, for the bottom

You can start with one base blue and simply mix in different amounts of white to create three separate tones.

A large canvas with a blended sky

Paint your three wide strips.

Let’s Get Started

1. Lightly dampen your brush.

Not dripping wet, just enough moisture to help your strokes glide.

2. Use wide, confident strokes.

Make long side-to-side strokes that travel all the way across the canvas. Avoid stopping in the middle.

3. Paint your three wide strips.

Start with the darkest blue at the top, then move to the mid-tone, then the lightest blue.

You don’t need to clean your brush between colours.

4. Blend the edges.

Working quickly, brush where one strip meets the next. This softens the transition and creates the smooth sky effect.

5. Add your horizon glow.

Mix a touch more white into your lightest blue. Dampen your brush again (then blot it so it’s only slightly wet).

Brush a soft band of pale colour along the bottom of the sky without overworking it—too much blending will pull the darker blues downwards.

Extra Tips

• Long, continuous strokes give the smoothest result.

• Lightly dampening the canvas beforehand can slow the drying time, giving you extra blending time.

• Before the paint sets, you can gently run an almost-dry brush over the joins to smooth them.

• Don’t over-brush—stop once the gradation looks even.

  
  

Share and Enjoy

Tony