Painting clouds en plein air

Studio & Process
February 21, 2026•1 min read

I don’t always get to paint en plein air when I travel… but when I’m on a cruise ship surrounded by nothing but ocean, I bring a bit of Texas with me. And that typically involves clouds. 😊

This small cloudscape was started onboard and finished later in my studio. You know, there’s just something peaceful about painting clouds — even when you’re floating in the middle of the ocean with nothing but blue water all around you.

Hope you enjoy watching this one come together.

And if painting clouds is something you’d really like to get better at, my online course, Painting Dramatic Clouds 2.0, is open for enrollment for a limited time.

Check it out here: https://laynejohnsonstudio.com/clouds

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Hey there—I’m Layne Johnson. I’m a professional landscape painter and art instructor. I teach artists how to paint realistic landscapes using clear fundamentals, classical techniques, and a focused, step-by-step approach. You’ll find free tutorials, demos, and practical painting advice throughout the blog.

Layne Johnson

Hey there—I’m Layne Johnson. I’m a professional landscape painter and art instructor. I teach artists how to paint realistic landscapes using clear fundamentals, classical techniques, and a focused, step-by-step approach. You’ll find free tutorials, demos, and practical painting advice throughout the blog.

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