In this class I will guide you through painting a hot air balloon scene in watercolour, focusing on spacious skies, gentle colour gradients and a calm sense of height and lift. Although the finished piece looks bold, the process is very adaptable for beginners and easy to customise to your own comfort level.

We’ll lean on big, stress free sky washes, soft transitions from warm to cool, and simple balloon shapes to create a peaceful, atmospheric scene. You can choose to paint one elegant balloon, a few drifting shapes for rhythm, or even keep the sky completely open, the design is flexible so you can decide how minimal or lively you want your painting to be.

We’ll also explore atmospheric perspective in the distant hills and warm cool harmony around the sunrise light, building layers that quietly step back and support the main shapes without stealing attention.

In this class you will learn:

How to paint large sky washes that feel relaxed and streak-free
How to create gentle colour gradients that move from warm to cool
How to design and place simple balloon silhouettes for balance and rhythm
How to use atmospheric perspective to suggest distant hills and depth
How to keep edges soft and airy, allowing the sky to breathe with plenty of clean white paper
How to build a composition that feels calm, clear and uplifting without lots of detail

The aim of this class is ease and clarity, not complexity. Whether you paint along exactly or adapt the scene to your own taste, you’ll come away with practical skills for any sky or landscape, and a peaceful hot-air balloon painting to show for it.

Thank you so much for your interest in this class!

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Try this class to explore your creativity...

I’ve been painting for many years now, taken part in many exhibitions around the world and won awards from well respected organisations. As well as having my work feature in art magazines. After having success selling my originals and 1000s of prints around the world, I decided to start traveling with my brushes and paintings. My style is modern and attempts to grasp the essence of what I’m painting whilst allowing freedom and expression to come through. I simplify complicated subjects into easier shapes that encourages playfulness.

You'll Learn:

What materials and equipment to need to painting along
Basic technique to complete your first painting
How to avoid common mistakes
Choosing the right colours for your painting
How to blend colours and create textures for different effects
Making corrections and improvements
Finishing touches that make a big difference

When enrolled, I’ll include my complete ‘Watercolour Mixing Charts’. These are a huge aid for beginners and experts alike. They show what every colour on the palette looks like when mixed with each other. Indispensable when it comes to choosing which colour to mix.

Don’t forget to follow me on Skillshare. Click the “follow” button and you’ll be the first to know as soon as I launch a new course or have a big announcement to share with my students.

Additional Resources:

Here are the art supplies I recommend
Follow me on Instagram
Check out my website

Music by Audionautix.com

Shona Marsh

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