This is another plein air painting from the end of the dock at Lake Weir.  (You can tell I like it at the end of the dock, can't you?) One of the things I set out to do this year was paint more clouds. You really need to be able to use clouds for compositional elements in Florida. But clouds are really tough to paint "en plein air".  Why?  Because painting clouds outdoors is like going to a preschool at recess and trying to do paintings of the preschoolers on the playground.   They just don't hold still.  For this one, I studied the cloud for about 2 minutes. I started with the part that was most dramatic and would likely change first. That was the sun peaking over the top of the cloud. Once I got the value of the cloud I put a spot in the water that corresponded to the correct value for the water at that time and then finished with the things that would not change as quickly. Bottom line you have to paint fast and you will have to paint most of it from memory. You can't chase the cloud from one formation to another.   So when you get that moment that makes you want to paint the scene, take some time and study what is happening with the idea of the elements that will make up your composition. Look intently at the relative values of those elements with the idea that they will not be the same in a short time.  Two minutes doesn't sound like a lot of time, but right now walk outside and look at a cloud for two minutes. You will be surprised at how much it changes.

Thanks for looking.