NOTE 003 / SKY / 4 MIN READ
Clouds before the rain.
A sky diary, without the forecast.
Clouds make a useful drawing subject because they do not stay still for us. A page of quick marks can capture change better than one polished picture. This is an observation exercise, not a way to decide whether a route is safe or a storm is coming.
Choose a small part of the sky
Frame a section above a roof, tree, or distant ridge. The fixed landmark helps you compare the cloud shapes. Note whether the edges are sharp, soft, layered, or difficult to separate. Leave the paper blank where the sky is bright instead of filling every area with a mark.
Repeat the view
Draw the same frame three times over ten minutes. Use a few lines and shaded areas rather than working on a single drawing until the subject has changed. Add a time beside each sketch. The differences between the small pictures are the point of the exercise.
Keep the practical decision separate
Cloud appearance alone cannot provide a reliable local forecast. Check official weather information before an outing and choose shelter if conditions deteriorate. You can still keep a sky diary from a window; an ordinary view is enough to learn from.
TRY THIS ON YOUR NEXT PAGE
Make three thumbnail sketches of one patch of sky. Under each, write a word for the light rather than a name for the cloud.
