How to draw a cloud - a free cloud drawing guide

I don't have a tissue or a black marker—what can I use instead for smudging and tracing?

If you don’t have a tissue, use a cotton ball, your fingertip, or a folded paper towel to softly smudge the shaded areas in the step that says 'Use a tissue to softly smudge the shaded areas,' and if you lack a black marker, trace the final cloud outlines with a dark pencil or a fine-tip pen as in 'Trace the final cloud outlines with a black marker.'

My cloud looks messy after erasing the construction lines and smudging—how can I fix it?

If erasing and smudging make the cloud messy, go back with light, short pencil strokes to redefine the fluffy outline (steps 'Connect the tops...' and 'Erase the inside construction lines'), gently re-smudge where needed, then carefully lift highlights from the top of each cloud with your eraser (step 'Use your eraser to lift tiny bits of graphite').

How can I change the activity for younger kids or make it more challenging for older kids?

For younger children, simplify by skipping the overlapping ovals and letting them draw or glue one big cotton-ball cloud after placing the horizon (steps 'Draw a light horizontal line' and 'Sketch three overlapping ovals'), while older kids can add detailed shading gradients (steps 'Shade gently...' and 'Use a tissue to softly smudge'), use a blending stump, and practice proportion by drawing many distant clouds (step 'Draw a few smaller cloud shapes farther away').

What are some creative ways to extend or personalize this cloud drawing activity?

Personalize it by turning the sky into a sunrise or sunset with layered color when you 'Lightly colour the sky with blue' (use pinks and oranges too), add stormy shading or rain under a cloud, or make a series of labeled cloud types to photograph and share on DIY.org (step 'Share your finished cloud drawing on DIY.org').