For this exercise I was asked to concentrate on drawing clouds in the same way as I concentrated on trees. I was asked to create comprehensive tonal studies using a selection of different mediums. 

I started off using my pencil on a relatively sunny and still day with only a few clouds in the sky. 

I found this difficult as I didn’t anticipate how rapidly the cloud formations would actually move and change. Thus my plan to focus on exact positioning and tonal qualities was quashed. Instead I had to work quickly. I tried to build up tone in the darker areas and I used my rubber to make the lighter areas lighter. I also tried to show movement in my marks. I do though feel my drawings are a bit flat and Completing these drawings certainly made me appreciate the work of both Vija Celmins ‘Sky’ 

And Lorraine’s landscape paintings that involve sky and clouds. 

Both of which manage to show the light soft form that clouds embody. 

I decided to use oil pastels next. This is not a medium I am comfortable with, however my oil pastels are also soluble and can be worked over the top with water and a paintbrush so I thought I would give them a try. 
This time there were a few more clouds in the sky and the wind was blowing quicker so I had even less time to complete my drawing, every time I seemed to look up the formations changed. I tried to this time detect colour from the tone of the clouds.

I am again not especially happy with my drawings, I found oil pastels difficult to work with, there only saving grace being they are water soluble. My drawings again look flat, this is clearly something I need to work on as I must not be adding the right tones in the right places? 
My more successful drawings I think are where my use of colour is more subtle and where only a bit of colour is shown. 

My next drawings were in charcoal, this time the sky was low and the clouds were heavy, their formations were moving and changing but not as rapidly as before. I enjoyed working in charcoal more than my previous mediums, perhaps this is because I felt more confident in building up deeper tones? I tried to give volume to my clouds by using circular movements with my putty rubber and I tried to look at the way the light hit the top of the clouds and filtered through the gaps. 

Even though I am not especially pleased with all of my results I found it a great exercise in observation, the moving formations really made me concentrate in a way I am not used to. If I took my eyes off the clouds even for a second everything had changed.