Drawing the Sky - Choosing Tonal Values

An overcast sky can be a real problem when drawing. The sky is a dull off-white, there are no strong shadows and no bright highlights. Overcast skies create a problem for the rest of your landscape, as well as the sky itself! However, with an interesting subject, such as here with the dramatic lines of the Great Wall, you can focus on a linear composition and pay less attention to modeling. In this case, I would leave the sky completely clear, with no shading, and would probably 'crop' the drawing a little lower, so there was less blank space on the page. However, if it seems to need shading, then very patient shading with light touch and a sharp, hard pencil (3H or 4H) is required. Sometimes a tall foreground element, such as a tree, can be useful to add balance and interest to a blank sky.