How to Paint a Seascape

A trip to the shore may give you an urge to paint a seascape. Here's a simplified method to paint a seascape with water colors and mixed media.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavyweight watercolor paper or illustration board
• Water colors and brushes
• Pastels
• White acrylic or lacquer (correction fluid)
• Drafting tape or masking tape
• Pencil
• Spray fixative

1. Tape your watercolor paper securely to an easel board to keep it flat. Now divide your paper into sky and water sections with a straight horizon line. You can use drafting tape or light masking tape to make the line, if you think your hand isn't steady enough.

2. Outline a foreground area at the bottom of the paper with a pencil or light pastel. Brush some water over the lower half of the paper to lightly moisten it, avoiding the foreground area.

3. Begin painting the water starting at the horizon line. Use a mixture of blues and greens, and dilute to lighten the colors as you paint downward toward the foreground. Let this section dry thoroughly before removing the tape or proceeding to paint the sky section.

4. Remove the horizon tape, if you used it, and lightly moisten the sky section of your painting. Begin painting sky with a pale blue mixture at the horizon line. Add blue pigment to your brush as you paint upward from the horizon.

5. Paint in foreground area with pale to grayish earth hues. Allow entire painting to dry before adding details.

6. Add clouds to the sky backgound using white and gray pastels. Add foam lines to water with white acrylic or lacquer and a fine brush (type correction fluid with a brush works fine). Add vegetation or other details to foreground with watercolors or acrylics.

7. Spray your painting with a matte fixative to protect pastels, making sure everything is dry. Your seascape is now ready to frame.