Things You'll Need:
- Sketch pencil
- Canvas
- Oil paints
- Paint brushes
- Paint thinner
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Step 1
Sketch the elements of your painting. It isn't necessary, but doing a rough sketch can be helpful as a guide.
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Step 2
Layer black paint on either side side of your canvas. Apply it with long, broken strokes from the bottom edge of your canvas to about halfway up the side of the canvas. Then, clean your brush and work in a little white paint, blending it into the black to lighten the color. Use the tip of your brush to apply a few dark lines of black on top of the white to create jagged edges in the face of the cliff for definition.
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Step 3
Paint the water area. Start with blue and cover the canvas. Begin at the base of your cliff and work outward. Use sharp, curved strokes to bring out the waves.
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Step 4
Clean your brush and work in a lighter shade of blue. Add some dark green paint to deepen the color effect, then apply white paint to give it a washed look. Add touches of the white paint to the tips of the waves for a foam effect.
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Step 5
Use brown paint to color your lighthouse, then blend in some gray to lighten it and bring out the texture of the structure. You could even add small strokes of black paint to give your lighthouse a more worn appearance.
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Step 6
Paint your sky using blue or black paint, depending upon the time of day. Blue with washes of white work for day. The black, lightened with washes of white, will create a stormy night effect.
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Step 7
Add a ship in the distance. A few strokes of brown in a general half moon shape will form the body. Add a faint white square to represent the sails.
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Step 8
Step back from your painting to determine any additions. You can do last minute touch ups now. You may want to strengthen or lighten some of the paint.
