How to Paint an Ocean Scene With Acrylics

The ocean is the perfect inspiration for your next acrylic painting.

The ocean, one of the natural beautiful wonders of our world, is the ideal subject for a painting, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist. Ocean scenes can vary greatly, depending on the artist and the paint used, and acrylic paint is one of the most versatile and easy artistic mediums to work in, especially if you are just starting to paint. According to How to Draw and Paint, an art website, acrylic paints come in a variety of textures and can be watered down to any consistency, which allows the artist to created a more dimensional piece of artwork. Whether you are painting sea waves crashing violently onto the shore or the gentle blue of a deep sea scene, acrylic paints can help you get the job done.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas
• Easel
• Acrylic paints
• Painting palette
• Paintbrushes (variety of sizes)

Instructions

1. Look through photographs, videos and other representations of the ocean to inspire your artistic side. Studying your subject matter will help define the direction of your painting, as a wide variety of ocean views are available for you to represent.

2. Sketch out a draft of your painting to scale to begin the painting process. This step is especially beneficial if you are a beginner painter, but can also help a seasoned artist. You can sketch directly onto the canvas or material you are painting, or complete the sketch on a separate sheet of paper.

3. Lay out all of your materials so you do not have to stop in the middle of painting. Acrylic paint is relatively inexpensive and can last for a long time if stored correctly, so invest in a variety of colors if you see yourself continuing to paint in the future. Consider having hand wipes or a washing station nearby in the event that your paint goes astray. Fill a jar or plastic tub with water to rinse your brushes between colors.

4. Paint the background of your ocean scene using broad strokes and a larger brush to more efficiently cover the space. Using a palette to hold your paints, blend together shades of blue to help give the painting movement and dimension. Adding whites and lighter colors will help create the sense of light and contrast for waves. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so you can add layers of color and texture by painting over your initial paint application.

5. Add details such as rocks, sand, waves, boats, seaweed and even sea creatures like fish, dolphins or whales with smaller brushes to give your painting more life. Incorporate different colors of acrylic paint and experiment with the density and texture of the paint. Consider using thicker viscous acrylic paint for something rough like rocks or waves and a thinner paint to depict the gently swaying of seaweed on the ocean floor.

6. Allow your painting to dry and step back to see the painting from a new vantage point. You can always revisit the painting and make additions or cover-ups if necessary.

7. Thoroughly wash your paintbrushes with warm water and soap (dish or hand soap will work). It is imperative that you wash the brushes as soon as you are finished, because the quick-drying acrylic paint can easily stick in the bristles and ruin your paintbrushes.

References

• How to Draw and Paint: Acrylic Painting Section