The horizon line is the point where the ocean meets the skyline. It should be convex, meaning it curves outward, without being noticeable to the eye. Edges, in general, should not be hard in a seascape painting. Keep the edges of waves and sprays curved and soft. [1] X Research source When it comes to color, cool blues and violets work well under the foam of waves. [2] X Expert Source Jeanine Hattas WilsonProfessional Painter Expert Interview. 11 May 2021. Limit use of white, as it can make a painting feel busy. [3] X Research source Decide whether you want to focus more on the water or the sky. This will help you decide how high or low you want to make the horizon. [4] X Research source Consider using a reference photo. It can be hard to imagine the precise nuances of waves and reflections. You can find a photo of the ocean online. [5] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/5a/Paint-the-Sea-Step-1-Version-3. jpg/v4-460px-Paint-the-Sea-Step-1-Version-3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/5a/Paint-the-Sea-Step-1-Version-3. jpg/aid1237930-v4-728px-Paint-the-Sea-Step-1-Version-3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:259,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:410,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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You should decide what kind of substrate you want to use if you’re painting water that’s near the shore. The substrate is essentially whatever’s lining the bottom of the ocean. It could be rocks, gravel, coral, stones, and so on. [6] X Research source The lighting in your scene makes a big impact on color and reflection in your painting. Consider the time of day in the scene in your painting. Is it early afternoon? Evening? Where is the sun in the sky? Has it set yet? Light forms patterns in the water, called refraction, and less light results in less refraction while more light results in more refraction. [7] X Research source
Using the rule of thirds can help you position your painting on the page. Divide the canvas into three portions horizontally and then into three portions vertically. This can help you keep your proportions realistic while your sketch your painting. [9] X Research source Study your reference photo if you’re using one. Drawing is very much rooted in observation, so pay close to attention to the photo. If you’re not using a photo, study how water moves and works. If possible, plan a trip to the beach to see the ocean in real life. You can also browse pictures and videos of the ocean online. [10] X Research source Look for basic shapes. The world is comprised of shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and more. Knowing the underlying shapes behind a variety of scenes and objects can help you lay down the foundation for a drawing. [11] X Research source Practice. If you’re new to drawing, you may have to make a couple of different drawings before you find a drawing that works for your painting. [12] X Research source
Gather your paints together, focusing on the colors you’re most likely to use. For an ocean, that will likely be blues, purples, greens, and whites. Pick a color and, without diluting the paint in water at all, draw a small line of it on a sheet of paper. This is the strongest shade of this particular color. Then, add a small amount of water and draw another line. Continue this process until the color slowly fades into white. This will give you a sense of the full spectrum of that color and an idea of how much water you should add to get your desired shade. [14] X Research source Repeat this process will all the colors you’re going to use on your painting. [15] X Research source
Use a brush and gently paint the areas on your canvas that need to be lighter. [17] X Research source Running water tends to be lighter, as do the tips of waves and swells. The time of day also affects color. For example, water may be lighter earlier in the day. [18] X Research source Once you’re done painting, wait for the lighter areas to dry. While you’re waiting, you can use something called masking fluid to make the areas where you plan on adding foam to any waves in your painting. The masking agent will prevent other colors from leaking onto these portions. [19] X Research source
Keep shade in mind. What’s dark on dry land will be lighter in water and what’s light on dry land will be darker in water. [21] X Research source Colors are less saturated in water reflections. Even shades like white should be toned down slightly when drawn as a reflection in water. Also, obscure details. Really, only the basic smudges of images are needed in water reflections. [22] X Research source Not all water reflects objects equally. Moving water, such as a stormy scene, will be unlikely to convey reflection. Also, water ripples can also obscure reflection. When in doubt, look up a variety of photos of the types of water you’re painting to see how reflection is or is not present. [23] X Research source
Shallow water tends to ripple more, which can cause the reflection to break. You should use quick and light brush strokes when painting shallow water. [25] X Research source Deep water tends to move more slowly. Use broader brush strokes, and bigger brushes, and keep your movements slower when painting deeper water. [26] X Research source
Foam from waves is typically one of the last thing a painter adds. You might have to add small dots of bubbles and foams. To do this, use a small liner brush and acrylic white paint. [28] X Research source
