A Few Ways To Bring Your Ocean-Scene Painting To Life

Not everyone is an artist. However, this does not mean you cannot make a beautiful ocean-scene picture to hang on your wall. If you would like to create something that does not look like your child made it in elementary school, there are a few things to keep in mind. Try the following tips, and you will be surprised at the outcome.

Define the Horizon

To make the picture look as if it goes on forever, draw a straight line across the canvas where you would like the horizon to be. This will add depth to the painting and make it more realistic.

Add Texture

Before you start using paint, add a bit of texture to the canvas. The water of the ocean and the sand of the shore are not flat and still. Spread molding paste over the surface. Do this the same way you would spread icing on a cake, but do not try to make it smooth. However, be sure to avoid the area above the horizon line because the sky has no texture.

Paint the Sky

Using a light-blue paint with some white on the brush, start at one side and brush straight across the canvas. You can then use a different tool to blend the white into the blue, giving it a blurry edge with no definition.

Paint the Water

Starting at the horizon, use a dark-blue paint and a narrow brush. The strokes should flow in the same direction as the horizon but do not have to be perfectly straight. Each time you move down the canvas for the next stroke, blend a bit of white into the blue. This will make the water lighter in color as it gets closer to the "shoreline." You may even decide to add in a bit of green when you get farther down the painting. When you get to the area that will be against the shore, use almost all white paint with just a bit of blue to create the waves. In addition, as you get closer to the shore, the strokes can be a bit wavy.

Paint the Shore

Using a dark tan or sand color, paint the shore against the water. Make the sand lighter in color as you get closer to the bottom of the canvas. The strokes should be straighter than those used for the water. Once you have all the painting done, you can then use a clean brush to blend the different hues together.

Wait for the paint to dry. If you are not completely happy with the result, you can go back over it with different hues to add more depth until you are satisfied. The original colors will show through a bit to help bring the scene to life.

To learn more, talk to companies like Susan Steven's Fine Art.

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