How to Paint Ocean

Painting Ocean may not seem to be easy but it is definitely not very difficult. All it requires is a different approach. How well you succeed in bringing out the effects in your painting will depend largely upon your preferred style as well as the medium you choose. Though challenging, capturing ocean essence can be very interesting and rewarding. The vital key to paint realistic water is to focus on using right colors and correct brushstroke. Here are some instructions that will guide you on how to paint ocean water.

Instructions

Before you start painting carefully observe the reference matter (like videos, photos or even other ocean painting). Study how the colors vary at the depths and at the caps of the waves. Also consider the background of the subject matter. For instance, it is a full moon night or a sunny day or a sunset scene. These factors are very important that will influence your painting.
Now select your medium of painting. While watercolors will let you create dappled effect, oil paints will allow more nuances and mixing and acrylics will help you create bold, flat tones. You can also consider other options like spray paint, airbrush and mixed media. You need to choose a suitable medium depending upon the effect you want to create.
If you are painting restless water waves crashing against the shore, you must first use the main water color. A mix of green, blue and burnt sienna can bring out the effect nicely. Also note that beneath each crashing wave there are little shadows. This can be created with a light hint of wet pigment that is slightly darker that the ocean water.
Make sure to use correct colors for the froths or foams that accompany the waves. You can capture the frothiness of the wave with swirls of very thin prussian blue washes blending finely and gently into the white portions. You can also use lightly wet soft bristles that are partially filled with a very thin wash of payne’s grey. Make sure to try it on another piece of paper first. A sea sponge too can be used to create the appearance of the foam on the top of ocean waves.
In order to ensure your water waves do not appear flat and lifeless add elements of light to the composition. Use different color compositions for highlights and contrasts and also to reflect the play of sun’s rays across the waves. You can use white and light colors to illustrate movement and to give right effects to the breaking of the waves. To show the changing pattern in the movement of the waves shift the direction of your lines. Be it sunset, sunrises, afternoon or dusk, all have particular tints to everything. Make sure that the tints match throughout the painting.

Tips to Remember

The best thing to do is have fun with the colors. Experiment different effects that can happen.
Always remember the basic rule for water color painting-white areas should be left clean and lightly developed. Lighter values must come next. Each layer of color should preferably become darker, the deepest layer must be the darkest.

Watch a video instruction on how to paint ocean