Painting a Seascape in Watercolor

Have you ever dreamed of painting a beautiful seaside landscape?
For many artists, it's an ideal stage, and I understand you perfectly, because I, too, would like to be able to do it.

Hello again, and welcome to this new tutorial!

Today, we are going to learn how to paint a seascape, trying to convey the peace and solemnity that the sea inspires in us, using a perfectly suitable medium: watercolor.

Example of watercolor painting

Before we start, let's take a moment to observe how one of the greatest masters used watercolor to paint the sea.

William Turner is an essential reference for this technique. Thanks to him, watercolor stopped being regarded as a minor art and found its place in major exhibitions alongside oil painting.

Observe how Turner uses broad washes to cover the surface with soft, luminous gradients, while integrating transparent touches that blend between the sky and the sea.

He also remembers to add more intense brush strokes to represent the reflection of the sun or certain details of the scene, thus creating a subtle balance between spontaneity and mastery.

Elements of a seascape

Before moving on to drawing, let's ask ourselves an essential question: What makes a landscape "marine"?

Here are some key elements to include to give your composition an unmistakable coastal atmosphere:

- A beach, of course, it can occupy the foreground or appear as a small island on the horizon.
- Moving waves, dancing on the water's surface; you can also add rocks against which they break.
- Seagulls or other sea animals such as crabs or shellfish.
- A lighthouse, an optional but very expressive element, which adds a human and familiar touch. You can also replace it with a boat if you prefer.

Painting a seascape in watercolor step by step

Before starting to paint, make sure you have everything you need at hand:
Your watercolors, brushes, heavy paper, adhesive tape, palette, cloth and one or two containers of water.

Choose a bright, spacious, and well-ventilated area.
Moisten your paper with clean water, or apply a thin layer of water with a brush, then affix it to a flat surface using tape, making sure to cover the edges well.

Make the pencil sketch

Start by organizing your ideas on paper. The elements you have chosen will come together to create a scene that evokes the sea: here, we will draw a lighthouse perched on rocks, surrounded by a calm sea and a sky dotted with light clouds.

Working with basic tones using the wash technique

Now create a gradient in the style of a wash, starting from a light blue to a soft yellow, then towards a very pale blue.

Important tip:

Unlike other techniques, watercolor relies on negative spaces to preserve white areas — like those of clouds.
Be sure to leave these areas intact.

Add details with the wet-on-dry technique

From this step, we will use the wet-on-dry technique to enrich the scene with new layers and details.

This means that you must let each coat dry completely before applying another. Patience is therefore key!

Once the first layer is dry, prepare a mix of deep blue with a hint of dark green.

Apply it from the middle of the sheet downwards, smoothing it with a clean, damp brush to create a smooth gradient.

With a dark color (but not black), paint the rocks on which the lighthouse rests. This will help separate the planes of the drawing.

Then, paint some waves in the lower area, just below the lighthouse, using a slightly darker tone than the base. These small variations will enrich your composition.

Add the lighthouse to his watercolor painting

Now move on to the lighthouse. Use earthy colors, orange, ocher, brown, and yellow, to balance out the dominance of the cool tones of the sea and sky.

Thus, the lighthouse will stand out without appearing too contrasty.

To create shadows, mix a touch of blue with your orange: this will give a darker but still bright tone.

Do not forget to let dry between each layer and use a damp brush for smooth transitions.

Add water reflections

Let's go back to the water to add the reflections of the lighthouse.
Since its colors are in the range of earth tones, we will use a slightly muted green, in order to create the impression of a reflection in the blue of the sea.

Do not worry if the shade seems a bit strong: it will soften once dry.

Use free and varied gestures: long or short, wide or thin, dark or light. The goal is to imitate the natural movement of water.

Finally, add some white specks for the brightest highlights.

In watercolor, white is used with very little water and a lot of pigment, only on dark areas.

Make sure the previous layer is completely dry, otherwise the white will spread and lose its intensity.

Finalize Your Seascape Watercolor Painting

To conclude, gently peel off the adhesive strip outward and let your paint dry flat.

Remember: watercolor shines through its spontaneity, there's no need to seek perfect detail.

Let your brush strokes express themselves freely: that's how your work will come to life.

Here is the final result!

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to create your own version of a seascape and experiment with the beauty of watercolor.

Writer: Bryam