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Tugboats : Painting seascapes with watercolor, a step by step painting tutorial

Painting a watercolor landscape by Sandrine Pelissier on ARTiful, painting demos
Painting technique / Step by step demonstrations

Tugboats : Painting seascapes with watercolor, a step by step painting tutorial

This is a watercolor depicting the tugboats here in North Vancouver at the Quay, I used the Aquarius paper by Strathmore and Yarka watercolors, a bit of white gouache and watercolor crayons.

Tugboats : Painting seascapes with watercolor, a step by step painting tutorial

drawing on paper before painting with watercolors

After wetting and stretching the paper on a board, I transfer my drawing.

reserving the whites with liquid frisket

I am reserving the whites with a bit of liquid frisket.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

 

Daler-Rowney Masking Fluid

This fluid is used to create striking white highlights or to mask areas for overpainting at a later stage. It forms a fast-drying, water-resistant film on watercolor paper and board, and is easily removed when dry.

masking tape on watercolor painting

I am starting by a wet in wet wash for the sky, using some masking tape to preserve the white on the right side of the painting.

painting a seascape with watercolor

Then I start painting the different areas directly, trying to use each color in different areas of the painting.

watercolor painting techniques

I keep on applying colors, paying attention to edges alternating soft and hard edges.

taking off liquid frisket

After painting most areas, I remove the liquid frisket.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Yarka St. Petersburg Professional Watercolor Pans

Same palette of traditional colors the great masters used a century ago. Liquid-poured means semi-moist pans respond instantly to a wet brush. 24 pans in plastic case. Also individual pans. – Master Set

watercolor crayons painting

Anticipating the next step where I splash water on the paper, I accentuate some areas with watercolor crayons. The areas where I add crayon will show more colors in the next step.

splashing water on watercolor painting

Here comes the splashing step, I like the element of chance and textures it is adding to the painting.

white gouache on watercolor

I want to accentuate a bit some white areas, so I am using a bit of white gouache for this.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Holbein Acryla Gouache, 152 Chinese White, 20 ml

Acryla Designer Gouache is a fast-drying, opaque acrylic based watercolor paint. It’s water soluble while wet, and water-resistant, matte and opaque, even over dark surfaces. Great for grounds and layering.

painting a seascape, watercolor painting lesson

Tugboats, the finished painting

2/5 - (3 votes)

Comments (22)

  1. Titus

    Thanks very interwsting blog!

    1. Thanks Titus,I am glad you liked it 🙂

  2. as always very well done, and by the way congrads on the piece in International Artist Mag, one of my favorite paintings of yours. You go girl!

    1. Thanks Debra 🙂 yes I am very happy about that publication!

  3. […] Tugboats, watercolor and mixed media on paper, 15 x 22 inches […]

  4. I love how you show your process, not just the final product. Your watercolor paintings are awesome. I paint with oils and acrylics, watercolor was always very difficult for me because it’s almost like working backwards. Great blog!

    1. Thanks Laurendahl88, yes you are right working with watercolor requires to think a different way, starting with what you will see less and finishing with the darker colors.

  5. Feeling backed up? ¦ 600+ Emails & 20 Favorites | a hectic world of art

    […] Tugboats : Watercolor and Mixed media on paper ¦ Sandrine Pelissier’s Blog – I am always blown away by this watercolorists work. I […]

  6. gilabert henri

    félicitations de la part de ton “oncle” Henri… tu as un vrai talent !

    1. Merci!!! Je suis contente que cela te plaise “tonton”: 🙂

  7. Excellent composition! … and the red; I love the red!

    1. Thanks Leslie, yes I seem to be added red in all my paintings lately !

  8. U’re impressive with water colors! Most of the times i mess this medium up!!

    1. Thanks Richa 🙂

  9. Tres Zapotes

    Hi there,

    I really like what you did with this painting, I am working on developing my water color and gouache technique…

    Great work….

    Jesse

    1. Thanks Jesse, I also like to mix watercolor and gouache, very nice effects!

  10. Do you EVER produce a bad painting?!!! As always, I’m impressed! Z

    1. Hi zebradesigns, I do produce bad paintings, a lot :-)… I am not showing them here 🙂

  11. Thanks for sharing! Looks awesome 🙂

    1. Thanks elev8design !

  12. Paprika

    awesome and inspiring!!! =) one day I hope to draw as good as you =) thanks for sharing… =)

    1. Thanks Paprika, I am glad you liked it 🙂

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