This watercolor is inspired by a picture I took while visiting Steveston, (Richmond, BC) on the wharf. This is a great place to visit and you can buy fish directly from the boats.
How to paint seascapes : Steveston wharf, watercolor painting tutorial
Here are some of the steps I took, I used Arches hot press 140 lb paper:
After making a precise drawing I apply masking fluid on the areas I want to keep white.
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.
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.
Even though I am going to paint in a direct way and not separate colors I like to start with a layer of ocher, here I paint 2 washes, one solid and one graduated
I start to apply colors directly, trying to use each color in different parts of the painting
Adding more colors, I painted a blue wash on the water area.
Still adding colors. I then remove the masking fluid and soften edges with a stiff brush.
I paint the areas that were masked with masking fluid,and adjust the colors a bit to increase the contrast.
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.
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
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
[…] How to paint seascapes : Steveston wharf, watercolor painting tutorialFree portrait painting techniques : India ink, watercolor and watercolor pencilsWatercolor painting basics : How to fix watercolor mistakesLake Louise, mixed media on board painting tutorialMounting watercolor paper on boardSpecks of Light, mixed media on canvas (India Ink, graphite and Acrylic) […]
Beautiful composition, Sandrine. he red on the pier reflected from the lighting and the yellow light take my eye right to that boat. Thank you for showing your steps.
Thanks Sandrine. I have been a time without reading the posts in my email because personal reasons, but I keep jealously them and now I rejoined to you. They are great. respectfully Mercedes
Reblogged this on Arts@the Aviary and commented:
Considering that a primary purpose of this blog is to inspire people (including the person who checks your email every day) to actively pursue creating art, I have been mulling over the topic of “what is art?” I recall the question of “what is music?” being a rather muddy – and at times heated – one in my college music history courses, so I’m sure the ‘art’ question is even more complex. But still, I want to give it thought, for the purpose of helping it seem less scary for those who are inclined to think that arting is something that only ‘real’ artists do.
The following post by Sandrine Pelissier, a painter of beautiful watercolors, reminded me of one of the facets of art that I love.
Art is a process.
It is hard to stare at a blank piece of paper and try to create something profound. Masterpieces start with a single line, a single note, or a single lump of clay.
Making a masterpiece shouldn’t be the goal anyway. It’s about turning something into something else.
Turning a white paper into a wharf scene.
Turning a post-it note into medley of shadow boxes.
Turning an unmoved heart into a throbbing, swelling woosh.
Turning apathy into awe.
Turning fear into courage.
Turning emotions ’round and ’round and ’round and back. Because they matter.
Happy Arting,
naomi
Thanks arts@theAviary, beautiful comment! I ve been struggling myself with the question of what is art, and how inclusive or exclusive the concept of art should be. Thinking about art as a process of transformation is an interesting trail. Then there is that sometimes artificial boundary we put between art and craft as art being something that doesn’t have another utility other than being art.
Yes – the utilitarian aspect is really interesting. I’m notorious for trying to make ‘use’ of everything, but I’m learning more every day about seeing the value of beautiful artful things just because they are just that.
Paprika
Your work is absolutely brillinat… even I love how you’ve shown the progress step by step. It helps me paint better =)
Great…as always. Like someone else said, it’s inspiring to see the steps. I’m a colored pencil artist and I like to see other artist’s process. You make me want to do better with my art.
Comments (27)
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[…] How to paint seascapes : Steveston wharf, watercolor painting tutorialFree portrait painting techniques : India ink, watercolor and watercolor pencilsWatercolor painting basics : How to fix watercolor mistakesLake Louise, mixed media on board painting tutorialMounting watercolor paper on boardSpecks of Light, mixed media on canvas (India Ink, graphite and Acrylic) […]
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Painting seascapes with watercolor, a step by step painting tutorial
[…] Steveston Wharf , watercolor on paper […]
Menaka
Amazing! You are sooo talented!
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Menaka 🙂
lesliepaints
Beautiful composition, Sandrine. he red on the pier reflected from the lighting and the yellow light take my eye right to that boat. Thank you for showing your steps.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Leslie 🙂
Arts@theAviary
My mom forced me to take a watercolor class in high school. I LOVED it and am forever drawn to paintings such as yours. Beautiful.
Sandrine Pelissier
Hehe! Moms can be right sometimes 🙂
Mercedes
Thanks Sandrine. I have been a time without reading the posts in my email because personal reasons, but I keep jealously them and now I rejoined to you. They are great. respectfully Mercedes
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Mercedes, I am very happy to hear that you are enjoying the newsletters:)
Arts@theAviary
Reblogged this on Arts@the Aviary and commented:
Considering that a primary purpose of this blog is to inspire people (including the person who checks your email every day) to actively pursue creating art, I have been mulling over the topic of “what is art?” I recall the question of “what is music?” being a rather muddy – and at times heated – one in my college music history courses, so I’m sure the ‘art’ question is even more complex. But still, I want to give it thought, for the purpose of helping it seem less scary for those who are inclined to think that arting is something that only ‘real’ artists do.
The following post by Sandrine Pelissier, a painter of beautiful watercolors, reminded me of one of the facets of art that I love.
Art is a process.
It is hard to stare at a blank piece of paper and try to create something profound. Masterpieces start with a single line, a single note, or a single lump of clay.
Making a masterpiece shouldn’t be the goal anyway. It’s about turning something into something else.
Turning a white paper into a wharf scene.
Turning a post-it note into medley of shadow boxes.
Turning an unmoved heart into a throbbing, swelling woosh.
Turning apathy into awe.
Turning fear into courage.
Turning emotions ’round and ’round and ’round and back. Because they matter.
Happy Arting,
naomi
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks arts@theAviary, beautiful comment! I ve been struggling myself with the question of what is art, and how inclusive or exclusive the concept of art should be. Thinking about art as a process of transformation is an interesting trail. Then there is that sometimes artificial boundary we put between art and craft as art being something that doesn’t have another utility other than being art.
Arts@theAviary
Yes – the utilitarian aspect is really interesting. I’m notorious for trying to make ‘use’ of everything, but I’m learning more every day about seeing the value of beautiful artful things just because they are just that.
Paprika
Your work is absolutely brillinat… even I love how you’ve shown the progress step by step. It helps me paint better =)
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Paprika !
mye1212
Great…as always. Like someone else said, it’s inspiring to see the steps. I’m a colored pencil artist and I like to see other artist’s process. You make me want to do better with my art.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks mye1212, I’ve seen amazing works with colored pencils, such a great medium:-)
BairbreSine
I really like your work. Just beautiful.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks BairbreSine !
zeebradesigns
Exceptional work!
Z
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Zeebradesigns 🙂
finnegan2749
Reblogged this on finnegan2749.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks for the reblog 🙂
Holly Herick Design
Very nice. Again, I love seeing your process—it is inspiring!
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Holly 🙂
Sonali Dalal
Beautiful!