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

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

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

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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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Tugboats, the finished painting