5 Best Techniques for Painting Lighthouse Watercolors

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 5 min read

Creating a lighthouse watercolor masterpiece doesn't have to be a daunting task. With the right technique and a little patience, you can capture the serene beauty of these coastal guardians. This guide will walk you through the five best techniques for painting lighthouse watercolors, from selecting your palette to adding the final touches. Let's dive right in.

1. Choose Your Palette

Choosing the perfect color palette is the first step in creating a captivating lighthouse watercolor. The colors you choose will set the mood and atmosphere of your painting. Let's go through a few key steps in selecting and mixing your watercolor paints.

Selecting Colors

When it comes to painting lighthouses, you'll want to stick to a range of blues and grays for the sea and sky, with a pop of bright white and red or black for the lighthouse itself. Remember, watercolors tend to dry lighter than they appear when wet, so don't be afraid to go bold with your color choices.

Identifying Values

Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. To create depth in your lighthouse watercolor, you'll need to incorporate a variety of values. One way to do this is to use a monochromatic color scheme: choose one color and use different values of that color to create contrast. Lighter values can be achieved by adding more water to your paint, while darker values will require more pigment.

Mixing Paints

Mixing your own colors can give your lighthouse watercolor a unique, personalized touch. Start by mixing primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—to get a feel for how they blend. For example, mixing blue and yellow in different proportions can give you a range of greens for a grassy foreground or a stormy sea. Practice makes perfect, so don't worry if you don't get it right on the first try!

2. Sketch the Lighthouse

Now that you've chosen your colors, it's time to sketch the star of your painting—the lighthouse. This stage is all about capturing the basic structure and details of your lighthouse. Here's how to do it.

Outlining Structures

Start by lightly drawing the main structures with a pencil. These will be your guiding lines. Lighthouses come in various shapes and sizes, but most have a cylindrical or conical shape. Remember, the aim isn't to draw a perfect lighthouse, but rather to capture its essence. So, focus on getting the proportions right rather than worrying about minor details at this stage.

Adding Details

Once you're happy with the basic structure, you can start adding details. This could include windows, doors, or even the pattern of the bricks. Look closely at your reference image, if you're using one. What details stand out? What gives the lighthouse its unique character? These are the details you'll want to include in your sketch.

Finalizing Sketch

Use an eraser to clean up any smudges or unnecessary lines, and darken the lines of your sketch that you want to keep. This is also a good time to lightly outline where the shadows will be, as these will add depth to your lighthouse watercolor. Remember, your sketch doesn't have to be perfect—it's just a guide for your painting.

3. Paint the Background

With your lighthouse sketch ready, it's time to set the scene. Picture it—is your lighthouse perched on a rocky cliff under a stormy sky, or is it calmly watching over a peaceful sea at sunset? Let's bring this scene to life with your watercolors.

Creating Sky

Start with a wash of color for your sky. Use broad, horizontal strokes to lay down the color, working quickly while the paint is still wet. For a calm sky, you might use a soft blend of pinks and oranges. A stormy sky might call for dramatic purples and blues. Whichever you choose, remember to leave some white spaces for clouds. After laying down your colors, you can blend them gently with a clean brush.

Painting Sea

Next, let's paint the sea. The sea's color often mirrors the sky, especially near the horizon. Start by painting the horizon line, then work your way down the page. Use darker colors for the deeper water near the bottom of your page. To create the illusion of waves, leave some areas white and darken others. Remember, the sea isn't flat, so try to capture its movement and depth in your painting.

Blending Colors

Blending is key in creating a believable background for your lighthouse watercolor. While your paint is still wet, use a clean, damp brush to blend your colors together. This will help your sky and sea flow together naturally. Don't overdo it, though—some variation in color and tone will add interest to your painting.

4. Bring the Lighthouse to Life

With your background set, it's time to make your lighthouse come alive. This step is all about adding depth and detail to your lighthouse watercolor. Ready to make your lighthouse stand tall?

Applying Base Colors

Begin by applying the base colors to your lighthouse. Whether it's a traditional white and red, a weathered grey, or something more colorful, this is your chance to establish the main color scheme. Be mindful of the direction of your brush strokes—they should follow the shape of the lighthouse to suggest its roundness.

Highlighting Details

Once your base colors are down, you can start highlighting the details. Use a smaller brush to carefully paint the windows, door, and other architectural features of your lighthouse. These details can really make your lighthouse watercolor painting come alive. Remember to consider your light source so you can add highlights where the sun would naturally hit.

Adding Shadows

Last but not least, we add the shadows. Shadows are important in giving your lighthouse a three-dimensional look. Use a darker tone of your base color to add shadows on the opposite side of your light source. This will give your lighthouse depth and make it stand out against the background. But be careful not to overdo it—a little shadow goes a long way.

5. Add Final Touches

Now, let's add the final touches to your lighthouse watercolor painting. This is the moment where your lighthouse truly sparkles and shines. Ready to wow your friends with your artistic skills?

Enhancing Details

For the first part of this final stage, focus on enhancing the details you've already established. You might want to add some texture to the lighthouse's walls, or include some extra highlights and shadows for added depth. Perhaps the windows could use a little extra shine, or the door needs a bit more character. This is your opportunity to make your lighthouse watercolor truly unique.

Refining Edges

Next, take a moment to refine the edges of your lighthouse. With a steady hand and a fine brush, you can make your lighthouse pop against the background by ensuring your lines are clear and crisp. This step may seem small, but it can make a big difference to the overall impact of your lighthouse watercolor.

Creating Textures

Finally, let's add some texture. Whether it's the rough stone of the lighthouse, the crashing waves of the sea, or the fluffy clouds in the sky, texture can add a whole new level of realism to your painting. Use different techniques like dry brush or stippling to create these effects. With these final touches, your lighthouse watercolor is complete. Stand back and admire your work—you've created a beautiful piece of art!

If you enjoyed learning about the techniques for painting lighthouse watercolors, don't miss the opportunity to explore another exciting subject in the world of watercolor art. Check out the workshop 'Making a Mermaid' by Hope Christofferson. This workshop will guide you through the process of creating a beautiful mermaid painting, helping you expand your skills and dive deeper into the magical world of watercolor art.