5 Easy Steps to Paint a Beautiful Ocean Scene with Acrylics

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Are you interested in creating an easy ocean painting but not sure where to start? Fear not, this guide will walk you through five simple steps to help you create a stunning acrylic ocean scene. You'll be amazed at what you can create with a few basic materials and a little guidance.

1. Gathering Your Materials

Before we dive into the painting process, it's important to gather all the necessary materials. The right tools can make your painting experience smoother and more enjoyable. Let's explore what you'll need for your ocean painting journey.

Choose the Right Acrylic Paints

The first thing you'll need is a good set of acrylic paints. Acrylics are perfect for beginners—they're easy to work with and dry quickly. For an ocean scene, you'll want to have a variety of blues, such as cobalt, cerulean, and ultramarine, as well as white for creating waves and highlights. Don't forget to get some green and brown for any marine life or seashore details you want to include in your painting! Brands like Liquitex or Golden offer high-quality acrylic paints that will give vibrant, lasting colors to your masterpiece.

Select the Best Brushes

Next, you'll need brushes. A couple of different sizes will do—larger brushes for covering big areas with paint, and smaller ones for details. A flat brush is great for creating broad strokes, while a round brush can help with details. Remember, quality matters. Brushes from Winsor & Newton or Daler-Rowney are known for their durability and will withstand repeated use.

Pick the Perfect Canvas

Lastly, a canvas. For beginners, a pre-primed canvas is a smart choice. It's ready for painting right out of the package—no prep work required. The size of the canvas depends on your preference. If you're just starting out, a smaller canvas might be less intimidating. Brands like Arteza or Fredrix offer a wide range of pre-primed canvases in various sizes.

Now that you have your materials, let's move on to the next step—sketching your ocean scene. But remember, the beauty of an easy ocean painting lies not just in the end result, but in the process of creating it. So, let's enjoy our journey!

2. Sketching the Scene

With your materials in place, the next step in your easy ocean painting is to sketch out your scene. This step doesn't require Michelangelo-level skills—just a basic outline to guide your painting process. So, let's start with a simple sketch.

Get Inspired by Real Ocean Scenes

First, find an ocean scene that inspires you. This could be a photo from your last beach vacation, an image from a magazine, or even a scene from your favorite movie. The goal is not to replicate the image exactly but to use it as a source of inspiration. Notice the colors, the way the light hits the water, and the movement of the waves. What stands out to you? What makes the scene special? This will guide your sketch and ultimately your painting.

Use a Light Touch with Your Pencil

Once you've found your inspiration, start sketching. But remember—use a light touch. You don't want to leave deep pencil marks that might show through your paint. Begin by marking the horizon line where the sky meets the sea. Then sketch the basic shapes of any waves, clouds, or marine life. Don't worry about details at this stage—those will come later. Right now, you're simply laying the groundwork for your painting.

Great job! You've completed the sketching phase of your easy ocean painting. With these guide lines in place, it's time to bring your ocean scene to life with color.

3. Laying the Base Color

Now that you've got your sketch, it's time to dip that brush in paint. Just like a chef prepping for a big meal, the first thing we need to do is mix up our main ingredient: the perfect ocean blue.

Mix Your Acrylics for the Perfect Ocean Blue

First thing's first, let's mix that ocean blue. This is where you get to be a bit of a color scientist. Start with a base of blue—Cerulean Blue or Phthalo Blue are both good choices. Then, add a touch of green—something like a Sap Green—to give it that real ocean feel. Remember, every ocean is different and so is every painting. Don't be afraid to experiment until you get a color that feels right to you.

Apply a Smooth, Even Layer

With your ocean blue ready, it's time to apply the first layer of paint. Start at the top of your canvas—the sky—and work your way down to the sea. Using long horizontal strokes, apply a smooth, even layer of paint. This creates a sense of calm and serenity in your painting—just like the ocean on a calm day.

And there you have it—the base layer of your easy ocean painting is complete. Take a step back and admire your work. But don't rest on your laurels, because up next we're diving deeper to add depth and detail.

4. Adding Depth and Detail

Now that we have our base, let's add some character to our painting. This stage is like adding spices to a dish—it's where we give our ocean its unique flavor.

Play with Shades of Blue

The ocean isn't a flat color—it's full of different shades and tones. To capture this, we're going to play with shades of blue. Add some white to your base color to create a lighter blue for the areas where the sun hits the water. Use a darker blue for the deeper parts of the ocean. This contrast will give your painting depth and make it more realistic.

Add Texture for Realism

Now, let's add texture. The ocean isn't smooth—it's full of waves, ripples, and currents. To capture this, use your brush to create texture on the canvas. Short, choppy strokes can represent waves, while longer, smoother strokes can show calm water. Feel free to experiment and see what works for you.

Paint the Ocean Life

Finally, let's bring our ocean to life. Add a few seagulls in the sky, a boat on the horizon, or even a school of fish below the surface. These little details will make your painting feel alive and vibrant.

And voila! You've added depth and detail to your easy ocean painting. But we're not done yet—next up are the finishing touches.

5. Finishing Touches

We've come a long way, but our easy ocean painting is not quite complete. Now it's time to polish our masterpiece with the final touches that will make it shine.

Add Highlights and Shadows

Highlights and shadows can make your painting pop out. They add depth and dimension, making your canvas look more like a three-dimensional scene. Look at where the sunlight hits the water. Use a lighter shade of blue or even white to add highlights here. For shadows, use darker tones of blue or grey in the deeper parts of the water or below the waves. Don't forget about the ocean life! If you've added a boat or a school of fish, they'll also have highlights and shadows.

Sign and Date Your Masterpiece

Finally, it's time to sign your name and date your work. This is a tradition among artists—it's like your stamp of approval on the painting. Plus, it'll be fun to look back years from now and see how much your skills have improved over time.

And there you have it—an easy ocean painting that anyone can create. So grab your brushes and paints, and let the ocean inspire you.

If you enjoyed learning about painting ocean scenes with acrylics and want to further improve your skills, don't miss the workshop "Improve Your Acrylic Painting Skills" by Rachel Christopoulos. This workshop will provide you with the techniques and guidance you need to take your acrylic painting abilities to the next level.