Watercolour
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
■ How to paint the texture of sand, pebbles and shells
■ Practise the wet-on-dry technique
■ How to create three-dimensional form in your painting
The finished painting Seashore, watercolour on watercolour paper, 8x12in. (21x30cm)
Have you ever wondered how best to paint those seashells and pebbles you have collected from the beach? Rather than just arranging them as a still life, why not try showing them in a more natural setting. Although beachcombing is not always smiled upon these days by local authorities – and I have seen signs erected to discourage this practice – you can always return them on your next visit or perhaps photograph them in situ.
The following demonstration uses a watercolour technique, but it can be adapted easily for either acrylic or gouache. I like to work on a bright white surface, using paper that is conducive to masking fluid. For this reason I chose my usual Bockingford 300gsm paper. This is a fairly heavy paper that does not require stretching and, as I am working wet on dry, the paper is unlikely to cockle. An A4 size is ideal for this subject as the pebbles are painted life-size, which makes a pleasing composition.