Learn to Paint a Beach! Step-by-Step Real Time Demonstration for Beginners and Intermediate Artists

I love to visit empty beaches in winter. Just a few people, the occasional dog, and lots of seagulls. The sand is untrodden and smooth, and the waves uninterrupted by swimming crowds.
In this painting, I share my method for achieving transparency in the water, and finding colour in the greyest areas.
North Coast Beach With Seagulls
The original photo is free to download. No email address required.
Download Photo website: shirleypeters.wixsite.com/lea...
Support
I have a Patreon Channel where you can support my quest to get everyone on this planet painting!! Patreon / shirleypeters
MY MATERIALS:
I can recommend the following art supplies:
Paper:
Canson (Affordable, and OK for general painting)
amzn.to/2s9dlxX
Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad for Paint, Pencil, Ink, Charcoal, Pastel, and Acrylic, Fold Over, 300gsm, 9 x 12 Inch, 30 Sheets
Another affordable Watercolour Paper for practicing
ARTEZA 9x12" Expert Watercolor Pad, Pack of 2, 64 Sheets (140lb/300gsm),
amzn.to/2OsgS1L
Top quality for Painting: Arches Cold Pressed, 21cm x 41cm Block pad. (Or you could choose Hot Pressed, or “Not”.)
All are good, and in the end, personal preference will steer you to one choice:
www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...
Brushes: Watercolour Mops: SELECTED SPECIFICALLY BY ARTIST JOSEPH ZBUKVIC
Aquario Brushes - Mop #14 and Mop #18
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Chisel Flat, a
Golden Taklon Wash Brush Set Sizes 1/2", 3/4", 1"
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Smaller Mops:
amzn.to/3431jnC
PAINT BASICS
Introduction Set - 5ml tubes:Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours (This intro set is a good selection to start with, although consider adding burnt umber and burnt Sienna)
Daniel Smith 285610005 Extra Fine Essentials Introductory Watercolor, Blue/Transparent/Yellow, 5ml
Below: Individual tubes 15ml
Lemon yellow
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Permanent Orange
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Alizarin Crimson
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Perylene Scarlet
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Carbazole Violet
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French Ultramarine
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Manganese Blue Hue
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Permanent Green
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Burnt Sienna
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Burnt Umber
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Moonglow
amzn.to/35neuAi
Black
amzn.to/35kW5Ux
Palette
My favourite folding paint palette:
amzn.to/2OwvME2
As an Australian Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
My social media:
Website: www.shirleypeters.com
Patreon / shirleypeters
Facebook Page: / shirleypetersart
Twitter: / shirleypeters
Buy prints on canvas for a unique gift!
Prints of paintings: fineartamerica.com/profiles/sh...
Below is a full List of my watercolors; although not all are in in my current palette
Lemon yellow
Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue
Aureoles
French Ochre
Permanent Orange
Perylene Red
Quinacridone Magenta
Alizarin Crimson
Moonglow
French Ultramarine
Pthalo Blue
Indathrone Blue
Cobalt Blue
Manganese Blue
Cobalt Teal Blue
Undersea Green
Sap Green
Green Apatite Genuine
Perylene Green
Burnt Tigers Eye Genuine
Transparent Red Oxide
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Sepia
Paynes Grey
Lamp Black
My video gear:
Canon M50
Rode Microphone
Music: Epidemic Sound

[@ClariceAust]

Hi Shirley, what a great painting; I was mesmerized from the start! Thanks for keeping viewers informed of everything you're doing & using, right from the beginning.

[@Nancy-tr5fi]

Thank you, I painted a better painting today after watching how you deal with details, OCEAN, things I love to paint.

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you, Shirley.

[@sallyreff2574]

Love this! You are excellent to listen to & watch.

[@shirleypeters]

Thank you Sally

[@patriciasell]

I don't know how I missed this! No wonder I wanted to commission you...good job Shirley ❤

[@DaniellaMakingLearningArt]

Your paintings are extraordinary! How gracious of you, with so much talent, a highly accomplished artist giving free quality lessons to the world. So grateful for your kindness. On another note, let us know when you'll talk about that one painting, when it's "another time".

[@RRNavroth]

Hi Shirley loved this tutorial, I love the beach. Thanks for all the lovely instructions and tips on bits. The lovely paper must be Arches, my favorite too! Thanks again for generously offering these tutorials, I am looking forward for more of you tutorials. Happy Painting

[@shirleypeters]

You are so welcome

[@nyinyimaung7535]

Million thanks sir.

[@lexiequinus55]

Thank you Shirley.

[@shirleypeters]

You’re welcome

[@esling77]

Ty for sharing. You are a wonderful Artist.

[@SusanBooth-cm9fh]

What can I say Shirley? It's really lovely. You make me feel I should pick up a brush :) Lovely too, that you talk to us as you work. I hate the quiet videos..

[@shirleypeters]

Thank you for watching. And listening! 😂

[@BilbosOreo]

Really enjoyed this tutorial. Painting water is elusive to me, but you made it look so easy. I hope to get the hang of it. I also appreciate how you talk us through the shadows throughout the painting and the highlights as well. All the little bits that make it real. Thank you for putting in all the time and effort to share and guide us along the journey!

[@libbyfuntera8497]

Terrific to watch you paint the beach scene Shirley. And the sky looks great. I love painting the sea, so this really helped. Thank you.

[@65sunnyday]

How beautifully your color choices worked!

[@debbiemiller6476]

This is fabulous love your use of color

[@shirleypeters]

Thank you Debbie

[@elizabethsodahl9659]

Thank you Shirley. Really lovely painting and a wonderful demonstration.

[@judehazeldine2232]

Hi Shirley, I like the way you do your demonstrations.. get to see everything. Very informative for me. Thank you. :-)

[@soniagrewal7363]

Lovely. Thank you this was a great tutorial.

[@shirleypeters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rikardogibola1312]

An impressive display of paintings Shirley. Thank you.

[@barbaramunford5472]

Beautiful! You made it look easy...I know better!

[@dixiedrost4783]

Thank you Shirley, I love your nice long tutorials and learn so much!

[@NewRecruitInNatsArmy]

Thank you for your tutorials as there are not many Australian teaches on KZbin

[@toequantumspace]

Your studio is a dream come true!! Thanks for sharing great tutorial

[@woraluckrattikarnchalakorn9925]

Thank you so much for interested painting .

[@shirleypeters]

My pleasure 😊

[@JohnSalmon]

Such a nice lady. Love your videos Shirley. It's kind of you to share your knowledge and skills. 🙂

[@shirleypeters]

Thank you!

[@margaretmaguire3329]

Great video such a delightful lady & very informative thank you

[@cherigreen4471]

Really beautiful! I loved the sky and the sea soon as you put it in!

[@wieswarnders6501]

Beatiful beach Shirley!

[@irenedelpercio920]

Beautiful thank you for sharing your talent!!

[@StarsailorStan]

Studio looks good...enjoyed the painting

[@mediumchaaya2360]

I love the way u did the waves....beautiful painting

[@Raison5617]

Thanks Shirl I love this, inspiring us to have a go!

[@shirleypeters]

Looking forward to seeing your work!

[@wood2be]

Beautiful!

[@portgree]

Hello from Canada! Lovely painting (as always). I will definitely be trying this for practice. Thank you!

[@shirleypeters]

That's great! Thank you.

[@susanfinlay6231]

Beautiful, I can't wait to try painting it myself.

[@Schneekoenigin07]

Wunderschön. Ich freue mich immer wieder auf die tollen Videos.

[@carollangman1163]

Lovely...i did learn alot...thanks for sharing xx

[@suisai88]

It is very nice! Thank you very much.

[@bobstirling247]

enjoyed your tutorial. very informative, thank you.

[@mariakellner5429]

I like the the use of a used milk bottle, I hear the brush scraping the edge it may wear out the brush,an idea is to place thing tubing, cutting in the center and put that around the lip . tubing like used in fish tank ,enjoyed the demo

[@shirleypeters]

Thanks for that tip. I tried using a half pipe on a round ceramic dish, but it kept falling off. I haven't tried it on the milk bottles, but it should work. I'll do that today!

[@Alice-ek5td]

so beautiful！big like

[@ArtsyFartsyLovers]

Thanks very much~ This is so beautiful~ very relaxing~ 🦋 peace and love Stacy Nicolle

[@ArtistWizardry]

Hello from Seattle, USA. :) Question, yellows seem fairly close enough so I was curious at which times would you decide on using one yellow over the others? Might make a nice short video. At which times would you use opaque over transparent, etc.

[@shirleypeters]

Hi Zarah, Thanks for the idea. I'll add that to my list. I chose the warmer yellow because that was what I saw in the photo, and the sand below was warm. Although I like to exaggerate colours in general, when painting transparent water I like to try for accuracy, just where the waves are forming.

[@anetajohnson8446]

I love" sea scapes, once you started putting in some detail, The people and birds I started to like it. The water puddle and stuff brought it all together nicely."a fellow artist from the US" Now, heres a question for you, in your opinion, what do you think makes for a GREAT" watercolor painting? That explained could help other viewers! I enjoy your videos! T HUMBS U P...

[@johnosborne489]

Thanks Shirley. Loved the demo particulalry the less is more approach. I think the best thing is listening to your thought process. There too many other demos where the commentary lets it down but not in your case. Great stuff keep it going please. What's with the artifical hand on the left of the video?

[@shirleypeters]

Nice comment, thank you! That hand is for drawing. It's a wooden model. I might do a drawing of it for a future video.

[@Nancy-tr5fi]

Thank you, am painting similar scene but no photo, memory.

[@ssadvweld1]

I've just discovered you. I love your work; especially the way your colors blend and compliment. You make it look so easy. How many years do I need to practice until I can paint like you?

[@shirleypeters]

Ha! I’m not sure, but painting every day will make a huge difference.

[@ssadvweld1]

@@shirleypeters Thank you. I do paint every day!

[@carollangman1163]

Just subscribed x

[@DynamicBailey]

I’m enjoying watching your videos but I’d like to ask that you start off by telling us what you’re painting on and what type of paint and brushes you’re using. The more information the better in case people want to go out and try this for themselves. Looking forward to watching more of your videos💖

[@AliBaba-ke5jn]

Do you sketch everything free hand Shirley? So many techniques out there it's so confusing for a newbie.

[@shirleypeters]

Not always. If I'm doing a 'commercial' illustration, I will use a projector for speed. But normally the hand sketch gives you a unique bunch of shapes that are your impression of the scene.

[@maijakalb3472]

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