4th Step In Painting a Breaking Ocean Wave In Oil Paint

Well I'm continuing my oil painting of an ocean wave breaking along a sandy beach. You can see below the different stages of the oil painting from my pencil sketch to where I am now. I have been working on the wave and the foreground water. Then I worked on more of the sand texture, This will take some time and I will be adding small shells and seaweed if I think it will help by leading the eye into the painting. I will be adding more foam in the foreground water too. The size of this original oil painting is 16" x 20". Check back to see how I finish up this seascape painting of a breaking ocean wave.

Continuing Seascape Oil Painting of Ocean Wave With Sandy Beach

As you compare the 3rd stage of this seascape with the previous stages, there is more detail to the entire surface of the oil painting. I started with the blue sky area by adding a few light clouds. The sky will be rather simple because the wave and beach surf in this seascape is where all the action will be.

After painting the sky I then I worked on the left side of the wave along with the background water. As I am working on each area I pay close attention to the values. The curling wave on the left side of the oil painting has 3 distinct values of that I blended together. Lastly I started painting the sandy beach area with the incoming wave with the foam edge. As you compare each of the previous stages I think this seascape of a breaking ocean wave is coming together.

New Watercolor Painting of Ocean Wave With Wind Blown Spray

Seven by twelve inch watercolor.

Here is a small watercolor I did recently of an ocean wave from Rhode Island's Beavertail State Park. I painted this as a small study for a possible larger painting in oil. The wind was blowing the spray off the tops of the breaking waves and I tried to show that here in this watercolor. The painting is 12 inches by 7 inches.