Making Final Adjustments to Ocean Wave Oil Painting

After looking at my oil painting of an ocean wave seascape I decided to make a few value and color changes. The foreground wave skimming along the sand appeared too dark so I lightened that area. I added a greenish color to the light area of the crashing wave. This is closer to the actually color of the wave itself.

These are all steps I take when finishing up a painting. Taking a few days or weeks to view the painting and deciding if I can make improvements.

Finishing Ocean Wave Oil Painting - 6th Step Is Adding Final Details

In the final stage of this oil painting of an ocean wave and a sandy beach I am putting in the final details. I have worked on the foam of the crashing wave and the foreground foam in this beach scene. Sometimes I work on other paintings and then come back and look at the first painting to see if it needs anything else. As with any landscape painting it is good to step away from a painting and then look at it with fresh eyes. I will then look for an appropriate picture frame to accent the painting.

Looking back at the previous posts of this oil painting you can see how the painting started from a simple pencil sketch to a detailed seascape oil painting. Thanks for following along and check back to see the final finished beach scene. Thanks, P.J. Cook

Seascape Oil Painting - Next Step In Painting Ocean Wave in Oil

I am continuing to refine and improve the details in this oil painting of a beach and wave. When you compare the previous posts in this painting demonstration you can see how I have worked from a pencil sketch to a detailed painting. The overall colors of this shoreline scene change as I work towards finishing the painting.

This painting is 16" x 20" and is painted on a Gessobord by Ampersand. This product has a nice smooth finish and that was what I decided to use for this ocean wave painting. Check back to see how the oil painting looks as I finish up this seascape.

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.

Sandy Beach Seascape Oil Painting Underway

Pencil sketch of ocean wave seascape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting a new seascape oil painting of an ocean wave with a sandy beach. Above is the pencil sketch that I start with whenever I begin a new painting. This gives me an idea of the composition and values in the painting.  The value of a painting is the lightness or darkness of an area. This painting will be similar to a previous oil painting of mine shown below with a rocky shore. This original beach painting will have sand and foam instead of the rocks. I hope to show the next step in a few days so check back to follow along as I paint this seascape of a sandy beach.

"The Breaking Wave" Oil by PJ Cook

Oil Painting of 2 Seagulls Resting On the Beach - Almost Finished

I am working on the oil painting of 2 seagulls resting on a beach. One of the seagulls is resting with his eyes closed while the other one is standing guard. At least that is what it looked like when I spotted these 2 gulls after a storm. They seemed to be resting after a strong, windy storm had gone through New England. Some seaweed had been wahed up with the waves during the storm.


I am still working on this oil painting. The painting has quite a bit of texture as you can see in the closeup of the seagull. I have more work to do with the water and the seagulls, and should be finishing this up in the next few days. The canvas size is 18" x 24" and I have a nice white washed wood frame that complements the subject. Check back in a few days to see this seascape oil painting finished.

New P.J. Cook Oil Painting "Puffin" Boat With Swans

“Puffin" is a new painting in my series of mini seascape oil paintings. I used pleasing blue colors in this realistic marine artwork. Art buyers will enjoy this scene of two of my favorite painting subjects, birds and boats. It is sort of a whimsical view of man and nature coexisting, as seen from my view in the water paddling in my kayak. This artwork is currently on display in the "Maritime Miniatures Exhibition at the Mystic Seaport Art Gallery in Mystic, Connecticut.   The exhibition will be on display until December 31, 2009 so if you’d like to purchase the painting go to their website www.mysticseaport.org or just send me an email pj@pjcookartist.com for further info.