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watercolor notes by Vinita Pappas

How I paint ocean waves...

Published 5 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

I hope you're enjoying some signs of spring!
​
This month, inside Watercolor In Flow, I posted a new video on painting water, and the ocean waves demo might be my favorite thing I've taught so far.

When you live on the Oregon coast, discovering a way to paint waves is key.

Here are a few still shots from the video.

Phase 1: This is the moment that trips most people up: the rocks are painted, you're painting the sky, and all that white paper is just... sitting there. Intimidating, right?

But that white paper is the wave. The trick is learning to paint around it. No masking fluid, or tedious brushwork, just negative painting and my trusty dagger brush.

Phase 2: I continue building the water area with darker green, gray, and even violet. It sounds counterintuitive, but because I used violet in the sky, bringing it down into the water creates harmony.

Phase 3: Broad strokes for movement, fine calligraphic marks for water patterns.

Most importantly, at this stage, I step back, squint, and ask:
​
​Does this read as water?
And does it still feel like 'me' as a painter?

Both matter.

If you've been curious about Watercolor In Flow, this new video is a good taste of what we do in there: real technique, real process, and low pressure.

​Join Watercolor In Flow — $249/year →​

Happy painting,

Vinita

Watercolor Notes, a newsletter by Vinita Pappas

​www.vinitapappas.com​

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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watercolor notes by Vinita Pappas

Your Little Dose of Inspiration

Painting isn’t always easy, and creative blocks can make it even harder. That’s why I created *watercolor notes*. I help you navigate those blocks, find fresh ideas, and get back to the studio. It’s a dose of encouragement and inspiration from me, fellow watercolor painter and creativity coach, to you.

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