Paint a wave with acrylics part 1

In this lesson we will be making a huge three dimensional wave.

Step 1: Drawing the Wave

You­ will­ notice ­that ­the­ drawing ­is ­a­ very ­simple ­outline.­­ If­ you ­do­ not feel­ comfortable ­with ­drawing­ your ­own ­wave ­find­ a­ picture ­you ­like and­ trace ­it.­­ An ­image­ of­ the ­wave ­for­ you­ to ­copy­ is­ included­ for­ our reference.­

Step 2: Modelling the Wave

With ­the #­17 ­Palette ­Knife ­and ­the­ knives ­in ­the ­black ­wallet apply ­the­ Modelling Paste ­to ­the­ wave. ­­Scrape ­a­ layer ­over ­the main­ part­ of ­the ­wave­ and­ then­ add­ thick dollops­ on­to­ the areas ­with­ froth. Once­ you­ have­ the­ basic­ blobs ­and­ shapes, ­use­ the ­Paint ­and Sculpt­ Shapers ­to­ add­ lines ­and­ swirls ­to­ the ­Modelling ­Paste. Break ­up the foam ­by ­dotting­ the­ shaper ­into­ the­ Modelling Paste­ repeatedly.­

Leave­ this­ to ­dry ­overnight.

Step 3: Making the Colours

Now ­we ­can ­paint ­our ­wave. ­Fill­ your ­Deep­ Well­ Plastic­ Palette with­ a­ dollop ­of­ Mont Marte­ Impasto ­in ­each­ well.­­ Mix­ the ­paint in­to ­this­ to ­a­ ratio ­of­ 50/50­ and ­to­ the consistency­ of ­cottage cheese.­­ The ­colours ­we ­are­ using ­in­ the­ first ­step­ are­ White, Cerulean­ Blue,­ Ultramarine,­ Cobalt, ­Prussian­ Blue­ and ­Purple.

Step 4: Painting the Sky

In­ the ­top­ left­ corner­, ­use ­a ­large­ brush ­from ­the­ Acrylic ­Brush Set ­to­ paint ­in ­a mixture­ of­ 1­ part ­Ultramarine ­and ­3­ parts ­Purple.­

Step 5: Painting Light Blue

Slap ­on ­1 ­part­ Cerulean­ and­ 4 ­parts ­White­ over ­the ­entire­ wave, leaving ­the­ areas­ with ­foam­ free­ of ­paint.­

To ­achieve ­streaks ­of ­colour, ­mix ­your ­colour­ on ­the ­canvas and add­ bits ­of ­blue ­or white ­as­ you ­go.­­ Keep ­the­ brush ­strokes­ running ­along­ the curved­ face­ of­ the ­wave.­

Step 6: Painting Darker Blues

To­ create­ depth­ in­ the ­wave­ start ­by ­painting ­a­ darker ­blue­ on the­ right­ side ­of­ the wave ­and­ under ­the­ froth ­in ­the­ bottom right­ corner.­­

Blend ­the­ colour ­in ­with ­the lighter ­blue.

Step 7: Using all Colours

Use­ every ­colour­ in­ the­ palette­ and ­add­ them ­to­ the ­wave ­with long­ sweeping motions ­wherever­ you ­like.­­ Leave ­that­ to ­dry.

Step 8: Green Sheen

Make ­a ­mix­ of­­ 1­part­ Viridian­ to­ 5 ­parts­ Gloss ­Medium­ and­ paint the­ whole ­wave, ­gain ­leaving ­the­ foam­ and­ white­ areas. ­This ties ­all­ of ­the ­colours ­in­ the ­wave ­together ­and ­adds­ a­ nice tone.­

Step 9: Painting the foam

Over­ the­ high­ points ­of ­our ­of­ the ­modelling­ we­ paint ­Titanium White,­ with­ a­ brush and ­palette ­knife. ­In­to ­the ­wet ­paint ­add blobs of ­Phthalo ­Blue.

Step 10: Flicking paint

The ­last ­part ­of ­the­ exercise­ is­ to­ dip­ your­ fingers ­in­to­ the­ paint and­ flick ­it ­on­to ­the areas ­where­ the­ water ­sprays ­out ­from­ the wave. ­­Do­ not ­hesitate­ to­ really­ splatter the­ canvas, ­it­ will ­look great.­