Limestone & Lake Effect

Learn to paint the weight of the stone and the 'crush' of the freshwater surf in rich, blendable oils.

• Beginner friendly
• Materails included
• Bring a packed lunch

"Shorelines are about more than just sand and sea; they are about the interplay of light and reflection. You will learn the secret to making water look transparent and sand look saturated, leaving with a painting that captures the 'shimmer' of the coast."

Course Title: Shoreline & Saltwater

Focus: Reflections, Wet Surfaces, and Coastal Light

Course Outline

Phase 1: The Horizon & Gradient Sky

We start at the furthest point to establish the "mood" of the coastal day.

• The Action: Creating a seamless, soft-blended sky using a "large to small" brush transition.
• The Goal: Mastering a perfectly smooth oil gradient that transitions from a deep zenith blue to a hazy, pale horizon.

Phase 2: The "Wet Sand" Under-layer

Sand at the shoreline acts like a mirror, not a flat beige surface.

• The Action: Laying down the base colors of the sand, then immediately "streaking" in the colors of the sky into the wet foreground.
• The Goal: Learning that wet sand is 50% ground color and 50% sky reflection.

Phase 3: The Anatomy of a Ripple

Instead of painting a "wave," we paint the movement of water.

• The Action: Using a flat brush to create horizontal "shoveling" strokes that represent the thin sheets of water retreating into the ocean.
• The Goal: Understanding how perspective flattens ripples as they move toward the horizon.

Phase 4: Sea Foam & "Scumbling"

Adding the texture of the surf without losing the luminosity underneath.

• The Action: Using a Scumbling technique—scrubbing a very dry brush loaded with thick, opaque white over the "wet" layers.
• The Goal: Creating the airy, bubbling texture of sea foam and the "crash" of the shoreline.

Skills They Will Learn

• Mirror Reflection Theory: How to match the value of the sky to its reflection in the sand and water to create a cohesive light source.
• The "Lean to Fat" Rule: A fundamental oil painting principle—starting with thin, turpentine-heavy layers and finishing with thick, oil-rich highlights to prevent cracking.
• Dry-Brushing for Texture: Using a nearly dry brush to "dance" over the canvas, creating the sparkling effect of sunlight hitting the crest of a wave.
• Horizontal Perspective: Learning why strokes must be perfectly horizontal in the water to maintain the "flat" plane of the ocean.
• Color Mixing for "Water Shadows": Moving beyond "blue" to find the teals, emeralds, and deep indigos that live in the shadows of a breaking wave.