Relaxing One Color Painting ✧ My Favorite Watercolor Sea Trick, by Nano Art on YouTube. 5 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Cut your paper into a small square, about 5 by 5 cm. A small size keeps the painting quick and makes water control easier to learn.
Tape the square down to a flat board on all four sides. This stops the paper from buckling when it gets wet.
Load your round brush with clean water and paint a pale wash across the top third for the sky. Leave the paper slightly damp, not soaking.
While the sky is still damp, touch a little Prussian blue into it and let it spread on its own. Keep the wash light so the sky stays soft.
Let the sky dry fully. Then paint the sea below it with a stronger mix of Prussian blue, leaving a thin strip of white paper as the horizon.
Add darker strokes for the waves, working from light to dark. Build the layers slowly and let each one dry before adding more pigment.
Paint a tiny sailboat in the middle of the sea using the darkest mix. Keep it small and simple, just a hull and one or two sails.
Add a few dark wave shapes around the boat to suggest a storm. Leave white gaps in the water for foam and highlights.
Let the painting dry completely, then peel the tape off slowly at a low angle so the paper edge does not tear.
Tips and common mistakes
Test your blue mix on scrap paper first so you know how dark it will dry.
Wait for each layer to dry before adding the next, or the colors will turn muddy.
Keep some paper white for the boat and foam, since watercolor cannot be lightened later.
Use a light touch with the brush on damp paper so you do not scrub the surface.
Questions
Can I use a different blue instead of Prussian blue?
Yes. Any strong blue such as ultramarine or phthalo blue works. Prussian blue is darker and granulates more, which suits stormy seas.
Do I need special watercolor paper?
Cold pressed paper around 300gsm gives the best results because it handles water without warping. Thin paper will buckle and the washes will look patchy.
How long should I let the layers dry?
A thin wash on a small square dries in a few minutes. Wait until the paper feels cool but no longer damp before adding the next layer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
