As noted in my last post, I usually work on several paintings at a time. And yes, I get obsessed with something and paint it over and over again until I get it “right” – that is until I am happy with it. Which, is of course sometimes never.

This is another one where I wanted to practice “chunky” sea foam. I was editing photos and saw an older painting of mine of a calico shell. I liked that shell and those colors so much, I wanted to do it again – hopefully with better skills this time.

Again, this is my foam inspiration.

And this is the reference for the shell.

With faint pencil lines, I drew out the composition – which might change later and started using Fineline Masking fluid for the sea foam. Oddly, it is harder to go loose sloppy foam than tight, controlled perfect circles.

This looks arduous and time-consuming but this is the work in progress of a few hours before dinner.

Using Fine Line Masking Fluid to create sea foam

After masking out the shell outline, for the sandy beach, I used a large flat brush to get the paper very wet, going over it with clean water several times. I used Burgundy Yellow Ochre and Goethite for the sand, Cerulean Blue, Terre Verte and a little Undersea Green for the water, letting the Cerulean run into the sand. While this was still very wet, I threw on some Morton’s salt to give it some texture.

It may seem that I use a LOT of different colors and you might not want to purchase a whole bunch that you don’t already have. Keep in mind that these are just the colors that I love to work with. I use them over and over. I know how they work. I probably already have them on my palette and just need a little water to revive them.

Other blues, greens and ochres would probably work just as well. I have collected paint tubes over more than a decade and stored well, they rarely dry out. I like tools, all sorts of tools and watercolors are just tools to me. I have a favorite ochre and I have a favorite hammer. Your mileage may vary.

It’s all for fun, beauty and joy!

I’m not crazy about the lighter area on the lower left caused by the salt but don’t hate it enough to paint over it. I do like how the Goethite runs down from the shell and went back in to darken that and add shadows at the bottom of the wave, around the shell and around the foam clumps. I used mostly Goethite, Amethyst and a little Neutral Tint.

When this was all dry, I masked out markings on the shell and used Napthamide Maroon, Transparent Red Oxide and some old Thio Violet I had around.

Before removing the mask, I used a damp flat oil painting brush to lift paint for the ridges of the shell. Oil brushes are usually stiff and do not hold much water so I have found them to be the perfect “hack” for lifting lines in watercolor.

And there you have it. Still not happy with it but some progress made.

In order to make the sea foam softer, I used a spray bottle of water to soften the foam and the shell a few times and in the end, I tend to think that worked against me.

Looking at it again, it seems a little soft and “mushy”. I am going to go over it with Dorland’s Wax to maybe perk it up. Or maybe it is just part of the learning process.