EASY lighthouse watercolor painting tutorial/ Mini Monday Madness

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will create an easy lighthouse watercolor painting inspired by Gloucester, Massachusetts. This step-by-step guide will help you draw and paint a charming lighthouse scene, even if you're a beginner. Gather your supplies, and let's get started!

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before diving into the painting, make sure you have the following materials ready:

• Watercolors:
  • Cadmium Yellow Deep
  • Olive Green
  • Prussian Blue
  • Peacock Blue
  • Payne's Gray
  • Quinacridone Magenta
• Brushes:
  • Princeton Long Round #4 and #8
• Paper:
  • Arches 100% Cotton Cold Press Paper (3” square)
• Other Supplies:
  • Paper towels
  • Water jars
  • Tape (to secure your paper)

Step 2: Drawing the Lighthouse

1. Start by lightly sketching the horizon line about three-quarters of the way down the paper.
2. Draw a square shape for the lighthouse structure, with a slanted line to the right for the roof.
3. Add a small triangular shape for the roof of the house.
4. Sketch a curved line for the door and add vertical lines for details.
5. Draw rough shapes for rocks at the base of the lighthouse.

Step 3: Painting the Sky

1. Prepare your sky colors by mixing Peacock Blue and Prussian Blue with water.
2. Use a wet-on-dry technique to paint the sky, starting at the top and working downwards.
3. Leave some areas white to represent clouds and use a paper towel to lift color for cloud shapes.
4. Add gray tones to create depth and variation in the sky.

Step 4: Adding Rocks

1. Mix Van Dyke Brown with Cadmium Yellow Deep for a warm rock color.
2. Dab this mixture onto the areas where you sketched the rocks, varying the tones by adding gray or darker browns.
3. Use a tapping motion to create texture and differentiate between the rocks.

Step 5: Painting the Lighthouse

1. Once the sky and rocks are dry, start painting the lighthouse structure with a light gray.
2. Use darker gray tones for shadows and details, such as the roof and the door.
3. Mix Quinacridone Magenta and Cadmium Yellow Deep to create an orangey-red for the roof of the house.

Step 6: Detailing the Scene

1. Add darker tones to the lighthouse and the rocks to enhance depth.
2. Use a thin brush to add details like the railing and windows.
3. Paint the ocean using blues, mixing in some magenta for a deeper hue, and leave some whites for highlights.

Step 7: Final Touches

1. Introduce seabirds by painting small curved lines in the sky.
2. Add grasses or foreground elements to create more interest and balance in your composition.
3. Review the painting and adjust any areas that need more color or detail.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing your lighthouse watercolor painting! Remember, practice makes perfect, and you can always go back to refine your technique. Feel free to share your artwork and ask any questions in the comments. Happy painting!