Painting Realistic Seascapes with Oil Techniques

A course by Derek Macara , Oil Painting Instructor

Oil Painting Instructor. Provincetown, United States.
Joined July 2024

Master realistic seascape painting techniques using oil paint, Photoshop, and sketching methods for stunning wave artistry

100% positive reviews (2)
280 students
Audio: English, Spanish
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Master realistic seascape painting techniques using oil paint, Photoshop, and sketching methods for stunning wave artistry

Dive into the art of creating realistic seascapes with oil paints, where you'll explore the essentials of painting stunning waves and capturing the essence of the sea. Start by discovering how to take and modify reference photos, setting the stage for your masterpiece. Learn the techniques for transferring a sketch onto a canvas using the grid method and delve into the intricacies of mixing colors to match nature's stunning hues.

Master the wet-on-wet technique to bring water to life, blending colors seamlessly, and creating dynamic reflections. From concept development to final varnishing, each lesson builds your confidence and skills. Ideal for both beginners and intermediate painters, this journey is designed to inspire and help you grow as an artist. Embrace the process of each brushstroke, and let the serene beauty of the ocean inspire your creativity.

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What will you learn in this online course?

14 lessons & 13 downloads

Mastering Color Matching
5 minutes, 24 seconds
Photoshop Techniques
5 minutes, 8 seconds
Painting the Sky
17 minutes, 21 seconds
Painting Waves
14 minutes, 17 seconds
Adding Details
4 minutes, 7 seconds
  • 100% positive reviews (2)
  • 280 students
  • 14 lessons (1h 45m)
  • 13 additional resources (5 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English, Spanish
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Create a realistic seascape using reference photos altered in Photoshop, transfer a pencil sketch onto canvas with the grid method, and apply various oil painting techniques to capture the movement, texture, and reflections of waves and water.

Who is this online course for?

Beginner and intermediate oil painters eager to master the art of realistic seascapes will find this course invaluable. Dive into techniques that blend traditional skills with modern technology, enhancing your artistic journey and refining your ability to create stunning, lifelike waves.

Requirements and materials

No extensive prior knowledge is needed, just grab a primed cotton or linen canvas, oil paint, erasable colored pencil, mineral spirits, painting medium, brushes, easel, palette, paper towel, ruler, painters tape, straight edge, palette knife, Photoshop, and app grid#.


Reviews

280 Students
2 Reviews
100% Positive ratings

Derek Macara

A course by Derek Macara

Teacher Plus
Oil Painting Instructor

Derek Macara is a distinguished painter and photographer, celebrated for his expertise in crafting realistic seascapes with oil paint. His artistic journey began in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the oldest art colony in America. Immersed in this vibrant artistic community, Derek honed his skills, drawing early inspiration from the rich cultural heritage around him. His transition to a full-time painter followed a successful debut art show, which marked the beginning of his professional career. Before embracing painting, Derek worked as a commercial fisherman, a role that profoundly influences his seascapes. These experiences at sea infuse authenticity and depth into his work, capturing the essence of maritime life.

Derek's approach combines traditional techniques with modern technology, utilizing tools like Photoshop to enhance his creative process. His work is heavily inspired by renowned New England artists such as Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, and Charles Hawthorne, whose influence is evident in his use of light, shadow, and composition. Over the years, Derek has refined his technique, and his work now graces private collections worldwide. A firm believer in continuous learning, he encourages practice and patience, embodying the ethos that dedication leads to mastery. His paintings have been showcased in prestigious galleries, including a recent solo exhibition at the North Shore Arts Association.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Foundations for Realism

    • Tools and Materials
    • Mastering Color Matching
    • Practice Exercises for Water Effects
  • U3

    Setting the Stages for Success

    • Concept Development
    • Photoshop Techniques
    • Preparing the Canvas
  • U4

    Bringing Water to Life

    • Painting the Sky
    • Painting Water 1
    • Painting Water 2
    • Painting Waves
  • U5

    Perfecting the Masterpiece

    • Adding Details
    • Drying and Varnishing
  • FP

    Final project

    • Painting Realistic Seascapes with Oil Techniques

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

  • Learn from the best professionals

    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

    Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

  • Certificates
    Plus

    If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

  • Connect with a global creative community

    The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

  • Watch professionally produced courses

    Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.


FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Painting Realistic Seascapes with Oil Techniques. Illustration course by Derek Macara

Painting Realistic Seascapes with Oil Techniques

A course by Derek Macara
Oil Painting Instructor. Provincetown, United States.
Joined July 2024
  • 100% positive reviews (2)
  • 280 students