To mix coastal acrylic painting colors, start with Titanium White as your base and blend in Ultramarine Blue or Phthalo Blue for ocean water. For sandy beaches, use Yellow Ochre mixed with White and Burnt Sienna, and for seagrass, combine Phthalo Green and Yellow Medium. To create a soft, beachy feel, tone down bold colors by adding white or a touch of gray. This simple color mixing technique for beginners captures the calming look of the shoreline.

When painting sea birds or marine animals in acrylics, use a round brush for smooth feathers and fins, a fan brush for feather texture, and liner brushes for details like eyes and beaks. Try dry brushing for soft edges, and layer paint from broad shapes to fine highlights. Practicing these beginner acrylic painting techniques will help you bring movement and life to birds, fish, or dolphins in your artwork.

To paint realistic ocean waves with acrylics, use darker blues and greens for shadowed areas and highlight the wave crests with Titanium White mixed with a touch of blue. Apply highlights using a dry brush or palette knife for a foamy look. Always reflect the color of the sky in your water, making it lighter near the horizon and darker in the foreground. Adding thin horizontal strokes of highlight creates the shimmer of sunlight on water. These are classic step-by-step ocean painting tips for beginners.

For a simple coastal acrylic painting for beginners, paint the sky first, blending from dark blue at the top to pale near the horizon. Then, layer the ocean with horizontal brush strokes, shifting from deep blue in the distance to lighter turquoise near shore. Use Yellow Ochre, White, and Burnt Sienna for sandy beach tones. Finish with details like waves, dunes, or seabirds. Following this step-by-step coastal landscape painting tutorial ensures depth and natural perspective.

To keep your acrylic painting brushes in good condition, rinse them in clean water immediately after use. Wash with mild soap and warm water, gently working paint from the bristles. Never leave brushes sitting in water, as this bends tips and loosens glue. Reshape with your fingers and lay them flat to dry. With these simple brush cleaning tips for acrylic painting, your tools will last longer and perform better.

Every beginner needs a basic acrylic painting supply list: a starter set of paints (Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Green, Yellow Medium, Yellow Ochre, and Burnt Umber), a mix of flat, round, and liner brushes, a canvas or canvas pad, a palette, water, and paper towels. For coastal and bird painting, add a fan brush for texture and a palette knife for highlights. These essential acrylic supplies for beginners give you everything you need to paint seascapes and seabirds.