Realistic Beach Waves in Watercolor: Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial

Do you want to learn how to paint soft, dreamy ocean waves in watercolor?

Let me walk you through it! In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you all my techniques to create realistic beach waves—foam, splashes, shadows, and more.

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve, you’ll find tips that help bring your seascapes to life.

Step 1: Prepare the Foam with Masking Fluid

Before we get into the painting, we need to plan out the foam on the waves. This step makes a big difference later.

To start, I apply masking fluid to the areas where the white foam will be. But here’s a tip: don’t cover all the foam. Just apply masking fluid to the brightest highlights.

These areas will stand out the most in the final piece. Once the masking fluid is dry, we’re ready to begin painting.

Step 2: Use Wet-on-Wet to Paint a Soft Ocean Background

Now that the masking fluid is dry, it’s time to paint the base of our ocean. This part sets the tone for the whole painting, so let’s do it step by step.

First, I brush on a light wash of clean water over the top part of the foam area. This prepares the paper for the wet-on-wet technique, which gives the ocean a soft and dreamy look.

Next, I take ultramarine blue—my favorite color for skies and oceans—and apply it across the horizon. This creates a beautiful, deep tone for the distant water.

As I move my brush closer to the foam, I add more water to the mix. This creates a lighter gradient, which helps us prepare the area for the next color we’ll use later. Keeping this part soft and light makes a big difference in the final look.

Step 3: Add Foam Shadows and Build Up the Waves

Now that the base layer is down, it’s time to work on the foam. Let’s give it some depth and shape.

I begin painting the shadows in the foam using the same ultramarine blue but in a lighter mix.

I slowly build up the color, starting with darker shades at the bottom and blending upward with water. This makes the foam feel more dimensional.

Next, I mix marine blue and turquoise blue. I apply this blend to the top part of the waves.

Then, using a more diluted version of that mix, I work on the bottom part of the foam to keep the effect light and airy.

I use a darker shade to paint tiny baby strokes around the foam area to add more texture. I blend them softly with more water. This technique creates subtle ripples and movement in the water.

I repeat the steps to build up layers and give the waves a realistic feel.

Step 4: Paint the Beach and Plan a Second Layer of Foam

The sea is taking shape, so let’s move to the beach and plan where the second foam layer will go.

Before painting the sand, I decide where the second foam line should be. I leave that area empty for now.

Then I fill the sandy beach using yellow ochre with lots of water to make a light wash. This gives a soft base for the beach.

Step 5: Create Splash Light Effects with Water Techniques

Let’s have some fun with water techniques! These are great for making realistic splash light effects.

First, I fill my brush with clean water and apply it gently over a slightly moist paint area. This moisture is essential—it should be damp but not too wet. 

When I drop more water on top, the pigments move and push away, creating beautiful, natural-looking splashes.

Next, I load the brush with water again and apply it to a new area.

This time, I use a dry brush to remove the excess water. What this does is reactivate the pigment underneath, and when we lift it, it creates another soft splash.

I press the brush onto a flat surface for smaller splashes to spread the bristles. Then, I dab paint onto the area using the open bristles.

This helps define the splash edges. To finish, I use a darker shade around the splash to add contrast and shadows.

Step 6: Reinforce Shadows and Remove Masking Fluid

We’re almost there! Let’s keep building the shadows and prepare to reveal the foam highlights.

I continue to add shadows along the base of the waves, just like we did earlier. These darker areas help enhance contrast and make the water look more dynamic.

Apply the same technique when painting the top of the foam area. I use a hair dryer to make the drying process faster. 

Now, it’s time to remove the masking fluid. Once it’s off, the bright white foam areas appear. 

I use a very light blue wash to go over those white spots. Be gentle here—the goal is to blend just a bit of color around the foam to make it look more natural.

Step 7: Final Touches for Depth, Texture, and Highlights

To finish strong, I add more blue tones to the water to increase the contrast and depth. Then I move down to the beach again. 

Using sepia, I paint shadows at the edge of the foam, where it meets the sand. I blend these strokes freely for a natural transition.

For a final touch of texture, I flick in small blobs of paint. This gives the sandy surface a little life. If you’re a perfectionist like me, feel free to add extra dots in areas that seem a bit empty.

Now, let’s grab some white gouache. I dip into it and dot highlights along the waves to enhance the white splashes. Finally, I wrap it all up with wet splatters for that finishing touch of movement.

And that’s a wrap—we've finished our beach waves painting!

Wrapping Up

I hope this tutorial inspires you to try painting beach waves with watercolor. You can create soft splashes, realistic foam, and a peaceful shoreline with a few simple techniques.

Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—enjoy the process and keep practicing. What other watercolor scenes would you like to paint next? Let me know—I’d love to help!