David Bellamy - David Bellamys Seas & Shorelines in Watercolour

David Bellamy has always been fascinated by the worlds wild places. Highly regarded as a teacher of art, he has a tremendous following among leisure painters, many of whom have attended his extremely popular courses and workshops both in the UK and overseas. He gives demonstrations and talks, produces successful DVDs, has written many books on watercolour painting and is a regular contributor to art magazines. David lives in Builth Wells, Wales.

ALSO BY DAVID BELLAMY

David Bellamys Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting

978-1-84448-734-9

David Bellamys Mountains & Moorlands in Watercolour

978-1-84448-583-3

David Bellamys Skies, Light & Atmosphere in Watercolour

978-1-84448-677-9

David Bellamys Arctic Light

978-1-78221-423-6

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the many extremely tolerant skippers, from the Arctic Sea to the Indian Ocean, who have manoeuvred their craft in less than perfect seas into some tricky and decidedly dodgy positions, so that the author could capture that stunning view of some heaps of rocks.

First published in Great Britain 2019

Search Press Limited Wellwood, North Farm Road,

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR

Illustrations and text copyright David Bellamy 2019

Photographs by Paul Bricknell at Search Press Studios

Photographs and design copyright Search Press Ltd. 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this book, text, photographs or illustrations may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche, photocopier, internet or in any way known or as yet unknown, or stored in a retrieval system, without written permission obtained beforehand from Search Press.

ISBN: 978-1-78221-672-8

eISBN: 978-1-78126-587-1

The Publishers and author can accept no responsibility for any consequences arising from the information, advice or instructions given in this publication.

Suppliers

If you have difficulty in obtaining any of the materials and equipment mentioned in this book, then please visit the Search Press website for details of suppliers: www.searchpress.com

Publishers note

All the step-by-step photographs in this book feature the author, David Bellamy, demonstrating his watercolour painting techniques. No models have been used.

You are invited to visit the authors website: www.davidbellamy.co.uk

His blog, with free painting tips, can be accessed via the website.

Front cover

Heavy Seas, Grassholm

38 25.5cm (15 10in)

This painting can also be seen on .

Ebbing Tide

33 25.5cm (13 10in)

Teign Estuary

40.5 25.5cm (16 10in)

Opposite

Pounding Waves, St. Brides

45.5 30.5cm (18 12in)

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to Edward Ralph for editing these pages, Juan Hayward for his creative design talents and Katie French at Search Press; and to Jenny Keal for checking the manuscript.

P ainting by the sea has always been a popular activity for both the occasional painter and the professional. Sitting on the beach sketching, working up a simple drawing at a quayside caf, or painting on the deck of a cruise ship makes up a pleasurable part of a summer holiday for some, while to others it is a year-round activity in all seasons. The combination of painting and enjoying the sea environment is especially therapeutic, taking you away from the debilitating haste and stresses of modern life. While you are encouraged to work from this book indoors, never has it been so easy to collect images of your own to work from, so I do urge you to go forth with a sketchbook and pencil, alongside a camera, smartphone or similar gizmo, and capture those fascinating scenes on the coast.

Before you go outside, however, the book guides you in how to tackle the various types of subject found on the coast, so that you gain both experience and confidence in drawing and painting before having to undertake these terrifying pleasures. Dont feel you need to create crashing waves, intricate boat designs, complicated harbour scenes or confusing cliff structures, as there are simple alternatives to each of these, as will become apparent. You are encouraged to begin with the easy approach and then gradually build up your expertise until you are working on more complicated scenes once you feel able to tackle these.

Breaking Wave

25.5 x 18cm (10 x 7in)

Whether you paint in a realistic fashion, or prefer the kind where it is not really necessary to attach that mast to the boat, you will find a wealth of techniques and ideas in the following pages. My own work in watercolour tends towards the more traditional methods of working, but with the development of so many additives and exciting new approaches to using the medium, I have brought in some additional techniques such as collage, monoprinting, textural effects and additives that will push the boundaries of your watercolour painting. Throughout the book you will come across a wide selection of skies and moods which you can transfer to your own compositions. In later sections you will find out how you can improve your compositions, get the best out of your photographs, and introduce figures and seabirds into your work.

Tip

Your skills will improve as you practise. Keep at least some of your old work as this will give you a yardstick by which to measure how much you have developed as an artist.

Dont despair if things go wrong with perseverance you will find your work progressing even without you realizing. You paint because it gives you pleasure, and the aim of the book is to encourage you to enjoy the experience of capturing the fascinating world of sea and shoreline.