Are you interested to draw Oceans and Seascapes with oils?
In his book "Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes" the artist Martin Clarke writes: "Welcome to the incredible, diverse world of painting the ocean, coast, and sea. In this book you’ll explore how to paint several different seascapes in oil, using a number of simple yet effective techniques. In the process, you’ll discover the versatility of oil paints, which are forgiving and produce wonderful color. With their long drying time, oils are ideal for blending and can produce areas that are smooth or textured. Oils are a perfect medium to portray the ever-changing moods and drama of this very special subject: the sea."
The book is one of the 40-page books from the "Oil ... step by step" series, published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The ten chapters cover the following topics: 1) Tools & Materials, 2) Color Basics, 3) Painting Methods, 4) Brushwork Techniques, 5) Seascape Techniques, 6) Ellenbrook Shore, 7) Eruption, 8) Unridden Wave, 9) The Reef, and 10) Foaming Waters. Clarke bases his drawings on photos. The step-by-step approach, tips, information about the used color palette and information how to draw certain details help readers who want to reproduce her drawings or paint similar ones.
The book is presented with great graphics and design. It is helpful and inspirational for beginning (and advanced) artists who want to draw oceans and seascapes with oils. I would recommend it in this case. It would make also a great present for them. Readers need to be aware that it is a basic book, an index and information where the needed materials can be bought are missing. Furthermore, it would have been helpful if the reference photos could be downloaded since the are of small size in the book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#OilPaintingOceansSeascapes #NetGalley

AUTHOR

Martin Clarke, is a fine artist who specializes in seascapes and views. See more details by clicking on his name above

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE

Clarke’s Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes is written in the style of a self-help manual come tutorial. It hails from the renowned publisher Walter Foster. Whilst it is diminutive with only 40 pages in total, the information packed inside in conjunction with the attractive color plates and illustrations make it a jewel.

SYNOPSIS

If you have read enough Walter Foster books, the format will be familiar and welcome. As always, it is written and illustrated with ease of use built in. Within the pages are five quick and easy tutorials complete with methods to help improve your skills. There are step-by-step directions and plenty of ancillary information to assist the aspiring artist even further.

There is a brief introduction to color theory, brush techniques, and recommended palettes. Whilst it appears at first sight to be a tutorial best used by those new to painting in oil, the methods and advice enclosed would be helpful to even those of an intermediate level of expertise.

CONCLUSION

Sometimes less really is more. This is for those with the need for a quick to understand but highly accessible and informative read.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Martin Clarke, Net Galley, and Walter Foster Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes: Learn to Paint Step by Step

Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes by Martin Clarke was a small book that was packed with so much information I found it perfect. It was easy to follow throughout especially as its perfect for a beginner and who wants to learn more on How to create masterpieces of Oceans and seascapes. There's five full tutorials with step-by-step on how to create them. I loved this book and enjoyed reading and learning how to create a painting that looks like the sea!

Thank you to NetGalley, Artist Martin Clarke, and Walter Foster Publishing for a ARC for an honest review.

This was a very easy to follow instructional painting book. I enjoyed painting the colorful flowers. Each painting was one or two enlarged flowers. I enjoyed practicing them on 4 X4 and 8X8 canvases.

I would recommend this book to a beginning painter.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes is a is a tutorial and style guide by Martin Clarke. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 40 pages and will be available in paperback format. Some of the content has been reformatted and expanded from previously published (2013) material.

The layout follows the familiar Walter Foster tutorial format. An introduction covers tools and supplies and is followed by a short and easily accessible general tutorial on color theory and painting methods. There's a good subchapter on brushwork leading into an overview on seascapes/water/foam, etc. There are 5 full tutorials with tips and techniques to complete the projects with varied types of water and associated landscape features. Each tutorial includes the palette, some step by step instruction and tips for completing the paintings. It doesn't include an index or links for further reading (but it's not necessary for such a short book). Each of the chapters includes a start to finish project illustrating the concepts and techniques from the chapter.

This is a very basic book but full of intermediate techniques and will provide some useful takeaways for the majority of readers/artists. This entire series is worthwhile and will be a valuable addition to the artist's home library.

Four stars.

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is a great guide to oil painting. My favorite bit is the helpful tips on doing waves.

I have read and used several of this series now, on painting and drawing, and love them for my own use but I also work with children on art workshops and they are a great reference guide for when we work with something the kids, and myself, might not be that familiar with, eg oils!
This book focuses on creating the effect of the sea. It is ideal for those interest in the impressionist styles as well, with a strong focus on nature and the effects of light. However you can also use the techniques and tips and apply them to different subjects as you gain confidence.
If you don't live by the sea, you can use photographs, or try working 'en plein air' like Monet at a lake or river.

The designs shown in the book can be recreated step by step or you can take inspiration and choose subjects of your own. Happy painting!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an art instruction book on painting seascapes in oil. The author started by briefly describing the various tools and materials needed, some oil painting techniques, how to create various ocean–related textures, and color theory. He then provided five step-by-step projects using these techniques. Each project had seven or eight steps, each with a text description and illustration. The text description included information like what part of the painting to work on next, what colors to use, what technique to use, and tips for creating certain textures. These instructions weren't always clear. For example, he once said to use a "mountain mixture" but he hadn't said what colors were in that mixture. Overall, though, this book provides beginners to seascapes with good tips on how to create fairly realistic scenes.

This book is great I especially love the tips on realistic waves and foaming water. I absolutely love ocean and seascapes so I thoroughly enjoyed the tips and the beautiful artwork in this book. I highly recommend it. This book is very short but full of handy tips. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

As seen in other volumes of the 40 page art instruction book series, after the introductory part with the tools, techniques, strokes, elementary color theory comes the part with the step-by-step tutorials. They are simple and well explained with gorgeous artwork. The only "complaint" : there is no "open sea" painting, so the title should have been "Shores" instead of "Oceans and seascapes".

Want to learn to paint seascapes with oil paints? Oil Painting: Oceans & Seascapes by Martin Clarke is a detailed step by step instructional book on how to paint oceans and seascapes. Definitely a great tool for learning to paint.

The book includes sections on:

Tools & Materials which also includes a tip on taking care of your palette.
Color Basics which also gives a great explanation on neutral colors.
Painting Methods which also includes a tip on paint drying.
Brushwork Techniques which also includes a section on painting with a knife.
Seascape Techniques.

The artist shows you how to paint five different paintings; Ellenbrook Shore, Eruption, Unridden Wave, The Reef, and Foaming Waters. He gives you detail step by step on which colors and techniques to use to achieve the same look as the picture. The pictures in the book are awesome and made me want to run out and pick up the supplies so I could start my own masterpiece. I have always wanted to try oil painting, and I feel quite confident attempting it after reading this book. I mean, who doesn’t love a good step by step book to advance your creativity.

I wish the author had done a section on transferring or drawing the original picture onto the canvas. I am familiar with the technique as I have painted with water colors. However, someone who has not done that, could probably use a few details on how it’s done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Artist Martin Clarke, and Walter Foster Publishing for allowing me to read and review this 4 star book.

This is a detailed step by step guide, ideal for beginners or intermediate artists. It will guide you through a number of projects focussing on the sea. It is a great observational study and allows you to break down each part and follow the author's instructions for building the picture. I liked the study of waves and spray and the additional hints and tips for getting them right. The projects themselves are inspiring and will have you wanting to try them out. For a short book it covers a lot of ground and is highly recommended.

This is not a big book, but it certainly has a lot of useful information. I always have trouble with the look of my wave splash and foam, the information here hit the spot -simple but very effective.
Plenty of examples and clear information to demonstrate the different effect when painting a seascape, always beautiful with light and shades and movement - trying to capture it with paint is not that easy sometimes.
Great book for beginners or experienced oil painters.