«The sea is nothing but love and emotion; it is the living infinite»
— Jules Verne, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea"
In this course, I invite you to share my love for the Sea — a living, breathing symbol of life itself!
We will explore the ocean in all its moods and forms: glowing sunsets and tranquil waters painted wet-on-wet, sparkling foam and translucent waves with and without masking fluid, and even the subtle presence of the human figure in the seascape — a rare and striking detail that brings a unique soul to the painting.
From soft, atmospheric transitions of light and shadow to dynamic splashes and luminous depths, every lesson will reveal new techniques and creative secrets, making this course not only about painting the sea, but about feeling its rhythm, its movement, and its spirit on paper.
Course artworks
What will we learn?
Painting water and seascapes is a dream for many, yet it is far from simple. The sea is dynamic and challenging to capture realistically while still conveying the energy of its elements and the expressive effects of watercolor.
Watercolor Techniques
We will learn to convey the texture and essence of water using different techniques suited to each specific subject
Choosing Subjects
We will learn how to independently select subjects for further practice by examining successful composition examples and common pitfalls to avoid
Depicting the Sea in Many Ways
We will learn to depict calm waves, raging seas, splashes, and transparency — and by the end of the course, we will try incorporating a human figure into seascapes
Workflow Steps
We will study the step-by-step process of creating artwork and the "pitfalls" to watch out for
Course Contents
Theory & Practice
Exercise: "Painting Waves"
Duration: 30 minutes
We will get acquainted with the technique of depicting soft, smooth waves and the distribution of reflections on the water’s surface
LESSON №1
Yacht at Sunset
Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
We will paint calm water, practice the technique of creating waves and reflections. We will work with lighting and discuss how it affects the color and tone of objects placed in front of the light source
LESSON №2
Wave in Wet-on-Wet Technique
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
In this lesson, I will explain the distribution of light within a wave and the shades best suited for seascapes. We will master the technique of wetting the paper from both sides, paint a wave using the wet-on-wet method, and try to convey foam and light shining through the wave
LESSON №3
Coast and Sea
Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes
We will learn to depict the seashore with sea foam and splashes, stones on the shore, and convey depth and layering in the seascape
LESSON №4
Stones Underwater
Duration: 50 minutes
We will paint a small study featuring stones underwater, where I will show how to convey depth, the volume of stones beneath the water, effects of light refracted through water, and reflections. This technique will be useful in our final project
Theory & Practice
"Sketch of the Human Figure" — Drawing + Grisaille
Duration: 45 minutes
We will practice depicting the human figure, discuss light and shadow, proportions, and methods for realistically constructing the human form, and create a sketch for the final work using the grisaille technique
LESSON №5
Final Artwork: "The Girl and the Sea"
Duration: 1 hour
We will practice depicting the human figure, discuss light and shadow, proportions, and techniques for realistically constructing the human form, and complete a sketch for the final painting using the grisaille technique
Painting water is my passion.
I want to share with you the experience gained from many years of observation and practice.
I have carefully selected the best references to immerse you in this subject,
so you can enjoy the process and significantly improve your watercolor skills and artistic vision.
Welcome to a journey along picturesque shores!
Anastasia Petriaeva @seanastya,
Course Author
You can find students’ works here: #seanastya_lessons
Frequently Asked Questions
What skill levels is this course suitable for?
It is suitable both for beginners who want to get acquainted with sea painting techniques and for intermediate artists looking to deepen their knowledge and expand their range of subjects.
Course Access
You will receive lifetime access to the course and can study at your own pace whenever it suits you. Feedback is also available without time limits — you can send me your work as you complete it. I’m always here to support you.
Course Contents
You get unlimited access to the course and can study anytime that’s convenient for you. Feedback is also unlimited — you can send me your work as soon as it’s ready. I’m always here to support you.
Course Materials Overview
Your materials may vary, and that’s perfectly fine. Of course, you can use the brushes and paints you’re comfortable with. If you don’t have certain pigments, many can be substituted with similar ones or mixed. I use masking fluid in two out of the four projects, and it will definitely come in handy.
What results can you expect after completing this course?
You will gain greater confidence with the material and won’t be afraid to tackle more complex subjects you’ve always wanted to paint but lacked confidence for. You’ll open up space for your own creativity in depicting seascapes, as we will study the step-by-step workflow, compositional techniques, and the “pitfalls” to watch out for.
Get 30% off by purchasing the course now during the early sale — even before its official release! This early-bird discount also applies to the feedback option. Don’t miss out! Or leave your email, and I’ll notify you when the course launches (with a 20% discount)
Without feedback
$100 USD
$70 USD *
* — available with early registration
Unlimited access to courses
With feedback
$190 USD
$133 USD *
* — available with early registration
Unlimited access to courses
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