Turtle Beach

Apr 26, 20242 min read

Updated: Apr 27, 2024

I came up with the idea for this one while staring at the blank canvas. I was examining the little open hexagons and thought to myself, 'Those would look great as a turtle shell!' and after looking up some resource images for sea turtles, was on my way to creating this little seaside gem.

Preparing the Canvas

Utilized Liquitex brand coarse texture medium to create textured beach surface.
Applied with silicone-tipped tool, leaving water area untouched.
Mixed sandy hue using primary colors: red, yellow, white, and blue.
Sculpted turtle using Liquitex brand modeling paste and silicone tool.

Painting the Scene

Defined shoreline with white wash using Princeton Select #3 round brush.
Enhanced turtle's features with Winsor & Newton brand raw umber.
Added Winsor & Newton Phthalo blue with Liquitex gel gloss medium for transparent water.
Crafted waves with Princeton Select 1/2" oval mop brush and natural sea sponge.

Adding Depth and Texture

Added details with Posca marker in white 0.7mm.
Filled turtle's eyes with black 0.7mm Posca.
Applied more washes of color to water to maintain distinction between shore and sea.

Detailing and Finishing Touches

Layered Phthalo blue on turtle's shell with sponge for texture.
Sculpted sand dollar and seashells with Liquitex modeling paste, and pressed down with my fingers.
Added more interference blue on shells and highlights with apple green Posca.

Final Considerations on Varnishing

Opted out of varnish this time.
Considered spray-on type for compatibility with Posca markers and textured surfaces.
Would choose glossy varnish for water and matte for everything else to maintain distinction.

Check out the following links to get the same paints and brushes that I used!