Stanley 4
9 x 11
watercolor
This demo is the first step. I used a red-brown color, wet the entire figure and hat, and painted a value study.

Stanley 3
9 x 11
watercolor

Stanley 2
9 x 11
watercolor
This demo is fairly close to being complete.

Stanley 1
9 x 11
watercolor
This demo is close to being complete.

Elephant
11 x 15
Watercolor, gouache, pen & ink, and colored pencil on watercolor paper prepped with an acrylic beach wash.

Duck
15 x 11
Watercolor
classroom demo in process, a little further along.

Elephant
11 x 15
Watercolor, gouache, pen & ink, and colored pencil on watercolor paper prepped with an acrylic beach wash.

Duck
15 x 11
Watercolor
classroom demo in process

Parrot
13 x 10
gouache (with a watercolor background)
classroom demo in process

Danny's Truck
9 x 8
Colored Pencil on mat board prepped with tinted acrylic ground for pastel
classroom demo

Beach Wash step-by-step

Submerge your watercolor paper in the ocean. This is a half sheet of 140 lb. paper. I have also used 90 lb. paper as well.

Grab sand from the bottom and cover the submerged paper.

Pull up the paper once it is wet and covered in sand.

Allow the excess sand and water to flow off and create patterns.

Shift the paper around to move the water and sand into a pleasing pattern. If you don't get one you like submerge it again and get a new pattern.

Once you get a good pattern, head to the shore.

Lay your paper on the sand. It's ready to pour.

Beginning the pour.

The paint used here is watered down Golden Fluid Acrylics. You can also use watercolor (use strong colors) or acrylic inks. I prep the color in jars and bring them to the beach.

Pouring

Pouring

Pouring

Pouring

Pouring the final color.
To get the washes home - stack them (even if wet) and put them in a plastic bag. Allow them to dry before removing the sand.

This is what the Beach Wash looks like after drying and removing the sand. Sometimes the sand can be easily rubbed off. If the acrylic paint is not watered down enough it makes the sand hard to get off. Sometimes after the paper is dried I rinse it as well.