Sea life offers a fascinating array of subjects to study and draw.
Marine life artist Wyland, of the Wyland Foundation, uses his artistic abilities to capture the beauty and awe of the ocean, while inspiring others to protect the natural waters of our world. If you're interested in learning draw sea life, begin by taking some time to study the animals that live in our oceans and seas. Find what inspires you and learn draw it in a way that could inspire others.
Instructions
1. Study from photos and books. Learn the basic form of the animals that live in seas and oceans. How do they move? How do they breath? Learning the anatomy of an animal will help you understand its shape so that you can draw from it from different angles. This will also help you know where to add details, such as fins, gills and teeth. Keep a sketchbook with drawings of what you learn.
2. Visit an aquarium. There is no substitute for seeing an animal in its natural environment, but aquariums are the next best thing. Bring a watercolor block, a few paints, watercolor pencils and brushes, and try to capture the colors and forms you see in the bigger tanks. Take time doing smaller close-up studies of starfish, seahorses and slower-moving sea animals.
3. Study the styles of other artists who draw marine life. How do they handle background and environment? What colors do they use in their compositions? How do they show light? Is it realistic, narrative, stylized? Try to imitate different styles and see if you can find a format that works for you. Practice using different styles to illustrate scenes from your aquarium studies.
4. Practice the patterns you see in scales and coloring. Photos are a good choice for referencing details, but you can also take pictures of still-life displays, models and exhibits in aquariums and field museums.
5. Practice capturing the effects of water reflection on objects underwater. Trace the reflective lines from underwater seascape photos and note the patterns of light as it bends around underwater forms. Do your own studies of water reflection by sitting on the edge of a pool or a pond and studying the light on your arm or rocks beneath the surface. Knowing illustrate natural water reflection will bring authenticity to your sea life drawings.
