Acrylic Painting Tutorial - How To Paint Waves (for beginners)
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- If you are still pretty new to painting, but hoping to start making art that makes you feel like you are growing your skill, this is the painting tutorial for you! In this video we use beginner techniques to make a tropical beach scene.
In this how to paint video, we use beginner techniques to create a beautiful piece of art thats easy AND beautiful! Many beginner acrylic painting tutorials I see are very flat in color and don't have a lot of depth. So I wanted to make a video for newer painters who are hoping to make something more than what other beginner tutorials offer. I've gotten a lot of requests for "how to paint waves" videos or a "Acrylic wave painting tutorial" video. So I choose a simple beach scene with crashing waves, transparent water, a sparkling horizon, and puffy clouds in the distance. All of these elements are normally found in more complex painting tutorials, but in this video we use exclusively beginner techniques, the most complex being some blending which we walk through step by step, to create an amazing piece together.
This is a longer video so we can go really in depth on how to make this painting happen. But there are sections that are speed up to fit in a 25 minute time frame. If you are interested in the full length painting tutorial with nothing sped up, you might want to consider supporting me on Patreon! at the $5 a month tier I have full length painting tutorials along with "Lost Videos" and other exclusive content. So if you want an even longer and more in depth how to video on painting waves, go check that out at the link below! The support is so so appreciated.
/ emilymackeyart
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Thanks for hanging with me!
Links:
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I want to point out that she's using a gray plate. This helps keep the colors 'neutral' when mixing. It gives better color accuracy.
Exactly!
I use a piece of cardboard haha😂, it has dents so my paints stuck inside sometimes... I also just mix new colours above the dried old ones cus I don't have anything else to use😭 just started painting for a month
Iromo Sushi how’s it going so far?
Thats actually really smart 😳Why aren't all palettes gray I wonder..
@@EmilyMackeyArt you have a voice for radio
I love that you did this whole tutorial with the basic primary colors! As a beginner this is so helpful 😭!
Veronica Black just so you know, I almost always paint with just those primary colors!
Perfect video for beginners. If you don't push yourself then you'll just never know what you are capable of people. loved all of this.
"Other tutorials are a bit flat"
That's an enormous understatement. All "beginner" tutorials I saw were nothing more than "look at this sped up footage of me silently moving the brush until a masterwork is created and me, the all high and mighty artist can smugly tell you how easy and fun it was".
You're on a completely different level. You're not only explaining WHAT you're doing, you're also explaining WHY you're doing it and which alternatives exist.
After watching all those other "beginner" tutorials I started to doubt that acrylic painting will become a hobby of mine since I seem to lack a gene to "get it". Turned out these people simply sucked as mentors. Thank you so much, not only for tutoring me but also for instilling the confidence back into me to keep painting.
"My voice is a wreck". Girl, I'm loving your voice. It's very soothing.
Those finishing details are so helpful! It reminds me of Robin Sealark when she said that when you feel like you’re done push yourself a little more to add those tiny details because that’s what helps your painting pop. I love love love sun shimmers you’re absolutely right, it gives your painting that magical touch. Love your tutorials and love that your personality really shines through!
Thank you so so much Kat! I LOVE that little tip about pushing yourself a little more to add the tiny details. Because really, thats the funnest part of the painting and the most rewarding. So glad you liked this one!
I love it when she said. "Be gentle on your self as you grow as an artist" ....it motivated me a lot.....👍
“I think we did a pretty good
Job here”
Me laying on my bed at 1:30 A.M: “yeah we did bud! “
omg yes kkkkkkk
Awww lol
Since you suggested using the pause on the video I felt I looked you.
4:00 love how you pointed out if I zoom into your hair I'm gunna see your dandruff.... cute. This is when I decide to give you a like
😂😂 ty
ROFLMAOLOL!!!
Waves for beginners - that video was a joy to watch. I have difficulty painting waves.
I've tried recreating this painting and i think the thing i struggle the most with was mixing colors ahaha and also giving the wave that "circular" effect
Mixing colors can be a struggle! Have you watched my how to mix colors video? That might help you out a little bit!
Great work
same!
same
Mixing color is difficult because not telling what are the color mixing n also cannot c even properly the palat
I am also learning. I like your paintings very much and I will learn a lot from them. thank you for your good videos and beautiful paintings .
I have seen many tutorials but this one just hit me. She’s really honest, nice and just my type. This one is damn pretty and really helped me! Tysm!! 💞✨
I love this tutorial because even though she comes across humble like she isn't sure of herself, she is brilliant and I love this about her. She makes me feel like I can do this too kinda attitude. Thank you for being you.
I just finished following along, and oh my gosh! I feel like I've actually made something wonderful 🥰 This is such a great tutorial! Listening to your voice is very calming, which helps as I usually go through the stages of grief a thousand times each time I paint 😂 The hardest part for me was trying to make the foamy tendrils look natural. But I'm so pleased that I gave it a go even though I new it would be a challenge!
I know this video is from two years ago, but I just stumbled onto your channel. I love how calm and soothing your manner is. I feel like most artists forget how nerve-wracking it is to be a beginner and that simple things like not having the exact shade of blue they're using can really send us into a panic. Thank you for your empathy and kindness. I also really appreciate that when I'm done following this tutorial, I'll end up with a painting I'm actually proud of, so thank you for that too.
11:16 girl you also can sing!!!! such a brilliant talented woman!
Following your painting tutorials has basically been my therapy. You are so intentional and kind with your words and they really build up a weary spirit. Thank you so much for your sweetness. This has encouraged me so much. Such a God sent! Bless you!!
i ordered a bunch of paint supplies today to push myself out of the colour pencil realm and i’ve been binging your vids for beginner tips. thank u!
I'm glad i found this channel. She is soooo inspirational
I- your channel is sO UNDERRATED omg pls i love your personality and the way you walk us trough things😔💘 pls don't stop making videos
THIS IS THE NICEST COMMENT!!! Thank you so so much you made my day! No plan to stop making videos anytime soon!
Thank you..
Your turorial is something else..loved your way of painting..please dont stop doing tutorials..replicating this picture is my first canvas painting..thanks a lot
i really loved the aspect of the transparent water .....and it feels as if the waves are real...like they are moving !!...loved it..it feels like i am in a beach...wonderful...love ur videos and like u ..i am a pretty big fan of acrylic paint ...Yaay !! 😆😁😃
I only watched but plan to go back and try this very soon. Complete beginner and excited to learn more! Thank you so much for doing this!!
Simply superb! Especially the way clouds and foam on wave is painted by applying a light background
Thank you so much, Manjiri!
I love how you just busted out singing like an angel and then say “and here I’m just..” like you didn’t just kill it❣️😂
" i know your name...." My god i was desperate about my painting work and you gave me the collest tutorial. I did a great job because of you, thank you. I'm french and i understand all of what you're talking about +° your calm + your skil + the song, I'm in love.
Awesome. Thanks.You are the best teacher for beginner. Stay with you
Your painting is really great. I want to learn it because I love painting very much. 😁🥰🥰😎✌️🤟
Your tutorial actually makes me think I can paint. Thank you for this easy to follow tutorial. And your encouraging way of teaching.
Am much more satisfied with this tutorial than those 5 minute simple ones I see everyday without any instructions or guidelines. Thanks for the tutorial ❤
Glad it was helpful! It sounds like I did a decent job then on this tutorial. I've got more to come!
@@EmilyMackeyArt I'll subscribe to follow more!
You’re such a nice, talented, beautiful artist everr!! Please make more tutorials they are really helpful, love you from Kuwait❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH! That is so sweet of you to say!!!
Yes you are right 😉
Gracias. Lo pinte y se lo regale a mi abuela de 80 años, lloro de felicidad estaba muy contenta por lo que hice. Todo gracias a vos 🥺
Once you paint the back ocean into darker color, I said "what? it is too dark!". Then, you turned it into a beautiful color. Thank you, I can sleep well now.
Beautiful painting and tutorial. Keep it up.
loved this tutorial as I am a complete beginner. The hardest part was getting the shape and thinness of my strokes doing the foam tendrils on the shallow water over the sand. I will paint over it and try again. Thankyou I had a lovely relaxing day with you Emily
It's really looks real..!! Thank u for sharing this video!!!
Love your positive encouragement. Thank you!
Very helpful tutorial and a very beautiful painting... Thank you for sharing..
This is exactly the tutorial I needed…just getting started with acrylics. You’re a great teacher! Thank you! I’m really happy with my result 🥰
I love how you use just the primary colours for the videos and make the colours yourself .
Thank you so much I always wanted to learn painting waves. You have explained very well . Must try tonight
Your videos are a joy to watch. And I'm a grumpy old guy. So that's saying something. You just became my fifth subscription over the last 10+ years.
nice painting, beautiful color.
9/10 of the time: *calm instruction* *positive encouragement* *Disney sing alongs!*
1/10 of the time: *yells at camera* Stop focusing on my head they'll see I have dandruff!
Lol love your videos :) wouldn't change a thing
I love this comment! I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET MY BIG STUPID HEAD OUT OF FRAME!!!! NO MATTER WHAT! I CANT FIGURE IT OUT!
I am mesmerized!!! When I saw the finished painting before the tutorial, i thought how is it possible to paint shallow water with foam on it!? This just blew me away! Fantastic Work ❤ Amazingly done...
Thank you so much!!!
Love it thank you for this tutorial! Newby here so I'm super excited to learn all I can! 🥰🩵💙
Very nice. Can't wait to try this. Thank you for being so positive and your calming voice.
AWWWW Thank you so much! It's so nice to hear that people like my voice! thats a special compliment to get. I hope you enjoy painting this! Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you Emily for this amazing masterclass it’s really helpful as I am beginner.
Can I just say, I LOVE to hear you sing!
AWWWWW!!!! Thank you so much! That makes my day!
You are fabulous! Thanks for the calming and instructive video!
Oh you sing so well too. Well for this tutorial I had an awesome learning cos I have always done watercolor (not from an art school though) and wanted to try something not so flat in acrylic painting. Will try this. Thanks
The angle is just perfect👌
This tutorial is not just someone painting and posting a video. Emily describes techniques that are being used and they you can use in other paintings, provides encouragement, and is aware of what audience this video is being projected towards.
Omg this looked so easy. Half way through I made good progress until I had to do the waves. And then boom! My waves looks like scraggly lines and not like waves at all and then I couldn't finish it! But thank you for the tutorial!❤
same
sameee
This was exactly my issue. The little lines in the water look insane on mine.
I really like how you’re encouraging to the mistakes that we might make 🥺
Also i just wanted to let you know ive been on youtube trying to find a good acrylic painting tutorial and youre my favourite
You are the best 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌 thank you so much for your generosity 💐💐💐💐💐⚘⚘🌷🌼🌼
This was an amazing tutorial. I tried this and I honestly love the outcome of mine! I never thought I’d ever be able to do a wave, but here I am. The hardest part for me was definitely trying to get the colors right and it was also doing the random lines and streaks of the water, but it turned out well! Took me four hours, but it was worth it😅 thank you for this!!!
Hi Emily, I will be trying acrylic painting for the first time and I loved this video, you make it look easy, will keep you posted...I am photographer in my retirement years...
Thank you for this video, I haven’t painted in 20 years (started 2 days ago). You’re soooo amazing and funny. I’ve been watching for months but finally picking up a brush, thank you for teaching the beginners !!
AWESOME! I'm so happy you are getting into painting! So glad you've been enjoying these videos!
with all the cloud tutorial I've watched I can say that this is the best one because I can finally say I can paint clouds now. Thank you for this! ❤️
Really enjoyed this! I love how you walk through it and show the colors you're using and mixing on the palette. For me, I struggled with where to put the water lines, especially for the closest section. I tend to be a perfectionist with painting, so I felt like I couldn't just let it be whatever. But thanks for the beautiful painting and lovely encouragement! ❤
Edit: I've literally never painted water before so am pleased to get anything nice 😂
I just finished following along and this was such a good tutorial!! Tysm!! This is the second one I’ve followed along of yours and both times my paintings turned out better than if I did them alone :))
The hardest part for me was mixing the sand color and getting an organic shape on the foam on the wave, I eventually had to decide to work on it some more in the morning lol
Thank you so much!!! UA-cam is way cheaper than college!
Ur arts are so pretty and helpful
I have learnt a lot following your guide
Most of the online artists don't tell what to do but you explain it really beautifully
I am so glad i came across you thank u sooo much
You are a excellent painter
I mean like this is sooooooo helpful for people like me who NEVER have ever painted an ocean before !
I tried doing waves for the first time yesterday and it was not that great lol that's what brought me to you. I will try your technique today
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I was looking for so long for a tutorial that is for beginners but is also aimed at pushing me forward and to create art that'll make me feel proud of myself when I'm done. Your tutorial did all of that!
I painted this picture today. I really enjoyed it. I had to pause it a bunch as I’m new to painting. I wish there was an option to show you a picture of what I did. It came out really nice.
I absolutely love your tutorials! They’re stunning pieces, and it’s made painting feel more accessible and less intimidating. It’s been helping me this quarantine season. As someone who’s done a total of 3 paintings (2 of which yours!), I’d love it if in the next tutorial you can describe the kind of brush stroke/motion/shape we should make and spend more time explaining the colors since that’s where I was getting lost. Still came out great and your soothing encouragement helped a lot! Thanks for making these :)
You are literally love! And so friendly, better than so many teaching out there.
Wonderful painting great work
Many many thanks!
You are my inspiration . I dont get much motivation on painting when they come out not by my expectations. You try to calm us with your words while painting. Much love for you and keep motivation us ❤❤
When you said at the beginning of the tutorial about how beginner tutorials are not as challenging for beginners, I felt that so hard! I feel like there is no in between on acrylic tutorials. I love acrylics because I'm not made of money lol. I think you can still make great art with them. This was so helpful! I've been trying to paint water and this i very well instructed. I'm definitely am going to try this!
Exactly! I've found the same thing with beginner tutorials. Like when I first started, I wanted to do more complicated pieces about the more complicated tutorials just breezed by every step! so I wanted to do something a little different. I'm so glad you want to try this one! If you have any questions let me know!
I had such a stressful day yesterday and I've just started painting and I couldn't even do it yesterday. But I think I'll start listening to you. Your voice was the soft quiet calm I needed today. It's very relaxing. I'm going to follow along with this today. Xo
Awww, thank you Jade! I'm so happy this was helpful for you!
okay but your sweet voice singing was like✨🌼💗🥺🧚🏼♀️🌸 thank you for this reaaallly, reallly helpful tutorial 😍🙌
This is my first canvas painting and the hardest part for me was the lines in the water. Everything else looked really good. Great tutorial
I tried acrylics for the first time...I'm just a beginner.. It was difficult to be honest... But I had as lot of fun nd i learned a lot. Thank you so much girl 💜
Just wanted to say your videos/tutorials have improved so much over the years, it is so much clearer and better quality. You're a great teacher! 💜
Thank you so much for the great tutorial. It was very easy to follow because you explain each step very clear and simple. I did my own version of it and it turned out very well. Thanks again and keep up the great work 🤩
Yess! I found other beginner tutorial but isnt realistic and more childish until i found yours!
Fantastic tutorial, I'm inspired to try this on a humongous canvas tomorrow. Love your teaching style, so encouraging and supportive, you make me believe I can do this. Thank you 😊
Emily, I have to say. I'm SUCH a fan of your work. You've been such an inspiration for me. ❤️
The water effect was too good and realistic ! 🤩
I love Blues music instrumental of corse, Fran also love your tutorials
It looks so real! You made it look so simple to do!
Thank you so much!
In love with your tutorials! You are not just amazing artist, but an amazing singer too))
So easy looking and turn out to be masterpiece..I will surely try this out.
I decided to try this and it turned out so much better than I expected. You're such a great teacher, it was so easy for me to follow along. Thank youu!
I tried it. Hated how mine turns out, but I’m going to keep painting bad paintings until I get to the good ones. lol That was good advice, Emily. The most difficult part for me was trying to remember what colors I mixed to get that one shade of grey or the greenish-yellow that we needed. Thanks for the tutorial!
This is a great tutorial! I finished painting it and it looks amazing! Thank you so much!
I want to recreate that painting . You inspire me soooo much i love all your paintings.
I love your tutorials, best on UA-cam and your voice is amazing you should sing for Disney 😘
That was great. Great detail and you are funny. Made me feel at ease. I haven’t even begun yet. I keep watching these kinds of tutorials, I think I’m scare to get started. You make it look so easy, but I’m afraid it’s not. You did explain a lot of things no one else has and that was very helpful. I plan to watch more of your tutorials. Thanks so much for making them. And I didn’t mind you head popping in every once in a while, LOL.
Major bob Ross vibes... Love it:)))
Great tutorial, I’ve done a few more advanced tutorial but still struggle. I’ll be trying this tutorial and more of your others. Love that you are mixing your colors from primaries, great mixing practices. ❤️❤️❤️
Your voice is so calming!
I just found this channel for painting. I got new canvases and I was hoping to paint something Marvel themed but I couldn't find any tutorials my level. But i found this and its brilliant as well and makes me feel welcome so thanks!
your beginner tutorial is SO HELPFUL!! please do moree!
iintxxn YAAAAAYYYY! Perfect! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ll definitely make sure I do more!
this is so good!! i’m at the beach rn so right when i get home i’m definitely painting this!!😆🌊✨☀️
This is really helpful since I am a beginner when it comes to acrylic paints since I got some paints for Christmas ☺️☺️☺️
Meh tooo I am a beginner in acrylic