Ready to Paint in 30 Minutes: Seascapes

Matthew Palmer’s teaching career began in 1997 with local classes, before quickly expanding to national workshops and painting holidays. He now teaches hundreds of artists each week from his studio in Derbyshire, UK.The author of more than 10 books, selling more than 150,000 copies worldwide, he is also a regular on television, with his own video-on-demand show at his website:www.watercolour.tvYouTube: @mattyartistFacebook: MatthewPalmerArtist

• TracingsIntroduction 6Basic painting equipment 8Painting basics 10Through the day 12Calm Morning 14Cloudy Sky 16Moonlit Reflections 18Sunset Seascape 20Early Morning on the Beach 22Stormy waters 24Breaking Waves 26Wild Waves 28Waves on Rocks 30Lightning Strike 32Stormy Waves 34Adapting the tracings 36Coastal buildings 38Clifftop Castle 40Monochrome 42Lighthouse 44Harbour Bridge 46Venice 48Cottage by the Sea 50Boats 52Fishing Boat 54White Yacht 56Galleon 58Rowing Boat 60Sailing Boat 62Boat on the Beach 64Rocks and cliffs 66Rocky Island 68The Needles 70Rocky Shoreline 72White Cliffs 74Clifftop View 76Sandy beaches 78Birds at Sunset 80Palm Trees 82Flying Kites 84Rustic Deckchair and Parasol 86Beach Huts 88Guiding Light 90On Stormy Waters 92By the Sea 94Index 96

Whether you really feel the need to go down the bish-bosh rapid results route is, of course, your choice. There is, however, a benefit in working quickly because it discourages hesitation and fiddling. See, react, paint is excellent training for trusting your judgement.For all that, this series offers a selection of simple demonstrations with pre-drawn outlines that get things like proportion and perspective out of the way before you start. The idea has sufficient longevity that it is clearly popular and I suspect the appeal goes beyond outright beginners, with more experienced artists welcoming the ideas that are introduced.The 33 projects (as they’re labelled) here provide not just waves and coastal landscapes, but also boats, buildings and other structures as well as a variety of lighting and weather conditions. You get a lot for your money as well as eminently achievable results.