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Sailfish Painting Instructions
with Rebecca Watkins and the Dare Arts Gallery
Step 1: Put on your disposable apron just to be safe. Dip your large brush in water and gently pat it dry on your paper towel. We are going to dip the brush into your dark blue paint to paint in the ocean water up to the horizon line. You’ll use gentle brush strokes to go around the sailfish's tail and finish up by using side to side brush strokes. Don't foget to go around the sides and bottom of the canvas.
Step 2: Rinse your big brush and pat it dry. Let’s use that same big brush to scoop a small blob of white paint onto your mixing plate and then add a tiny dot of blue paint. Mix with your large brush to make a sky-blue color. Paint the sky area. Be careful to paint around your clouds. You can use some of the remaining sky-blue color to create waves in your ocean and paint your edges. You can orient your large brush sideways and create long thin lines in the water using the flat edge of the brush.
Step 3: It’s time to start painting the sailfish! Leave your big brush in the water and select either of the two small brushes...whichever you prefer. Dip your small brush in your water and pat dry on your paper towel. Load it up with black paint and you’re going to carefully paint all the fins black. You’ll also paint the top of the sailfish's bill black and the opening of the mouth black. I chose to outline the sailfish. Go slow and don't forget that you can rotate your canvas on the easel if it's easier. You can use the flat side of your small flat brush for straight lines on the bill. Leave the stripe that runs the length of his his body alone for now.
​Step 4: Clean your brushes. Leave any brush you are not using in your cup of water. Let's mix a light grey using a small blob of white and a tiny dot of black paint. Paint the belly of your sailfish, leaving space for the peach and blue back stripe in step 5. (If you are an more experienced painter, try blending some white in to create a rounded belly with more light grey.and white..keep the darker grey on the belly and that lighter grey on his side).
Step 5: Clean your brush and add the peach stripe. You can also add white to the peach to adjust the shade. I chose to outline my clouds in peach, and I added a lighter peach to the horizon. You can leave the clouds white if you prefer. It’s your masterpiece!
Step 6: Time to add details! Add blue stripes to the sail and a blue strip to define the curve of his spine. You can use any shades of blue you want! Mix a light blue shade and add the dotted stripes on the sides of your fish. Try to follow the rounded contour of the fish to create that round belly shape…looking for a meaty fish!
Add white swooshes for a splash…just go for it!
Finally, use a small brush to add the pelvic fins and clean up any messy edges. I needed to reoutline his gills and touch up his fins at this point.
Sign your name or initials in the corner. Woot! You just painted a sailfish!
Thanks for painting with me! Check out my "Tight Lines" exhibit online or in person at the Dare Arts Gallery in downtown Manteo. There are also staff members at the Dare Arts table who can assist you today.
- Rebecca Watkins
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