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ilana McBain Publications

Wonders of the Sea

Wonders of the Sea

Regular price $750.00 AUD
Regular price Sale price $750.00 AUD
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 seaDive into the magic and mystery of the ocean in this creative painting workshop, "Wonders of the Sea." Inspired by the vibrant colours, flowing forms, and unique textures of underwater life, this session will guide you in creating a stunning marine-themed masterpiece. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop is designed to help you explore your creativity while learning painting techniques that bring the wonders of the sea to life on canvas.

 

1. Welcome and Introduction

Duration: 10 minutes

  • Greeting and Purpose:
    • Welcome participants and thank them for attending.
    • Introduce the workshop theme: celebrating the beauty and diversity of marine life through expressive and creative painting.
    • Highlight the goal: to explore oceanic shapes, textures, and colors while learning painting techniques to create an inspiring seascape or underwater artwork.
  • Explain the project: Participants will create a marine-inspired painting, blending elements of realism and imagination.

2. Icebreaker Activity: "Your Ocean Connection"

Duration: 15 minutes

  • Activity: "Favorite Ocean Memory"
    • Ask participants to share a favorite ocean-related memory or a marine animal they love (e.g., snorkeling trips, a favorite beach, or fascination with dolphins, jellyfish, or coral reefs).
    • Discuss how the ocean inspires emotions such as calm, curiosity, or adventure.
  • Purpose: Establish a personal connection to the theme and spark ideas for their artwork.

3. Marine Art Exploration: Understanding Ocean Elements

Duration: 20 minutes

  • Provide reference materials, such as photos of coral reefs, sea creatures, and underwater landscapes.
  • Discuss:
    • Shapes and Forms: Simplifying marine life (e.g., fish, shells, seaweed) and water movements into basic shapes.
    • Colors and Gradients: Exploring the vibrant and contrasting colors of the sea (e.g., blue gradients, tropical coral tones, shimmering effects).
    • Textures and Patterns: Capturing the textures of sand, coral, and water ripples.
  • Demonstrate sketching techniques for composing underwater scenes or ocean-inspired elements.

4. Introduction to Painting Techniques

Duration: 25 minutes

  • Demonstrate techniques for marine-inspired painting:
    • Blending gradients to create ocean depths and light effects.
    • Using sponges or palette knives to mimic coral textures or water ripples.
    • Experimenting with fluid, bold brushstrokes for seaweed or flowing water.
    • Adding fine details to bring marine creatures or coral structures to life.

5. Creative Session: Painting Your Ocean Masterpiece

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Step 1: Choose your composition:
    • A single focus, such as a marine animal, shell, or wave.
  • Step 2: Sketch your design lightly onto the canvas.
  • Step 3: Begin painting, starting with background layers and building up textures, details, and highlights.
    • Encourage participants to experiment with vibrant colors and imaginative interpretations of the sea.
  • Facilitators provide individual guidance and feedback throughout the session.

6. Reflection and Sharing

Duration: 20 minutes

  • Display completed or in-progress paintings in a gallery-style setup.
  • Encourage participants to share:
    • Their inspiration and creative choices.
    • What they learned about painting or themselves during the process.
    • How they felt connecting with the theme of the sea.

7. Closing and Takeaways

Duration: 10 minutes

  • Recap the workshop and celebrate everyone’s creativity and achievements.
  • Provide tips for continuing ocean-inspired art at home, such as:
    • Observing marine life through documentaries or photos for inspiration.
    • Exploring different styles like watercolor or mixed media for seascapes.
  • Offer information about upcoming workshops or opportunities to develop artistic skills further.
  • Thank participants for attending and distribute optional takeaway materials.

Materials Provided

  • Canvas boards or high-quality art paper.
  • Acrylic paints in ocean-inspired colors (blues, greens, corals, and metallics).
  • Brushes of various sizes, sponges, and palette knives.
  • Photo references or visual guides featuring marine life and underwater landscapes.
  • Aprons, water jars, and palettes for mixing colors.

Optional Add-Ons

  • Ocean Keepsake: Provide small ocean-themed gifts, like shell necklaces or postcards.
  • Advanced Techniques Mini-Session: Optional extended time to learn advanced methods like creating water reflections or metallic accents.
  • Sketchbooks: Offer sketchbooks for participants to continue practicing their designs.

Target Audience

  • Adults and teens (16+).
  • Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to intermediate painters.


  • Flat Rate: $750 AUD (up to 8 participants).
  • Per Person Rate: $80 AUD (if the group size varies).

The “Wonders of the sea" workshop and all related materials, including content, concepts, and structure, are the intellectual property of Ilana McBain All rights reserved.

No part of this workshop may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, " without the prior written permission of the creators, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or educational settings with proper acknowledgment.

© 2025 Ilana McBain 

 

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