juliabarminova The paradox of painting the sea: it looks more real when the paint is dry. 💙

#watercolour #seascapepainting #watercolourseascape #paintingthesea

juliabarminova The paradox of painting the sea: it looks more real when the watercolours is dry. 💙

#watercolour #seascapepainting #watercolourseascape #paintingthesea

juliabarminova The secret combo for realistic watercolour waves:

Wet paper × Dry brush

🌊 Separate light from shadow to build depth and contrast
🌊 Soften the edges to keep the water natural and fluid
🌊 Add tonal shifts and tiny details: this is what brings waves to life

If waves are still challenging, you’re welcome to my next workshops:

MARCH 14–15 • Switzerland, Lausanne @artiloft.ch
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MARCH 21–22 • Spain, Madrid @pinceladasdeespana
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APRIL 23–30 • Italy — A Week in Tuscany · Last places @followtuscany_
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JULY 27–31 • USA, Madeline Island, Wisconsin @madelineartschool

Full details and booking links are available via the link in my profile.

#watercolor #seascape

juliabarminova I’m happy to announce my 2026 international workshops, taking place across Europe and North America.

MARCH 14–15 • Switzerland, Lausanne @artiloft.ch
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APRIL 23–30 • Italy, A Week in Tuscany · Last places @followtuscany_
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JULY 27–31 • USA, Madeline Island, Wisconsin @madelineartschool
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AUGUST 24–26 • Canada, Calgary @watercolour_calgary_festival
AUGUST 28–29 • Canada, Calgary · SOLD OUT
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NOVEMBER 2–6 • USA, Asilomar, Pacific Grove, California @madelineartschool
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Full details and booking links are available via the link in my profile.
Where shall we meet?

juliabarminova For realistic waves in watercolour, work dry on wet: a creamy brush on wet paper, building step by step and keeping the paper moist.

If waves are still challenging, you’re welcome to my next workshop in Madrid, Spain • March 21-22 • Contact @pinceladasdeespana

Full details and booking link are available via the link in my profile.

See you!!! 🐚

juliabarminova Yes, these are my old paintings.

The only reason my waves look different now
is because I never stopped painting them. 🐚

Which stage are you in?

#juliabarminova #watercolor #seascape

juliabarminova You don’t need much to paint the sea.

⚓️ A small sketchbook with cotton paper, easy to carry and just the right amount of time for a quick sea study.
⚓️ Palette with pre-selected colours and extra opaque white in tube for final bright touches
⚓️ 2–3 brushes:
– a soft brush for washes
– a round synthetic brush with a good point
– an optional angled brush for waves
⚓️ Pencil & kneaded eraser
⚓️ Spray bottle & small jar of water
⚓️ Paper towel

Save this if you enjoy painting the sea outdoors 💙

#juliabarminova #watercolour #pleinair

juliabarminova Most waves fail because the paint is too diluted.
I prefer a creamy mix on a properly wet paper surface. It gives control while keeping the sea’s natural look.

I’ll be teaching this technique in person:

MARCH 14–15 • Switzerland, Lausanne • @artiloft.ch
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MARCH 21-22 • Spain, Madrid • @pinceladasdeespana
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APRIL 23–30 • Italy, A Week in Tuscany • @followtuscany_

If you’d like to paint the sea with me, details are in my bio. 💚

juliabarminova Sketching in Belém, Lisbon ⚓️

I recently bought a small 14 × 14 cm watercolour sketchbook with cotton paper, and it changed how often I paint. A small format feels easy to open, no big expectations. 😅

#watercolor #pleinair #sketching #juliabarminova

juliabarminova Inspired by the wild storm season along the Portuguese coast this winter 🌊

juliabarminova Sketching Forte de São Julião da Barra in Carcavelos, Portugal

#portugal #watercolor #seascape #pleinair

juliabarminova It may look like paint by numbers.
But my pencil drawing is not about numbers: it’s about understanding light, shadow and structure before I start painting. Then pencil disappears, but the decisions stay.

I use a soft 4B pencil very lightly. Watercolour then washes the pencil away, leaving no lines in the final piece.

If you’re interested in learning how I approach painting water and would like to explore this technique further, you can find my online classes:
www.patreon.com/juliabarminova or link in bio.

juliabarminova This is how I think about water when I paint the Sea.
Working on a studio piece about Antarctica 🇦🇶

#watercolor #seascape #antarctica

juliabarminova Sketching at Cabo da Roca, once believed to be the End of the World.

#portugal #watercolour