Rocky coastlines are always fascinating because the first time I ever saw the ocean was along a wide, sandy beach with gentle waves. Not so here! You can see the debris – fallen trees stripped to bare logs, rocks, erosion. You can only imagine what it is like during a storm.
Years ago, we drove up the California coast, heading into Oregon and points north. It seems once you hit the central coast, about 100 miles from where we are, the coastline begins to change. Highway 1 leads into Big Sur, that fabled and beautiful land, and it is here you see rugged cliffs. Then, north of San Francisco, you move into the wide beach sands of Stinson Beach and move further along to the rugged Mendocino coast and then beyond. This picture is based on a photo I took there years ago – no idea where we were, but it was stunning.
Ink, watercolor, bristol paper.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 
Love it! Do you do the ink first?
Love this N! The northern California and Oregon coasts are just beautiful.
Thanks, Anne! Yes, they really are beautiful. Glad you like it.
Thanks, Fraggy!
My technique is usually first permanent, waterproof ink. Some people do a light pencil sketch before inking but I usually don’t – I like the challenge of the permanent ink drawing. Sometimes it works, other times not.
Then I use good quality watercolor. Here, I used my Schmincke pan paints, which I think are the best of all pan paints. After that, I let it dry and then decide whether to add more color or details.
The washes are laid in first. Once satisfied, I dry or let the picture dry, and then I go back with more permanent ink to define areas or add texture.
Paint can hide some lines, and that can be good, but in other areas the lines are great to emphasize different things. For this one, I went back and forth with the steps 3 or 4 times, working on contrast in color and also in detail. Hours after I finished the drawing, I realized I wanted more rocks in the foreground, and once those were in, I felt it was done.
Cross hatching and hatching, circles, wiggly lines, and dots, as well as bold marks are what make up the ink in this picture. Alphonso Dunn has made wonderful videos about ink drawing and techniques as well as written my two favorite books on the subject – well worth the time to look at!
Windy, but hope this helps! Now get out and do some for us to enjoy on your blog!
I’m kinda expecting to find a hobbit hole in there somewhere. š
There are stairs, FishyFish!
Thanks for the info! Will look up Dunn. š