After the sky is dry, I began to paint the water using the same colors as I used for the sky. To help give it the look of stormy weather, I apply the paint unevenly to give the water a choppy effect.
In some areas I added even more indigo, especially around the masking fluid so that I would have strong contrasts of values that would direct the focus of the composition through the painting.
While the water area is still damp, I paint the beach area with sepia and yellow ochre, and distant hill with hookers green, ochre, sepia, and indigo. I let the colors mix and mingle on the wet paper to create the grayed-down impression of a distant green hill, and let a little of the color run and blend into the water and sand area to soften the edges.
When the entire painting has dried I removed the masking fluid to reveal the white surf of the waves, and I use a little indigo to soften and break up a few of the spots that are too starkly white.
And finally, here is my finished painting of a beach in the rain. Any day at the beach is a good day. Even if it’s raining.
To learn more about watercolor painting, you can take a workshop with Annie or find her teaching online classes with Artists Network. Here is just a sample of Annie's teaching, from her most recent DVD, "Painting Seascapes in Watercolor".
For more brush information, check out the Dynasty Brush website.