Prompt
Choose an underwater creature: fish, crabs, lobsters, and more. Aim to capture a three-dimensional feeling of form and a wide range of textures and colors.
Examples
Background
Consider the background as well, is your creature in a specific environment, or do you want to do a close up view which minimizes the background?
reference images
We have a collection of underwater creatures on our free reference photo collection on Flickr. Or, you can search for your own photos.
If you want to get ambitious, visit your local seafood market!
Aquarium Live Cams
- Kelp Forest Cam, Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Tropical Reef Cam, Aquarium of the Pacific
- Coral Predators Cam, Aquarium of the Pacific
- Reef Lagoon Cam, California Academy of the Sciences
- National Aquarium Cams
Recommended media
Any paint medium: watercolor, gouache, acryl gouache, oils, water mixable oils, acrylics. We recommend using the same paint medium for the entire track.
Inspiration
- Albrecht Dürer, A Lobster, 1495
- Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Still Life with Lobster, 1634
- Eugene Delacroix, Still Life with Lobsters, 1826-1827
- Emil Carlsen, Still life with Lemon and Lobster, 1883
- Édouard Manet, Fish (Still Life), 1864
- Vincent van Gogh, Two Crabs, 1889
- Olivia Tonge, Flower Crab, 1910
- William Merritt Chase
We want to share your progress!
- Did you do this lesson?
- Submit to have your work to be posted here on this page or mentioned in a live stream.
Drawing Lobsters
See how to draw lobsters realistically using digital painting techniques in Adobe Fresco, and a mixed media technique using watercolor and oil pastel on Yupo paper.
Working from detailed reference photos, tips are explained for how to capture the color variations and textures in a lobster.
Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Guest Teaching Artist Mia Rozear.
Drawing Crabs
See how to draw realistic crabs in soft pastel and Adobe Fresco. This video demos how to draw quick sketches and how to transition to a more polished and finished drawing of crabs.
Explained in this drawing demo is how to explore how to capture the gesture and structure of the crabs while also achieving the range of textures, surfaces, and colors on the crabs.
Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Guest Teaching Artist Mia Rozear.
Finished?
- Submit your track artworks here.
- We’ll feature your artwork in a live stream!
- We’ll add you to our student galleries.
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