Above: A John Dyer painting freshly completed on the beach at Tresco
There is no better way to capture those breezy summer days than with a beautiful painting of sunlit Cornish beaches stretching out before you. Our beach artwork here at The John Dyer Gallery tells stories and helps create memories of your beach holidays here in Cornwall within your home or office environment. Beach paintings are some of the most sought-after pieces of art that adorn the walls of collectors and art enthusiasts. There are many beautiful beaches here in Cornwall; it is always difficult to decide which beach to visit and paint.
Cornish beach painting artists John Dyer, Joanne Short and Ted Dyer all have their own personal techniques to create their oil and acrylic paintings which they have all developed over the years.
Create a Beach Painting: Choose the perfect beach landscape to paint
When it comes to choosing the perfect beach landscape to paint, it's important to approach the task with confidence. Rather than settling for a run-of-the-mill scene, take the time to explore various options and envision how you can make the image uniquely your own. Look beyond the obvious choices and consider lesser-known beaches or those with unconventional features like unique rock formations or wildlife habitats. With a confident eye, you’ll be able to select a beach landscape that speaks to you and provides ample inspiration for your next masterpiece. So grab your brushes and get ready to create a scene that truly captures the beauty and majesty of the beach.
Gather and organize your supplies
When it comes to tackling a new project, having all your original art materials at the ready is essential.
Above: John Dyer beach painting and art materials on the beach of Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
John Dyer works with acrylic paint on canvas or board. His work is very vibrant and full of fun, narrating the fun and joy of family fun on the beach. He always puts down a background and works on top of that. He chooses to use acrylic paint because it dries relatively quickly, especially when working outdoors, so he is able to put paint on top of paint without the colours being muddied, with a bright and clean result. He often squeezes paint straight from the tube and mixes it directly on the canvas, this helps with the speed he has to work at before the paint dries.
Above: Ted Dyer beach painting on the artist's easel and a view of the art studio
Ted Dyer paints with oil paints and often uses a warm ground colour to work on; he will layout the main composition by drawing with thin oil paint and then start to block in the main areas of colour. Ted Dyer will often allow the paint to dry down before working on the foreground elements. Ted Dyer's exquisite use of hues, tones and blending allow the artist the capture nature exactly as he wishes whilst emphasising the elements that he wishes the painting to speak to. Ted Dyer's ability to capture the transparent quality of water, the colour and movement is incredible and this ability makes the artists beach paintings truly unique and amazing works of art to own.
Above: Joanne Short painting a beach painting in her art studio using oil paint.
Joanne Short uses oil paint on canvas. She chooses to put down an orange gesso ground on her canvas before starting. In contrast to Ted and John, Joanne starts by painting the foreground first and gradually works back to the background and eventually the sky. Joanne builds complex foreground elements, often featuring wild Cornish flowers on the coast and then sets the beach and coast beyond these. Her final element to be competed is the sky.
Learn how to mix colours and apply brush strokes
The art of mixing colours and applying brush strokes is one of the first things to master in order to paint a successful painting. Knowing how to mix colours is essential in creating a wide range of tones and hues in beach paintings, while proper brush stroke techniques can add depth and dimension to your artwork.
In Joanne's work, colour mixing plays a very important part.
"I love mixing paint to create my own palette for each painting, which means that every painting is subtly different from all the others. It is a joy to see the variety of different new colours emerging just by mixing two or three pure colours."
John often squeezes paint straight from the tube and mixes it directly on the canvas - this helps with the speed he has to work the canvas at before the paint dries.
Above: John Dyer's acrylic paintings in his studio in Cornwall
"Painting from life has to be a fast and direct process so I can capture a moment in time. The painting will become a record of my day at the beach. Acrylic paint is perfect for this direct approach as it dries fast, holds its shape when painting in an impasto style and is perfect for travelling if I am painting beaches in the South of France as I can then simply roll up my canvas in a tube to take them home to frame."
Ted Dyer paints exclusively from his studio in Falmouth that overlooks Castle Beach, so he has endless inspiration from the colours, waves and movement of the sea and sky. The artist uses a wide range of oil colours and techniques to craft his paintings and every brushstroke is informed by his sixty years of experience of being a Cornish artist making beach paintings.
Inspiration for our Beach Paintings
Visiting locations
When it comes to beach paintings, it could be easy to get caught up in recreating the same scenes over and over again, that is why we often take trips out and do coastal walks to collect new ideas and inspiration. Even visiting the same places regularly, each time they are different - different flowers, light shining at a different angle onto the sand and sea depending on the season and weather, different views from slightly different positions. Only visiting and experiencing this helps to inspire us for our next painting.
Above: Artist John Dyer at work on a beach painting of Portscatho in Cornwall
A Selection of Beach Prints and Original Paintings for sale
Inspiration from famous artists and their beach paintings
Sometimes it can help to look at other works of art for inspiration. There are countless masterpieces out there waiting to ignite your creativity, from serene ocean views to vibrant sunset skies work by historical artists - still-lifes and garden paintings, paintings of beaches, sea and seascapes.
All three of our gallery artists have their own favourite artists from whom they have drawn inspiration.
John Dyer loves the Work of french fauvist painter Raoul Dufy (1877-1953), Cornish artists Fred Yates (1922-2008), Alfred Wallis (1855-1942) and Joan Gillcrest (1918-2008)
Ted Dyer's work is inspired particularly by Claude Monet (1840-1926), Eugene Boudin (1824-1898) and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875)
Joanne Short is inspired by the art work of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Cornish artist Bryan Pearce (1929-2007)
Get Inspired to paint yourselves
If you are an aspiring artist yourself, young or old, here is some advice from our gallery artists to help you on your way:
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques
If you want to excel in any field, you have to be willing to take risks and push the boundaries of what is considered "safe." This is especially true when it comes to creativity, where experimentation and trying new techniques can lead to some truly breathtaking results. There is no hurry; just tackle your work one cm at a time and eventually you will create something which may surprise you. So don't be afraid to try something new - whether it's a different writing style, a unique way of painting, or a new approach to music composition. You never know what kind of incredible masterpiece you might create by daring to take risks and experiment with novel techniques. So go ahead and embrace your confidence - the world is waiting to see what you'll come up with next!
Capture the beauty of nature in your painting
If you are an aspiring artist yourself, young or old, here is some advice from our gallery artists to help you on your way:
Joanne Short
"As an artist, you have the unique ability to capture the beauty of nature and bring it to life on canvas. I love mixing paint to create my own palette of colours. With the stroke of your brush and the careful use of colour, you can transport your audience to a lush forest, a majestic mountain range, or a serene beach. Don't be afraid to take risks and experiment with new techniques to bring your painting to life. Remember, nature is a beautiful and constantly evolving canvas - it's up to you to capture its essence and share it with the world. Trust in your abilities and let the natural beauty of your surroundings inspire your next masterpiece."
Experimenting and finding Inspiration from The Masters
John Dyer
"Painting a beach landscape is a wonderful way to capture the beauty of nature and to express your creativity. Selecting the perfect beach landscape, gathering supplies and learning how to mix colours and apply brush strokes, can be intimidating but also very rewarding. There is always something new to learn, so don’t be afraid to experiment with techniques that you find interesting. Take advantage of the vast amount of inspiration out there by studying other beach paintings – it can help push you out of your comfort zone and create something unique. You never know what masterpiece you’ll produce – so get inspired and start your beach painting now!"
With a confident mindset and an open eye, you'll be well on your way to creating your own unique, awe-inspiring beach or sand painting. So don't be afraid to switch things up and draw inspiration from famous artists - the possibilities are endless
