Limited Wetness

• Apply only the paint colors you will use for the body of the sea first. This means applying the paint for the body of the water from bottom to top on your paper, deepening the color as the water goes farther out and becomes darker. Avoid painting any section of your paper that will be sparkly, foam or waves. Capture the body of the ocean first, which allows you to set the colors and gradation before you begin the finishing touches. When the body of your ocean is done, work in the sparkling elements: the sea foam and the waves.
  
  

Brush Application

• Work your brush choices into your painting. Soft and hard bristles will give you different effects as you apply your paint. A combination of bristle types can add texture to your waterscapes. This can be used effectively for creating sparkle in your water. Drag a dry brush (soft bristles first) lightly over your paint, then apply it to your canvas from one side to the other in smooth motion, until the paint is gone. Apply several coatings in this way, then use a stiff-bristle brush and repeat the process. The paint applied by the stiff bristles will lie differently on your painting and create a contrast of the colors to give your water a sparkle.
  
  

Wet on Wet and Pressure Painting

• Wet on wet and pressure application can add variants in your color application. After you've painted a section of your waterscape, apply another coat to the painted area using slightly more pressure than you applied the first time. This results in a darker color pattern that will give your water the typical color variation often found in nature.
  
  

Diffuse Technique

• Take advantage of watercolor characteristics by using a diffuse technique. This is ideal for creating clouds and beach lines that blend into your waterscape without hard lines. This is a characteristic that can be noted when looking at the work of Claude Monet. Watercolor is the only paint that has this particular quality.