Expressive Seascapes with Maria Coryell-Martin
This workshop is a part of USk Vancouver Sketch Weekend 2026.
Dive into watercolor as we practice techniques for painting expressive seascapes on location! We’ll explore atmospheric skies, light on water, and elements of the coastal landscape. We'll practice working fast with watercolor as we layer washes across multiple compositions. From loose wet-in-wet strokes to gestural dry brush work, discover confident mark-making and learn to embrace the spontaneous beauty of watercolor.
General Outline
30min: Seascapes: seeing (and mixing!) colors, noticing shapes, and creating depth with shadows.
30min: Mark-Making: wet-on-wet to expressive strokes
30min: Composition: thumbnails, values, and color studies
60min: Personal exploration: time for independent on-site sketching and 1:1 questions.
30min: Prompts for continuing to practice, sharing, and closing reflections
Supplies
Watercolor sketchbook or watercolor sheets at least A5 size (140lbs/300gr)
A board if you paint on sheets
Watercolor palette with your favorite colors. My current palette includes (not required): Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Rose, Deep Scarlet, Cerulean Blue Chromium, Ultramarine, Indanthrone Blue, Yellow Ochre, Quinacridone Gold, Lunar Earth, and Burnt Umber.
One or two watercolor brushes, with at least one large and soft enough for washes. I will have a size 12 travel brush and 1” flat. I also like the flat Niji water brush.
A cup for water and a small rag or towel
Portable stool or folding chair
Maria Coryell-Martin is an expeditionary artist, following the tradition of traveling artists as naturalists and educators. Her expeditions have ranged from the Arctic to Antarctica, bringing her face-to-face with polar bears, leopard seals, emperor penguins, and narwhals, with residencies ranging from Norway to the Washington State Ferries. Her fieldwork serves as the basis for exhibits, presentations, and hands-on workshops to promote observation, inquiry, and environmental awareness for audiences of all ages.
Maria founded Art Toolkit to share expedition-proven sketching and painting supplies with artists worldwide. Learn more at: expeditionaryart.com and arttoolkit.com.