Caroline
Is there anything better than relaxing on the beach? Even if the answer is yes, it would have to be a pretty short list of possibilities!
It’s wonderfully relaxing to relax on the beach and watch as the waves roll in and crash on the shore.
Something that can be just as fun and fulfilling as enjoying the ocean waves is by creating some artwork featuring this relaxing phenomenon.
Learning how to draw ocean waves is certainly the best way to do that!
If you would like to discover how to do this yourself, then you’re in the right place.
This step-by-step guide on how to draw ocean waves in just 8 easy steps will guide and show you how easy and fun it can be!
How to Draw Ocean Waves – Let’s Get Started!
Step 1
Let’s keep things nice and simple for this first step of our guide on how to draw ocean waves.
The way that we will make these waves look great is by adding a lot of smaller details and elements that build to a whole, so we shall take it slowly!
We will just be drawing two simple lines for this initial step.
These lines will be very rounded and curled at the ends of them, as shown in our reference image. Once you have replicated these lines you will be ready for the next step.
Step 2 – Next, start drawing the next lines
We will now be adding some more lines to your ocean waves drawing, but these ones will look a bit different from the ones that you drew in the previous one.
The first line will be quite small and rounded, and it will attach to the tip of the line that you drew on the left in the previous step.
The second line that we will be drawing in this step will be quite a bit larger than the first one.
This one will start beneath all of the other lines, and it will curve upward and around until it connects to the end of the line on the right.
Step 3 – Now, draw even more lines for the ocean waves
This third step of our guide on how to draw ocean waves will see you adding even more lines to build up the effect of the waves.
The lines that we will be adding from here on out may look a bit more complex than the ones you have been drawing so far, but as long as you closely follow the reference image then you should have no problems.
We will be adding two lines in this step, and the first will start from the left side and move inward with a slight curve to it.
The other one will connect to this one and have a slight curl on the left and a larger one that connects to one of the upper lines on top.
Step 4 – Next, draw some more details for it
Your ocean waves drawing is already looking really great! The next few steps will see us adding even more lines to the picture to make it look even more vibrant.
These lines that we are adding in this fourth step will be smaller in general, and they will be curled like the others.
Most of these lines will be going into the inner sections of the waves and will connect to the others that you have drawn already.
Step 5 – Now, draw the next set of detail lines
It’s time to add some more detail lines in this step of our guide on how to draw ocean waves.
Once again, these lines will go into the interior of the other lines and shapes we have been working on. We will also start adding some small shapes poking off the exterior of the ocean waves outlines.
This first shape will be small and curled, and it will poke off the top of the lower curl of the waves.
Step 6 – Next, a few more detail lines
We shall soon be adding the final details and elements of your ocean waves drawing, but first we will add a bit more to the structure of the waves.
Once again, these lines will be curved and go into the interior of the shape of the waves. The reference image will guide you as to how these should be placed, and then it’s time for those final touches!
Step 7 – Next, draw some final touches
Now we can add the final details and elements in this step of our guide on how to draw ocean waves.
We added lots of detail lines inside the various outlines of the waves, and then we finished off by drawing some large drops coming off the tips of the waves.
You could also add some fun details of your own to finish it off! Some ideas would be to draw some dolphins leaping from the waves or by drawing a boat sailing on them.
Bonus: Make This Ocean Waves Drawing A Bit Easier
Now we are ready for the final step where we will bring some color to this ocean waves drawing. Before we do, we wanted to acknowledge that this drawing was quite tricky.
The design with all of the details we added looks amazing, but it can be very fiddly to draw. Some people may get frustrated with how fiddly it is, and that’s okay!
Before we move on, we wanted to give you a few ways that you could make this drawing easier to take on if you’re having a hard time with it.
The easiest way to make it simpler is to, well, make it simpler. As much as we love the intricate design of the waves, they can be a bit difficult to draw.
You could make it easier by removing and simplifying some of the many segments that make up the ocean wave design. This might even result in a drawing that you prefer, as it is quite stylized in its current form.
You could also use the art tools you will be using to color the ocean waves to make it easier. One of the best mediums to use for this would be some kind of paint.
By using paint, you can skip drawing the waves with a pen or a pencil and use brush strokes instead. Try to use fairly wide brushes, and then pick the colors you would like to use for the waves.
Then, you can use long, flowy brush strokes to make the flow of the waves look natural. Make sure you have enough paint on your brush for each stroke!
This way, you can make the ocean waves without having to draw a single line. We hope these tips made it a bit easier if you’ve been struggling.
Step 8 – Now finish it off with some color
To complete this ocean waves drawing in style, we will be adding some colors to it!
In our reference image, we used a variety of different shades of blue for the various sections of water, and we also incorporated some white for ocean foam.
These are the colors we chose, but you should feel free to use any other you like! Choosing the colors is one thing, but you can have fun with the art mediums you pick as well.
We would recommend watercolors for this one, but anything you use will look great!
What colors and art mediums will you use to complete this ocean waves drawing?
4 More Ways To Make Your Ocean Waves Drawing Unique
Go with the flow as we make this ocean waves sketch even more amazing with 4 tips!
This drawing of ocean waves features a small section of these waves. You could make your drawing even more unique by adding to the section of water that we can see.
If you have a nice big piece of paper, you could make a large portion of ocean waves all done in the same style as the one we did in this image.
How big would you like to make this section of the ocean for your artwork?
Once you have finished drawing your section of ocean waves, you could draw the sky above it. This could include details such as clouds, the sun or maybe the moon and stars.
Then, you can make it look even more stunning by choosing some beautiful colors. For instance, it could look great with some bright oranges for a sunset.
Can you think of anything else that you could add to the sky and the horizon to make it look even more interesting?
You could also add some creatures and other things you would find at sea to populate your ocean waves drawing.
For some examples, you could add some large sea creatures like whales and dolphins emerging from the waves.
Or, you may want to have a cruise ship or some small sailboats sailing along. These are just a few of the things you could add to these turbulent waters, but we’re sure you can think of more!
Finally, you can use certain art mediums and techniques to make your ocean waves sketch look even more unique. One of the best mediums you could use would be watercolor paints.
This would especially be true if you used a large paintbrush with long brushstrokes to replicate the waves in the water. Other kinds of paint like acrylic would also be an excellent choice.
Or, you may prefer the thicker colors of pastels or the softer tones of colored pencils. What are some other art mediums you could use?
Your Ocean Waves Drawing is Complete!
That will complete our step-by-step guide on how to draw ocean waves!
Hopefully this guide made the process of drawing some beautiful ocean waves not only much easier but also a great deal of fun for you.
Now that you have completed this guide, you can still add to the drawing by adding some details, color choices or art mediums of your own. How will you add some of your own touches to this image?
Be sure to also check out our website for more awesome drawing guides to enjoy! We upload new ones frequently, so you’ll want to check in often.
We would love to see your finished ocean waves drawing, so please be sure to share it on our Facebook and Pinterest pages for us to admire.
Here Is A Cool Drawing Of Ocean Waves For Kids To Inspire You!
There are few things as calming as watching ocean waves, as the gentle motion and the sound they make induce a feeling of happiness and serenity.
That’s why so many people like to draw and paint them, and our artist Freddy has created a cool drawing of ocean waves for you to use as inspiration! She has used so many details on the waves.
It makes it look like the tide is looking a bit rough, making for a more dramatic scene. You could also remove some of these details for calmer seas.
It would also be fun to add some fish, small boats or other things you would expect to see on the ocean. This would be a great way for you to make this drawing your own, and it would be fun and easy to do!
