Exploring the Power of Blue in Seascapes (Weekly Challenge #183)
- Natalia C.
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Earlier this year, I travelled to Andalusia for a plein air painting trip, and Cadiz, with its luminous coastlines and layered horizons, immediately pulled me in. It was in March, when it is not yet the blazing heat of summer, but already glowing with crisp light and brilliant skies. The city, surrounded on almost all sides by water, seemed to hum in shades of blue: sky, sea, shadows, and highlights — each in its own note.
I brought these reference photos back with the thought that one day they’d be perfect for a Landscape Art Club challenge. Now feels like just the right moment, when the blues in nature begin to soften again and call us to quiet reflection or energize us with vivid freshness.
Focus Point: Blue Color
This week’s focus is blue as a visual tool — not just a color in your box, but a way to express depth, emotion, movement, temperature, or silence. Blue is often considered “safe” in landscape work, but it’s also incredibly expressive.
What to consider:
Use of blue to convey depth — especially over water or in sky gradients
Cool vs. warm blues — play with ultramarine, cobalt, prussian, and turquoise to shift mood
Blue as balance or contrast — how it holds space next to warm ochres or neutrals
Blue as a shape — rather than a “background,” treat blue areas as compositional weights
Want to explore more on how blue works in landscape? Check my post Exploring Blue in Landscape Painting – Depth, Mood, and Movement in One Color
Analyzing This Week’s Reference Photos
Now let’s dive into the reference photos of this week.
Photo 1: Seaside Promenade and Colorful Facades
A long stretch of walkway runs parallel to the ocean, leading into a row of pastel-colored buildings.
Challenge: Blue is dominant in the sea and sky, but the buildings introduce subtle warmth. The balance of temperature is key.
Focus Questions:
How much blue should you use in the sea to maintain visual focus?
Can you tone the warm buildings with cool shadows to unify the palette?
Where does the sky stop being “just background” and start guiding the viewer?
Painting Tips:
Use angular strokes for the sea to reflect movement.
Neutralize building colors slightly to let blue dominate the scene.
Introduce a gradient in the sky for atmosphere.
Photo 2: Cathedral View and Diagonal Shoreline
The prominent Cádiz Cathedral rises behind the city walls, while the sloping seawall cuts dramatically through the image.
Challenge: Strong diagonal composition meets blue expanses — how to handle contrast and hierarchy?
Focus Questions:
Will your main contrast be in the wall or the water?
How does blue play with the sandy textures of the wall?
Is there a way to let the sea “lean” into the form?
Painting Tips:
Layer darker turquoise tones under lighter sea foam for wave texture.
Highlight the cathedral dome using subtle complementary tones.
Keep architectural shadows cool with a blue-gray tint.
Photo 3: Fort and Horizon Lines
The dark rocky coastline supports a collection of bright, simple buildings on a headland, with layered ocean hues surrounding them.
Challenge: Varying blues dominate — sky, sea, and reflected surfaces.
Focus Questions:
Which blue do you use where?
Can you shift value rather than saturation to suggest depth?
What hue breaks up the large blue planes without competing?
Painting Tips:
Use less saturated blue in the distance to suggest aerial perspective.
Paint buildings with warm shadows to contrast the blue ocean.
Introduce lost edges where sky and sea merge.
Photo 4: Castle of San Sebastian
The famous fortress sits almost adrift at low tide, framed by wet sand and distant water.
Challenge: The most minimal composition of the set. How to let blue guide the eye?
Focus Questions:
Where does blue begin and end in this limited palette?
Can you create visual rhythm in the tidal pools using tonal changes?
Do you want to highlight or downplay the man-made structure?
Painting Tips:
Let pools reflect the sky in a bluer hue than the sea.
Use broken color or scumbling on the wet sand.
Allow contrast to sit gently, rather than sharply to reflect the calmness of the scene.
Whether you’re painting soft skies or crashing waves, aim to use blue as a decision, not just a description. Each of these scenes offers a chance to explore how this single hue can carry mood, depth, and cohesion.
You can combine elements from multiple references or choose one to work with. Just remember to tag your post with#landscapeartclub183 and submit before Thursday, 16 October 2025, 23:59 CET to be featuared in our Instagram account.
I’m looking forward to seeing your interpretations and all the shades of blue you bring to life.
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