Green Sea Snail Shell & Extra Small Shell - Preview

This week's tutorial is a happy return to painting shells. We have added a natural history section to the school to allow us to expand and paint some complementary subjects to, perhaps, sit alongside your botanical work.

This beautiful aqua green sea snail shell is a joyful subject to paint, with lots of pretty colour and texture.

I show you the way I make the texture and build it up, and then finish it with little washes. You can take it as far as you want with the detail, leave it as a softer painting or carry it forward to make it look real.

The trick here is to really observe the curves, place these in the right way and you can create a 3D effect on your paper. I have also added a cast shadow and another small shell using mixed graphite and paint, another small study for you to try.

Wishing you happy seashell hunting, or happy painting, or both!
Billy x