8 Tips for Underwater Painting

You've seen art pushing boundaries, but are you ready to push them yourself? Underwater painting is a great way to push your personal boundaries while unlocking your creativity. It can help in developing a unique perspective while improving your art skills. Even if you're a beginner, you might find that you come out of it learning a lot too!

If you're looking to take up a unique hobby, it might be time to try out underwater painting. But you can't go in unprepared; you need to know how to navigate it for success. Here are some tips that can help you get started:

Invest In The Right Materials

Whether you’ve just started painting or are experienced, the importance of the right materials can’t be emphasized enough. Most materials can't really withstand water pressure and moisture underwater. Look into getting waterproof canvases, paints, and paintbrushes, and ask for help at the store if you don't know which ones are right for you. If you are looking to experiment with mediums other than canvas, you will have to research online beforehand to make sure that they’re waterproof. You can also look for tethers and clips that help your painting materials stay in place while you’re painting.

Look Into Training

Not everyone is home in the water, especially at first. You have to get professional training to not only paint underwater but be safe while doing it too. If you’re thinking about taking up underwater painting as a long-term hobby or activity, you need to look for professional diving courses to take beforehand. When you’re taking supervised underwater painting classes, you may find that professional training is given beforehand, but if you’re planning on doing it yourself, take the necessary precautions to put your safety first.

Think About The Environment

Once you begin underwater painting for yourself, you’ll begin to understand what an important role the surrounding environment plays. When you’re diving in murky waters, your visibility will be greatly lessened, and you won’t have much to paint. Not only colors but even light is distorted once you’re below water, and all of this will play an important role in your ability to paint. When you want to give it your best shot, try underwater painting in a swimming pool first, where your visibility is unhindered. This way, you can have a clear idea of your idea of lights, shadows, and space before you go out into the sea, a lake, or a river.

Quality Over Quantity

You might feel like you have to rush to get the best painting you can once you’re underwater, but it doesn’t actually work that way at all. You have to focus on the quality of your painting rather than just trying to get one per session. It might take you several sessions of underwater painting for a great painting, and that’s perfectly okay! Don’t rush because nobody is going at your pace; set your own pace so you can produce artwork that you’re truly proud of.

Experiment Away

The underwater painting itself can seem like one big experiment, but why not try everything while you’re at it? Whether it’s introducing different painting mediums underwater, or trying out different perspectives, experiment to see what truly works for you. Take advantage of your natural surroundings, like the light permeating through the water or the marine life you see around you. You can also study various marine life that is usually present where you paint so you can portray them better in your paintings when you see them in real life. Look up the anatomy of various marine creatures and study the flora present underwater so you can make the best of your time in the water.

Practice Is Crucial

Hard work and consistency matter more than being a genius, and you shouldn't forget that when you start underwater painting. Don’t get disheartened if your first few attempts aren’t what you expect them to be. Feel free to take the time to get accustomed to your surroundings and the challenges of painting underwater. Expect the first few times not to turn out as you expected, and understand where your challenges lie in painting underwater. Try to get a second opinion on your underwater paintings so you can identify where the problems lie.

Maintain Breathing Control

Knowing how to breathe properly underwater is crucial, even when you’re using professional diving equipment that provides airflow. While diving gear is great for providing a stable oxygen supply, you still need to know how to breathe properly so it doesn't run out. Learning how to breathe efficiently, without stress, when underwater can ensure that you stay in the same position. It helps you can focus on the painting without worrying about your oxygen supply. Consider not using diving equipment the first few times so you can understand your breathing patterns underwater.

Besides having the proper swimming gear to make you feel safe, you may also want to look for professional instruction on proper breathing techniques. Take up cycling or other lung-intensive activities to increase your endurance as well.

Find Inspiration Everywhere

If you feel like your time underwater is extremely limited, take the help of technology for the perfect underwater painting. Use a waterproof camera or phone to take photos underwater so you can refine your painting when you’re above water. Make it a group activity, so you can see how everyone else perceives the same environment and objects to come out with a different painting. Experiment with different textures by using sponges and even palette knives!

Once you get the hang of underwater painting, it is an activity that won’t just spark your creativity but enables you to relax, too.