Storm Pirate Ship Mural by Mural Artist Nicole McClain

A red sky is sailor's sky, right? I wasn't even anticipating a red sky when I started this project, but red was my inspiring color of the day so it landed on the canvas. We don't see many red skies in Cleveland which is unfortunate, but the cotton candy colored sunsets in Cleveland can be pretty breathtaking. The pirate ship was drawn on canvas first with pencil and then outlined with ink to preserve the ship detail while the sunset was painted.

Pirate ship mural by Cleveland artist Nicole McClain

The waves under the pirate ship are given a blue wash to later be detailed with specific lines, whitecaps, and crashing against the ship. The waters behind the pirate ship were blended in as well with a hint of purple. The masts of the ship and pirate ship deck are also given some color.The red seemed a little harsh the following day, so I lightened it with some yellow acrylic paint (which turned a little too yellow and you will see I went back to a red sunset in the later pictures).

Pirate ship mural by Cleveland muralist Nicole McClain

The red sunset is emphasized again and the sunset is softened and blended together more thoroughly. The next step is to bring the masts, ropes, pirates, and base of the ship.

Storm ship mural painted by Cleveland artist Nicole McClain

Below the ship mural begins to really come together. Still a mural in progress but certainly moving along. I'm excited to see how the waves turn out and of course of all of fancy details (I love details).

Ship mural in progress from Cleveland painter Nicole McClain