This Fort Lauderdale beach painting began with a simple moment I noticed while walking along A1A in Fort Lauderdale.

An orange surfboard was resting against the long white wall that runs along the beach, with sea grasses, sand, and the ocean stretching out behind it. The bright Florida sun hit the board and created strong, warm shadows against the white surface. Those shadows had a beautiful violet tone, adding a subtle contrast to the warm orange and the bright coastal light.

It was one of those everyday coastal scenes that feels ordinary at first—but once you slow down, it becomes something worth capturing.

🎥 Painting Process Video

Here’s a short video showing the painting process from initial sketch to the final gouache layers:

The goal with this piece was to keep the feeling loose and sun-soaked, while still building enough structure for the scene to feel grounded in place.

🌴 Inspiration from Fort Lauderdale Beach Painting

While walking along A1A, I kept noticing how the beach is layered visually—white concrete walls, shifting sand, patches of sea grass, and then the deep blue of the ocean beyond.

But what stood out most in this moment was the orange surfboard.

It created a perfect contrast:

• Warm orange against cool blues
• Soft beach textures against hard architectural lines
• A single object resting quietly in a wide open space

Even more subtle was how the violet shadows formed along the wall and sand, shifting the scene into something more painterly and atmospheric than it first appeared.

That balance of color and light is what I wanted to capture in this Fort Lauderdale beach painting.

🎨 How This Fort Lauderdale Beach Painting Was Created

This piece was built up in layers using gouache, focusing on color relationships, light, and atmosphere.

Process overview:

• Loose sketch to establish composition
• Blocking in the beach, wall, and ocean shapes
• Layering warm and cool tones to build depth
• Placing the orange surfboard as the focal point
• Developing the violet shadows to add contrast and mood
• Final details in grasses, texture, and highlights

One of the key techniques in this painting was softening the shadow under the surfboard. I used a damp brush over dry paint, gently brushing across where the two colors met to soften the edge. Then I would lightly dab the brush on a paper towel and go back over the area again. This helps the paint begin to soften and blend naturally.

It takes a little practice to get the balance right, but it’s worth it for achieving those subtle transitions—especially in coastal light where shadows tend to feel soft and atmospheric rather than harsh.

Gouache is especially effective for scenes like this because it allows for both controlled layering and soft blending, making it ideal for capturing bright sunlight, saturated color, and gentle shadow transitions.

7″x 9″, “Orange Surfboard – Fort Lauderdale Beach Gouache Painting”, gouache, ©2026 PJ Cook.

🌴 Looking for More Coastal Art?

You can browse my full collection of original paintings and find your perfect piece of Florida sunshine here:
👉 pjcookartist.com

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I’m always drawn to simple coastal moments like this—if you have a favorite beach scene or landmark, feel free to share it in the comments below.