Sketching at the beach is one of the most rewarding experiences I know—sunlight, crashing waves, and ever-changing light that pushes you to capture the moment fast. Each spot has its own mood, from iconic landmarks to peaceful coves. These five beach sketches were all done on-site around Laguna Beach, using just a small kit with my favorite tools: Neocolor II water-soluble pastels, Micron pens, and Pentel brush pens. Whether standing in the sand or perched on a rock, every sketch tells a story.
Btw, I have a great location where you can do at least 5 different sketches. All about it in my recent post.
Pirate Tower, Victoria Beach
There’s something almost surreal about the Pirate Tower—it rises from the rocks like a fantasy illustration. I used Neocolor II pastels to quickly capture the sandstone hues and mossy textures, then added fine ink lines with a Micron pen to define the edges. The waves crashing around the base of the tower made the whole scene feel alive. Sketching here felt like opening a fairytale book and drawing directly from imagination.
Crescent Beach
This beach has the best cliffs—palm trees clinging to the edge, and sculpted rocks below that catch the golden hour light just right. I again leaned on my Neocolor II pastels to bring out the earthy reds and ocean blues, letting the pigment flow freely with a bit of water. It’s the kind of view where you don’t need to invent anything—the composition is already perfect, framed naturally by the sea and sky.
Main Beach, Laguna Beach
Main Beach is busier, more lively, full of energy. I focused on the iconic lifeguard tower, sketching it entirely with a Micron pen. I love the challenge of using just line to capture a structure, especially when people are walking by and the light is changing fast. I didn’t need color—just the sharp contrast of black on paper was enough to bring out the charm of this familiar landmark.
Christmas Cove – Cliffside House
This was one of those moments where I didn’t plan to sketch, but the light hit a house on the cliff just right, and I had to grab my Pentel brush pens. The bold ink strokes worked perfectly for the dramatic lines of the architecture and rocky slope beneath it. The ocean breeze, the sound of gulls, and the deep shadows made this one of my more expressive sketches. I let the brush do the talking.
View from Victoria Beach to Christmas Cove
I was standing at the very beginning of Victoria Beach—closer to Christmas Cove than to the Pirate Tower—when I set up for this sketch. The view opened up to the cove and the curving coastline. Using Pentel brush pens, I focused on capturing the bold, flowing lines of the landscape rather than every fine detail. The brush strokes gave me the freedom to express the rhythm of the waves and the structure of the cove, all in one sweeping motion.
Each of these beach sketches holds a memory—of sun, wind, and that quiet focus only sketching can bring. The California coastline offers endless inspiration, and I keep going back with the same small sketch kit, knowing I’ll never draw the same scene twice. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting, I highly recommend taking your pens and pastels to the beach—you might find your favorite sketch hidden in the waves.
