How?

They look simple, but all of my attempts to replicate them look like shit.

>>7620603 (OP)
In other words. Help me with this

>>7620603 (OP)
>my attempts to replicate them look like shit
Show me your attempt.

>>7620603 (OP)
>Think of the top plane of water as a flat surface
>Create little peaks and valleys in the surface to simulate the turbulence of the water
>The sharper bolder white highlights represent the apex of those peaks
>The water is blurred and softly painted deeper and darker in the valleys
Check pic related for the method executed in simpler shapes.
Sometimes referencing other art is more useful than a photograph because you can see what the artist has saved and emphasized and see what they've intentionally let go.

>>7620647
A less straightforward example.
The waters surface has a greater wider plain but the same principal applies.

>>7620603 (OP)

>>7620603 (OP)
learn gradient maps or gradient rendering

>>7620609
first post best post

I tried it once. Didn't come out very good. Use reference.

>>7620658
that looks more like caustics than waves

>>7620605
>>7620609
>>7620706
I did

>>7620648
Thank you!

>>7620712
caustics are an outcome of waves.
if you mean it looks flat, I think seafoam would be a more accurate assumption.

>>7620647
>>7620700
>>7620605
Better?

>>7620824
increase your range of values
use a range of techniques and brushes
marking making should be fluid and roughly executed
here's my take.
you got this anon

>>7620905
Thank you!

>>7620816
sure but imo that pic reads as caustics more than anything

>>7620905
>>7621036
Looks lewd.

>>7620905
I don’t think this is what you advised. I tried some blobs, a gradient, and different wave peaks

>>7621036
I love this one. What’s your process?

>>7621066
If I make it purple enough, maybe it won’t look like an undulating wall of meat

Probably a little too rendered, but I'll throw it in there. You can simplify it down a lot.
From you're original, the main problem is SHAPE. You have to think in shapes to do something anything in a stylized way.

Otherwise, Lighting is key with water. You could use a little subsurface scattering to liven things up.

>>7621036
From the wip you gave, these seem closer to what you're after. Looks like a comic, so simpler the better.

>>7621421
Also, ignore the palette, i didn't use that at all, and I kinda used effects (contrast mainly) to glow it up.

>>7620824
>>7620905
>>7621036
>>7621421

>shape of ocean in solid base color
>lights on top layer are like the rough edges of irregular, curving pyramids
>cool/dark to warm/light gradient over base color (below lights layer)
>darks beneath gradient. Shade the sides if each pyramid in zig-zag like blobs, going in the direction of the water surface
>add and erase small dots/blobs on darks and lights layers to create a lava-lamp effect

I made a shitty mock up. Is this the idea?

>>7620603 (OP)

>>7621066
Hehe yeah I'm a hentai artist I can't help it

>>7621421
This looks amazing. Blog?

i would probably reference sean murphy's wake if i was trying to draw waves, i remember him saying he struggled to learn how to do it