I go into antique stores merely to look around out of curiosity. I occasionally come across something that speaks to me, and if the price is right and it fits, I bring it home and put it on display.

The coast near my house, where there is a point called Bodega Head where you can stare out over the cliffs down at a spectacular sea vista as waves crash against jagged rocks, is where I first came across an oil painting of a rectangular seascape a few years ago. (For a 10-second glimpse, see today’s Instagram post.)

Since a number of years ago, that painting has hung above the fireplace in my family room. Teal blues and brown tones are shared together with the appearance and atmosphere of the nearby Northern California beach.

In addition to the subject matter, I am drawn to painting seascapes because I am aware of how difficult it must be to capture the motion of the water, the waves, and the reflection of light.

Smaller seascape paintings arranged in a gallery wall arrangement are just as appealing as large seascape paintings that will steal the show in a room.

If you share my passion of seascapes but are looking for something antique, try searching for vintage seascape paintings on Etsy or Ebay. You’ll find a wide selection of oil paintings there. Or go to your neighborhood antique store; you might find a decent one there!

Here are numerous places to find oil, acrylic, and watercolor seascapes by Etsy artists if you’re searching for something fresh or distinctive: