​Below are basic step by step instructions and photos of the progression of the painting.
Start by painting the whole canvas with a wash of burnt sienna, keeping it loose and light and painterly. Let dry.
Next, using the brush, paint a horizontal line of light blue about one-third down from the top.
Mix blue and white and paint some sky on the left two thirds above the horizon line, keeping it full of brushstrokes. While the paint is still wet add some white for clouds. Let dry.
Using light blue add a distant "island" on the horizon. Using green ( mix a bit of yellow with some blue) add a "closer" island.
Using blue lightly outline the dock.
Using darker blue paint horizontal strokes for the water in the distance and below the "islands".
Now the fun part - Paint the rest of the water, using horizontal strokes, various colors of blues. The water looks lighter where there are cloud reflections. Let some of the base color show , let there be brushstrokes.
Add multiple colors to the flowering tree on the upper right.
Mix some white, yellow and burnt sienna for the dock. Paint the "planks" at a slight angle.
Finish up by adding railing and supports to the pier and branches and leaves to the foreground plants on the beach.