This first assignment was meant as an exercise in learning to play with layers in Photoshop.
The image above is a simple beach still life. I used many layers for the sand, rocks, kelp, and shells. I tried out different brush sizes and textures to mimic the variances found on rocky Washington beaches. I did not successfully find a brush to create a stippling effect for the sand (I did watch a tutorial on creating my own brushes though and may use that in future). Instead, I used a watercolor brush and gradients in the background.