Polperro Harbour, view into the harbour

The high walls of the harbour create such a strong shape against the white cottages of the village. I wanted to capture that feeling of being tucked away in this famous Cornish spot. The boats sit quietly on the water, and the way they are tied up creates some great lines for the eye to follow. It is a scene that feels very still and peaceful, even with all those buildings looking down on the water.

A few of my students often ask how to handle all those white houses without the painting looking too busy or messy. My secret is to use very dark shadows to make the white paper pop. For the deep shadows on the left, I mixed Ultramarine Blue with a touch of Neutral Tint. This creates a very strong contrast. If you look closely, you can see how that dark blue makes the sunny side of the walls look much brighter.

The water in the harbour has a lovely mix of soft colours where it reflects the sky and the trees. I used some Cerulean Blue for the cooler parts and a bit of Yellow Ochre for the shallow areas near the bottom. I also added some Viridian Green to match the thick trees on the hillside above. It is important to let these colours blend together on the paper while it is still wet so the water looks natural.

I always finish with a few small details to bring the scene to life. I used a little bit of white paint for the highlights on the tops of the boats and the ropes. These tiny marks really help to show where the sun is hitting the objects. If you like this painting, it is currently for sale. Please contact me if you would like more information about owning the original piece.