Scali del Refugio, Livorno, Italy (2)

Many people ask me how to get the perspective right when a path or road leads the eye into the distance. In this painting of Scali del Refugio in Livorno, Italy, you can see how the stone walkway on the left creates a strong line. I used some grey and green mixes for the stone and added small touches of bright green to show the moss. This helps the viewer feel like they are standing right there by the water.

The water itself was a fun challenge to paint. I used a mix of ultramarine blue and viridian green to get that deep, cool look of a canal. By leaving some white paper showing, I could create the look of light reflecting off the surface. The yellow ochre on the buildings across the water adds a nice warm feel which balances the cool greens and blues of the canal.

Drawing small boats can be tricky but they are great for practice. I keep the shapes simple and focus on the shadows they cast on the water. For the shadows, I used a bit of neutral tint and cobalt blue. These dark areas under the boats make them look like they are really floating. The boats are the stars of this scene and they help give the painting a sense of scale.

I have put together a full step by step guide for this painting on my Patreon site. It is a brilliant exercise for anyone wanting to improve their drawing and their use of perspective. All of my members have been having a go at this one using my process. It is a great way to learn how to simplify a busy scene into a clear painting.

If you like this painting of Livorno, it is currently for sale.