Steps at Polperro Harbour in Cornwall

Cornwall has such a special feel for an artist. The light near the sea is bright and clear. In this painting of Polperro, I wanted to show the old stone steps and the calm water in the harbour. The steps have a lot of character and lead your eye right into the scene. It is a great place to sit and watch the boats go past.

Many of you ask me how to paint water that looks deep and still. I used a mix of cobalt blue and viridian green for the water here. I like how these two colours blend to make a rich teal colour. By leaving some white paper for the boats, the water looks even darker and more solid. I used a few quick strokes of ultramarine blue to show the small ripples.

Shadows are very important when you paint old buildings and harbour walls. I used neutral tint and a bit of burnt umber to create the dark areas under the steps. These dark shapes help the sunlit parts of the wall look much brighter. I also added some cadmium red on the distant boats to give a little pop of colour. It helps to balance all the blue and green.

I used yellow ochre for the small boat in the front. This warm colour stands out against the cool blue of the harbour. Painting steps can be tricky, so I tried to keep them simple. I did not paint every stone. Instead, I used light and dark blocks to show the shape of the stairs. This makes the painting feel more relaxed and natural.