Thasos Harbour. Backlight, Shapes and Angles

Here is my new watercolour of Thasos, a bright Greek harbour with boats, figures and that strong sun from behind. I love this kind of scene because the light is tricky but very rewarding when it works. The mood is calm, the air is warm, and the quayside has those lovely long shadows that hold the whole painting together.

Backlight needs care. I keep shapes simple and link darks so the glow feels natural. I save a few clean whites and add a touch of white paint for sparkle on ropes and boat edges. The sky is a soft wash of cobalt blue, and the distant buildings sit in a cool grey so the light reads well.

The big story here is shapes and angles that lead you in. The line of the jetty, the tilt of the boat bows and the mooring ropes all point you into the scene. Those diagonals take the eye to the figures and the car, while roof lines and masts guide you further along the waterfront. I keep drawing loose, then commit to confident brush marks.

For colour, I used warm mixes of burnt sienna with yellow ochre on the boats, and cool shadows with ultramarine and a touch of alizarin crimson. The water has ultramarine with a little viridian and a few lavender notes in the distance for depth. Timing is key. I place the bold darks while the first washes are still slightly damp, then finish with small accents and a few calligraphic lines.