The Magic of a Simple Blue Boat in Crete

The early morning light in Chania harbour has a way of making everything feel soft and quiet. I wanted to capture that feeling in this latest piece by focusing on the large blue boat sitting in the foreground. To get those deep, dark shadows under the hull, I mixed a bit of ultramarine blue with neutral tint. It creates a very strong value that makes the boat look like it is really sitting on the water rather than just floating on the paper.

A question I often get from my students is how to handle a busy background without making the painting look messy. The secret is to keep things simple and blurry. I used a very pale wash of yellow ochre and cerulean blue for the buildings in the distance. By not adding too much detail to the houses, the eye stays focused on the boat. It is all about making choices and deciding what the most important part of your story is.

When I was working on the water, I made sure to leave some white paper showing through. This acts as a highlight and gives the impression of light dancing on the ripples. I used some cobalt blue and a touch of viridian green to show the clear, Mediterranean sea. The reflection of the boat needs to be darker than the water around it, so I used a thicker mix of paint there. This helps to anchor the boat and gives the painting a sense of balance.

Playing with colours is fun, but working with values is what truly makes a painting successful. I will be showing exactly how I did this in my next YouTube video, so keep an eye out for that. This original painting is for sale, so please do contact me if you would like more information about owning it. I hope this little scene brings a bit of Greek sunshine to your day.