Underfall Boat Yard, Bristol in Watercolour

I painted this lively view of Underfall Boat Yard in Bristol, with the slipway, old sheds and bright water leading the eye into the scene. I kept the background simple and soft, then pushed stronger darks around the main boat to make a clear focal point. Little figures and posts are just a few confident marks to suggest life without fuss. It is a working place and I wanted that busy feeling but with clean shapes and plenty of light.

My plan was all about big shapes and values. The shadow under the boat and the dark water beside the quay hold the centre, while the pale paths and sky give the painting air. I let edges come and go so the boat sits in its shadow and the reflections link shapes together. A few long strokes on the water pull the viewer into the middle.

For colour I used warm brick mixes of burnt sienna and light red, cooled with a touch of cobalt blue on the distant buildings. The water is a fresh mix of viridian and cobalt blue with a little ultramarine in the deeper areas, plus small notes of cadmium yellow where weed catches the light. The hulls are cool blue greys with ultramarine and a touch of neutral tint, with crisp sparkles picked out at the end with white paint. The sky is a soft wash of cobalt blue with a hint of lavender, and I used dry brush on the quay for texture and a few flicks for rigging and sparkle.

If painting a harbour scene like this, try to simplify the detail and save a few clean whites for sparkle on the water. Keep brush strokes long and confident, and let some edges melt while others stay sharp near the focal point. This original painting is for sale. Please contact me for more information, and do visit my website www.timwilmotartist.com and my Patreon community at patreon/timwilmot.