July 5, 2024

How do you paint a Venice scene in watercolor?

To paint Venice in watercolor, I start with a first wash over the whole scene. I use slightly faded permanent rose, lighten it as I go, then bring in blue and burnt sienna. Once it is dry, I define the roofs negatively, then the towers and domes. I paint the water with plain water that turns more and more blue. The boats get burnt umber and ultramarine blue, and their reflections are slightly lighter. The scene does not need to be very detailed to work.

What are the elements of a Venice scene?

The scene is built from a few simple elements: the water, a building, another building, and then the boat.

In the painting I am looking at, I would have placed the character a bit higher. As it is, it is hard to see the character's head against the building.

Which colors go into the first wash?

Here is how I build the first wash:

1. Come in with permanent rose, slightly faded, and do a wash, lightening it as you go.
2. Start adding a bit of blue. It becomes part of the first wash.
3. Switch to burnt sienna in some places. Precision does not matter at this stage.
4. On the building part, strengthen some blue areas where necessary.
5. On the left side, come in with a bit of yellow ochre, then switch to something a little more blue. Keep adding more blue, and finally a little bit of purple.
6. Add some small touches of turquoise here and there.

Once you have done that, you need to let it dry.

It is good to put some colors into the first wash where the buildings will be. I think it gives you some edges to work with afterwards.

How do you paint the buildings, towers and domes?

Once the first wash is dry, you work on top of it:

• The roof: paint it with small window touches. This negatively defines the house.
• The towers: a first tower, a little lighter maybe, then other towers.
• The domes: a first dome, then a second dome with a little bit of blue.
• The windows: put them in, then soften them a bit, because otherwise the edges are a little too sharp. You can also soften them with your fingers. It helps.
• The other house: define it with a bit of burnt sienna.

Then add small touches at the bottom. There are small boats there too.

How do you paint the water in Venice?

For the water, completely wipe the brush and just use water. From there, move on to something a little more faded, very light. Let it get more and more blue as you go. You can add some effects on dry paper if you can.

While it is still drying, add some small details inside that correspond to the reflections.

How do you paint the boat and its reflection?

For the boat, take your synthetic bristle brush with burnt umber and ultramarine blue. That is an awesome combination.

Then work on the reflection, which is slightly lighter than the boat.

There is also a kind of dock with small characters. I made a big head on one of them. I rinse my brush to create highlights that are a bit lighter and a bit more convincing.

It is not too detailed, and that is good, because it also shows that you can paint this kind of scene without much detail.

How do you bring balance to the finished painting?

To finish, the painter connects the elements. He goes back over the painting with a little bit of blue and makes strokes that link them together. There is still a hard edge in one spot. I think it is worth doing: it brings a bit more balance to the watercolor.

In the meantime, the boats need to be redefined better. There is another one, and some small boats in the back as well.

FAQ

Which color mix works well for boats in watercolor?

I paint boats with a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue, using a synthetic bristle brush.

Should a reflection be lighter or darker in watercolor?

Slightly lighter. Rinsing your brush helps you create lighter highlights that are more convincing.

How do you avoid sharp edges on windows in watercolor?

After painting the windows, soften them a bit, either with the brush or with your fingers.

Read next

• What should I know before starting watercolor as a beginner?
• How to tell what's wrong with my watercolor
• What watercolor subjects should you paint to keep improving?