If I close my eyes and think of Greece, the first image that comes to mind is the Venetian Harbour in Chania, Crete. I am instantly transported back to my first glimpse of that magical scene. Yellow building, blue shutters, red roofs. Their jumbled, shifting shapes reflected in the circular bay. And all of it glowing and alive at sunset. With strolling tourists. Cafes and tavernas. An orange cat washing its face.

I was so enthralled on that first trip, I painted at least seven views of the harbour from different vantage points. Now I’d like to share what I learned in that enchanted place.

Sunlit Harbour: Simplifying a Cretan Scene in Watercolour

A Shari Blaukopf Online Sketching Course

In this course, I’d like to not only to share the view, but also share the painting process I used on location. Because at first glance, the buildings lining the harbour appear like stacked puzzle pieces—each with its own details and character. So it took a while to figure out how to simplify and sort out the shapes. How to best convey the colours, shadows and details.

In Sunlit Harbour: Simplifying a Cretan Scene in Watercolour, we’ll break down this vibrant scene into clear, manageable steps so you can approach any complex subjects with greater confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use a strong pencil drawing to simplify architectural masses
• Choose a colour palette that captures a sunlit Mediterranean scene
• Paint a luminous, transparent sky and glowing sunlit buildings
• Capture reflections in water with strong, decisive brushstrokes
• Move from large shapes to small details with confidence
• Use light, shadows and darks to bring your painting to life
  

Course Length: 2+ hours

Skill Level: All Levels

Sunlit Harbour includes:

• Warm-up exercises, where we’ll establish a palette for this Mediterranean scene, as well as techniques for skies, shadows and reflections
• Full-length step-by-step video demos you can watch at your own pace, as often as you like
• Closeup views of my technique, so you can see how wet my brush is and how I apply marks to the paper
• A downloadable reference image, so you can draw and paint along
• A video show-and-tell of tools and materials you’ll need, along with a downloadable list
• A comments section where you can ask questions and post your finished harbour scene
• Optional subtitles in English, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and Spanish

You’ll follow along through real-time demonstrations and practice exercises, accompanied by clear explanations — all designed to help you see this harbour scene in a new way and sketch it with confidence.

FAQ

How long is this course?

It’s over 2 hours in duration, and includes one full-length demo plus practice exercises so you can strengthen your drawing, paint mixing and painting skills.

How long will I have access to this course?

Once you sign up, the course is yours to watch as often as you like.

Who is this course for?

This is a course that any sketcher with basic drawing and watercolour skills can follow. We cover all the steps, including pencil drawing and ink sketching.

What tools will I need?

We’ll cover drawing and painting tools in some detail at the start of the course, and you can download a list of materials.

Will I have access to all the lessons at once?

Yes, once you register you’ll have access to all the lessons so you can start learning, drawing and painting immediately.

How do I find the courses I am enrolled in?

Go to the top of the page and look for the "My Courses" tab. All the courses you have registered for are right there.