Grey water, three washes
October 9
Overcast days are easier than they look. Lay a pale blue-grey wash for the sky, let it dry fully, then a second, darker band for the far shore. The water is the same mix with a little burnt sienna, pulled down in one stroke.
Paper that survives the wind
September 22
A small 300 g cold-press block stays flat even when the wind picks up on the pier. Loose sheets curl within minutes; clips help, but the block is less fuss.
Painting boats without drawing them
September 3
Skip the pencil. Put down the hull as one dark shape, leave a sliver of white for the waterline, and add the mast last with the edge of a flat brush. Fewer lines read as more detail from a step back.