How to Paint Venice in Photoshop

Step 105

Use the blur tool (100% strength) on the rectangles. Block in the top roof area with color #FAEFD9 (15 pixel soft-edged round brush, opaque).

Step 106

Paint the chimney with color #E8D7B9. Block in the last building with color #BF895E (Front side) and color #9B7251 (side facing out).

Step 107

Fill the little roof with color#C29B5F and add shadows around it with color #593B36 (17 pixel soft-edged brush, 40% opacity). Highlight the roof with color #FAEFD9.

Step 108

Highlight the window glass with color # and add a shadow to right above the glass with color # (both 40% opacity soft-edged brush). Use color #644844 and the same brush to add shadows to the roof above it.

Step 109

Begin blocking in shadows in the water with color #293535 (38% opacity, 210 pixel brush).

Step 110

Use the same brush and color #24322E to deepen the shadows.

Step 111

Fill the top center of the water with color #1280C8 (same brush) and then use the smudge tool to shape it.

Step 112

Continue using the same brush to highlight the blue with color #CFCCC7.

Step 113

Brush color #406A62 (50% opacity, soft-edged brush) where the reelections are cast by the boats in the reference photo.

Step 114

Highlight the light reflections with color #DCC3AC and the same brush.

Step 115

We are going to use three filters to give the canal a “watery” appearance. Begin by applying a Glass filter to the “background” layer. Set the Distortion to 14, the Smoothness to 10, and Texture to “Frosted”, and the Scaling to 200%. Check the “Invert” box if you wish.

Step 116

Next, apply a “Watercolor” filter. Set the Brush Detail to 14.

Step 117

Apply as last filter, “Smudge Stick,” to the layer. Set the Stroke Length to 0, the Highlight Area to 9, and the Intensity to 4.

Step 118

Make a new layer, “Color Block”.

Step 119

Fill in most of the windows with color #106358 (opaque). Use the same color to fill the bottom left arch of the middle “connector” building as well as all the shutters.