This photograph of the Venetian Harbour in Chania, Crete, was taken by me on this occasion and not Mr FND! My idea was to create a watercolour with the gentle lines of a preparatory drawing showing through.
My first layer was the bluewatercolor from Angie Makes in Photoshop’s Normal mode. This I followed with the Beguiling-18 texture from 2 Lil’ Owls in Linear Burn. As you can see, I’m getting a lot of mileage out of those two backgrounds! Next came the Venetian Harbour which I put in Screen mode. To create the line drawing, I used the Trace Contour tool; this is not the best tool in the world but since I wanted the bare minimum showing, I knew it could work. To top it off, I used another 2 Lil’ Owls texture, 2LO Confetti 8. Putting the latter in Multiply mode was the perfect finishing touch.
The last time I tried to create a watercolour effect with this photo — some years ago now — it was disastrous and very obviously ‘Photoshopped’ using their ‘watercoloor’ tool. Not a good idea. I’m much happier this time round!
Incidentally, the mosque in the centre of the picture is the Mosque of the Janissaries, now an art gallery. If you ever find yourself in the harbour, by all means have a drink but don’t, whatever you do, eat a meal. The quality is appalling and you would be better off going up the side streets to find good, authentic food. Most important of all, avoid the taverna that sells very pink and very green cocktails — coloured fizzy water at best! We were each offered one for free having allowed the owner to do a quick run round the harbour on my mobility scooter. Never again!
Here, for your delectation, is a recipe for what looks and sounds like an excellent green cocktail from MyBestCocktails.com:
Minttu
Ingredients
1 oz Malibu Rum
1 oz Cuban Rum
1 oz Batida de Coco
2/3 oz Midori
1 oz Pineapple Juice
6 leaves Mint Leaves
- Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
- Pour into a tall glass with some ice.
- Enjoy!
No, I’ve never come across Midori either!
Available at the following galleries:
Redbubble
Crated
Zazzle US
Zazzle UK
Fine Art America
Fine Art England
Saatchi Art
Take care and keep laughing!
First Night Design 
Great post, and thanks for the green cocktail recipe:) One of these days we will sit together and ‘play’ with watercolour which you can then weave your magic with through photo shop….sound a like a good plan to me….have a lovely day and keep smiling:)xx
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Thank you! Sounds like an excellent plan and I look forward to it immensely. xx
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Pictures have been posted on my FB page….please take a look – two of my son wearing your tie….looks fab:) I have liked your First night Design FB page…do you have a personal one that I can send these to…..Janet. xx
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That worked very well, Sarah, and is a pleasing effect.
I will heed your advice about Chania, if I ever happen to visit when I am feeling peckish.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Bless you, Pete. If you ever do visit, I shall take you to a restaurant in one of the cobbled streets off the harbour which is run by an Irish lady married to a Greek: excellent Greek food, often with her own touches. (Cheap, too!)
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And I promise not to ride around the harbour on your scooter! x
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Think it’s worked a treat Sarah, looks just like a watercolour and a very appealing one at that! Have a superlative Sunday 🙂
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Much thanks, Jane. I’m thrilled it appeals. Have yourself a superlative Sunday too.
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very beautiful, sarah –
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Much thanks!
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I hope you get to try Janet’s suggestion too. It looks amazing as always, Sarah!
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You’re a treasure!
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Both harbor pictures are so lovely, Sarah. I can’t believe how blue the water is in the original. It’s simply stunning.
And although it’s been a few years since I’ve had the good fortune of visiting Crete, the picture strikes a chord of familiarity.
So many good memories – mostly of meals!
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Bless you, Shelley! You were clearly luckier than we with your eating out. There are very few good ones around these days and it’s been a great disappointment since moving here.
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So beautiful!!!
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Thanks, Lynz!
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amazing work!
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A you know l have been able to reblog your posts for a while now and thanks to WordPress they changed their app on iPad and thus l need a request that is can you add a link to your site I each post and l can click and reblog your great work. Regards Ian 🌷
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If you’re saying what I think, Ian, it sounds as if you’re not seeing the Reblog button. I know WP have made more of their problematic changes and some bloggers don’t have their ‘like’ or ‘Reblog’ buttons showing. As far as I can see, everything is showing as it should on here. Patience may be the watchword here!
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On the iPad the links only open certain links when a blogger adds their site as an attribution it opens their site. I know the reblog button is their but on the iPad if each post has this on it your site plus WordPress.com it will open directly on the right post.
Regards Ian
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So sorry, Ian, but I don’t understand what you’re saying I need to do to resolve this.
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It’s ok do not worry it’s that apps use a different method now and all l was asking is if you just add this to bottom of every post you will increase your reblogs and visits as l found a number of people using Apple iPads are experiencing similar problems.
Just add this nothing more next time you post https://
firstnightdesign.wordpress.com
Hope that explains it – sorry to be a pain.
Thanks Ian
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Off to the bottle shop now to stock up on some essential items that our larder appears to be missing – cheers! 🙂
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Ha!
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Beautiful, Sarah! As for the Midori, I used to have a bottle brought by a Japanese guest to a decades-old St. Patty’s Day party – if memory serves, we used it over vanilla ice cream 🙂
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An explanation – brilliant! Thanks, Stacy.
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My pleasure 🙂
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Love!! This looks like a piece you would find in an out-of-the-way used book store in New England – or jolly ol’ England. I love it.
PS. Thanks for the cocktail recipe. Don’t mind if I do!
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I’m delighted by your comments, Ruth. Thank you!
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