Memory, Light, and Urban Nostalgia

The motivation for painting can come from many sources. In this case, it was an old black-and-white photograph of Calle de La Plata, a street very close to where I grew up in San Fernando. As soon as I saw it, I was transported back to my childhood—to school days, games, and familiar routines.

The challenge was to recreate the unique atmosphere of this coastal area in the Bay of Cádiz based solely on a monochrome photo and personal memory. I sought to capture the soft light of winter afternoons, the humidity of the salt marshes, and the subtle reflections across the narrow street. It was an exercise in both technique and emotion, guided by nostalgia and a limited color palette.

The composition balances vertical and horizontal lines through a diagonal perspective, with cool tones dominating the palette. These are offset by warm ocher lights, sienna shadows, and soft touches in the figures’ clothing and the urban elements.

Materials and Technical Details

🎨 Medium: Schmincke Horadam watercolors

📄 Paper: Hahnemühle Satin 600g paper

📐 Size: 30 x 30 cm

📅 Date: December 2022

🔲 Format: Square

Final Notes / Artist’s Reflection

This is a deeply personal work. Reconstructing a forgotten scene from childhood memory became a journey through time. Translating black and white into color wasn’t just a technical process—it was a way to reconnect with the atmosphere of my early years. I’m proud of the emotional honesty in this piece and how the limited palette helped focus the viewer’s attention on light and structure. It’s important to mention that this was the first in an entire series of paintings based on old black-and-white photographs.

Further Exploration

🎨 Check out the rest of my watercolor painting collection
📍 Learn more about San Fernando and its streets

Have you ever revisited a childhood memory through art or photography? Let me know your story in the comments.
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