Echoes of the Past in the Salt Marshes of Cádiz

It’s hard not to be drawn to these old cabins suspended over rivers and marshlands, worn by time, covered in moss, algae, and decay. Once used as humble sheds for fishing or salt harvesting tools, they now remain as quiet reminders of another era, frozen in time. This particular cabin rests over the Río Arillo, a narrow waterway between San Fernando and Cádiz in southern Spain.

In this painting, I aimed to capture the unique brightness of the Andalusian coast, using strong contrasts between light and shadow. The intense and vivid colors, paired with their complementary tones, helped bring out the atmospheric quality of this setting. The result may feel visually saturated with multiple layers of watercolor, but I always let the essence of the subject dictate the technique, even if it strays from traditional standards.

Materials and Technical Details

Paper: Canson Heritage, 300g fine-grain paper.
Watercolor: Winsor & Newton watercolors.
Technique: Mainly «wet on dry» and «dry on dry»  
Format/Size: Landscape; 30 x 40 cm.
Completed: February 2021.

Final Notes / Artist’s Reflection

Sometimes it’s not the grandeur of a subject that makes it paint-worthy, but its silent stories and emotional weight. These cabins may be falling apart, but for me, they hold a beauty shaped by function, history, and the harshness of time and nature. Painting them is my way of preserving their quiet dignity before they vanish completely.

Further Exploration

🔗 Check out the rest of my watercolor art collection
🌿 Learn more about the salt marshes of San Fernando

Have you ever been inspired by something simple yet nostalgic like this? Let me know in the comments!