Traditional watercolor painting of «Calle Ancha, Cádiz.»

Memory and Light: A Walk Through Childhood

Some paintings are special even before the first brushstroke — and this one certainly was. When I came across the photo that inspired this piece, I was instantly transported back to my childhood: walking hand in hand with my mother along Calle Ancha, staring at the shop windows, squinting against the intense light. The photo was taken in 1973 — the year I was born — adding another layer of personal meaning.

From the outset, I knew this painting would rely on powerful light contrasts and a delicate balance of broken ochres and violets. The composition was already strong, so my focus turned to expressing the weight of light in the figures, and creating a sense of warmth and nostalgia. I wanted the viewer to feel the brightness — that kind of light that makes you narrow your eyes, but warms your soul.

This is perhaps the painting I feel most proud of. Everything flowed naturally from the very beginning, and I was truly happy with the final result.

Materials and Technical Details

Paper: Canson Heritage, 300g fine-grain paper.
Watercolor: Schmincke Horadam watercolors.
Technique: Mainly «wet on dry» and «dry on dry»  
Format/Size: Square; 30 x 30 cm.
Completed: January 2022.

Sketches and Studies

The success of this piece was largely due to the preliminary studies I carried out beforehand. It was the first time I dedicated real time to sketching the composition, mapping the lights and shadows, and carefully selecting the color palette.

By the time I started painting, I felt fully prepared — and that sense of clarity made a real difference

Final Notes / Artist’s Reflection

This piece is not just a scene — it’s a memory. A tribute to a city, a street, and a moment in time. It’s amazing how a single photo can hold so much emotional weight, and how painting can be a way of revisiting who we once were.

Further Exploration

To check out the rest of my watercolor painting collection, click on this link. https://juananelo.wordpress.com/porfolio/

Artists exhibited in Gibraltar. https://www.culture.gi/art-galleries/

Do you have a place that instantly brings you back to childhood? Let me know in the comments or share this piece with someone who loves Cádiz.