A Vivid Exploration of Light, Color, and Stillness

Traditional watercolor painting on paper.

I discovered the reference for this painting through a photo shared online by a friend. What caught my attention immediately was the intensity and contrast of the colors: ocher-painted walls, deep violet shadows, and a cerulean blue sky. The composition had a sense of stillness, broken only by the gentle motion of a passerby’s tunic — a small but dynamic detail that brought life into the scene.

In this piece, I worked with less broken colors, intentionally pushing for sharper contrasts and greater vibrancy across the composition. My goal was to experiment with stronger visual impact, stepping away from subtle transitions and exploring something more direct and expressive.

Trying different things, whether they succeed or not, is part of what keeps watercolor exciting for me — and in this case, I’m quite happy with the 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: Portrait; 30 x 40 cm.
Completed: September 2022.

Preliminary Sketch and Composition Study.

Before starting this piece, I created a small pencil sketch to test the composition, light, and color balance. It helped me determine whether the layout would hold up in the final version.

Final Notes / Artist’s Reflection

This was a refreshing experiment with more saturated tones and bolder contrasts. It helped me break away from some habits and explore a different mood. The subtle movement of the figure gave the painting just enough tension to make the scene feel alive.

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/

Did this painting catch your eye? Let me know your thoughts below — or share it with someone who loves color and architectural scenes.