A Nostalgic Glimpse into Everyday Life

The Story Behind the Painting

This watercolor marks the beginning of a new series centered around life in small towns and cities during the early and mid-20th century. Inspired by old black-and-white photographs, the aim is to recreate the atmosphere of a different era—how people lived, moved, and connected with one another. This is more than a visual challenge: it’s also an emotional journey into the past, filtered through color theory and artistic reinterpretation.

I had already explored this concept in two previous works, Calle Ancha, Cádiz, 1973 and Calle de La Plata, San Fernando, 1970s. Both paintings focused on reviving the soul of bygone places through composition, color, and memory. The process was so enriching that I’ve now fully committed to developing a complete series for my next exhibition, with this theme as the unifying thread.

Why This Scene?

When I stumbled upon a black-and-white photo of this old square—one of the oldest in my hometown, San Fernando—it immediately took me back to my childhood. I grew up playing in a similar square: dirt ground, low whitewashed houses, stone benches, and neighbors chatting in the early morning sun.

This painting became a deeply nostalgic exercise, an emotional return to those early years. Capturing that light was essential. The unique light of early mornings in the Bay of Cádiz area creates soft, broken tones—muted pinks, purples, and ochres that lend warmth and authenticity. The use of deep shadows and diagonal shapes in the foreground adds structure and depth to the composition.

Materials and Technical Details

🎨 Medium: M. Graham professional watercolors
📄 Paper: Saunders Waterford, 300g fine-grain cotton paper
📐 Size: 30 x 40 cm
📅 Date: February 2025
🔲 Format: Landscape
🎨 Palette: Soft pinks, muted purples, ochres and warm earth tones—capturing the early morning light and nostalgic atmosphere of a 1950s Spanish square

Sketch and Color Study

This piece required a thoughtful translation from black and white to full color. The tonal study and palette exploration were essential to build the right atmosphere. Below is the sketch where I explored:

• Composition and structural balance
• Tonal values (four zones of light/dark contrast)
• Custom color palette using Azo Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Sepia, Violet Dioxazine, Neutral Tint, and others

📷 Sketch with tonal and color analysis included below

Final Thoughts

This painting represents much more than a visual experiment. It’s a bridge between memory and creation, a tribute to how we used to live—and how art can bring those forgotten scenes back to life.

If you enjoyed this painting, explore more of my nostalgic townscapes and watercolor scenes in the full Watercolor Collection.