Where Threads and Light Carry the Past

A Tribute to the Hands That Built Our World

This painting, like many recent ones, was inspired by an old black-and-white photograph. It’s fascinating how themes evolve with time. As I began planning my next exhibition, I felt the urge to center the collection around a specific subject—and gradually, the idea became clear: to revisit life in Spain and beyond during the 1930s to 1950s through these images.

This direction grew even more defined as I worked on this painting. I realized that my next show should serve as a small tribute to the generation of our parents and grandparents—those who endured wars, postwar hardships, and yet laid the foundation for the comfort and stability we often take for granted today. I want to honor their way of living, their labor, their communities—both in rural villages and in bustling cities.

Materials and Technical Details

📐 Size: 36 × 51 cm
🔲 Format: Portrait
📄 Paper: Baohong Master Choice, 300g, cold press (fine grain)
🎨 Watercolors: Schmincke Horadam
🖌️ Brushes: Escoda Reserva (natural hair)
📅 Date: April 2025
🎨 Palette:
Violet-blue façade tones, warm creams and mauves in sunlight, fresh accents of green and pink in flowers.

About the Painting Process

This scene is a perfect example. A simple moment in a quiet village—an older woman seated in the sun, embroidering or perhaps mending a sheet. A domestic task, possibly preparing a dowry, part of a tradition now lost. The image evoked vivid memories of my grandmother, quietly sewing during our childhood visits to old family homes in Chiclana.

Capturing this nostalgic and emotional weight through watercolor was challenging but essential.

1. Composition and Structure

I divided the composition vertically into two contrasting halves. On the left, a rustic stone wall—organic, irregular. On the right, a clean, sunlit façade with a balcony and doors. The focal point is the woman, placed strategically in the most illuminated area to naturally draw the viewer’s eye. A triangular arrangement between the seated figure, the basketry in the foreground, and the balcony window establishes a dynamic yet stable structure.

2. Light and Narrative

Light enters from the upper left, casting sharp, rhythmic shadows across the wall. But beyond its visual effect, light here becomes a narrative device. It fully surrounds the woman, enhancing a sense of dignity, serenity, and honest work. The shadows not only define the space, they also set the tempo of the image.

3. Color and Atmosphere

I used a limited palette with nuanced modulation. The violet-blue of the façade dominates, cooling in shadow and warming with soft creams and mauves in the sunlight. The greens and pinks of the flowers offer a fresh chromatic counterpoint.

Color becomes emotional rather than descriptive—conveying calm, warmth, and the timeless mood of a quiet summer afternoon in southern Spain.

4. Detail and Texture

I aimed to create rich textures throughout—juxtaposing highly detailed areas with simplified brushwork. The hardness of the stones, the roughness of the baskets, the softness of the fabrics and flowers—all contribute to a tactile diversity.

5. Narrative and Symbolism

This painting tells a story without words. A woman absorbed in her work evokes a frozen moment in time. Her craft, the modest but dignified setting, the abundance of flowers—everything speaks of care, memory, and belonging.

Final Thoughts

A smooth, satisfying process. I knew from the beginning the effects and atmosphere I wanted. I leaned into a more emotional, even impressionistic use of color—especially with violets, pushing intensity beyond what the actual reference called for.

That’s one of the great freedoms of painting from black-and-white photos: you’re not tied to reality. You’re invited to invent the mood. And I’m happy with how this one turned out.

You can explore the rest of my watercolor collection by clicking the link below.

🔗 [View Portfolio]