Brigh cafe lights and a vivid red awning get extra impact from using direct, confident value & color. Minimal brushstrokes are used to create this artwork.
A photo is not always helpful for reference. Memory, other paintings, or repeating a painting, can provide inspiration for art.
This exercise is excellent training for plein air painting! Faster and more concise paintings are the goal when on location.
Work any size you like and in any medium. The lesson here is to try repeating motifs or different sizes to see what works for you.
Students can use this as a 'how-to' paint-along video, or as a 'reverse-sketch' mini (an un-conventional way to create a small painting). This method is a recent one for me. A similar idea would be a writer that needs to put down lots of words before knowing the content. Sometimes it's helpful to have the confidence to make a tiny artwork or study from a larger painting.
Variations on this lesson... try a master copy from an artist you admire online or in an art book.
WATERCOLOR NOTES: Start with light dabs for the cafe lights in pale yellow, let dry. Then work on medium tones with rich reds (oversaturate the washes and use lots of water so the mid and dark range colors can bleed together). Cut in to the areas next to the light dabs with the darker washes and puddles. Let dry. Soften any overly crisp dried edges with a flood of clean water and an older brush. Move brush to dislodge pigment and dab with a paper towel. See Watercolor fundamentals videos if you need more help with paint application techniques.