Watercolor Paintings - Urban Cityscapes in Watercolors

Paintings are more personal when people and activities are part of the subject. The shapes and sights of urban life contrast sharply with the natural world. Buildings, cars, people, and streets are everyday experiences. My goal is to create a watercolor composition that transforms these experiences into something exciting and unique. I try to paint subjects that have a variety of shapes, colors and moods, and urban scenes provide a unique opportunities.

Cityscapes shapes tend to be more geometric and busy. The tools for design such as line, value, color, texture, shape and direction can be used to emphasize activity. Urban subjects are not plentiful in Idaho so much of my subjects comes from travel. The colorful streets of Mexico, the coasts of Spain and the hilltops villages of Italy are places I have enjoyed painting. Although most of my finished paintings are done in my studio, I will paint small watercolors on location when I travel. Such plain air work forces me to paint fast and concentrate on major shapes and themes. The small drawings and paintings done on location can then be finished on a larger scale in the studio with a bit more time to focus on design & composition.