Silver Street, Bradford on Avon

A lovely view of Silver Street in Bradford on Avon. This town is full of old stone buildings and narrow streets that are perfect for watercolor. In this painting, I wanted to show the bright light hitting the sides of the shops while keeping the road in cool shadows. I used a mix of Ultramarine Blue and a little Neutral Tint to get those deep values in the foreground. The blue shadows really help the warm colours of the buildings stand out.

One of the most important things in a street scene like this is connecting the shadows. If you look at the left side, the shadow from the building flows right into the figures and across the road. When you join these dark shapes together, it makes the painting look much stronger and less busy. I try not to paint every single detail but focus on how the light moves across the whole scene. It helps the eye travel through the picture without getting stuck.

I also used the road markings to help the composition. The white dashed lines on the ground are not just for traffic. They act as a guide for the viewer. I painted them with a bit of white paint at the end to make them pop. They curve into the painting and lead your eyes toward the center where the cars and buildings meet. It is a simple trick that works very well for busy street scenes.

For the sky, I kept it very simple with some Cerulean Blue and left plenty of white paper for the clouds. The warm tones on the buildings are mostly Yellow Ochre and a touch of Burnt Sienna. I think the contrast between the warm stone and the cool blue road makes the whole scene feel like a sunny day in Wiltshire. If you like this painting, it is currently for sale. Please contact me if you would like more information about buying it.