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Exploring My First Night Street View Painting Using Watercolours

Painting a night street view for the first time was both challenging and intriguing. In previous lessons, our focus was mostly on daytime scenes, which offered plenty of natural lighting and bright colors to work with. Shifting to a night view scene required rethinking everything—from color tones to how brightness and darkness interact. The goal was to create an artwork that truly captured the essence of the night.

Learning New Techniques: Charcoal Bar Integration

During the lesson, our instructor introduced us to an exciting new tool: the charcoal bar. While initially presented as a way to enhance night view paintings, we learned that it could be used with various color mediums to achieve unique effects. By experimenting with this tool, we could create depth, contrast, and texture in our artwork.

The key takeaway? Creativity knows no bounds. We were encouraged to combine techniques and mediums, expanding our skillsets while discovering new ways to bring our visions to life.

Enhancing My Painting at Home

After completing the watercolour base of my painting at home, I decided to incorporate the charcoal bar for additional effect. By darkening specific areas, such as the tree trunk and other shadowed objects, I was able to enhance the contrast and create a stronger night-time ambiance. The result? A painting that unmistakably reflects the night scene.

Some of my friends commented that the artwork had a mysterious vibe—perhaps due to the withered leaves on the tree trunk, which added an eerie touch. It was a rewarding moment to see how small details could evoke emotions and storytelling in art.

I’m now recharged and excited for the next creative challenge. Let’s see what surprises the journey brings! 😊

The Takeaway from This Experience

Completing this painting took about a day, and it was an incredible learning experience. It reminded me of the beauty of creativity: there’s no fixed formula for painting. You’re free to mix skills, methods, and mediums to craft something uniquely yours.

This lesson also applies to life. Just like in art, challenges can be solved in countless ways, as long as we’re willing to explore and experiment with different approaches.