Prague Street Study

Learning Values

This was a study where I wanted to better understand value in watercolor.

I started with a pencil sketch to map out the structure and perspective, then moved into the watercolor focusing on shadow. My goal was to capture depth through value rather than relying on line work. As I was painting, I kept questioning how dark I should put the shadow. I know a lot of of loose urban watercolor style, artists ten to use higher contrast, especially in shadow area to make the sketch feel more dynamic and grounded.

I tried to build up shadows around the buildings and under the structures, but I wasn’t always sure how far to push it. There’s a balance between keeping it light and airy versus committing to darker values for contrast

Looking at it now, I think this study helped me realize that stronger shadows would probably make the piece feel more dimensional. The areas where I did go darker (like under the buildings and around the tram) feel more grounded compared to the lighter sections.

This felt like less of a “final piece” and more of a learning exercise. Understanding value is something I’m still figuring out, especially in watercolor where everything feels a bit more permanent once it’s down.

Key Takeaways

Learning how to push shadow is key. Stronger contrast adds depth, but it takes practice to know when to commit. My values are mid-range heavy, so I definitely need to learn how have a clear value separation.