Light & Shadow - Paint a Dramatic Watercolor Street Scene
Efe Arabaci, Plein Air & Urban Watercolor Artist
Watch this class and thousands more
Watch this class and thousands more
Lessons in This Class
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1.
Lesson 1 Introduction
1:56
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2.
Lesson 2 Class Project
1:08
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3.
Lesson 3 Materials
2:37
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4.
Lesson 4 Value Study Part 1
7:19
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5.
Lesson 5 Value Study Part 2
9:07
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6.
Lesson 6 Drawing
8:01
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7.
Lesson 7 First Layer
5:56
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8.
Lesson 8 Second Layer Part 1
10:26
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9.
Lesson 9 Second Layer Part 2
7:57
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10.
Lesson 10 Second Layer Part 3
9:52
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11.
Lesson 11 Decoration
5:27
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12.
Lesson 12 Final Touches
2:21
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13.
Lesson 13 Outro
1:12
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About This Class
Class Overview
Master the art of painting atmospheric urban streetscapes filled with dramatic light and deep shadow contrasts. In this step-by-step watercolor lesson, you will learn how to build dramatic value structures, use simple perspective, and apply color harmony to transform complex city views into striking paintings.
What You Will Learn
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Value & Contrast: How to map out dark shadow shapes against bright light source areas to create instant depth.
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Simple Perspective: Techniques for setting vanishing points to align buildings, street signs, and vehicles seamlessly.
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Color Harmony: Mixing warm light tones on sunlit walls against cool, atmospheric shadow washes for balance.
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Urban Elements: Ways to paint simplified figures and parked cars that fit naturally into the spatial scale.
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Brushwork: Using dry brush effects on textured paper to suggest road surfaces and architectural details.
Why You Should Take This Class
Complex urban scenes often overwhelm painters with perspective lines, tight details, and tricky color decisions. This class gives you a straightforward process to simplify geometry, control your values confidently, and establish strong color harmony. By learning how value, perspective, and color work together, you will gain skills that make plein air painting and photo reference work much easier.
Who This Class Is For
This class is designed for intermediate watercolor artists wanting to elevate their architectural scenes, as well as beginners looking for a clear, practical guide to values, light balance, and linear scale.
Materials / Resources
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Paper: 100% cotton cold press watercolor paper ( approx. 300 gsm / 140 lb ).
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Brushes: Medium mop brush for large washes, flat brush for crisp edge work, and fine round brush for details.
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Paints: Standard watercolor palette ( warm earths, deep blues, neutral darks, and vivid primary accents ).
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Extras: Mixing palette, clean water, paper towels, and a soft pencil for initial perspective lines.
Meet Your Teacher
Hi, I'm Efe Arabaci -- an award-winning watercolor artist and plein air painter based in Oslo, Norway.
I love painting cities the way we experience them in real life: through changing light, shadows, atmosphere, people, and those small moments that make a street feel alive.
My work has been exhibited internationally, including a selection for the American Watercolor Society (AWS) International Exhibition.
But my goal here isn't just to show you my paintings -- it's to show you how I make them.
I believe watercolor doesn't have to be intimidating. In my Skillshare classes, I break down complex subjects into simple, practical steps so you can understand why a painting works, not just copy what I'm doing.
Yo... See full profile
Hands-on Class Project
Project Description
Create your own atmospheric watercolor streetscape by following a step-by-step process to capture dramatic sunlight, deep shadow values, and accurate urban perspective.
To complete this project, follow these clear steps:
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Draw the Layout: Sketch basic perspective lines, building shapes, and main elements like cars or figures using a light pencil.
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Establish the Light: Lay down warm washes on sunlit walls and bright sky areas, keeping your lightest lights clean.
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Mix & Apply Shadows: Connect deep shadow shapes across the street and building faces to establish strong value contrast.
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Add Urban Accents: Paint simplified figures, vehicles, and focal details like road signs to add scale and life.
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Apply Fine Details: Use dry brush techniques to add texture on road surfaces and crisp architectural edges.
Share Your Work
Upload a photo of your finished painting (or your step-by-step progress, from pencil sketch to final wash) to the Project Gallery for feedback and community support!
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