Domestika Diary: Alex Hillkurtz

Alex Hillkurtz, a storyboard artist fascinated by urban watercolor, shows us his personal vision of Madrid

When it comes to the art of urban watercolor, there’s a magical mix of two elements: the unique vision of the illustrator who executes it, ensuring that no two watercolors are ever the same, and the personality of the buildings, people, and streets of the city that they’re capturing. This combination makes urban watercolor a fleeting reflection of the observer’s senses and an ever-changing environment, its results defined by the viewpoint of the artist and the location that they are seeking to capture.

Few have a viewpoint as unique as that of Alex Hillkurtz. A storyboard artist with a passion for urban watercolor, he has an innate talent for reinterpreting the cities he visits through striking splashes of color and fascinating perspectives. Because of this, we jumped at the chance to accompany him during one of his drawing sessions set in the streets of Madrid. Find out more in the following Domestika Diary:

Constantly on the lookout for interesting buildings and architectural elements, Hillkurtz always reserves time during his travels to calmly explore and draw the city around him, curiously exploring the details that catch his eye: what history is hidden in a certain facade, down a peculiar street, or in a curious architectural feature?

For Hillkurtz, drawing is the best way to really get to know a place. He always carries a set of watercolors, a brush, and some paper with him, usually choosing to work at a cafe with large windows so that he can enjoy views of the world outside and soak up the local atmosphere. And he never forgets to add his final, personal mark: after he’s finished his drawing, and his coffee, he presses the bottom of his cup against the page.

If you’d like to learn from Alex Hillkurtz how to combine ink sketches with watercolor to illustrate buildings that jump off the page, don’t forget to check out his online course, Architectural Sketching with Watercolor and Ink.

Blog adapted to English by Micaela Marini Higgs

You May Also Be Interested In:

- Domestika Diary: Emma Hanquist
- Domestika Diary: Lapin
- Domestika Diary: Hugo Barros Costa