meldrum artLocation: Basis, Stockholm, 20140215
I’ve drawn Lars many times. He is fun, he has a name for each of his poses, like the ones below: “The Base Ball Player”, “The Prisoner”, “Björn Borg” and “The Egg”. I cannot remember the title of the first pose unfortunately.
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| Ten minutes |
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| Ten minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Ten minutes |
Location: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, 20140211
Today I improved some of the sketches I did at yesterday evening’s life drawing session, the first drawing especially, it was originally just a two minute sketch with little detail. I enjoyed finishing it and adding some design into the mix.
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| Two minutes plus ten |
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| Ten minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Five minutes + two |
“Dear Charles Reid, sorry for painting you in such a way that you look like you just survived a bar fight.”
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| Charles Reid – Watercolour Artist and Teacher |
Honestly, the more time I spend on a drawing the more I wreck it with uncertainty. Keeping it pure isn’t easy after two minutes. This is why I haven’t shown any of my drawings that were longer that two minutes this time around.
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes – plus a little more shading |
Location: Könstnärshuset, Stockholm, 20140204
It was a struggle to begin with, I have not drawn a male model for a while and so the muscular torso threw me at the start. He was a dancer, skinny, with small butt and bird-like legs. After a few drawings I started to tune in to what I was seeing. I think I’m drawing lines at a slower pace these days, I look often at the subject as I draw the contour. I think that is key, draw what you see and not what you think you see. Anyway, I got a lot of satisfaction out of yesterday evening.
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| Ten minutes |
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| Five minutes |
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| Five minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Five minutes |
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| Ten minutes |
Location: Basis, Stockholm, Saturday, 20140201.
Saturday’s model was incredible in the way she could flex and bend her body into the most impossible positions. What was even more impressive was the fact that she could hold these poses for ten minutes without much effort. She left us feeling exhausted after trying to work out the lines of her anatomy during the two hour session. It was fun.
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Two minutes |
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| Between five and ten minutes |
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| Ten minutes |
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| Two minutes |
Location: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm
It is always easier to sketch when one enjoys the subject that one is trying to capture on paper. This was the case for me yesterday evening when I drew one of my favourite models.
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| 5 minutes |
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| 5 minutes |
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| 5 minutes |
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| 5 minutes |
Normally, for the last few weeks at any rate, I have been alone sketching each day at the Central Station here in Stockholm. Last Sunday was a different story though, because seven other urban-sketchers joined me for an afternoon of sketching at the station. We are all members of a group called “Skissa i Stockholm” which translated means – Sketching in Stockholm. Anyway, fun that so many turned up. It was a lovely afternoon. The coffee break taking up a large chunk of the available time, but that’s normal. We artists love to talk about our pencils! If anyone in Stockholm would like to join our group, please do let me know, “the more the merrier”, as they say.
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| Albert & Jack’s, Central Station, Stockholm |
As usual, I’m not totally happy with my effort but I’m not totally disappointed either. I spent three half-hour lunch breaks painting her in total. Painted on Fabriano 50% Cotton paper, 23x30cm.
…After thought:
Looking at the portrait again the day after, I have to admit that I am happy with the result. I should not really comment on my work until at least 24hrs have passed.
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| Frida Kahlo de Rivera – 20140128 |