Category: David Meldrum

First life drawing 2013

At last, I found time to go to life drawing. I’ve been very busy since Christmas so it was a great pleasure to sketch tonight. The session was a two hour pose, the model was a real pro, stood still as a statue. The venue was, The Swedish Academy of Realistic Art in Stockholm.

I’m happy enough with the painting, I have to get used to spending two hours on a figure, for the last two years I’ve been drawing quick poses. Now I want to slow down and capture more detail, the biggest problem I have is the stiffness of the pose, I need to relax. I can see from my 5 and 10 minute poses from two years ago that they were also stiff. All I need to do is lots of these two hour sessions and I should eventually find a fluid line to my art.

Click on the image if you would like to see it in a larger format.

Watercolour Nude 2013.01.24

David Meldrum figure drawing Nude Watercolour

Watercolour nude

I am not 100% happy with this effort, I got the model’s back all muddy, too many strokes! The leg should also have softer edges to suggest depth. Another learning experience that caused frustration but at the same time satifaction. Nothing is straight forward and simple for long when one watercolours.

Watercolour nude study from photograph

David Meldrum figure drawing Nude Watercolour

Improved Scans

I got a scanner to work. Much better than the iPhone! Looking forward to getting back to Stockholm next week for some life drawings sessions.

Watercolour nude study from photograph

David Meldrum Sketch Stockholm urban sketching Watercolour

Urban Sketching at Central Station, Stockholm

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/01/06
4 Comments on Urban Sketching at Central Station, Stockholm

I met Nina Johansson and Maria Flood from my local sketching group today at Central Station. The station was a great place to sketch, lots of people just hanging around waiting for a train, they looked bored and didn’t move too much which was perfect. On the second sketch I masked the page with some tape which enhanced the picture a lot I think. Sketched in my A5 watercolour Moleskin, with Hero calligraphy pen and W&N watercolours.

Stockholm, Central Station 20130106

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch Watercolour

Last life drawing study of 2012

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/01/01
4 Comments on Last life drawing study of 2012

This is another in the series of two minutes sketches I did on 200g watercolour paper. I spent about an hour watercolouring the figure yesterday. I am happy with my development, I started watercolouring for the first time in February 2012 so I’m delighted really with my progress. I look forward to 2013 and plan to draw and paint even more. 🙂

Two minute sketch plus one hour of watercolouring. 20121231

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch Watercolour

Having fun

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2012/12/31
2 Comments on Having fun

Some more two minute sketches from a life drawing session that I did a while back. I painted them yesterday, it’s so nice to have time during the Christmas holidays to have some fun. I’m not looking to create a masterpiece right now; I’m just playing around, experimenting, learning.

Original two minute sketch which I watercoloured 20121230

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch Watercolouring

Watercolouring quick life drawing sketches

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2012/12/30
4 Comments on Watercolouring quick life drawing sketches

I have a supply of two to five minute sketches on 200g watercolour paper. I started quick sketching on watercolour paper so that I can paint them at my leisure at a later date. I want to master watercolouring and so having these sketches lying around really makes practice easier. For light reference I use erotic photography that I have downloaded from the internet.

Watercolour sketch – 20121229

Here is an example of an original five minute sketch. I will probably paint this soon.

David Meldrum doodles Sketch urban sketching watercolor

Sketches from my note book

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2012/12/17
No Comments on Sketches from my note book

It is hard to focus on sketching or painting when Christmas presents still have to be bought and wrapped! Here are a few sketches from my note book.

Sketched at the Cultural Centre (Kulturhuset), Stockholm

Sketches while at work, my desk and a crowd drawn from my computer screen.

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nude Sketch Watercolour

Final life drawing session for 2012

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2012/12/12
3 Comments on Final life drawing session for 2012

Konstnärshuset, 20121211

Not many turned up for this final session, lots of snow and pre-Christmas stress keeping them away I guess. I was not able to concentrate very well during the evening so I played with my watercolours. Playing is a very important way to learn and improve, isn’t it!? 😉

10 minute sketch 20121211

I have a whole bunch of quick sketches that I executed on watercolour paper, they are from the last four life drawing sessions, I plan to colour them during the Christmas holidays.

5 minute sketch 20121211