Category: figure drawing

Thursday’s life drawing of two models

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/16
2 Comments on Thursday’s life drawing of two models

1.5 hour painting of two female nudes by David Meldrum

1.5 hour painting of two female nudes ( 27x50cm )

Venue: The Swedish Academy of Realistic Art, 20130314.

The first attempt at capturing these two pretty female models was discarded after a half an hour. I started again and this time I was able to find my way. I am finding it so hard to succeed when doing a two hour session. I just plan to keep trying, at some stage something must go click in my head! I am happy with this painting, I masked off the red-head in the back ground as she made the centre of focus confusing in the composition. Her red hair was beautiful but too distracting.

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch

Just sketching

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, 20130312

I am taking a pause from watercolours during my Tuesday evening life drawing classes. I want to focus on developing my drawing skills. I am happy with the results, I feel relaxed when I sketch which gives me time to think about composition and execution.

A4 paper, 2 minute sketch. 20130312

A3 paper, 5 minute sketch. 20130312

A3 paper, 10 minute sketch. 20130312

A4 paper, 2 minute sketch. 20130312

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch

Saturday life drawing

Venue: Basis, Stockholm, 20130309

Pencil and Oil Pastels this day.

10 minutes – A3 paper

10 minutes – A3

2 minutes – A4

figure drawing inspiration My Life Drawing Nudes oil painting Zinaida Serebriakova

Zinaida Serebriakova Nudes

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/09
2 Comments on Zinaida Serebriakova Nudes

Here is a selection of nudes by Zinaida Serebriakova (1884 – 1967) – female Russian painter. Wikipedia link: here

Zinaida Serebriakova

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing is difficult most of the time…

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/06
2 Comments on Life drawing is difficult most of the time…

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

I did not find the model very inspiring, it is very difficult to create good work when one feels this way. Still, I am very happy with the last two sketches of the evening, which were two minute drawings.

2 minute sketch, 20130305

5 minute sketch, 20130305

Art Nouveau David Meldrum figure drawing Mucha My Life Drawing Nude Watercolour

Frustration and enlightenment

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/02
2 Comments on Frustration and enlightenment

Venue: The Academy of Realistic Art, Bergshamra, 20130228

I can sketch a nude quickly, paint them at speed also. My challenge right now is to slow down and start painting instead of sketching. It is hard, very hard to continue having a loose expressive style when one has a whole two hours to capture a pose. I tense up, every line I draw becomes stiff, I revert to how I drew two years ago. When I came home and showed my wife my effort she immediately said it felt restrained, she was right. Frustrated, I decided to add thick lines around the model to exaggerate the stiffness even more, I created a Mucha, some Art Nouveau. After much thought of where I want to go,in which direction, I realise that I relate to artists like watercolourists, Charles Reid and Ted Nuttall. Other painters I currently find inspiring are; Sandra Flood for here compostition skills, Mark Demsteader for his grungy portraits, Sebastian Kruger for his ability to capture a character and Kent Williams for his loose style. I am basically seeking to develop a loose, grungy style, I just have to keep reminding myself of this.

(Thank you Martin for introducing me to Mr. Williams)

I made a Mucha of it!

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nude Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing – Konstnärshuset

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/27
6 Comments on Life drawing – Konstnärshuset

Venue, Konstnärshuset, Stockholm

I am happy with a lot of my sketches from this session. I focused on trying to keep a single line that is expressive and in no way hesitant. Completing a watercolour sketch in such a short time is challenging, the hardest part is to mix my colours and create the desired skin tones. I use: Naples Yellow, Cerulean Blue and Cadmium Red mostly.

5 minute sketch, 20130226

10 minute sketch, 20130226

5 minute sketch, 20130226

3 minute sketch, 20130226

2 minute sketch, 20130226

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes

Tuesday’s life drawing session

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/20
2 Comments on Tuesday’s life drawing session

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

Sketch, sketch, sketch, sketch, sketch and sketch. There is no short-cut to self-improvement. One has to put in the hours, it is fortunate that I am enjoying myself immensely trying to reach this illusive higher plane.
(More sketches can be found under, “My Life Drawing 2013 (Kroki)”)

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Portrait Sketch Watercolour

90 minute portrait

Venue: The Academy of Realistic Art, Stockholm

I’m happy with this portrait, I feel that I am starting to reap the benifits of all those life drawing sessions – my art is becoming more fluid. Thursday’s life drawing session was 2 hours long in total but in reality, with all the breaks, we had 90 minutes to complete our work.

Original size: 508 x 406 mm, watercolour paper 300g.