Category: My Life Drawing

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.

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch

Shattered

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/13
No Comments on Shattered

Venue: Konstnärhuset, Stockholm. 20130212.

The head of my tripod shattered from the severe cold when I was north of The Arctic Circle last weekend. It fell over and smashed into small glass-like pieces. This meant I was not able to watercolour last night at Tuesday’s life drawing session as I use the tripod as my easel. I did not mind, change is good and I enjoyed sketching with my pencils.

5 minute sketch 20130212

2 minute sketch 20130212

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch Watercolour

I was not in the mood…

Venue: Konstnärshuset, 20130205

A sketching comrade (Martin) told me I would create good work after the coffee break, I had told him, I was not inspired at all. He said this always creates good art, just keep trying and not to give up. He was right! The following sketches were created after the break.

7-10 minute sketch, 20130205

5-7 minute sketch, 20130205

2 minute sketch, 20130205

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch Watercolour

Figure drawing at Basis, Stockholm

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/02
8 Comments on Figure drawing at Basis, Stockholm

I had fun today, I was on a roll.

watercolour sketch by David Meldrum 20130202

10-15 minute sketch, A3, 20130202

10+5 minute sketch, A3, 20130202

5-10 minute sketch, A3, 20130202

2 minute sketch, A4, 20130202

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch Watercolour

Love and hate – life drawing

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/01
2 Comments on Love and hate – life drawing

The venue: The Swedish Academy of Realistic Art in Stockholm.

I love the female nude and I’m not happy with the male model. Basically I am not used to spending two hours solely on one painting. This picture is a good example, I spent so much time on the male that I ended up with a mess, I nearly didn’t have time to paint the female so I rushed her and the illustration turned out so much better! I am just used to short poses, it’s going to take a while to relax when spending more time on a painting. It’s not a problem, I am enjoying every minute of my self-dissatisfaction. 😉

Watercolour of two models by David Meldrum

Watercolour of two models on A3 paper. 20130131

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Portrait Sketch Watercolour

Portrait painting

Today I did some portrait painting at Folkkulturcentrum, in Ropsten, Stockholm. There were four, half hour poses. I was very happy with two of my sketches. It was the first time I was at Folkkulturcentrum, I enjoyed the atmosphere so I’m sure I’ll be back some time soon.

30 minute portrait