meldrum artI was quite happy with this watercolour. I finished it within half an hour during my lunch break. I used two photographs as reference, one for subject and the other for lighting. It is very small at 7,8 x 11,5 cm. I used masking fluid for the lighthouse and reflection. I painted 3 layers and used my mini-hair dryer each time. Wish I could be this productive every lunchtime.
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| 30 minute watercolour. 7,8 x 11,5 cm. |
I’ve been painting horses recently, they are difficult to paint and draw but I like the challenge. This small painting used to be much larger but I chopped off the legs due to my inability to capture their movement. Meanwhile I’m working on two other horse paintings and as usual, the more one practices, the easier it gets.
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| Galloping horse. 11.5 x 7.8 cm Arches rough 300g |
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| White horse. 11.5 x 7.8 cm Fabriano GF 300g |
I must admit, I need a break from sailing boats, I love sailing and the Stockholm archipelago but I have to resist it for a while. I decided to paint a horse yesterday instead, I build horse-sport websites during the day so it feels kinda natural to paint them too. It is a small painting, 11.5 x 7.8 cm. Keeping it little means less surface to paint and so practical for lunch break watercolour painting. I see improvement in my technique, painting and drawing as much as I can really pays, which feel really nice.
This week I have painted every morning for an hour before going to work, I paint at lunchtime, I have Life Drawing twice and figure painting once during the seven days.
I started this lunchtime watercolour last week, I didn’t finish it during my break so I spent one more hour on the painting yesterday morning. I am testing to see if I can cope with getting up one hour earlier at the moment. I started yesterday so it’s early days. I’m too tired in the evenings after a full-day’s work to feel inspired to paint, getting up earlier feels better, it’s tough but better, if you know what I mean. It’s not easy being an artist but it’s very rewarding!
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| Storm clouds. A5 Fabriano GF 300g |
This watercolour of a Stockholm tram took me two lunchtimes. I struggled with the background, I should have done a tonal sketch first, unfortunately I do not have time to be that professional. I prefer quantity to quality at the moment anyway, it’s more important for me to just paint as often as I possibly can and learn. The masterpieces will come later, I hope.
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| Tram Nr.7 to Skansen, Stockholm. 20150113. Fabriano FG 300g 17 x 22 cm |
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| Winter Bunny 20150109. Fabriano FG 300g 17 x 22 cm |
My lunchtime watercolours have to be simple in composition in order for me to complete a painting in 30 – 45 minutes. I choose sailing boats and water scenes partly for this reason and partly, well, I just like sailing. Some friends asked recently, “Do you do anything besides sailing boats?” so this is for them, a winter bunny. It’s kinda a cute, isn’t it!