meldrum artEarlier in the year, on my way to work I did this sketch of a commuter waiting for a train at Södra Station here in Stockholm. I wasn’t impressed with my drawing so I left it in my sketch book that I carry in my rucksack. I rediscovered it today after it had spent months being rubbed and smudged. To my great surprise it looks so much more interesting now.
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| Waiting for a train. A5 Fabriano paper. |
Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.
Yesterday evening all I had with me was an A4 block of paper and some pencils. It suits my current state of mind and to be honest, I think my drawings have improved because of it. “Keep it simple”, they say. I think this only comes about after hours of making ones art way too complicated.
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
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| Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm. |
Here are a few two minute nudes from life drawing at Basis today. I learned one thing, never sign your signature with a felt-tip marker before spraying fixative on the drawing.
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| Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm |
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| Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm |
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| Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm |
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| Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm |
I was very pleased with my life drawing sketches from Basis at the weekend. I used a chunky charcoal stick and a synthetic coal, Koh-I-Noor pencil. It’s so dramatic with the strong contrast of black and white, very pleasing. A lot of the drawings were completed in two minutes, I have a lot of fun working within that short time frame!
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| 10 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 10 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
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| 2 minute nude 30 x 42 cm / 11,5 x 16,5″ |
To be patient, to spend hours on one drawing or painting; it is certainly something that does not come naturally to me. These two small sketches are exercises in extending my length of focus on one drawing. It is
not so hard really, I was relaxed and I listened to Bach playing serenely in the background, the minutes flew by. It is creating time to achieve this which is the hardest art to master. If my life resembled a tightly packed suitcase, then something would have to be discarded in order for me to make room for my art. The question is what?
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| Gustav Klimt – Fabriano A5 paper, 14.8x21cm |
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| Francis Bacon – Fabriano A5 paper, 14.8x21cm |
Most of these were five minute sketches using pastel and synthetic charcoal.
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| Nude 30x42cm, 11.5×16.5″ |
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| Nude 30x42cm, 11.5×16.5″ |
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| Nude 30x42cm, 11.5×16.5″ |
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| Nude 30x42cm, 11.5×16.5″ |
These were two minute sketches using pastels and a synthetic charcoal pencil.
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| Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5×8.5″ |
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| Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5×8.5″ |
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| Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5×8.5″ |
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| Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5×8.5″ |
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| Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5×8.5″ |
The great thing about learning to watercolour is the discovery that other mediums like pastels are much easier to use! I wonder why watercolour isn’t held in as high regard as say, oil or even acrylic painting, it is such a hard medium to master.
I bought some pastels yesterday, I plan to use them at Life Drawing classes for a few weeks as watercolouring is too stressful for me at the moment. The sketch below was done in about 15 minutes on A3 paper, it was fun to try something new.
I looked at a potential Ateljé /Studio today in Solna, Stockholm. I want to take the next step in my personal development as an artist. I said I’m interested so I hope I get a space there. I’ll find out in a couple of weeks. Exciting.
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| A3 pastel sketch |
It was a lean evening at life drawing last night. I only managed to produce one sketch that I was reasonably happy with. This means the next life drawing session can only be better. Something to look forward to 🙂
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| Watercolour nude 20131023. Canson 200g, 24 x 32 cm ( 9 3/8 x 12 1/2″) |