I sketched my first outdoor watercolour for 2021 yesterday. It was 8 degrees but sunny enough to stay warm. Damn it feels good to be outside sketching again.
Category: sketching
In this episode I take myself to a small island called Beckholmen where I sketch another little island called Kastellholmen, both are very close to the centre of Stockholm. It became a grey day and so it was a challenge to make the sketch interesting. Follow me step by step as I paint and hope for a watercolour that satisfies.
I still feel so lucky to be able to enjoy nature as I do. The view from Nedergårdsö. 9th of July, 13 x 17.5cm
It’s better now but the first two weeks of our sailing trip was all about dodging the strong winds and seeking good shelter. This watercolour sketch was painted at Fjärdlång on the 8th of July. I’m aware the trees look like green fireworks but that’s what I felt when I tried to capture the view from my boat. A little weird maybe, what do you think?
My latest video which shows my sketches: https://youtu.be/GLpIS3B5FdM
As we sailed south there was one day when the winds were gentle, not so common this year I have to report. So as we sailed slowly past this small island with it’s navigational light I just got the urge to try and capture it. Light winds became a pleasure.
Categories
Summer sketching
The weather has been so good recently, I made sure I got away from the studio and explored the countryside close to home. The countryside usually means water and islands that are crowned with Scots pine. At least I seem to be always drawn to the sea, I feel best there by the waters edge or better still, sailing in the archipelago.
Click the thumbnail if you wish to see the full sized image.
View from Boda, 17.5 x 13 cm
I had an amazing week staying mainly in the town of Calella but I also visited, Pals, Cadaqués and Girona.
Here are my watercolours from the trip. The great thing about painting outdoors for a week it that you gain such a connection with the landscape you are in. A photograph is only ever an image.
One of the many beaches in Calella 
Llfranc watercolour sketch 
First sketches from Calella 
A sketch from the medieval town of Pals 
A study of a tree in Cadaqués 
Cadaqués 
Waves in Calella 
A study from Calella 
Calella sea view 
The rocks of Calella
It was wonderful to meet Angela Barbi while I was in Spain. I drove to Girona and spent the day there, the weather wasn’t so great but meeting Angela for lunch filled the day with sunshine anyway.
For those of you who don’t know Angela is, she organises watercolour courses with some of the best watercolour artists in the world. I can warmly recommend a week in Girona learning from a master. I spent a week in 2016 with Chien Chung-Wei.
https://epc-artcourses.com/
Here are some photographs from my trip. I slept in a tent in the Moby Dick Caravan Park which is very close to the centre of Calella. I camp for two reasons, it’s cheap and I enjoy it. It also means I can afford to rent a car and zip around the Costa Brava.
Watercolours from Cadaqués 
Looking out to see at Calella 
Painting in Pals 
First sketches at Calella 
The beach in Llfranc 
Sketching in Calella 
My film gear 
I like to camp while on a sketching holiday. 
I use my field easel as a table 
Camping life
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What’s in my Sketch Bag?
In this video I show you the contents of my sketching bag. It amazes me how much I actually squeeze into such a small space, I don’t need everything and you don’t either. It’s best to be prepared for all eventualities though, that’s my philosophy. I hope you find this video informative.