Category: watercolor

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Sketch watercolor Watercolour

Sunday I met more friends!

Yes, on Sunday I met more art friends. This time it was an unofficial Urban Sketchers meetup. We met at Humlegården in central Stockholm and enjoyed the sun soaked day.
I managed to do two sketches, one trying to capture the light in the trees and the other is of the statue of Linné, the famous Swedish botanist.
It was so nice to meet my friends. I know now it is really important to have social contact, I feel so much better for it. Luckily sketching is an outdoors activity and so it’s relatively safe to meet friends in this the year of Corona.

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watercolor Watercolour

So nice to be social and painting again

I came to a point early last week when I said to myself, enough is enough, I have to meet friends. Sweden has a very relaxed approach to the Corona virus pandemic so it’s no problem whatever to meet people, it’s our responsibly in other words. All of us have been shy about meeting up. But I met my artist friend Daniel on Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm for a morning of plein air and a lovely lunch last Friday. Thanks Daniel for treating me, my turn next time.

I wouldn’t call the watercolour a masterpiece by any means but just getting out in the early summer sun and meeting a friend made it special.

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watercolor Watercolour

A street scene

Piampol
Piampol

I have been challenging myself to paint better street scenes. This watercolour is of Piampol, Brittany, France – my wife’s hometown. I did this in the studio but I wouldn’t mind being in France for June. That won’t happen of course because of the pandemic. I’ll just have to use my many photo references that I have amassed through the years. Have a nice, and safe weekend.

Click the thumbnail below to see full sized image.

Piampol
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David Meldrum watercolor Watercolour

Gustavsbergshamn the watercolour

Gustavsbergshamn
Gustavsbergshamn

I published the YouTube video of me painting this watercolour yesterday. Here is the final painting. Today I am painting something totally different, life is always interesting for a watercolour artist. 🙂

If you haven’t seen the video click this link here: Gustavsbergshamn – From sketch to final watercolour

For a full sized image of the watercolour click the thumbnail below.

Gustavsbergshamn
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Sketch watercolor Watercolour

Inspired by Turner

It was early Saturday morning, I broke the plastic sealing wrapper from around a William Turner book I had purchased – The ‘Skies’ Sketchbook by David Blayney Brown. Once I had studied it for a while I had this enormous urge to get outside and paint some clouds. Luckily the sky was very beautiful during the weekend, the soft pillow type cushions sailed past quickly which meant the scene in front of me changed completely every few minutes. I sat in my new camper van at Nacka Strand protected from the cool wind, I was inspired and I enjoyed every moment of it.

  • Cloud study #1
  • Cloud study #2
  • Cloud study #3
  • Pencil sketch
  • Protected from the wind
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watercolor Watercolour

A real source of inspiration

Calella
Calella

I’ve mentioned this before but I’ll say it again, one of the most important moments in my watercolour development was when I participated in a course in 2016 featuring Chien Chung-Wei. The course, the only one I’ve ever been on was run by the fantastic Angela Barbi of Epc watercolour courses in Girona.

Chien Chung-Wei is my main source of inspiration and learning, there are others that inspire but he is the artist I study most. Like all good artists he is also learning himself and trying to improve with each painting, it’s fascinating for me to see how he creates light and designs his compositions.

To anyone out there who is trying to learn how to paint, find an artist that you love and learn from them, study their work and ask questions like, why is this picture so wonderful?

My own watercolour today is from a photo I took last spring in Calella, Costa Brava. It is a scene that has been painted by many watercolour masters throughout the years. This is my attempt, an evening scene in Calella.

Title: Calella, 36 x 26 cm

Click the Thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

Calella

Calella

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watercolor Watercolour

Plein air in a cold climate

Finnboda hamn
Finnboda hamn
Plein air in Finnboda
Plein air in Finnboda

I took myself out during the week to paint plein air. The sun was shining and it might even have been 10 degrees but I’m not sure. I brought extra leggings which I put on quite quickly as it was very cool in the shade of the building next to the water’s edge.
It was interesting how the paper and watercolour pigment behaved in the cool conditions, it was very different from my time in India or even the studio. I found that the pigment was not absorbed by the paper as easily. It wasn’t a big deal, I adjusted quickly and enjoyed my two hours by the water.
Sweden being Sweden most people left me alone which is good considering we are in the middle of a pandemic. A few were curious but they kept two metres away.
I am so looking forward to painting plein air more often now as the temperature is rising and the sun is higher in the sky. The days are much longer too.
I have bought a van that I am going to convert into a studio plus camper. I will publish a post about this exciting project during the coming week.

If you would like to see the full sized image please click the thumbnail below.

Finnboda hamn
Finnboda hamn
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watercolor Watercolour

I am looking forward to summer

Rödhamn, Åland
Rödhamn, Åland

One presumes that the the pandemic will end and we will be allowed to enjoy the summer when it comes. That is my hope at any rate. I haven’t painted plein air since India, waiting for the temperature to rise which it has now so I have no excuse. Out into nature you go David and paint, paint, paint.

This watercolour is from a photograph I took on my phone last summer. We were visiting Rödhamn harbour in Åland. We stayed for a night or two as we slowly explored the archipelago there.

Rödhamn, Åland 36 x 26 cm
Click the thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

Rödhamn, Åland
Rödhamn, Åland
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watercolor Watercolour

Not every painting is a masterpiece

I am trying to paint everyday and I want to be challenged so that I can learn and develop. The original photo reference I used was snapped while I was walking along the coast in Bangor, Northern Ireland. This wasn’t a strong composition to begin with but I liked the shadows and the angles created by the pathway and tree. I had a go and this is the result. Like all of my paintings there are somethings I like and there are thing I am not to fond of.
Tomorrow is another day and a new challenge awaits.
Click the thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

Bangor walk