Category: Watercolour

Categories
kroki Nude watercolor Watercolour

Why do we become uncomfortable by nakedness?

Nude
Nude

I am the first to admit that I have been uncomfortable when confronted by nudity. I grew up in Catholic Ireland and at the same time I was very exposed to the culture of England which was and still is so anchored to Victorianism. I’d better be careful here, I don’t want to get political. I just think it’s a pity we have been made to feel so ill at ease in appreciating the naked being.
Thankfully, I moved to Sweden. That was 31 years ago so I have had time to adapt to what I still feel is a refreshing attitude towards nudity. It’s such a pity we feel embarrassed by something that is so natural.

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

Nude
Nude

Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

My life drawing classes begin this week

Nude
Nude

My life drawing classes, which are live-streamed on Zoom begin again this week. I don’t actually get much time to sketch during the sessions as I am the organiser of the event. I’ll have to join someone else’s life class to practise. Ironic, I know.
Because I don’t sketch the nude as much I’d like to I set myself a weekly goal of producing a watercolour that I can later use to promote my life drawing classes.

If you are interested in joining Meldrum Kroki, click here. Please answer the 3 questions when you apply. Thanks.

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

Nude
Nude
Categories
Sketch watercolor Watercolour

I try to communicate what I see and feel

Björnö
Björnö

It’s been grey here in Stockholm for I don’t know how long. Boring, yes it is – but there is beauty out there in the greyness. I try to walk most days. I took some photos of the waterline at Björnö, not far from Stockholm. The reeds are all dead but beautiful anyway. This was a working sketch to see if I would do a large studio painting. I’ve decided not to and so I will move on the another watercolour challenge instead.

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

Björnö
Björnö

Categories
watercolor Watercolour

What happens when you add salt to a watercolour?

Landsort Chapel
Landsort Chapel

Just playing around with salt crystals scattered on my wet watercolour. It’s fun to experiment every now and then. 🙂
The featured chapel is on an island which lies south of Stockholm called Landsort. We explored the island during our sailing trip last year. A nice memory, I look forward to the summer with impatience.

Landsorts Chapel / Kapell
https://goo.gl/maps/cdBAo1Kv31DbTsZw7

If you would like to see the full-sized image, click the thumbnail below

Landsort Chapel
Landsort Chapel
Categories
watercolor Watercolour

Just painting anything to get going again

Cow in field
Cow in field
Tugboat
Tugboat

I have taken what seems to me a long break from painting. It’s involuntary, I suffer from SAD during the winter months and it can really slow me down. This year I escaped the depression but I still got the tiredness, plus the aches and pains. The good news is that brighter days are now on their way. The snow is coming and the days are getting longer. It makes me happy just thinking about it.

So , to get the ball rolling again I painted the first things that popped up in my photo-archive which just so happened to be a tugboat and a cow. I like the cow composition, it called an “O” composition, the eye is lead around the painting like a hamster in an exercise-wheel. We can be happy just letting our eyes go round and round for hours seemingly.

Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

I am sometimes desperate to paint a naked model

Nude
Nude

Every Thursday I run my own life drawing class here in Stockholm and this means I need to create a drawing or a watercolour to help publicise the event. So yes, some weeks I am quite desperate to paint a model. Deadlines, deadlines – even artists stress sometimes.
My life drawing is streamed live because of the pandemic. If you would like to join please go to this page: https://www.meldrum.se/lifedrawing/

Please click the thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

Nude
Nude
Categories
demonstration watercolor Watercolour

My first live Watercolour Demonstration on Zoom

Boat in flaming sea
Boat in flaming sea

Yes, it was the premiere for Meldrum Watercolour Demonstrations yesterday evening.
It went well I thought even if the sound wasn’t 100%. I have already solved that little technical problem.
A full video of the live demonstration is available to my supporters on Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/meldrumart
I hope these videos help those of you who want to develop as watercolour artists.

Boat in flaming sea
Categories
Nude Nudes watercolor Watercolour

Having fun playing with my nudes

Nude
Nude

Just playing around, trying to put a bit of nerve into my nude studies.

Click the thumbnail below if you would like to see the full-sized image.

Nude
Nude

Categories
watercolor Watercolour

Maybe I should have stopped painting earlier

unfinished nude
Unfinished nude

It’s always difficult to know when to stop painting a watercolour. Maybe I should have stopped already after the first wash. It doesn’t matter, it was just a sketch, I was playing with some paper I haven’t used for years, Fabriano Artistico /S, it’s really difficult to paint on. The blending of colours is difficult. It’s not paper I like but I have lots of it so I’ll just have to enjoy it even if it’s not a favourite. Which do you like best, the finished painting or the halfway stage version? Let me know in the comments. Cheers 🙂

unfinished nude
Before and after