Category: Watercolour

Thursday’s figure painting

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/04/12
2 Comments on Thursday’s figure painting

After one hour this painting was going real well. The pencil drawing was fine and the first watercolour wash felt good.

Then, for the last hour of the session I painted layer upon layer of bad decisions. By the end of the session I was totally frustrated at my limited technique. So I scrubbed a lot of the pigment from the model’s face, dropped it into my carrying case and went home grumpier than a newly-woken bear.

When I got home, I took a large black pencil to the painting and what you see below is the result. I’m actually happy with it, but I still wish I could paint better, then I wouldn’t have to use a pencil to rescue the portrait.

Male Nude 20130411

David Meldrum Lunch Sketch Portrait Watercolour

A quick portrait

A quick portrait I did during two lunch breaks last week. I didn’t get the likeness but it’s not so important to me, my focus is on technique right now…

David Meldrum Urban Sketchers watercolor Watercolour

Sketching at the Swedish Museum of Natural History

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/31
No Comments on Sketching at the Swedish Museum of Natural History

I had a lot of fun today sketching at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. I met up with Nina Johansson and Marie Flood. I had never visited the museum before so I began the day by taking a tour of the place. It was very interesting. I found it a bit uncomfortable looking at so many stuffed animals but then again they did not move, which makes life easier for a sketcher. I discovered today that Polar bears are very difficult to draw and watercolouring in a dimly lit museum is challenging to say the least. …But like I said in the beginning, it was fun.

Watercolour sketch by David Meldrum, 20130331

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David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Watercolour

Thursday’s life drawing of two models

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/16
2 Comments on Thursday’s life drawing of two models

1.5 hour painting of two female nudes by David Meldrum

1.5 hour painting of two female nudes ( 27x50cm )

Venue: The Swedish Academy of Realistic Art, 20130314.

The first attempt at capturing these two pretty female models was discarded after a half an hour. I started again and this time I was able to find my way. I am finding it so hard to succeed when doing a two hour session. I just plan to keep trying, at some stage something must go click in my head! I am happy with this painting, I masked off the red-head in the back ground as she made the centre of focus confusing in the composition. Her red hair was beautiful but too distracting.

David Meldrum doodles Portrait Sketch Watercolour

Watercolour doodle

I painted this quickly last Friday during my lunch break. I want to improve my technique, so I practice as often as I can.

Watercolour doodle, 20130308 (A4 paper)

David Meldrum Portrait Tom Waits Watercolour

Portrait painting is difficult too

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/06
2 Comments on Portrait painting is difficult too

This little attempt to capture Tom Waits was relatively successful I think. I’ve got a few levels to climb as far as execution is concerned but I’m happy enough with the painting.
I choose famous people because it is a good way to see if I have succeeded in capturing a likeness or not. I just ask people close to me, “Do you recognise this person?”.
I’ve started a portrait page on this blog, I’ve added a tab above.

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing is difficult most of the time…

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/06
2 Comments on Life drawing is difficult most of the time…

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

I did not find the model very inspiring, it is very difficult to create good work when one feels this way. Still, I am very happy with the last two sketches of the evening, which were two minute drawings.

2 minute sketch, 20130305

5 minute sketch, 20130305

Art Nouveau David Meldrum figure drawing Mucha My Life Drawing Nude Watercolour

Frustration and enlightenment

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/03/02
2 Comments on Frustration and enlightenment

Venue: The Academy of Realistic Art, Bergshamra, 20130228

I can sketch a nude quickly, paint them at speed also. My challenge right now is to slow down and start painting instead of sketching. It is hard, very hard to continue having a loose expressive style when one has a whole two hours to capture a pose. I tense up, every line I draw becomes stiff, I revert to how I drew two years ago. When I came home and showed my wife my effort she immediately said it felt restrained, she was right. Frustrated, I decided to add thick lines around the model to exaggerate the stiffness even more, I created a Mucha, some Art Nouveau. After much thought of where I want to go,in which direction, I realise that I relate to artists like watercolourists, Charles Reid and Ted Nuttall. Other painters I currently find inspiring are; Sandra Flood for here compostition skills, Mark Demsteader for his grungy portraits, Sebastian Kruger for his ability to capture a character and Kent Williams for his loose style. I am basically seeking to develop a loose, grungy style, I just have to keep reminding myself of this.

(Thank you Martin for introducing me to Mr. Williams)

I made a Mucha of it!

David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nude Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing – Konstnärshuset

Post author By meldrum
Post date 2013/02/27
6 Comments on Life drawing – Konstnärshuset

Venue, Konstnärshuset, Stockholm

I am happy with a lot of my sketches from this session. I focused on trying to keep a single line that is expressive and in no way hesitant. Completing a watercolour sketch in such a short time is challenging, the hardest part is to mix my colours and create the desired skin tones. I use: Naples Yellow, Cerulean Blue and Cadmium Red mostly.

5 minute sketch, 20130226

10 minute sketch, 20130226

5 minute sketch, 20130226

3 minute sketch, 20130226

2 minute sketch, 20130226