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…
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Category: Watercolour
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.
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| 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.
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.
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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.
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| Watercolour doodle, 20130308 (A4 paper) |
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.
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.
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| 2 minute sketch, 20130305 |
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| 2 minute sketch, 20130305 |
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| 5 minute sketch, 20130305 |
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| 5 minute sketch, 20130305 |
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)
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| I made a Mucha of it! |
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.
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| 5 minute sketch, 20130226 |
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| 10 minute sketch, 20130226 |
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| 5 minute sketch, 20130226 |
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| 3 minute sketch, 20130226 |
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| 2 minute sketch, 20130226 |
Today, I hung out with the Stockholm Sketchers at the Modern Art Museum here in Stockholm. We meet up on the last Sunday of each month. It was a very enjoyable few hours drinking coffee, chatting and even finding time to draw.
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| Relaxing at the Modern Art Museum, Stockholm. 20130224, A4 Moleskin. |
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| Texting at the Modern Art Museum, Stockholm. 20130224, A4 Moleskin. |