Cerold Johansson who is responsible for art acquisition at the Nordic Watercolour Museum has bought one of my paintings! It arrived safely today with the glass still intact. To say that I am happy would be a bit of an understatement ?
I am proud to have been choosen by the Nordic Watercolour Society to particapate in the 20th ECWS* exhibition in Salamanca, Spain. The exhibition continues until the 27th of October 2017.
I went to Konstnärshuset for the first time this term. I used charcoal dust as well as a charcoal pencil. At one stage Gabriel the model had posed in such a way that I didn’t find it interesting so I drew the sketchers instead.
This is a larger version of a painting I did the other week, click here to see that one. It is a challenge to paint larger formats, this watercolour is 70 x 50 cm and painted on Arches rough paper. I added a touch of autumn as the trees outside my window have wonderful colours right now. I am happy enough with the painting, I completed 70% of it and became scared, I think this is a common problem for watercolourists. It is so easy to screw the whole thing up. It’s a real challenge to stay loose and free to the end.
“Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas.”
This is the official view of Expressionism but for me it is about trying to capture form with pure lines that express the way I feel at that given moment. Lines can show if I am inspired or not, if I find the pose exciting or not. I am an Expressionist, we are all Expressionists, long live Expressionism!
I visited a new studio in Hökarängen to do some life drawing this week. It was really enjoyable, I especially liked the fact the model had just one pose after the warming up period, we then had 20 minute sessions which allowed me to experiment with 3 watercolours which took about 30 minutes each. There was some sketching to warm up but I mostly painted. Lars, was the name of the model.
Only one negative experience, I forgot my pencil case with all my favourite pencils and a small pocket knife. I rang the next day to the studio but they were gone.
A different location (ABF) and a different model. Her name is Roza, I’ve drawn her so many times, she’s very professional. I think she was tired this evening though, I spoke to her later and she said she had worked all day from 9 to 9. Can’t be easy standing still all day! I think I am sensitive to if a model is enjoying themselves or not. If they just stand there and and strike a pose without enthusiasm then I sense it and then I do not get excited either. ABF is a difficult place to sketch in, the room is large and the bare florescent tubes lined up on the ceiling create cold flat light. Am I blaming other things besides myself? Maybe, maybe I am. Funny how one can be inspired one day and not the next.