meldrum art
Trees, there are a lot of them in the Stockholm archipelago. So difficult to paint, green is an awful colour to work with, appears flat and lifeless any chance it gets. There is so much for me to master while out sailing, patience being number one.
Four small sketches of the the same scene, 18 x 13cm, Hasselö, 2022.07.20
While out sailing in the archipelago we would sometimes take a day off and just hang in a beautiful spot. This would give me the opportunity to paint. The four watercolours here are of the same scene on Själbottna island painted over two days.
I realise that my first watercolour is usually rushed and therefore not so good. I guess it’s a necessary evil, a process to slow down and really see what is in front of me. The third watercolour was an attempt to capture the advent of rain and dark thunderous skies. Finally the last watercolour was painted the next morning just before we lifted anchor and sailed off in some direction I cannot remember.
The watercolours are 18 x 13cm in size and were painted on the 16/17th of July, 2022.
I became very ill with depression last October and it’s only now that I am starting to feel good again. The summer repairs but in recent years the seasonal window has been getting smaller. I’m seeking treatment and in the worse case I’ll probably need to move south for the winter, let’s see what happens.
So while I’m all depressed my website crashed in November 2021, and I wasn’t able to fix it due to a scrambled brain – trashed by antidepressants. I’ve ditched the medication, it was impossible for me to be creative. It may work for others but it’s not the solution for me.
So, this is my first post for a while. I haven’t been so productive so nothing missed really. I am so happy that I’ve started painting again. I began in May, I visited Ireland, stayed with friends and sketched for a week. It was so beautiful, the weather was just wonderful. Recently, I was on my annual sailing adventure with my wife. I painted a lot of watercolours of the Stockholm archipelago.
These featured watercolours were painted one after the other on the 7th of July in a natural-harbour called Norra Gränholmsviken, Gällnö. 18 x 13 cm in size, it’s a quarter of a quarter sheet for those of you who paint watercolour. It’s really interesting to paint the same scene several times. I discovered new patterns, new shapes and new compositions each time. A really good exercise when trying to improve.
Nice to be back. See you again soon. 🙂
I have been suffering badly from depression (SAD) since September. I’m not going to go into detail but anyone who suffers from the same ball and chain affliction knows it isn’t easy to achieve anything of substance. So this little painting, although a bit grey, is a ray of light as I have been able to complete it. It makes me very feel good.
I am returning to the doctor this week, the current approach hasn’t worked. Hopefully a solution can be found soon. I so do want to enjoy life, smile and paint, paint, paint.
Click the thumbnail below if you want to see the full sized image
During the summer we sailed to the Åland archipelago, which lies between Sweden and Finland. During the trip I made a short film about my easel set up and kit bag. I do long for the summer months when I see this video.
We sailed to the NW of Åland close to the Finnish border during the month of July. It always feels pretty exposed there when the winds blow and it tends to blow often. There were a number of occasions when we had to shelter in small harbours which gave me the opportunity to do some watercolour painting.
I did this small sketch below when we were sheltering in Seglinge, it mentions on the back of the watercolour that the winds were 8-15 m/s and blowing from the north and that more favourable wind was coming the next day. Nice memories for sure.
The main featured watercolour was started the same day ( 2021/07/22 ) but I ran out of time or maybe it was passion, who knows. Anyway, I finally finished it yesterday. I found the unfinished watercolour in a pile beside my desk, … my studio is such a mess I really need to clean the place. I gave the watercolour a grunge type feel, I wanted the painting to feel moody, atmospheric, something like that. I’m happy enough with the result but now it’s time to move on to the next watercolour. Have a nice weekend.
Click the thumbnail below for a full sized image.
Wise painters stay away from pretty photographs of ocean sunsets. I know this is true as I tried years back and yes, I failed. The watercolour turned out to be cheesy, a classic motif to sell to tourists maybe but not a work of art that I was proud of. Nothing I would wish to show to others.
William Turner, he painted many sunsets, he had a certain attitude, he was a rebel, a hero to many, an inspiration to me.
I snapped an evening photo while sailing off the coast of Sicily, I thought to myself, this is not your typical sunset. So dramatic. It’s badass. I had a go at trying to capture the moment. 36 x 26 cm.
Click the thumbnail below for a full sized image.
I was recently lucky enough to be sailing along the coast of Sicily not far from Palermo. There was this beautiful town called Cefalu that hugged an impressive rock. It just had to be painted. 36 x 26 cm
My first participation in the annual Water Colour Society of Ireland wasn’t a success when it came to sales of my art. I wouldn’t say it was a failure because of that though. I was, and am still thrilled to be a part of the whole thing. I wasn’t there myself, a dear friend helped with delivering the watercolours to the exhibition and then picked them up for me when the event came to an end.
It’s an interesting dilemma, why do we artists spend a small fortune getting work framed knowing full well that there is a more than good chance the works will not be sold. If we do sell a watercolour the gallery or the society will want it’s commision. No wonder artists are poor! I have no answer, it’s just the way it is.
I am still positive to the whole thing. I will be exhibiting next year again if they will have me.
Thanks to Sandra Darling for taking these photographs of the exhibition, much appreciated, hopefully next year I will see it in person.
