Tag: akvarell

Categories
Sketch watercolor Watercolour

A sketch a day keeps me heading the right way.

Kungsgatan by David Meldrum
Kungsgatan

I try to sketch everyday but of course life keeps getting in the way. This last week has been really busy, mostly seasonal stuff like getting the boat ready for launch and putting summer tyres on the car etc. The seasons are very clear here in Sweden. Half the year is dark and cold and the other half is light and warm(ish), simple.
I continue to do some urban sketching. I painted this from a fuzzy iPhone photo I took while I was walking, I never bothered to stop, I just snapped off a bunch of pictures. It’s not a bad technique really, I got some interesting angles.

Categories
Sketch watercolor Watercolour

Abandoned Caravan watercolour

Abandoned Caravan watercolour sketch
Abandoned Caravan

I wandered around the caravan park I was staying on the last day of my painting trip. The park was pretty empty, it was a day after the Easter weekend. I discovered this abandoned caravan tucked away in a corner, I thought the composition was wonderful so I took a few shots with my phone. I stumbled across the images again this morning when I was wondering what to paint. I decided to do a sketch first and I’m happy with the result. I must do a larger version of it very soon, I still feel it is a great composition.

I stayed at the Moby Dick Caravan Park very close to the centre of Calella. It was quiet and the family running the park were charming.

Become a Patron!
Categories
Sketch Sketches urban sketching watercolor Watercolour

A Sketch is so important

Sketches of Stockholm by David Meldrum
Sketches of Stockholm

I am talking to myself when I say, “Sketches are so important”.
It is so easy to just be lazy and start painting directly with a photo that is in front of you. We rarely succeed when shortcuts are taken, a photo needs to be interpreted, analysed and broken down. It needs to be simplified and elements moved or removed. So this is why doing a quick sketch beforehand is so important, we discover what should be done to achieve a good watercolour.
In the perfect world I would prefer to sketch outdoors but that not possible here for a large part of the year, it’s minus degrees and windy here in Stockholm today.
Next week I travel to Costa Brava in Spain for a week of sketching. More about that in an upcoming post.


Become a Patron!
Categories
watercolor Watercolour

Watercolour of Kungsgatan, Stockholm

Watercolour of Kungsgatan by David Meldrum
Kungsgatan

I am finding this street scene a real challenge. I am enjoying it though, I basically have to paint kungsgatan several more times before I can be fully happy. This isn’t a bad watercolour, I just want to do it better. I guess that’s the artist’s curse, never totally content – always trying be better.

For Sale: €350

Title: Kungsgatan
Technical information: Painted on the backside of Saunders Waterford Rough. 26 x 36 cm. I use W&N, Holbien and Daniel Smith paints.

Become a Patron!
Categories
watercolor Watercolour

Watercolour of Birger Jarlsgatan, Stockholm

Birger Jarlsgatan by Davdi Meldrum
Birger Jarlsgatan by Davdi Meldrum

Like I said in the previous post, it is so nice to be painting again. My focus this week is capturing light in urban settings.

For Sale: €400

Title: Birger Jarlsgatan
Technical information: Painted on the backside of Saunders Waterford Rough. 26 x 36 cm. I use W&N, Holbien and Daniel Smith paints.

Become a Patron!
Categories
watercolor Watercolour Watercolouring Watercolours

Experimenting with light

Sankt Eriksgatan, Stockholm
Sankt Eriksgatan, Stockholm

After weeks of illness it is so nice to be watercolouring again. I was very frustrated not being well enough to paint but I am recovering and I feel a lot better now.
I am very focused on improving myself these days so I throw myself into areas that are uncomfortable. Zones like portrait painting and urban scenes, I also feel I can improve a lot in the painting light. This what I am focused on this week.

Become a Patron!
Categories
Portrait watercolor Watercolour

Nice to be painting again

portrait practice
portrait practice

I was very ill last week and I’m still recovering. The most frustrating thing about not being well is the inability to paint. It was a wonderful feeling therefore to do some portrait practice yesterday evening, it means I am feeling better and soon everything will be back to normal.
This young girl uploaded her pouting face onto Sktchy App which is a great photo resource for portrait artists, the only negative is that everyone seems to pout their lips when they take selfies of themselves. A sign of the times.
Saunders Waterford Sketchbook, 28 X 38 cm

Become a Patron!
Categories
Edsvik watercolor Watercolour

National Watercolour Exhibition – Edsvik

A watercolour of the Stockholm ferry, Västan.
Västan

I was very happy to have one of my paintings excepted into the annual National Watercolour Exhibition at the Edsvik Art Gallery. The watercolour is entitled, Västan – which is the name of the Stockholm ferry featured.

It’s interesting for me as this watercolour is two years old and as I am still developing as an artist it is very much from my past. It has a strong composition which is good but my technical skills have improved a lot since 2017. Another interesting fact is that this painting was exhibited at The Salamanca ECWS exhibition of 2017. I was so proud that I was chosen to represent Sweden in this European watercolour event.

Become a Patron!
Categories
Uncategorized

Practicing for my first workshop

Gentle archipelago breeze
Gentle archipelago breeze

I painted this sketch yesterday, I just wanted to practice so that I feel comfortable with the subject. I also wondered what the composition would feel like with one of the sailing boat’s masts tilted by a small gust of wind as it rounded the island. I like it, much more dynamic, so I will go with this when I paint the demonstration version this Saturday.
Many people want to be in the workshop which is great considering I advertised it so late last week. Still a few places left if you are interested! 🙂

The sketch is about A5 in size and painted on Saunders Waterford paper.