Two sketches from my Moleskin watercolour journal (not cotton paper and it shows). I plan to develop and paint these during the week.
Click image below for full sized watercolour
Two sketches from my Moleskin watercolour journal (not cotton paper and it shows). I plan to develop and paint these during the week.
Click image below for full sized watercolour
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.
I want to paint more street scenes than I do. I don’t feel as comfortable painting urban scenes compared to boats and nature. I want to have a broad repertoire and there is only one way to achieve that, … paint everything and paint them often.
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One of the really beautiful things about the Stockholm archipelago is the numerous old ferries that are still in service. Most of which are over 100 years old. Storskär is one of my favorites. It is owned by Waxholms bolaget. I don’t think I could ever tire of painting these beautiful boats.
Title: Storskär
51 x 33 cm
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A small composition test 34 x 24 cm on Fabriano fine grain. I plan to paint a large version today.
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I am trying to paint watercolour at life drawing again. I think my approach was quite successful. As the poses are generally only 5 minutes in duration I just painted the skin tones. Later, during a pose I did not find inspiring ( when the model had her back to me ) I painted the background and more shading, especially around the face.
I liked this model so I felt quite inspired. The lighting at ABF is awful, fluorescent tubes in a very large room, not very pleasing normally but a good model makes up for it.
I haven’t sailed all summer but now I am and it’s wonderful. The holiday season is over so the archipelago is quite empty of boats. No motor boats just a few sailing boats and most of them seem to be visiting from Europe. So it’s very peaceful. We have bought a new boat, not new exactly – it was built in 1975. So we are getting to know how everything works. Next week my wife returns to work but I intend to continue sailing as much of September I can. I want to sketch, paint and take reference photos. It’s going to be an experience.
This watercolour sketch was painted at our first stop on the trip, Gällnö is the name of the island, we stayed for a day then moved on.
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I sketched this at Boule & Berså, an outdoor bar close to Danvikstull bridge. The bridge is raised once an hour during the summer months at 38 minutes past the hour to allow sailing boats to pass though Stockholm. It’s very enjoyable to just sit down and have a beer and sketch especially on a Friday afternoon after work. My wife joined me later and so the sketchbook was put away and I finished it later that Sunday.
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