A small painting from my sketchbook. I usually do a quick watercolour to loosen up if I haven’t painted for a while.
Categories
The importance of a sketchbook
Tag: Sketch
Categories
Urban sketching
I took it really easy today, I’ve been so busy during the last month – I really needed to take my foot off the gas pedal. So, the first thing I did today was go to the central station and sketched the travelers as they waited for trains.
In the afternoon I walked around the town and looked for scenes to photo and paint at a later date. I walked for 4 hours! It was a sunny day and I was hunting the light, looking for scenes that were perfect for watercolours. I found quite a few so I’m happy. Tomorrow I’ll paint in the studio at home, my feet are feeling tired. I have life drawing tonight so I’ll sleep well.
Click image below for larger version.
I decided to try something different last Saturday, I used my old Chinese calligraphy pen, brand name “Hero” and I used watercolour pigment as a wash. I was pleased with the result although I think I will use my 2B pencil instead of the pen next time. The poses were 30 seconds, 1, 2 and 5 minutes long. Painted on cheap watercolour paper, Calson 200g A4.
Another Saturday and another burst of 1, 2, 3 and 5 minute poses. The organiser added 30 second poses to the grinding session. He thought we were having to much time with the 1 minute ones! I can see his point though, all you can do is capture the pose, nothing else when time is so short.
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
david meldrum life drawing
I haven’t gone to life drawing on a Tuesday evening for quite a while. I had such a bad watercolour day at home in my studio that I felt I had to go out and cheer myself up. It worked, it felt good to sketch and forget the day that was.
life drawing by david meldrum
life drawing by david meldrum
life drawing by david meldrum
life drawing by david meldrum
life drawing by david meldrum
life drawing by david meldrum
Not much to say, it wasn’t my best day but that is life. One just has to make sure one has more ups than downs.
Life drawing by David Meldrum
Life drawing by David Meldrum
Life drawing by David Meldrum
Life drawing by David Meldrum
Life drawing by David Meldrum
I had the same model (Roza) as I had on the Saturday, different venue and more time for each pose. My paper was A4 and the grain of it was different from what I am used too so it took a few bad drawings to get used to it. I don’t think A4 is big enough to express good lines and expression.
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
Every Saturday we get 1, 2 and 3 minutes to sketch. I get through a lot of paper and energy during those 2 hours. We get a few 5 minutes too but they are few. I like drawing at speed, it becomes more instinctive when one doesn’t have time to think.
The venue was Basis here in Stockholm, the model’s name is Roza and my paper was A3 in size.
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
life drawing by David Meldrum
I finished these two sketches last week, only posting them now. I am painting larger versions for an upcoming exhibition in April. It’s good to do sketch first, one learns a lot by taking ones time and experimenting, unexpected happy accidents or silly mistakes that shouldn’t be repeated.
The original reference photos were taken by Finish photographer, Erik Lähteenmäki. You can visit his website here.
Each sketch size: 39 x 14 cm
Folk boats
Folk boat 2
Folk boat 1