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David Meldrum Watercolour

The big French challenge

Watercolour of home in Paimpol, France by David Meldum
Paimpol, Brittany, France

Yes, I finished it, the biggest watercolour I’ve ever painted, 56x76cm or 22×30″.
I’m proud that I stuck with it, I learned so much by the endless mistakes I made. As a complete painting I am not totally happy, it is stiff and the uncertainty in my strokes is clear to see. Too much white gouache for highlights almost ruining it in the end. But, I learned so much by not giving up.
Buy good watercolour paper, the one I used was very poor, not cotton, it was closer to toilet paper in quality. I ran out and bought Arches 300g because of the poor nature of the paper I used, so I learned. There was one million things I had never experienced; like how does one paint stones walls? It’s really hard but it will be easier next time. Flowers, I had never painted them before either, not seriously, they were also difficult to master. Ah well, on I go to the next pigmented challenge …

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David Meldrum figure drawing figure painting Nude watercolor

Moleskin …

I have a watercolour Moleskin (A5) where I practice my watercolour nudes. I’m trying to do at least one a day. It helps me ignore the real task; finishing the large watercolour that is such a challenge and sits there beside me waiting …

A5 watercolour figure painting by David Meldrum
A5 watercolour figure painting

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David Meldrum figure drawing figure painting Sketch Watercolour

Taking a break …

Currently I’m working on a large watercolour, it’s a real challenge, I’ve never worked in so much detail before and I’m pushing my technical limits to the maximum. So, it was necessary to take a little break and paint this little watercolour nude. I like the freedom of the way the colour pigment illustrates the figure.

Nude by David Meldrum 20130719
Nude 20130719. Moleskin, A5, watercolour notebook. 

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David Meldrum figure drawing Sketch

Mucha inspired …

I found a wonderful model – posing beautifully. I will eventually paint a full sized homage to the image at a later date. I spent today doing two sketches, one watercolour with a Mucha inspired frame and the other in pencil. Both are about A5 in size.

Watercolour nude by David Meldrum
Watercolour

Nude by David Meldrum
Pencil

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Mucha

Mega Mucha

On the third day of my visit to Prague I visited the Veletržní Palace to see the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha. Twenty massive works depicting the history of the Slavic people. 




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Mucha

Having a Mucha weekend

I am having an amazing weekend in Prague, so much to see, so much culture. We visited the Municipal House, which is an Art Nouveau master piece. There, they have Ivan Lendl’s collection of Alfons Mucha’s posters, which is the most complete collection in the world. Amazing! Don’t be surprised if you start to see thick dark lines around my nudes! 🙂

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Mucha

Mucha, Prague

Today I visited the Mucha Museum in Prague. Wow, his talent is totally inspiring! 

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David Meldrum figure painting Nude Watercolour

Nude in Red Armchair

I am on holidays, which means I have the opportunity to paint at last. Time, such a hard treasure to find.

Nude In Red Armchair by David Meldrum
Nude In Red Armchair, 30 x 42 cm (A3), 11 3/4 x 16 1/2″

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David Meldrum water colouring

An Unfinished Painting from Brittany.

The house belongs to my mother in law, it’s a very beautiful place close to Paimpol, Brittany in France. I thought I would paint it but I ran out of time, I should not have waited until the last day of my visit. I am on holidays again now so hopefully I will find time to complete the painting using photographs as reference.

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing my painting set up. The image of me in the header above was taken while I was painting the house. 🙂