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David Meldrum Sketch Stockholm urban sketching Watercolour

Watercolouring at Central Station

After a couple of days sketching at the Central Train Station here in Stockholm I felt ready to do my first watercolour sketch for 2014. I’m happy enough with the result, I spent two hours on it over a two day period. I used too much gouache for highlighting but as it’s just a sketch I really don’t mind, I’d prefer to use less of course.
I am getting up one hour earlier this week so that I have an hour to sketch before going to work. It is not as hard as I thought it would be. Now, I’ve found an extra hour each day to sketch and paint which makes me happy.

Under the Departure Sign at Central Station Stockholm by David Meldrum
Under the Departure Sign at Central Station Stockholm. Moleskin A4 watercolour notebook.

The first day.
The first day, 20140113

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David Meldrum Sketch Stockholm urban sketching

Waiting for a watercolour

I’ve been drawing everyday at the Train Station since rediscovering it as an indoor sketching utopia. I had planed to watercolour today but I’m not confident enough with the environment. I am getting there though, it’s a mind-game. One has to believe that one can can do it.

Sketch of Central Station, Stockholm by David Meldrum
A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm

Sketch of Central Station, Stockholm by David Meldrum
A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm

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David Meldrum Sketch Stockholm urban sketching

Fitting art into my everyday life

Like most people I have a day job, it pays the bills and helps keep a roof over my head. I dream of being an artist but the reality is that I work 9-5 and spend hours each day commuting back and forth to the office. After discovering, The Great Indoors of Stockholm (see last post), I stopped on my way to work today at Central Station and did this quick sketch. So it’s possible for me to sketch on the way to work, at lunch time and then again on the way home. Suddenly, I have so much time for my art!



On the way to work by David Meldrum
On the way to work. A4, HB pencil on Fabrino paper
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David Meldrum Sketch Stockholm urban sketching

Urban sketching in a cold climate

As far as Urban Sketching is concerned I’ve always felt sorry for myself living this far north. In Stockholm your fingers go numb after 30 minutes for at least half the year. I have dreamt often of holidays in the sun sketching for weeks on end in sun-drenched villages with happy tourists and buildings to draw.

My solution is to go indoors. The Central Station of Stockholm is a wonderful place to sketch, there is also the bus station and the underground. They are all warm places and there are lots people waiting there to be drawn, watercoloured even. Wintertime also brings darkness but not in the Stations of Stockholm, I look forward to many hours of urban sketching throughout the winter months in the great indoors of Stockholm.

A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm
A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm

A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm
A4, HB pencil sketch, Central Station, Stockholm

Categories
David Meldrum figure painting Nude Sketch Watercolour Watercolouring

Life without a pencil

This is a great Christmas present! It seems I do not need to outline anymore. This is the second watercolour I have created without any initial pencil marks. I am happy enough with the result and I look forward now to 2014 and developing this new found skill. 🙂

Nude with no outlines by David Meldrum
Nude with no outlines. Saunders Waterford HP paper – 31 x 23 cm

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David Meldrum figure painting Nude Sketch watercolor Watercolouring

The Naked Truth

Do I need to use a pencil initially when painting a watercolour nude? I didn’t here and I like the result, I just started painting the nude directly onto paper. I will continue down this path and see what develops. Merry Christmas!

Pencil free nude by David Meldrum
Pencil free nude. Saunders Waterford HP  paper – 31 x 23 cm
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David Meldrum Sketch urban sketching

Happy accident

Earlier in the year, on my way to work I did this sketch of a commuter waiting for a train at Södra Station here in Stockholm. I wasn’t impressed with my drawing so I left it in my sketch book that I carry in my rucksack. I rediscovered it today after it had spent months being rubbed and smudged. To my great surprise it looks so much more interesting now.

Sketch by David Meldrum
Waiting for a train. A5 Fabriano paper.
Categories
David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch

Keeping it simple

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

Yesterday evening all I had with me was an A4 block of paper and some pencils. It suits my current state of mind and to be honest, I think my drawings have improved because of it. “Keep it simple”, they say. I think this only comes about after hours of making ones art way too complicated.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.

Nude on A4 Fabriano paper, 21 x 29,7 cm.
Categories
David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nude Sketch

Two minute nudes

Here are a few two minute nudes from life drawing at Basis today. I learned one thing, never sign your signature with a felt-tip marker before spraying fixative on the drawing.

Two minute nude by David Meldrum
Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm

Two minute nude by David Meldrum
Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm

Two minute nude by David Meldrum
Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm

Two minute nude by David Meldrum
Two minute nude. Fabriano A4 paper, 21×29.7 cm