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Sketch watercolor Watercolour

Sketching Stockholm

This week I am home and I tend to spend too much time in my studio. I therefore make sure I go for a walk or cycle each day. I always bring my sketch bag with me. The weather has been really amazing lately so I am doing a lot of light studies. Watercolour for me is about capturing the light, it’s amazing how hard it is to catch. I just practice and practice and hopefully one day I will master it.
The sketch “Södermalm” is 13 x 17.5 cm on 300g Saunders Waterford paper.

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Södermalm

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Sketch sketching watercolor Watercolour

Summer sketching

The weather has been so good recently, I made sure I got away from the studio and explored the countryside close to home. The countryside usually means water and islands that are crowned with Scots pine. At least I seem to be always drawn to the sea, I feel best there by the waters edge or better still, sailing in the archipelago.

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View from Boda, 17.5 x 13 cm

View from Boda, Värmdö, Sweden
Categories
watercolor Watercolour

A street scene

I have been challenging myself to paint better street scenes. This watercolour is of Piampol, Brittany, France – my wife’s hometown. I did this in the studio but I wouldn’t mind being in France for June. That won’t happen of course because of the pandemic. I’ll just have to use my many photo references that I have amassed through the years. Have a nice, and safe weekend.

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Piampol
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David Meldrum watercolor Watercolour

Gustavsbergshamn the watercolour

I published the YouTube video of me painting this watercolour yesterday. Here is the final painting. Today I am painting something totally different, life is always interesting for a watercolour artist. 🙂

If you haven’t seen the video click this link here: Gustavsbergshamn – From sketch to final watercolour

For a full sized image of the watercolour click the thumbnail below.

Gustavsbergshamn
Categories
Watercolour

Just doing it

It’s Monday today and like everybody else right now I spend most of my time indoors trying to avoid the Corona virus. This morning was the start of a new week but it was hard to know because I was still in my comfort clothes, you know, sweatpants and an old t-shirt type of thing. So I sat at my desk and luckily I have that wee hand-written sign on the wall in front of me which simply states, “Just Paint!”. It’s so damn useful sometimes to be told what to do.

I am still going through my photos of Ireland for inspiration. I might paint outdoors tomorrow. There is a rumour it might be getting warmer. I would like to visit the archipelago, but still on the mainland. I don’t want to take a ferry at the moment with the pandemic still very real. I wonder when we will be all safe again?
The featured painting is from a photograph I took in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland last year.
Title: Boat season 36 x 26 cm.

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Boat season
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Categories
Watercolour

Summer in Åland

We sailed to Finland and Åland last year. Such wonderful memories exploring the small islands and being blissfully alone for days on end.

This watercolour titled, Summer in Åland is 36 x 26 cm. Click the thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

Summer in Åland
Categories
watercolor Watercolour

Plein air in a cold climate

Plein air in Finnboda
Plein air in Finnboda

I took myself out during the week to paint plein air. The sun was shining and it might even have been 10 degrees but I’m not sure. I brought extra leggings which I put on quite quickly as it was very cool in the shade of the building next to the water’s edge.
It was interesting how the paper and watercolour pigment behaved in the cool conditions, it was very different from my time in India or even the studio. I found that the pigment was not absorbed by the paper as easily. It wasn’t a big deal, I adjusted quickly and enjoyed my two hours by the water.
Sweden being Sweden most people left me alone which is good considering we are in the middle of a pandemic. A few were curious but they kept two metres away.
I am so looking forward to painting plein air more often now as the temperature is rising and the sun is higher in the sky. The days are much longer too.
I have bought a van that I am going to convert into a studio plus camper. I will publish a post about this exciting project during the coming week.

If you would like to see the full sized image please click the thumbnail below.

Finnboda hamn
Finnboda hamn
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watercolor Watercolour

Not every painting is a masterpiece

I am trying to paint everyday and I want to be challenged so that I can learn and develop. The original photo reference I used was snapped while I was walking along the coast in Bangor, Northern Ireland. This wasn’t a strong composition to begin with but I liked the shadows and the angles created by the pathway and tree. I had a go and this is the result. Like all of my paintings there are somethings I like and there are thing I am not to fond of.
Tomorrow is another day and a new challenge awaits.
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Bangor walk

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Video youtube

I built myself a mini field easel

In my latest video I build a mini field easel. I found a small wooden box in the local hardware store and it inspired me to have a go. Have a look at the video to see how I got on.

#minifieldeasel #fieldeasel #homemadeeasel

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