Categories
akvarell watercolor Watercolour

Spring is on the way, it makes me feel good.

I was out for a walk last week when I saw an abandoned Volvo by the side of the road. I took some photos for reference and painted this watercolour yesterday. I am very happy with it because I am trying to create interesting compositions from everyday, mundane life. I want to avoid the cliches that litter watercolour groups all over the net. My main source of inspiration at the moment is Lars Lerin, he is so good at capturing everyday moments with a wee touch of Swedish melancholy.

I can feel new energy slowly seeping into me now after the long winter months, I am becoming productive, it feels good to be painting landscapes again.

Title: Spring is on it’s way. 36 x 26 cm
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Kvarnholmsvägen
Kvarnholmsvägen
Categories
akvarell watercolor Watercolour

A moody little watercolour that made me happy

A view from Kvarnholmen. A small sketch, a giant leap …I’ve haven’t been painting so much recently so this little watercolour, painted the other day was important; a small step.

Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

I think I am ready for landscapes

I have this little routine were I produce a watercolour nude each Monday morning to help promote my weekly life drawing session. I play around with how I express myself – I really enjoy it so I will continue with my Monday nudes. At the same time I really need to start painting landscapes again. Maybe I’m waking up from my winter slumber? I hope so.

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monday nude
monday nude
Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

I am painting a lot of nudes at the moment

Why a sudden interest in painting nudes David? I guess it’s because it’s where I’m at at the moment. I am running my life drawing classes and I feel inspired because it is now and in the present. Landscapes have to wait, it’s too cold outside and I find little inspiration from my reference photos. I would love to paint outdoors even when it’s minus degrees but I’m not 100% fit so it’s not a good idea right now, the long winters here don’t agree with me. So it’s nudes at the moment. I hope you don’t mind.

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Watercolour Nude
Watercolour Nude
Categories
akvarell watercolor Watercolour

Winter doodle

I was just playing around. Lights and darks. The darks dominate, and cool colours too. It’s fun not putting pressure on oneself, just playing like a kid – no stress. Learn by doodling. 😉

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winter woods
winter woods

Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

Experimentation and looking for a form of expression

I have no wish to compete with photographic images. When I paint a nude from a photo as in this case I want to find my own way of expressing the feelings I have towards the subject. If I just tried to copy the image on my computer screen it would be just so uninteresting and also demoralising because the original photograph will always be best. I know there are super-realists out there who would disagree with me. There is no wrongs or rights, for me it’s just a personal quest to find a form of expression.

Reclining nude 36 x 26 cm

To see the full-sized image please click the thumbnail below.

Reclining nude
Reclining nude

Categories
watercolor Watercolour

A sailing memory from last summer in the archipelago

As I write this it is minus 10 outside. Summer feels very far away right now. Thankfully I am an artist and can recreate the memories of the long magical days we experienced while sailing in the Stockholm archipelago last year. We sailed for a month, most nights we slept in a different natural harbour. This painting at Fjärdlång was created in the studio from a photo I had taken. I maybe act like a squirrel, I take photos all summer then store them for the winter months when I am starved of adventure and sketching outdoors.

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

Walking on Fjärdlång
Walking on Fjärdlång

Categories
kroki Nude watercolor Watercolour

Why do we become uncomfortable by nakedness?

I am the first to admit that I have been uncomfortable when confronted by nudity. I grew up in Catholic Ireland and at the same time I was very exposed to the culture of England which was and still is so anchored to Victorianism. I’d better be careful here, I don’t want to get political. I just think it’s a pity we have been made to feel so ill at ease in appreciating the naked being.
Thankfully, I moved to Sweden. That was 31 years ago so I have had time to adapt to what I still feel is a refreshing attitude towards nudity. It’s such a pity we feel embarrassed by something that is so natural.

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

Nude
Nude

Categories
Nude watercolor Watercolour

My life drawing classes begin this week

My life drawing classes, which are live-streamed on Zoom begin again this week. I don’t actually get much time to sketch during the sessions as I am the organiser of the event. I’ll have to join someone else’s life class to practise. Ironic, I know.
Because I don’t sketch the nude as much I’d like to I set myself a weekly goal of producing a watercolour that I can later use to promote my life drawing classes.

If you are interested in joining Meldrum Kroki, click here. Please answer the 3 questions when you apply. Thanks.

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

Nude
Nude