Not every painting is a success

I was asked to submit a watercolour to an exhibition and I wasn’t accepted which of course is a bit of a bummer but at the same time I just found the experience to be quite positive. That may sound strange but what I mean is I spent a day working on this painting and I learned a lot because I was outside of my comfort zone. I am pushing my boundaries a lot at the moment which means I do have more failures, I know I can paint the archipelago here in Stockholm but I want to be better than that, that is why I am happy with this watercolour. I do not fear the unknown and what I know today was yesterday’s news.

The town of Fabriano painted on, …Farbriano watercolour paper.
Click the image below for full-sized photo

Fabriano on Fabriano
Fabriano on Fabriano

Life drawing bliss

Konstnärshuset 2018.11.13

Yes, it was so nice to go to somebody else’s life  drawing class yesterday evening. Since I’ve been running my own class I have not really been relaxed enough to draw with any real commitment.
So last night I could get my fingers dirty with charcoal dust and have a ball!
Most sketches were completed in 5 minutes on A3 paper.

Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art
Meldrum Art

Watercolour of Stockholm – Storkyrkan

2018.11.13

It is hard to paint urban scenes I think. I wrestle with keeping the watercolour alive and fresh. I need straight lines because houses are built of them, but they are also my enemy. Too straight and I loose my battle.
This was a good fight, I nearly lost it a couple of times but in the end I am happy with the result.

Title: Storkyrkan (The Big Church)
Size: 26 x 36 cm

Click the image below for full-sized version.

Storkyrkan-akvarell
Storkyrkan akvarell

Stretching watercolour paper

Meldrum Art Tips nr. 2

This video is a continuation of my first tip on stretching watercolour paper. The difference being this one is much more hands-on, you actually get to see me stretch paper! Yes, only watercolour nerds will find this interesting 🙂

Stockholm

26.5 x 36 cm 2018.10.31

I was playing with contrasts today, in the end I was quite happy with the way it turned out. More urban paintings on the way I feel.

See full sized image here:

Stockholm by Meldrum
Stockholm by Meldrum

No life drawing classes this week.

@ Dieselverkstaden

Hi, to anyone who attends my life drawing evenings at Dieselverkstaden.
This Friday there will be no life drawing class due to Alla helgons dag (All Saints Day). The next “Meldrum Kroki will be on the 9th of November. Welcome!

I haven’t painted a sailing boat for two weeks!

2018.10.12

Yes, I said I was not going to paint sailing boats for a while and this is so far true. I cannot resist the sea though, I could never stop painting the ocean, I love it too much.
This watercolour is painted on Arches rough paper and is 70 x 24 cm.

Have a nice weekend!

Click the image below to see the full sized image.

A moment of solitude - original
A moment of solitude – original

 

Stretching watercolour paper

Meldrum Art Tips

I’ve started giving watercolour tips on YouTube. In the first episode I talk about how and why I stretch watercolour paper.

Sunsets

70 x 50 cm

One should avoid sunsets, most artists and photographers will tell you that.
So it was a challenge to find a theme that made a sunset acceptable in the eyes of critics. The subject I have chosen has divided Europe since 2015. I do not know how people will react to my watercolour, it speaks to me clearly enough but I also know that my neighbour might see something totally different.

Click below to see larger image.

Sunset 70 x 50
Sunset 70 x 50

Click here to see my latest video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/O5OOrDXGyBs