Categories
Watercolour

Working with values

Even though this composition is relatively simple the placement of the Stockholm town hall is very important to the success of the watercolour, it’s the rule of thirds. The tonal values are even more important as the sky wouldn’t pop if the building and bridge had a lighter tone.
Personally I am on a little crusade to improve my understanding of tonal values, I enjoyed painting this scene.

Click image below for full sized photo.

Stadshuset / Town hall
Stadshuset / Town hall

 

Categories
Watercolour

Capturing light in Paris

I love Paris, with it’s museums, cafes and the sketching opportunities.
I am currently trying to improve capturing light. It is all about having the correct tonal values. It’s quite difficult and it is going to take me a while before I master it. I visited Paris a few years back, I would love to return and spend a week cramming French culture into my head  – especially the Impressionists. It’s an expensive town though. If anyone has a bed for me in Paris I would be very interested!
26 x 36 cm

Full-sized image below:

Paris Street by meldrum art
Paris Street
Categories
figure drawing My Life Drawing Sketch

Life drawing in Stockholm

Once again I went life drawing and not my own so that I could relax and enjoy myself. I think it’s important to draw as much as possible, everyday really.
The model was great, she posed wonderfully so I got inspired and then it just seemed easy to sketch her. Most poses were 5 minutes long but there is a 10 minute and 2 minute included.

If you are interested in attending my life drawing classes please visit here

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Portrait tip

If you want to practice doing portraits, download  Sktchy app. Unfortunately it is only for iPhone users. Lots of people upload photos of themselves and artists, both amateur and professional sketch them.

For me, I just want to practice doing portraits and I don’t want to worry about copyright issues etc. So this is a great resource.

Click image below for full-sized photo.

meldrum art portrait
meldrum art portrait
Categories
Watercolour

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
Categories
My Life Drawing

Life drawing bliss

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.

Categories
David Meldrum Watercolour

Watercolour of Stockholm – Storkyrkan

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
Categories
Meldrum Art Tips Watercolour

Stretching watercolour paper

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 🙂