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figure drawing inspiration My Life Drawing Nudes oil painting Zinaida Serebriakova

Zinaida Serebriakova Nudes

Here is a selection of nudes by Zinaida Serebriakova (1884 –  1967) – female Russian painter. Wikipedia link: here
 
Zinaida Serebriakova
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David Meldrum Portrait Tom Waits Watercolour

Portrait painting is difficult too

This little attempt to capture Tom Waits was relatively successful I think. I’ve got a few levels to climb as far as execution is concerned but I’m happy enough with the painting.
I choose famous people because it is a good way to see if I have succeeded in capturing a likeness or not. I just ask people close to me, “Do you recognise this person?”.
I’ve started a portrait page on this blog, I’ve added a tab above.

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David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing is difficult most of the time…

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

I did not find the model very inspiring, it is very difficult to create good work when one feels this way. Still, I am very happy with the last two sketches of the evening, which were two minute drawings.

Nude sketch by David Meldrum 20130305
2 minute sketch, 20130305

Nude sketch by David Meldrum 20130305
2 minute sketch, 20130305
Nude sketch by David Meldrum 20130305
5 minute sketch, 20130305

Nude sketch by David Meldrum 20130305
5 minute sketch, 20130305

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Art Nouveau David Meldrum figure drawing Mucha My Life Drawing Nude Watercolour

Frustration and enlightenment

Venue: The Academy of Realistic Art, Bergshamra, 20130228

I can sketch a nude quickly, paint them at speed also. My challenge right now is to slow down and start painting instead of sketching. It is hard, very hard to continue having a loose expressive style when one has a whole two hours to capture a pose. I tense up, every line I draw becomes stiff, I revert to how I drew two years ago. When I came home and showed my wife my effort she immediately said it felt restrained, she was right. Frustrated, I decided to add thick lines around the model to exaggerate the stiffness even more, I created a Mucha, some Art Nouveau. After much thought of where I want to go,in which direction, I realise that I relate to artists like watercolourists, Charles Reid and Ted Nuttall. Other painters I currently find inspiring are; Sandra Flood for here compostition skills, Mark Demsteader for his grungy portraits, Sebastian Kruger for his ability to capture a character and Kent Williams for his loose style. I am basically seeking to develop a loose, grungy style, I just have to keep reminding myself of this.

(Thank you Martin for introducing me to Mr. Williams)

Nude by David Meldrum
I made a Mucha of it!



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David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nude Sketch Watercolour

Life drawing – Konstnärshuset

Venue, Konstnärshuset, Stockholm

I am happy with a lot of my sketches from this session. I focused on trying to keep a single line that is expressive and in no way hesitant. Completing a watercolour sketch in such a short time is challenging,  the hardest part is to mix my colours and create the desired skin tones. I use: Naples Yellow, Cerulean Blue and Cadmium Red mostly.

Sketch by David Meldrum, 20130226
5 minute sketch, 20130226

Sketch by David Meldrum, 20130226
10 minute sketch, 20130226

Sketch by David Meldrum, 20130226
5 minute sketch, 20130226

Sketch by David Meldrum, 20130226
3 minute sketch, 20130226

Sketch by David Meldrum, 20130226
2 minute sketch, 20130226

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David Meldrum Sketch urban sketching Watercolour

Stockholm Sketchers

Today, I hung out with the Stockholm Sketchers at the Modern Art Museum here in Stockholm. We meet up on the last Sunday of each month. It was a very enjoyable few hours drinking coffee, chatting and even finding time to draw.

Watercolour by David Meldrum, 20130224
Relaxing at the Modern Art Museum, Stockholm. 20130224, A4 Moleskin.
Watercolour by David Meldrum, 20130224
Texting at the Modern Art Museum, Stockholm. 20130224, A4 Moleskin.

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Bob Dylan David Meldrum Portrait Watercolour

Bob’s Brother

Bob Dylan by David Meldrum
Bob’s Brother

This was meant to be Bob Dylan, I’m not too bothered that I didn’t get the likeness 100%. I’m just starting off with my portrait painting. I’m happy enough with my watercolour technique, the shadowing on the face could be better; not so stressed, I’m learning after all. I consider myself to be a student, I will study and practice for a few more years. Then I have no idea what will happen, I have no master plan. 🙂

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David Meldrum figure drawing My Life Drawing Nudes

Tuesday’s life drawing session

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm.

Sketch, sketch, sketch, sketch, sketch and sketch. There is no short-cut to self-improvement. One has to put in the hours, it is fortunate that I am enjoying myself immensely trying to reach this illusive higher plane.
(More sketches can be found under, “My Life Drawing 2013 (Kroki)”)

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David Meldrum Lunch Sketch Neil Young Portrait Sketch

Neil Young Portrait

Neil Young by David Meldrum
Neil Young 20130219 (Pencil on 200g watercolour paper)

This started out as a watercolour portrait of Neil Young but I just could not stop putting down strokes with my pencil. I spent four lunch breaks doing this, thats about 2 hours work in total I guess.