meldrum art
I am currently editing my latest “Painting Outdoors” video and it should be ready in the coming days I hope. I spend far too many hours in front of the computer screen so it’s really important to take breaks. And being a watercolour artist the natural thing for me to do is to paint a sketch while out getting some fresh air. These two watercolours are local views of Djurgården and Danvikshem, both are just a short walk from my where I live.
The autumn is here, the days are getting shorter, I take lunchtime walks to get as much light as I possibly can. It’s that time of the year when it’s totally natural to spend more time in the studio. I have sketched all summer and I feel I have improved a great deal due to all the practice. In a way I am looking forward to the winter, I want to see if I have really developed – painting larger studio watercolours is a great test of this. I do not want to stop sketching, I will do this too but less during the winter months.
And so, here is my latest sketch after saying all that. I sometimes drive to Hellasgården which is close by for one of my lunchtime walks. I take myself around the lake and it relaxes me from the day’s stress. There is a small island called “Lilla holmen” which means little island funny enough. I decided to try and paint it, insanely difficult to capture on paper and even harder to make it interesting. This is how I improve though, I am forever putting myself in these uncomfortable situations, I enjoy it.
Lilla holmen, Hellasgården 13 x 17.5 cm
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Last weekend I met my life drawing friends. We’ve known each other for years so it has been tough not meeting them due to the pandemic. It was incredibly nice to meet finally, we sketched a little, I chose to paint the Vasa museum, a must see if you ever visit Stockholm. The high point of yesterday was not the sketching really but the coffee afterwards and the hours of happy chatting with the autumn sometimes reminding us it was on it’s way. Later in the evening I finished the sketch. I am experimenting more, it’s a lot of fun. 13 x 17.5 cm
If you would like to see my latest video click this link: https://youtu.be/h00hf9xXV7o
Sketching watercolours while cruising Ep23
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I was in my studio at home when workmen started drilling into the outer wall of the apartment. After 15 minutes of painful noise I gave up grabbed my sketch bag and jumped into the van. It was grey and wet but I told myself to go to the local waterfront (Nacka Strand) to paint a watercolour sketch. A plain white ferry contrasted wonderfully against the greyness of the sky and sea. This was enough to inspire me and I am happy with the result – a simple composition that captured the day pretty well. 13 x 17.5 cm
If you would like to see my latest video click this link: Sketching watercolours while cruising Ep23
Click the thumbnail below to see a full sized image of the featured watercolour.
I painted this sketch from my van down by the water close to where I live. If I ignore all the scrubbing and scratching I think it has a nice feeling to it. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the composition, maybe it’s the sunny vibe or the girl looking out to sea. I would like to develop it further, do a studio version during the winter months when the warmth and the sunshine from the watercolour will be most welcome.
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I was sitting outside in the cockpit of our boat, the weather was grey, the light flat. There was nothing that inspired me. So this watercolour sketch is just a figment of my imagination, maybe it was our own boat that inspired me to paint the orange sky. Maybe.
We sail an archipelago sailing boat hand built in 1975 by the previous owner. It’s called a Svea Kryssare and it’s 11.04 x 2.44 metres – narrow and tall. We were very honoured to take over the vessel and we now give Aquarelle all the love it deserves.
This turned out to be my last sketch of the month long sailing holiday. It was eventful, very testing at times but great too, the boat behaved so well in the strong winds that were roughing us for most of the journey.
I wasn’t able to publish all the time when I was sailing in the archipelago due to bad internet or strong winds making it difficult to find time for publishing. So I have a little catching up to do here on my website. I will therefore publish several watercolour sketches today.
I am really enjoying sketching compared to studio art at the moment. There is no pressure, I just focus on what is in front of me and I try to capture it.
17.5 x 13 cm
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I painted this as the the day came to an end, we had found a safe place for the night in Ålöfladen, south of Utö on the 10th of July. I had no high expectation, just started painting, a boat in the calm. I had to use my gas burner to dry it, the evening had become humid. I was and still am very pleased with the result, I find it has a calming affect on me.
I still feel so lucky to be able to enjoy nature as I do. The view from Nedergårdsö. 9th of July, 13 x 17.5cm