Two sketches from my Moleskin watercolour journal (not cotton paper and it shows). I plan to develop and paint these during the week.
Click image below for full sized watercolour
Sketches of Stockholm
Category: Stockholm
The town hall revisited
Ok, so I’m getting better at posting on my blog! … At least that is the way it feels. I’ll try my best to be this good all year long if I can. I feel good when I publish a drawing or a watercolour online, it means that the project is finished and it is time to move on to the next one.
This watercolour is from a photograph I took during the summer months, I’m pleased with it, some more contrasts maybe but I’m fine with it. It looks better in reality, it is so hard to capture a watercolour with an iPhone when it has subtle shades.
Title: The view from Central Bridge, 37 x 26 cm
Click the thumbnail below to see the watercolour in a larger format.
Impressions from the Stockholm archipelago
I just spent two weeks sailing here in Stockholm. The weather was not the best, I had to use mittens at one point while painting. There was a storm, lots of wind and rain but I still enjoyed myself anyway. It’s hard to beat the beauty of the archipelago. I plan to spend more time painting there next year, I am looking forward to it already.
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| The outer archipelago 39 x 29 cm Arches Rough |
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| The Stockholm Archipelago 39 x 29 cm Arches Rough |
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| The Stockholm Archipelago 39 x 29 cm Arches Rough |
Weekend sketch
We are not having the best of summers here in Sweden this year. Last week was great though and I took full advantage of it at the weekend. I set up a hammock by the water’s edge and lay there looking at all the boats going by. I live quite close to the city centre so the traffic on the water is intense at this time of year. I later did this watercolour in my sketchbook, I’m happy with it although I wish I had access to better watercolour sketchbooks than Moleskin, I like Arches Rough and so I always find it disappointing when I use the Moleskin. Still, it’s a sketchbook and it will do fine until it’s finished, I will use small Arches blocks in future. If anyone knows of good watercolour sketchbook, please let me know.
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| Sketchbook painting of Waldermarsudde, Stockholm. |
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| Waldermarsudde |
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| First wash |
Sketching in the archipelago ( 20140717 – 18 )
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| Sketching in the archipelago ( 20140717 ) |
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| Sketching in the archipelago ( 20140717 ) |
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| Sketching in the archipelago ( 20140718 ) |
Watercolours in the Stockholm archipelago ( 20140714 )
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| Stockholm archipelago ( 20140714 ) |
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| Stockholm archipelago ( 20140714 ) |
Kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago ( 20140712 )
I spent ten wonderful days kayaking in the archipelago. No hot water to wash but plenty of opportunities to sketch and paint. It was a great holiday.
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| Stockholm archipelago 20140712 |
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| Stockholm archipelago 20140712 |
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| Stockholm archipelago 20140712 |
Sketching classic cars
Today I travelled from Söder in Stockholm on a 1938 Scania – Vabis nicknamed the “Bulldog”. Our destination was the “Gärdesloppet”, a large gathering of old vehicles held once a year. I had a fun day, I’m not mad about cars but I enjoyed seeing grown men’s faces light up with joy at the sight of an over-powdered American Cadillac. I spent a lot of time on the “Bulldog” touring around town on a beautiful sunny day.
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| A4 pencil sketch |
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| A5 pencil sketch |
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| A5 pencil sketch |
Karl Mårtens – A Quest For The Unexpected
I bought this wonderful book by Karl Mårtens at, Konst & Folk Gallery. I really like karl’s approach to watercolouring, a mixture of Zen Buddhism, Scandinavian simplicity, Japanese calligraphy and natural artistic talent. I had a look around on the internet and have not found it so you’ll need to visit the gallery if you want to buy it.
Visit Karl Mårtens website here.
The Gallery address is:
Konst och Folk
Hornsgatan 32-34,
11820 Stockholm
Tel: +46 8 644 60 60
Email: galleriet@konstochfolk.se
http://www.konstochfolk.se/