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
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
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 🙂

Categories
Watercolour

Stockholm

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
Categories
David Meldrum Watercolour

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

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

 

Categories
Video Watercolour

Stretching watercolour paper

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