Tag: Life drawing

  • I wish my watercolour nudes were better than they are.

    I wish my watercolour nudes were better than they are.

    I’ll be honest. Nudes are difficult. Shading human skin in watercolour must be one of the hardest skills to achieve. It feels that way at least. Luckily, I love just trying and trying, … and trying to master it. One day, maybe – maybe not.
    I gave this one a good go, I did my best. It’s not fun admitting to oneself that one has a long way to go before mastering a watercolour nude.

    To see a larger image please click the thumbnail below

    Nude with roses
    Nude with roses

  • In watercolour it’s okay to say, let it bleed

    In watercolour it’s okay to say, let it bleed

    I am looking for a softer approach to my painting and so I am testing different techniques. In this nude study the paper was very wet when I applied the watercolour pigment. The fact it spread like crazy is exactly why I love this medium.

  • Something I haven’t done for a while, a pencil sketch.

    Something I haven’t done for a while, a pencil sketch.

    It seems crazy but I haven’t been to a life drawing class since Covid broke out last year. I run my own life drawing classes but as most of you who regularly visit this site know, I never have time to sketch. There are exceptions, last week being one, the whole evening ran smoothly and so by the time the longer 5 minute poses came along I felt relaxed and so I managed a few sketches. I’m only showing this one, I’m definitely rusty.

  • I am painting a lot of nudes at the moment

    I am painting a lot of nudes at the moment

    Why a sudden interest in painting nudes David? I guess it’s because it’s where I’m at at the moment. I am running my life drawing classes and I feel inspired because it is now and in the present. Landscapes have to wait, it’s too cold outside and I find little inspiration from my reference photos. I would love to paint outdoors even when it’s minus degrees but I’m not 100% fit so it’s not a good idea right now, the long winters here don’t agree with me. So it’s nudes at the moment. I hope you don’t mind.

    To view a larger image, click the thumbnail below.

    Watercolour Nude
    Watercolour Nude
  • I don’t paint male nudes so often

    I don’t paint male nudes so often

    It’s true, I don’t paint male models as much as female ones. It’s just a preference. I enjoy the female form more, I like to draw the curves, a sketch is soft and smooth. Male models are more angular, more shapes and bumps to capture. Difficult when you only have a few minutes to capture the pose. Nothing wrong with male models, it’s just my preference.

    Click the thumbnail to view full-sized image.

    Male nude
    Male nude

  • This watercolour is disturbing

    This watercolour is disturbing

    I am the first to admit, I made her too skinny. I like the pose and the lighting though. I should try again.

    Click the thumbnail below to see a larger image.

    Starved nude
    Starved nude
  • I am sometimes desperate to paint a naked model

    I am sometimes desperate to paint a naked model

    Every Thursday I run my own life drawing class here in Stockholm and this means I need to create a drawing or a watercolour to help publicise the event. So yes, some weeks I am quite desperate to paint a model. Deadlines, deadlines – even artists stress sometimes.
    My life drawing is streamed live because of the pandemic. If you would like to join please go to this page: https://www.meldrum.se/lifedrawing/

    Please click the thumbnail below to see the full-sized image.

    Nude
    Nude
  • I run a life drawing class but I never sketch.

    I run a life drawing class but I never sketch.

    It’s true, I rarely sketch nudes these days which is ironic as I run a life drawing class every Thursday even during the pandemic. My problem is that I don’t have time to go to other life drawing classes and right now I don’t actually want to physically be in a classroom anyway. This is why I stream my own life drawing classes. It means extra work for me as a host so sketching has had to take a back seat.
    I’m not complaining too much. I get a lot enjoyment out of running my class and I can sketch nudes anytime using photo resources that I have bought throughout the years. Actually, I think I am just making excuses. There is nothing preventing me from sketching or painting watercolour nudes, it’s up to me, I decide.

    Please click the thumbnail below if you would like to see the full-sized image.

    Meldrum nude
    Meldrum nude