I cycled into Stockholm and painted a view of Riddarholmen for this demonstration. The day turned out to be quite a challenge because of rain showers that frustrating me. In the end I returned home, I finished the watercolour the next day and was very happy with the result. A nice little painting that can be seen from start to finish on YouTube.
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Tag: plein air
Last sketch from Åland
This was the last sketch from our month-long sailing trip to Finland and Åland. I finished the painting yesterday but I actually painted most of it at Fiskö, on the 25th of July. I really miss being out sailing, it’s not as much fun sitting here in my Studio.
I actually am going to make a break for it tomorrow morning! I am going to camp on an island that I have been wanting to sketch for years. I’ll tell you more about that in a later post.
Creating drama out of nothing
I was feeling unwell yesterday evening – but the day was beautiful and the Åland archipelago was so wonderful, I just had to paint it.
There was nothing going on, the evening was still and we had found a safe mooring for the night. I painted what was in front of me, it was lacking something so i added the figures. Now it is up to you to tell the story, I haven’t a clue, I’m just an artist 😉
Heading home
Yesterday evening we were in Fiskö, east of Åland in the Baltic sea. This morning we turned around and started our long journey home to Stockholm. We are cruising, so we still have nearly a week left to enjoy this beautiful archipelago and Stockholm’s too.
This watercolour was painted yesterday evening while the sun was slowly setting in the harbour at Fiskö. The fishing boat hasn’t moved for years, I’d guess about 20 or even more but I chose to add a fisherman to make the scene more alive. I finished the last 10% of the painting this morning, no better way to start the day than with a strong coffee in one hand and a sable brush in the other.
Title: Fisherman in Fiskö, 36 x 26 cm
Watercolours from my trip to the Costa Brava, Spain.
I had an amazing week staying mainly in the town of Calella but I also visited, Pals, Cadaqués and Girona.
Here are my watercolours from the trip. The great thing about painting outdoors for a week it that you gain such a connection with the landscape you are in. A photograph is only ever an image.
One of the many beaches in Calella 
Llfranc watercolour sketch 
First sketches from Calella 
A sketch from the medieval town of Pals 
A study of a tree in Cadaqués 
Cadaqués 
Waves in Calella 
A study from Calella 
Calella sea view 
The rocks of Calella
Photographs from my visit to the Costa Brava.
It was wonderful to meet Angela Barbi while I was in Spain. I drove to Girona and spent the day there, the weather wasn’t so great but meeting Angela for lunch filled the day with sunshine anyway.
For those of you who don’t know Angela is, she organises watercolour courses with some of the best watercolour artists in the world. I can warmly recommend a week in Girona learning from a master. I spent a week in 2016 with Chien Chung-Wei.
https://epc-artcourses.com/
Here are some photographs from my trip. I slept in a tent in the Moby Dick Caravan Park which is very close to the centre of Calella. I camp for two reasons, it’s cheap and I enjoy it. It also means I can afford to rent a car and zip around the Costa Brava.
Watercolours from Cadaqués 
Looking out to see at Calella 
Painting in Pals 
First sketches at Calella 
The beach in Llfranc 
Sketching in Calella 
My film gear 
I like to camp while on a sketching holiday. 
I use my field easel as a table 
Camping life
What’s in my Sketch Bag?
In this video I show you the contents of my sketching bag. It amazes me how much I actually squeeze into such a small space, I don’t need everything and you don’t either. It’s best to be prepared for all eventualities though, that’s my philosophy. I hope you find this video informative.
