Tag: watercolor

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Is anything better than nothing?

Sketch of Svartlöga
Sketch of Svartlöga

I am going through a period were my time for art is limited, I have to work as a webmaster for 6 weeks during July and August. I know that in order to be a good artist I have to practice everyday which is basically not easy.
So, is painting for the sake of painting a good idea? This sketch which took 2 hours over two days is a case in point. It’s not a masterpiece but I feel at least I have painted something; I have learned a little, a small step – …on the lonely road to mastering watercolour.

This sketch was painted in a Moleskin watercolour journal 29 x 21 cm, the paper is not cotton but I like the challenge of its inferior qualities.

Click the image below for larger view.

Sketch of Svartlöga
Sketch of Svartlöga

 

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

My last watercolour of Paimpol

Boat yard - Paimpol, Brittany
Boat yard - Paimpol, Brittany

This is not true of course, I will be painting many watercolours of Paimpol and Brittany in the Future. It saddens me that it will be a while before I return. I have taken lots of photographs so I will be painting the town and it’s surrounding area during the winter months.
It took me a while to learn that artists mostly sketch and take photos during the summer months, then they work on their studio pieces during the dark winter months.
Painted in my Saunders Waterford fine grain 300g 18 x 29 cm watercolour sketchbook.

Click image below to view full size.

Boat yard - Paimpol, Brittany
Boat yard – Paimpol, Brittany
Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Paimpol harbour

Shops at Paimpol harbour
Shops at Paimpol harbour

I left France ten days ago, I miss Brittany, it’s such a beautiful place and I get to paint every day! This watercolour is from my 18 x 29 Saunders Waterford sketchbook. I completed it yesterday, I added the high contrasts and the detailing, it brought me right back to Paimpol, the restaurants, the cafés and the harbour area.

View larger image below

Shops at Paimpol harbour
Shops at Paimpol harbour

 

Categories
David Meldrum Sketch Watercolour

Capturing the light

Paimpol street
Paimpol street

I think capturing the light is the hardest skill to achieve in painting. I have been studying composition and tonal values during the last year, it is through the careful balance of tones that one achieves light. It’s really hard to master but I’m having fun trying. This watercolour was painted plein air a few days ago.

Click the image below to view larger version

Paimpol street
Paimpol street

 

 

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Great view

Paimpol town
Paimpol town

My Mother in law’s house is by the sea, it is a beautiful place. The view from the garden is panoramic, here I chose to paint the view of Paimpol town which is a few kilometres across the tidal bay. I actually painted this on the very first day of the visit (2017o619) but have only it published now.
Painted on Arches rough 300g, quarter arch in size.

Click thumbnail to see larger image.

Paimpol town
Paimpol town
Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Paimpol harbour

Paimpol harbour
Paimpol harbour

I painted this boat last year and now again in 2017, it’s form is cute. Not sure if it has been discarded as it lies next to the graveyard of old wooden boats just outside the harbour. I have been coming to Paimpol every year for ten years and I paint the boats that are no longer loved, they are returning slowly to the sea.
Saunders Waterford fine grain watercolour sketchbook 300g 19 x 28 cm.

Click on the image below for full sized picture

Paimpol harbour
Paimpol harbour

 

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Ploumanach

Ploumanach
Ploumanach

Have you ever been to Ploumanach? Giant pink granite boulders by the sea that make people look very small. Nature is king indeed.

Saunders Waterford fine grain sketchbook 300g 19 x 28 cm.

Click on the image below for full sized picture

Ploumanach
Ploumanach

 

Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Train Journey 

Train view between Paris and Rennes
Train view

Last week, my wife and two artist friends Lars and Inger travelled to Paimpol in Brittany. It was a long trip, 11 hours in total. To pass the time I painted a watercolour looking out of the train window between Paris and Rennes. The wheat fields outside Paris remind me of the Stockholm archipelago – there are islands of trees as far as the eye can see, there is no water but a sea of wheat.
Saunders Waterford fine grain sketchbook 300g 19 x 28 cm.

Click image below for full-size image.

Train view between Paris and Rennes
Train view


Categories
Sketch Watercolour

Kungsträdgården – The King’s Garden

Tehuset Kungsträgården by David Meöldrum
Tehuset Kungsträgården

I met up with some friends yesterday at Kungsträdgården and painted this sketch of people enjoying a coffee at Tehuset, a café in the park. It was a beautiful afternoon and we had a long chat afterwards, we talked about techniques, our ambitions and what plans we had for the summer, a lovely day.

My sketch was painted on Arches Rough,  31 x 23cm.  I will return and paint this scene again. I feel I went too dark, I like contrast but I went too far.  – But yes, it’s just a sketch.
Click image below to view larger version

Tehuset Kungsträgården by David Meöldrum
Tehuset Kungsträgården