I was very ill last week and I’m still recovering. The most frustrating thing about not being well is the inability to paint. It was a wonderful feeling therefore to do some portrait practice yesterday evening, it means I am feeling better and soon everything will be back to normal.
This young girl uploaded her pouting face onto Sktchy App which is a great photo resource for portrait artists, the only negative is that everyone seems to pout their lips when they take selfies of themselves. A sign of the times.
Saunders Waterford Sketchbook, 28 X 38 cm
Tag: Watercolour
National Watercolour Exhibition – Edsvik
I was very happy to have one of my paintings excepted into the annual National Watercolour Exhibition at the Edsvik Art Gallery. The watercolour is entitled, Västan – which is the name of the Stockholm ferry featured.
It’s interesting for me as this watercolour is two years old and as I am still developing as an artist it is very much from my past. It has a strong composition which is good but my technical skills have improved a lot since 2017. Another interesting fact is that this painting was exhibited at The Salamanca ECWS exhibition of 2017. I was so proud that I was chosen to represent Sweden in this European watercolour event.
Practicing for my first workshop
2019.03.05
I painted this sketch yesterday, I just wanted to practice so that I feel comfortable with the subject. I also wondered what the composition would feel like with one of the sailing boat’s masts tilted by a small gust of wind as it rounded the island. I like it, much more dynamic, so I will go with this when I paint the demonstration version this Saturday.
Many people want to be in the workshop which is great considering I advertised it so late last week. Still a few places left if you are interested! 🙂
The sketch is about A5 in size and painted on Saunders Waterford paper.
Just practising
2019.02.16
I am getting better at just sketching for fun. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to improve which is good but at the same time I know it’s not recommended to be deadly serious all the time. So, yesterday I had some fun. It’s fun having fun. Sounds like I am trying to persuade myself that relaxing is a good thing.
Become a Patron!The Giant’s Causeway [ Ep.7 ]
![The Giant’s Causeway [ Ep.7 ]](https://i1.wp.com/www.meldrum.se/meldrum_wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DSCN2351-edited-lowres.jpg?fit=1200%2C791&ssl=1)
The subject of this watercolour demonstration is The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Last May I arrived there at sunrise and was excited to use my drone to film for the very first time.
Later, back in Stockholm I really enjoyed painting the scene I chose and I hope you enjoy watching it too. As I paint I explain my thought process and how I approach each stage of the watercolour.
The film is longer than my previous videos, this is because I want to show the full process and not to be frustrated trying to squeeze it all into a typical 20 minute YouTube film. Let me know what you think, I always welcome critical feedback that helps to improve my watercolour demonstrations.
I hope you find this watercolour demonstration educational and a little inspiring.
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Painting watercolours at the Maritime Museum again.
Sjöhistoriska 2019.02.06
I am totally enjoying going to the Maritime Museum (Sjöhistoriska) here in Stockholm. I was there two weeks ago but I just had to come back. So yesterday I spent the whole day there together with a fellow sketching friend.
These watercolours are sketched on Saunders Waterford paper. It’s so good to just paint all day, I learn so much by playing around and experimenting. I think it is so important to test new techniques and try things that are a little scary. No one likes to fail but one should accept that one learns through mistakes. I make lots of mistakes!
Importance of a preliminary watercolour sketch
Sketchbook 2019.01.04
I am preparing to film my latest watercolour demonstration which features the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This watercolour ( is the third and final sketch that I have done. I have reference photographs but I need to translate those images into a watercolour that is emotive and therefore interesting. I think I am nearly there, I will be using a half sheet of Saunders Waterford paper for the final painting it will have a widescreen 16:9 format, wider in other words.
Keep an eye out for my new episode of Meldrum Watercolour Journeys on YouTube, it should be ready by the end of the week. Cheers!
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The Giant’s Causeway
Good days and bad ones.
2019.01.27
Yesterday, I went to life drawing and I couldn’t paint to save my life. Today, I couldn’t put a brush stroke wrong, an over exaggeration maybe but it certainly felt so. What a difference a day makes.
I continue to practice my portraits as often as i can. This one I did this morning before meeting my Urban Sketcher friends at the The Maritime Museum here in Stockholm.
Painted on Saunders Waterford Fine Grain.
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Watercolour portrait
2019.01.22
I am still practising my watercolour portrait painting techniques. This one took me a day to complete and I’m happy with it. It’s not perfect of course, not as far as I am concerned anyway.
I should be editing a film for YouTube, I will have to force myself from doing more portraits until I’ve completed the editing. The next Watercolour Journey episode by the way is from the Gaint’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
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