Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Two steps forward...

...and one backwards. The last week has been a bit of a backward step for me. Seven days ago, I thought I had mastered it, watercolouring. I was silly of course to think this way. I was painfully reminded that I am in fact a student of art. My last four watercolours have been flops, very frustrating. This quick watercolour below, which I painted this evening may mean that I am starting to move in a forward direction again. What a relief if this is the case, but then again, I haven't started my next watecolour yet, so we will see.

Moleskin watercolour notebook, 13 x 20.5 cm.

Sketching in Stockholm

Once a month a small group of sketchers and I meet and have great fun doing what we enjoy most - having coffee!

Långholmen, Stockholm, 20130825 by David Meldrum
Långholmen, Stockholm, 20130825

Långholmen, Stockholm, 20130825 by David Meldrum
Långholmen, Stockholm, 20130825

Monday, August 19, 2013

Monday's naked hand

I gave this hand two washes and then stopped, I was planning to add a few more but realised that I was happy with it after two. It is interesting when one gets the message to stop. Sometimes, it comes too late of course.

Moleskin watercolour notebook, 9 x 14 cm.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Porn?

Firstly, I would just like to say that I am very happy with the execution of this painting. It was the first time I used 100% cotton paper (Arches Rough, 300gsm),  and wow, what a difference it makes. It is so much easier to paint on high quality paper.
The only problem I have with this painting is the subject matter. Why is it that a naked person who looks you in the eye, feel pornographic? Why do naked models who look away from you or have their eyes closed feel like classic art nudes? I have a problem with this, Lucian Freud did not but then again, he was not exactly glamorising his subjects either. The next nude I paint will have a cloth over her head, let's see how that feels!
I paint, I learn and I paint some more...

Autumn, watercolour nude by David Meldrum
Autumn, 38 x 76cm / 15 x 22"

Friday, August 16, 2013

Two naked hands

I managed to draw and paint two hands during my lunch break today. I'm quite happy with them, it's difficult to paint on such a small format. I feel that my watercolouring skills are improving, this feels very rewarding.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Introducing The Naked Hand

I try and do a sketch or a painting during my lunch break at work as often as possible. I really would like to practice my figure painting but having pictures of naked people on my computer screen is a bit of a sensitive issue to say the least. So, I have found the solution - hands! Yes, naked hands! Nude hands! It's genius, I can practice my watercolour skin tones and hand drawing at the same time. Only I see the naked truth.

The Naked Hand watercolour by David Meldrum
The Naked Hand (24x32cm, Canson 200 g/m2)

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Watercolour sketches from Corfu

I had big plans to do a whole bunch of watercolours on my sailing trip. In reality it was almost impossible to concentrate for any length of time in the 35-36 degrees of heat. Still, I had a wonderful holiday and my batteries are charged. The sketches are A5 in size approximately.

Corfu watercolour sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu watercolour sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu watercolour sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu watercolour sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu watercolour sketch by David Meldrum
Reversed perspective. ( It felt right at the time! )

Home from Corfu

Here are a few more A5 pencil sketches from my holiday sailing around Corfu. The sketch book was a present from my son. :)

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Corfu pencil sketch by David Meldrum

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Sailing around Corfu





I have been sailing around Corfu for the last week. 35 degrees, almost too hot to do anything, even sketch. ;)