Two lunchtime watercolours from December

I had a great Christmas with my family and friends, unfortunately I still haven't mastered handling the stress of everything that has to be done before the holidays. It's one of the busiest times of the year for me work-wise. If I was clever I'd buy all the presents and write all the Christmas cards the month before, but I'm not that smart.
So, I did not paint as much as I'd have liked in December but still my lunchtime watercolour effort is helping me produce more work than ever before. The more I paint, the better I become which of course feels good. Next year, I will paint more often and I'll paint larger formats too. One of my sons is studying abroad in the New Year so now I have a studio space at home until he comes back in the summer. I guess it won't be long before he flies the nest completely, sad, but I gain a studio.

Happy New Year! :)

Lunchtime watercolour 20141209. Fabriano rough, 300g, 23 x 30.5cm

Lunchtime watercolour 20141218. Fabriano rough, 300g, 30.5 x 23cm

Happy mother in law

My mother in law lives in a beautiful house only metres from the sea in Brittany,  north-west France.  It gives me great pleasure knowing that my painting of her home makes her so happy.

Last life drawing for 2014

These sketches were done at Konstnärshuset last Tuesday, 201412009

Five minute nude

Ten minute nude

Five minute nude

I could do some nudes at Basis here in Stockholm this Saturday but I just have to focus on the Christmas monster that I have been ignoring. Presents have to be bought and cards have to be sent, you know the drill. Looking forward to next year's life drawing already.

Two hour pose

Last Sunday I spent two hours painting this portrait of a male nude. I didn't quite capture the likeness very well but I'm happy with the end result anyway. The picture is about A3 in size and on Fabriano Rough 300g paper.

A lunch time watercolour

I was so busy last week, I didn't have a chance to take a photo of this until today. Actually there was 5 - 10 minutes sun here in Stockholm today! We have very flat, grey, overcast skies here most of November and December, difficult to copy ones art, depressing too.
Even though I'm busy at work I still try and do a watercolour each lunchtime, nothing last week but I should get a few done this coming week. Something to look forward to in this gloomy Nordic darkness. I used two photographs as reference.

Stockholm archipelago. Fabriano GF 30.5 x 23 cm

Saturday's life drawing

Life drawing at Basis, Stockholm, 20141207

Finding it hard getting enthusiastic about my life drawing this week, I should take a break maybe. No, I'll carry on anyway, in the long run I know I'm improving with all this practice, one sketch at a time, one sketch at a time...

Tuesday's life drawing

Life drawing at Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, 20141202

I was tired and found it hard to get into the groove. The model, who was young and pretty did not inspire me, no dynamics, she lacked energy in her posing. I can't blame her, it was I who was at fault, I just wasn't in the mood. Managed a few half decent sketches all the same.

New sketch gallery page

I used to have a flickr page for my sketches but I suddenly couldn't login to the account any more. Frustrated and annoyed, I created a tumblr site instead. So if you'd like to see my latest sketches from my notebooks, visit here.

A5 Fabriano sketch paper

A5 Fabriano sketch paper

A5 Fabriano sketch paper