Grid drawing

This is a portrait of Swedish trotting catch driver called Björn Goop. I used a grid to help me get the proportions correct. It was really easy to draw his likeness in this manner, it almost felt like cheating! ;)

Björn Goop grid

Björn Goop

Lars Lerin

I was reading Lars Lerin's book, "Mellan husen" last night. It's a collection of his work from the time he was living in Lofoten. I couldn't resist trying to do his portrait. It's close but something is missing.

Sketch of Lars Lerin

Imperfect portrait

I look at my portrait of Anders Zorn and wish I spent more time trying to capture his likeness. At the same time I am happy with the painting. I completed it during two of my lunch breaks. The clock was against me, it wasn't perfect from the start but I pushed on regardless, my goal was to paint and learn, which I did.

Life drawing has thought me not to get hung up on details, just draw and never pause for thought until the bell goes pling! Some day I will have time to paint and I hope by then I'll have mastered watercolouring enough to excel at it. Until then, I practice. Time permitting.

Anders Zorn

Self-portrait

I don't recognize myself but others do ...

I recognize myself but others do not.

I was using a mirror for my self-portrait. I discovered that no one I showed it to recognized me. They do not see a mirror image of course. I never thought about it until now, if I ever hang this painting on a wall, it will have to be close to a mirror!

Painting in the studio

Here you can see the original painting in progress, little did I know at that point that the portrait was flipped and therefore not me.

More Bacon

I could not let it go, I had to have another try. This was a quick sketch were I focused on the shapes of the face and not the details.

Francis Bacon

Not a very crispy Bacon

I scrubbed so much at this portrait, so it lacks magic, when will I ever learn, let the watercolour to do the work! Frustrating, but at the same time I learned a lot. Trying to do as many portraits as I can right now, I'm missing something, they are not like their owners. I hope by doing many, something will click and a light bulb will turn on.

Francis Bacon 23 x 30,5 cm, Fabriano fine grain - cold pressed 300g

Portrait practice

Not much to say about this portrait really, a beautiful face that I found while surfing the internet which in turn compelled me to draw. So I say thank you to however you are, you are an inspiration.

A4 Portrait.

Portraits are hard to do

This is my second attempt at capturing Egon Schiele's likeness. I knew shortly after starting that it would not be like him but I continued anyway practising my pencil shading. You may notice that my pencil technique changed a little if you compare the top of the illustration with the bottom. That's because I watched a YouTube demonstration video on how to shade half way through the portrait (see below).

Egon Schiele - not!

Useful watercolour portrait videos by Michael Holter.

I stumbled over these videos while searching the internet. I was looking for inspirational figure painting and portraiture in watercolour. Michael Holter is very similar to Ted Nutall. I hope my style matures to be more free and loose. Saying that there is a lot to learn from Michael and Ted and their approach to portraiture in watercolour.

Dear Charles,

"Dear Charles Reid, sorry for painting you in such a way that you look like you just survived a bar fight."

Yes, too much red but I still enjoyed this lunch time watercolour. I used Arches 300g NOT paper, 18 x 26 cm.

Charles Reid - Watercolour Artist and Teacher

Lunch time portrait of Frida

As usual, I'm not totally happy with my effort but I'm not totally disappointed either. I spent three half-hour lunch breaks painting her in total. Painted on Fabriano 50% Cotton paper, 23x30cm.

...After thought:
Looking at the portrait again the day after, I have to admit that I am happy with the result. I should not really comment on my work until at least 24hrs have passed.

Frida Kahlo de Rivera - 20140128

Portrait of Leonard Cohen

I took my time with this portrait, working on it several times during the last week.

Leonard Cohen portrait on A3 paper, coloured pencils.

Thursday's figure painting

After one hour this painting was going real well. The pencil drawing was fine and the first watercolour wash felt good.

Then, for the last hour of the session I painted layer upon layer of bad decisions. By the end of the session I was totally frustrated at my limited technique. So I scrubbed a lot of the pigment from the model's face, dropped it into my carrying case and went home grumpier than a newly-woken bear.

When I got home, I took a large black pencil to the painting and what you see below is the result. I'm actually happy with it, but I still wish I could paint better, then I wouldn't have to use a pencil to rescue the portrait.

Male Nude 20130411

A quick portrait

A quick portrait I did during two lunch breaks last week. I didn't get the likeness but it's not so important to me, my focus is on technique right now...

Watercolour doodle

I painted this quickly last Friday during my lunch break. I want to improve my technique, so I practice as often as I can.



Watercolour doodle, 20130308 (A4 paper)

Portrait painting is difficult too

This little attempt to capture Tom Waits was relatively successful I think. I've got a few levels to climb as far as execution is concerned but I'm happy enough with the painting.
I choose famous people because it is a good way to see if I have succeeded in capturing a likeness or not. I just ask people close to me, "Do you recognise this person?".
I've started a portrait page on this blog, I've added a tab above.

Bob's Brother

Bob's Brother

This was meant to be Bob Dylan, I'm not too bothered that I didn't get the likeness 100%. I'm just starting off with my portrait painting. I'm happy enough with my watercolour technique, the shadowing on the face could be better; not so stressed, I'm learning after all. I consider myself to be a student, I will study and practice for a few more years. Then I have no idea what will happen, I have no master plan. :)

Neil Young Portrait

Neil Young 20130219 (Pencil on 200g watercolour paper)

This started out as a watercolour portrait of Neil Young but I just could not stop putting down strokes with my pencil. I spent four lunch breaks doing this, thats about 2 hours work in total I guess.

90 minute portrait

Venue: The Academy of Realistic Art, Stockholm

I'm happy with this portrait, I feel that I am starting to reap the benifits of all those life drawing sessions - my art is becoming more fluid. Thursday's life drawing session was 2 hours long in total but in reality, with all the breaks, we had 90 minutes to complete our work.

Original size:  508 x 406 mm,  watercolour paper 300g.

Portrait painting

Today I did some portrait painting at Folkkulturcentrum, in Ropsten, Stockholm. There were four, half hour poses. I was very happy with two of my sketches. It was the first time I was at Folkkulturcentrum, I enjoyed the atmosphere so I'm sure I'll be back some time soon.

30 minute portrait 

30 minute portrait