This blog is moving to www.meldrum.se

Yes, this blog is moving to www.meldrum.se
I've grown tired of Blogger.com and the non-commitment of Google to support it.
I have therefore switched to Wordpress as my blogging tool of choice and installed it on my domain, www.meldrum.se

It will take a number of weeks before I have re-linked some images that didn't make it in the transfer. Once this is complete I will redirect Blogger traffic to www.meldrum.se

If all goes well you won't notice much of a change. I value all of you who vist this site, I hope to regain an enthusiasm for blogging once again. Thank you for your support! :)

Plein air watercolour at Nybrokajen, central Stockholm. 2016 08 01

Another ferry.

This Stockholm ferry I painted plein air at Nybroplan, where many of the boats stop to drop off and pick up passengers. 

 

 

The view from Carlingford

50 x 32,5 cm Arches rough 300g 

Carlingford, Ireland. The view of the north shore, Northern Ireland.

 

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland may not be the best place on the planet for compassion for other beliefs or cultures but they do have beautiful coastlines thankfully. This sketch was painted in a new sketchbook that has Saunders 300g, I think it's bound by the art store where I bought it. I really like it. :)

 

A lunchtime watercolour

I have gotten out of the habit of blogging, I have to admit I am more focused on just painting. Google doesn't seem to support Blogger anymore so I'm thinking of moving to Wordpress in the future. I would like to post more, just spontaneously putting things on the blog. Google doesn't have an app for Blogger anymore on iPhones, that's sad. 

The painting of Swedish summer  was started during a lunch break and finished in the evening.

 

 

Opening day at Edsvik

I had a wonderful day at Edsvik's watercolour exhibition where I have two paintings on view. I met a lot of new watercolourists plus a few heroes which was nice. The exhibition continues until the 28th August.

Standing in front of  my painting called "If"

This one is called "Japanese vases"

Introducing myself and telling the crowd where my paintings are hanging.

At least one person admired my work!

Still waters

Like this watercolour, I have been quiet these last few weeks. I've been busy with other things, life hasn't put enough hours into each day. I seem to be going through a bit of a grey period. All my watercolours have a desaturated look all of a sudden. I don't mind, it's just a period in my life.

Sailing to Sandhamn 50 x 32 cm - Arches rough 300g W&N watercolours

Sandhamn during winter

Sandhamn during winter. 50 x 32 cm

This was the last picture I framed for my exhibition. I'm not quite sure why I don't like it as much as other recent paintings. Too dark maybe or the composition is too rigid. It will be interesting to see what visitors to the gallery think.

Two watercolours accepted

I just found out that I have two watercolours accepted at this year's Watercolour show at Väsby Art Hall just outside of Stockholm. The show opens this Saturday, 16th April and runs for until the 5th of May.
http://www.vasbykonsthall.com/

Don't forget Galleri T on 23rd of April, looks like I'll be showing over 60 framed works. Might be a tight squeeze, the gallery isn't the biggest! 
http://www.gallerit.com/

Title: Where the wind takes me 75 x 55 cm

Saturday's life drawing

Venue: Basis, Stockholm 20160402
I tried something new yesterday and I was very happy with the result. I used a liner brush and W&N sepia watercolour paint. The poses were quickies ranging from 2, 3,4 and 5 minutes. I will be doing this again in the future, this is guaranteed :)

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Living by the sea

I live close to the sea, here in Stockholm it's not very hard to do, the city is built on countless islands. I look forward to the summer months, I dream of the days I will be painting in the outer-archipelago. Did I mention that I have bought a fishing-kayak that will be converted into a floating studio? No, I don't think so. I'll publish some pictures when I receive it which should be in 3-4 weeks time. I do love toys ;)

Ketch in the stillness  20160304 - 29 x 19 cm Arches rough 300g

What's up?

I'm not blogging as much as I'd like to right now. I am going through a rather intensive watercolouring period. I really want to improve and so all focus is centred on painting.
My two week period as an artist has come to and end and so tomorrow I am a web designer again. I am lucky, I have a job that I enjoy but I know after a few days I will be looking forward to my artist period again.
I have my first solo exhibition on the 23rd April 2016. I guess this is the main reason why I am not blogging as often. Nothing like a deadline to focus the mind. ;)

Sunday's figure painting

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm. 20160228

On the last Sunday of each month I go to a two hour - one position life drawing or figure painting session. It's a fun day because I meet up with the local Stockholm UrbanSketchers beforehand to sketch for at least 3 hours! :)

Model Jonas who is a dancer on Arches rough 300g watercolour paper

Getting there

I wonder what type of watercolour artist I will become. I know I want to leave something for the viewer of my work to interpreted. A form of mystery you could say. So, I have no plan to be a realist even if some of my paintings look that way. I'm in transition. This watercolour of a woman with her head in her hands, what is she thinking? I leave that up to you. I like that, the mystery.

Woman in thought. 50 x 32 cm Saunders rough 300g watercolour paper

A workmate's best friend

This was a commission. I presented it to the dog owner a few days ago. He liked it a lot so that made me happy. It's the first time I painted a dog, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Actually, I have painted horses in the past so I'm not a total beginner when it comes to animals. I'm not happy with the grass, next time I'll be less fussy.

Tax 29 x 39 Arches rough 300g

Espresso House Café

Espresso House Café. 21 x 14.5 cm Clairefontaine watercolour sketchbook.

Lunchtime watercolour

This is one of my lunchtime watercolours from during the week. Last year I visited Brittany, France. I took a blurred photo from the speeding train outside Paris on my way to the west. The wheat fields with their islands of trees reminded me of the Stockholm archipelago.

Wheat fields outside Paris 30 x 24

Sunday Nude

I spent the whole day yesterday drawing and painting. First I met up with fellow Stockholm - Urbansketchers. We gathered outside the library at Kulturhuset which is a large cultural centre in the middle of Stockholm. Later in the day some of us attended life drawing at Konstnärshuset,  this watercolour took 40 minutes. It was challenging because I had to paint wet on wet most of the time. I had to apply thick paint for the eyes, otherwise the damp paper would have blurred them out of recognition. If you would like to see my urban-sketches please visit here.

Sunday figure painting

Memories from Japan

I was in Japan just after Christmas. I was visiting my son who has put down roots in Tokyo. It's an amazing place. This watercolour was painted from a photo I took outside a bazaar in Nasukarasuyama north of Tokyo.

Arches rough 300g 50 x 32.5 cm

Japanese clay pots 50 x 32.5 cm

Urban winter sketch

I sat in my car outside the local sailing club here in the suburbs of Stockholm. The boats are out of the water for the winter, red anchor buoys are the only evidence that summer exists.

21 x 14.5 cm Clairefontaine watercolour sketchbook.