Improved Scans

I got a scanner to work. Much better than the iPhone! Looking forward to getting back to Stockholm next week for some life drawings sessions.



Watercolour nude study from photograph



Watercolour nude study from photograph

My travel kit

Here is my basic watercolour kit that I use while traveling. 3 Escoda brushes (Charles Reid signature), 1 Pentel Twist-Erase 0.9 pencil with HB lead, W&N Field box, water spray, water pot, putty rubber and Hero calligraphy pen.

I still consider myself to be a newbie so my kit will change I am sure as learn more about watercolouring.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am in Northern Ireland at the moment so it is not possible for me to attend life drawing sessions in Stockholm. I really want to get started, so to avoid total frustration I sketched two photographs of naked models that I found on the internet. Am I breaking copyright laws by doing this? Anyway, I was very happy with the results, except I much prefer to sketch real models.

Waiting Room

I am currently in Northern Ireland taking care of my ageing mother. Yesterday we waited for four hours for her to see a doctor, plenty of time to study the backs of people's heads.

Life drawing master - Francine Van Hove

I was introduced to Francine Van Hove tonight when I visited LA CONCHIGLIA DI VENERE

The Nude in Art History. I found her work to be very feminine and beautiful.



Francine Van Hove

 

 

 

Urban Sketching at Central Station, Stockholm

I met Nina Johansson and Maria Flood from my local sketching group today at Central Station. The station was a great place to sketch, lots of people just hanging around waiting for a train, they looked bored and didn't move too much which was perfect. On the second sketch I masked the page with some tape which enhanced the picture a lot I think. Sketched in my A5 watercolour Moleskin, with Hero calligraphy pen and W&N watercolours.

Stockholm, Central Station 20130106

Stockholm, Central Station 20130106

Last life drawing study of 2012

This is another in the series of two minutes sketches I did on 200g watercolour paper. I spent about an hour watercolouring the figure yesterday. I am happy with my development, I started watercolouring for the first time in February 2012 so I'm delighted really with my progress. I look forward to 2013 and plan to draw and paint even more. :)

Two minute sketch plus one hour of watercolouring. 20121231

Having fun

Some more two minute sketches from a life drawing session that I did a while back. I painted them yesterday, it's so nice to have time during the Christmas holidays to have some fun. I'm not looking to create a masterpiece right now; I'm just playing around, experimenting, learning.

Original two minute sketch which I watercoloured  20121230

Original two minute sketch which I watercoloured  20121230

Watercolouring quick life drawing sketches

I have a supply of two to five minute sketches on 200g watercolour paper. I started quick sketching on watercolour paper so that I can paint them at my leisure at a later date. I want to master watercolouring and so having these sketches lying around really makes practice easier. For light reference I use erotic photography that I have downloaded from the internet.

Watercolour sketch - 20121229

 

Watercolour sketch - 20121229

Watercolour sketch - 20121229

Here is an example of an original five minute sketch. I will probably paint this soon.

Sir William Russell Flint

I discovered, Sir William Russell Flint today while browsing through LA CONCHIGLIA DI VENERE - The Nude in Art History. I like his nudes very much, there is much to learned by studying his watercolour technique which I certainly plan to do. I found an offical site also where they sell limited addition prints of his work.  http://www.sirwilliamrussellflintprints.co.uk/



Nude by Sir William Russell Flint

Sketches from my note book

It is hard to focus on sketching or painting when Christmas presents still have to be bought and wrapped! Here are a few sketches from my note book.

Sketched at the Cultural Centre (Kulturhuset), Stockholm

Sketches while at work, my desk and a crowd drawn from my computer screen.

Final life drawing session for 2012

Konstnärshuset, 20121211

Not many turned up for this final session, lots of snow and pre-Christmas stress keeping them away I guess. I was not able to concentrate very well during the evening so I played with my watercolours. Playing is a very important way to learn and improve, isn't it!? ;)

10 minute sketch 20121211

10 minute sketch 20121211

10 minute sketch 20121211

I have a whole bunch of quick sketches that I executed on watercolour paper, they are from the last four life drawing sessions, I plan to colour them during the Christmas holidays. 

5 minute sketch 20121211

Saturday's life drawing

Basis, Stockholm 20121208

I was not in the mood to begin with, I was feeling rather lazy after a tough week at work. After a sketch or two I started to loosen up a bit and get into it, in the end I was quite happy with a number of my sketches.  I will be going to my last life drawing session for this year on Tuesday, Christmas is coming!

Life drawing 20121208

Life drawing 20121208

Life drawing 20121208

Tuesday's Life Drawing

Konstnärshuset 20121204

This model was excellent at posing. She is a dancer, most of the good posers are.

Life drawing 20121204

Life drawing 20121204

Life drawing 20121204

Saturday's life drawing session.

This was difficult for me, the model, an elderly lady who is obviously undergoing chemotherapy reminded me a lot of my own wife who had chemotherapy two years ago. Still, it was an interesting session, older models have so many interesting lines and curves to draw. A session of mixed emotions. Respect to the model for not letting cancer stop her.

Watercolour Sketches 20121201