Bringing Arches watercolour paper down to size

I recently bought Arches watercolour paper. Each time I try to paint on it I get cramp, I find it almost impossible to relax. Why? Because I have such a respect for the beautiful 300g rough cotton paper. I finally worked out the solution to my problem, I simply chop up the paper into smaller pieces and in doing so I make the paper less precious. Now I am not afraid to make mistakes, now I can experiment and learn. You wouldn't believe what a relief this is to me. I'm just another artist with mental problems!

A4 Nude on Arches 300g rough paper. 

Learning to be patient

To be patient, to spend hours on one drawing or painting; it is certainly something that does not come naturally to me. These two small sketches are exercises in extending my length of focus on one drawing. It is
not so hard really, I was relaxed and I listened to Bach playing serenely in the background, the minutes flew by. It is creating time to achieve this which is the hardest art to master. If my life resembled a tightly packed suitcase, then something would have to be discarded in order for me to make room for my art. The question is what?

Gustav Klimt - Fabriano A5 paper, 14.8x21cm

Francis Bacon - Fabriano A5 paper, 14.8x21cm

A3 figure drawing from Tuesday's session.

Most of these were five minute sketches using pastel and synthetic charcoal.

Nude 30x42cm, 11.5x16.5"

Nude 30x42cm, 11.5x16.5"

Nude 30x42cm, 11.5x16.5"

Nude 30x42cm, 11.5x16.5"

A5 pastel nudes from Tuesday's life drawing session.

These were two minute sketches using pastels and a synthetic charcoal pencil.

Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5x8.5"

Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5x8.5"

Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5x8.5"

Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5x8.5"

Two minute nude, 14x21cm, 5.5x8.5"

Not so easy!

It is difficult to find time for my art right now, it has been a busy autumn. I find it frustrating, if I could slow down the rotation of this planet I would; then there would be at least 36 hours in every single day!

Easy!

The great thing about learning to watercolour is the discovery that other mediums like pastels are much easier to use! I wonder why watercolour isn't held in as high regard as say, oil or even acrylic painting, it is such a hard medium to master.

I bought some pastels yesterday, I plan to use them at Life Drawing classes for a few weeks as watercolouring is too stressful for me at the moment. The sketch below was done in about 15 minutes on A3 paper, it was fun to try something new.

I looked at a potential Ateljé /Studio today in Solna, Stockholm. I want to take the next step in my personal development as an artist. I said I'm interested so I hope I get a space there. I'll find out in a couple of weeks. Exciting.

A3 pastel sketch

Wendy Artin's Watercolour nudes

I stumbled over Wendy Artin's Watercolour nudes today. There are not many good figure painters who use watercolour as their chosen medium . I am happy to have discovered her work and have bookmarked her as a source of inspiration. You can visit her web site here.



Nude by Wendy Artin

Just one this time

It was a lean evening at life drawing last night. I only managed to produce one sketch that I was reasonably happy with. This means the next life drawing session can only be better. Something to look forward to  :)

Watercolour nude 20131023. Canson 200g, 24 x 32 cm ( 9 3/8 x 12 1/2")

World SketchCrawl day today

It was World SketchCrawl Day today and I met up with Nina Johansson to sketch at The City Museum (Stadsmuseet). The watercolour below was sketched from a third-floor window overlooking "Slussen" in Central Stockholm. It was a beautiful autumn day but too cold for us to be outside sketching.

Slussen 2013.10.19

Trying to change direction ...

I don't watercolour as much as I'd like to. I'm going to try paint for an hour or so after each evening meal. Go to less to life drawing evenings, I need to sit down and paint, practice and paint. Play, I need to have fun too, very important that.
Here are some recent watercolours and yes, they were fun to do. The first wash was done at life drawing and the darker tones where added later.

My brush stood still ...

My father passed away on the 29th September, it was a sad moment and I joined my family in grief. I am only now starting to find some form of normality,  returning to a sense of balance which allows me to focus on positive moments like my art once again. Here are a few life drawings I did a few weeks back, I enjoyed having only six pastels and a charcoal pen to work with.

SFBT-3 Artist Mannequin Figure review

Visit here to see full review of this amazing mannequin. From CrabFu Blog

Two hours too much

Still having problems painting a nude in the same position for two hours. I am using Arches 300g, rough watercolour paper and haven't gotten used to it yet. It takes the pigment so well and dries so slow, I need to adjust. I can also blame myself for my lack of skill. Here are two preliminary sketches I did before getting it wrong with the watercolour.

Tuesday's life drawing

Another enjoyable session at Konstnärshuset here in Stockholm.  One colleague asked if I would paint one more watercolour wash after getting home. The sketches would look more complete but then again I probably would loose the freshness. I chose to leave them alone.

10 minute nude

5 minute nude

5 minute nude

5 minute nude

5 minute nude

2 minute nude

2 minute nude

My latest sources of inspiration

I bought these DVDs by Herman Pekel and Alvaro Castagnet last week. They are great, their styles are similar, loose and full of expression. I'm not so sure I want to be so free but then again maybe I am heading that way, who knows. Very busy at work at the moment, not much time to paint. I'm looking forward to having more time again at the end of the month.