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

Self Portrait

This reminded me that I have a lot to learn. It's too fresh for me to be critical of it. I'm working on a new self portrait already for tomorrow, it feels better but I haven't started to paint yet, that's the true test.

A portrait a day ...

I'm trying to do one portrait a day right now. I like setting impossible goals. Let's see how many days I manage. This one is of Elvis Costello, I didn't get his eyes right, I don't mind, it's only practice after all. It's more fun when drawings don't become precious.

Elvis Costello

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.

Norway Part Two

I arrived back home yesterday evening from my week's holiday in Norway. What an amazing place, I'll visit again for sure. I didn't paint much, there wasn't time. At least I've learned how to travel for next time. One day on the road and the next behind my easel :)

Arches Rough 300g, W&N watercolour, 23 x 31 cm.

Molde, Norway. 

Vacation painting

I had planned to paint more but we travelled over 1000 kilometres in 5 days between Bergen and Trondheim, Norway. It was a wonderful holiday, such a beautiful country. Next trip, I will travel every second day only so that I have more time to paint.

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art

Extremely good morphing of female portraits through the ages ...

More flowers

I am really happy with the top half of this watercolour, the bottom was difficult though, I had to correct my mistakes often. I'm not experienced at painting flowers, heck, I'm not experienced with watercolouring full-stop. I like the challenge though, trying new things, like cars, I'm not interested in speedy auto mobiles but I did enjoy trying to draw them, they where difficult, just like these flowers. Practice and learn, practice and learn.... :)

Watercolour flowers 19 x 28cm

International watercolor society art contest 2013

Sketching classic cars

Today I travelled from Söder in Stockholm on a 1938 Scania - Vabis nicknamed the "Bulldog". Our destination was the "Gärdesloppet", a large gathering of old vehicles held once a year. I had a fun day, I'm not mad about cars but I enjoyed seeing grown men's faces light up with joy at the sight of an over-powdered American Cadillac. I spent a lot of time on the "Bulldog" touring around town on a beautiful sunny day.

A4 pencil sketch

A5 pencil sketch

A5 pencil sketch

Japanese Flowers

I like painting flowers, after nudes I think painting flowers is my favourite. My preferences change like the wind though, next week it might be cows!

Japanese Flowers 23 x 30cm / 9 x 12".  20140510

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!

Summer time ...

The summer break has arrived and sadly I won't be life drawing at Basis again until after the summer break  - something in September. Feels such a long time away. I am pleased with my efforts from this session, I try hard now to be positive and not let negative thoughts distract me from producing good work. I think my colour toning has improved a lot recently, I'm happy with that. Now I wait until Tuesday to sketch but wait, I might have to choose painting at my new studio instead. What ever I do, there will be sketches and paintings being published on this blog all throughout the summer months :)

Ten minute watercolour nude

Two minute nude

Ten minute watercolour nude

Five minute watercolour sketch on drawing paper

Ten minute watercolour

Two minute nude

Tuesday's Life drawing

Venue: Konstnärshuset, Stockholm. 20140506

The summer is coming and there are only a few more weeks of life drawing before the break. I am happy with my personal development so far this year, I feel that I'm improving each time I draw and my watercolours have also improved.
Today I received the keys to the studio that I will be renting during the summer months. I am really excited about it, I installed my furniture this evening, feels kinda strange to have a studio, soon I'll be calling myself an artist!

Five minute sketch and watercolour

Two minute sketch

Five minute watercolour

Two minute sketch

Delayed post

Venue: Basis, Stockholm, 20140329

I was meant to post these sketches over a month ago, I thought I would add a little more detail before publishing. But life has a habit of getting in the way of my art, like this weekend for instance; I had to put my sailing boat in the water and put on the mast and so on. I don't mind, I enjoy sailing but I want to watercolour more! I don't have a bad life, if this is my biggest crisis ...

Nude one

Nude two

Nude three ...