Larger formats

Inspired by an oil panting I once saw in a small gallery in Paris, I tried this impressionistic piece in larger scale (50x80 I think it is), on prepared canvas, and finishing it all by putting it into an old frame I had. Larger formats are great and gives a fantastic sense of freedom. Preparing the canvas with sanded paint worked very well, but I didn't manage to get the trees, colours and shadows they way the should have been. The original artists idea can be seen though, and framing it (temporarily) immediately makes it look all the more finished. I might just try something else for that frame ... or maybe oil anyhow?

Mårten's Friends at the Club in Paris

"Mårten's Friends" drinking cognac at the Club in Paris. The idea was to steal the classic scene of the much more famous Club Board painting, and mix in some Swedish classic Carl Larsson style with a bit of contemporary Manga influence on the side. I think the characters are recognizable, although slightly caricatured.

Courage and aquarelle

Worked on soft edges with my Schmincke watercolours and inspired by Pauline Adair. The result is too elaborate and not courageous enough though. And then those female forms and shadows, such a challenge! Should be able to look forward to years of needed practice in this field ... :-D

Speed and camouflage

Whilst doing this Swedish fighter plane I had to think about how speed influences a painting. Deliberate detailed and slow work on something can make it excellent technically but also dull. How does one keep the freshness of the eye and work, without spontaneity and courage at the final stages?
Camouflage is also intriguing - a 'trompe d'euille' of complex colours and forms. Now the fashion industry has taken it to another level. How can we know who is friend and who is enemy these days? Old rules no longer apply.

Blonde beauty

Tried velvet paper this time for this portrait pastel study of a stunning blond. Who wouldn't want to dance and date with this lady? Skin tones are a struggle though: there are so many variations and possible combinations, and then there is the hair .. need to work more on this. Clearly!

IT Matters

I-T!Another pastel study; this time borrowing inspiration from Jean-Gabriel Domergue (which in turn seems Tolouse-Lautrec affiliated). I like the way he captures motion and people's moods, and combines European and Japanese traditional techniques and perspectives. I changed some minor details - IT matters. Framing makes one's works seem so much more finished as well.

Nude values

Working those values and wonderful female shapes! Read Deborah Secor's excellent blog/online book about pastel painting in between working this charcoal sketch. She is very thorough and easy to follow.
Ah, but finding the right surface to work with is a struggle, and indeed ... one never seems to have enough pastel colours - even with 100 of them in the box!

Masters of colour

Paul Klee was truly a master of colour. Studying his Highways and Byways using pastels and pencils was a joy, taking me on a fantastic imaginary journey.

What to believe?

Inspired by Xenia Hausner's excellent art, here is a small (50x40 cm) pastel study of one of her large pieces. Her bold fresh choices of colours, formats and ability to capture people fascinates. Reflecting on her thoughts; what is she thinking ... and what mood is she actually in ...?

A new start

For various reasons I restart my journey in search of beauty and joy of art in life. Before embarking all on my own I decided to start out by closely looking at  what those that went before me did. Of course the old dutch masters are an inspiration (here in pastel and as interpreted by me and Frederick Simpson Coburn). In parallel I read Umberto Eco's insightful "History of Beauty".