Stockholm sketches 3

When I woke for our last day in Stockholm, I was welcomed by a bitter cold wind and rain when I stepped outside. Luckily this was my “national museum” day, so I would be inside most of the time. I was way too early for opening time, so I tried some sketches of statues, standing in the shelter of the museum…well, I only did two, the others were done on other days.

Pen and Schmincke WC in handmade sketchbook(handmade by Marta)

Pen and Schmincke WC in handmade sketchbook

The second sketch is of the old water “pump” in the old town, Gamla Stan, which dates back to the middle ages, then the only supply of water availbale.

Pen and W&N WC in handmade sketchbook.

Pen and W&N WC in handmade sketchbook

The national museum had an exhibition on design (Dreadful delight), covering interior design and trends in design from the early 18th century to our modern society….exquisite antiques to wonderfully kitch, it is all there. And a huge exhibition on art work with a special exhibition of Alexander Roslin. I went through the whole museum which took me far over two hours and by some stage I couldn’t care less about Roslin and which royal face he captured when. All his portraits started looking the same. By that time, my back was killing me and my head was pounding and I was thirsty, not to mention ravishingly hungry. I couldn’t get out of the museum fast enough! Into the rain. Searching for food and water. Into the mall. I hate malls. Nevertheless, I found food and sheler there.

And then I decided I was also done with culture and history and sightseeing. I felt only like sitting. Doing nothing, except maybe shamelessly stare at people. So I stayed in the mall and only moved from seat to seat. At the same time making it my mission to discover the best carrot cake in the mall. Which I did. Fantastic! It seems like tradition to decorate a slice of carrot cake with a Cape gooseberry in Sweden, just in case you’re wondering what is sitting on top of this carrot cake in the next sketch. It is accompanied by hot chocolate, which unfortunately seems to look more like Coke!

Pen and W&N WC in handmade sketchbook

While I was feasting on my third trial of carrot cake and waiting to go to the airport, I captured a little of the optimistic and enthusiastic spirit of the young Swedish mothers and babies …..everywhere…. lots of them! Only in the coffee shop I was sitting, I counted 6 pretty mothers with their cute babies! Could it be the long dark days, all the candles and the cold weather?

These two strollers turned out real wonky and definitely wouldn’t keep any baby safe, but thankfully as a sketch it doesn’t have to be safe.

Pen and Yarka WC in handmade sketchbook

15 thoughts on “Stockholm sketches 3”

GRACIOUS — you must sketch mighty FAST!!! Superb sketches, Ronell — I can’t do statues for anything — yours look so cool!! And that cake — my downfall, I’m afraid — I could eat it off my computer screen! Love the wonky strollers .. here too, we’re having a lot of births lately — maybe in the air? LOL
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SUPER JOB, Cara!

Everytime I see your sketches I just drop my jaw and marvel at how wonderfully loose and interesting they are. Thanks for taking us on the trip with you. Love them all.

Hot chocolate and carrot cake!!!?!!! Isn’t that a sin? Shame-shame-shame! How much carrot cake did you enjoy?

You’ve been amazingly productive with your beautiful sketches. How did you find the time with all the carrot cake snacking? *lol*

I love this drawings! In answer to your question, no I’m not using the new Schmincke paints, Yet. They look so precious in their new tin, but on seeing your fantastic drawings I’m going to use them this very day! 🙂

Oh your description in the museum made me laugh! There are so many here too but I know I’d end up a wreck. Why is that, when all we do is stroll around, I don’t know! Gorgeous sketches, as always! Did you paint at the same time or do that later out of the cold?

I love the beautiful splashes of color in the backgrounds of these paintings.

As always your sketches are so full of life and simply sing to me – lovely , lovely, lovely.

These are very lively – how’re you liking the Schminke colours now? I particularly like the top one – it’s so fluid and expressive. I also like the splashes – also in the carrot cake sketch too – it somehow suggests diving and eating…

I can only manage a couple of hours in any museum or gallery, no matter how good. There’s only so much I can take in, in one go.

Stunning! The little splatters here and there complement your style so well: very spontaneous.

Agree with all comments. How do you carry your watercolors? It always seems to me that i have to carry to much material when im going out with watercolors.
see you.

How are you liking the paper in the sketchbook? These are all beautiful but for me the one that pleases me the most is the one of the baby prams. What beautiful blues! I am thinking someday I want to go to Stockholm also. You and Nina make the city look so inviting! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!

I love these spontaneous, lively paintings. You deserve the carrot cake!

I love the easy flow of your paintings. It’s wonderful seeing the world through your eyes.
All that carrot cake though….. thanks for the smile.

These are lovely Ronell – so poetic! My favorite has to be the first statue – the movement between the two figures is wonderful – very graceful. It seems that you are really finding your style.