Ice cream – work in progress

The reasons for the few updates lately are that I simply did not have time to sit down and draw, and when I found time, then I was stuck with this watercolor painting.

I have been on it for more than a week now and still haven´t figured out the background… I ate a lot of ice cream in between too, to look for inspiration… still looking, so I will keep on eating until I find it.

180920 ice cream ambition_Melanie Franz

Ice Cream Cravings

It has been sunny second day in a row! That´s when those ice cream cravings come up.  At my new favourite ice cream parlour, conveniently just a 5 minute bike ride from home, the scoops are massive. Two are pretty much a meal. Bigger is better!

This actually could be me. I admit.

180904 summer icecream_Melanie Franz

Ice cream girls

I found my sketch book again with the ice cream drawings I started at the beginning of the year. As I was bored and tired today – and had a sweet craving –  I thought I add another one to it. I am also trying to draw and paint more loosely… so this was my evening exercise.

I feel like the girls are too focused on their ice cream to notice anything else around them.

 

180904 ice cream girls_ Melanie Franz

Flamingos

Yes, flamingos! Jenna Gee aka The Sunshine Artist suggested me to draw flamingos, so I decided to have fun with flamingos as you can see.

I have about 20 pages left in my sketchbook which I would like to fill with aerial themed illustrations.

Any other prompt suggestions? Leave it in the comments.

180822 Flamingo 2 _Melanie Franz

Exotic Location

Let´s move to an exotic location! There have to be pelicans of course! That´s what I am thinking right now, looking at the grey clouds outside.

Second last promt for #WorldWatercolourMonth. I have about 20 pages left in my sketchbook and I would like to fill them with more aerial illustrations all the way to the end.

Anyone wants to give me the next prompt? Leave it in the comments.

180816 Exotic location _ Melanie Franz

 

Childhood Memory

Another one of the prompts for #WorldWatercolorMonth.

I remember those things on the playgrounds and never understood the full purpose of them. I am the one on the far right, desperately trying to get up. Or hanging on for dear life. It was always one or the other.

Which one are you?

180811 Childhood memory_Melanie Franz

Clouds in the Sky

I love how this one turned out! What do you think?

Inspired by the prompt for #WorldWatercolorMonth – Clouds in the Sky.

First time I also used masking fluid. Made coloring in the background so much easier. Will definitely use it again.

I also finally went back to hoop class last night after several months break due to injury. It was great. It was like I never took a break except for being so tired afterwards that I went straight to bed. But hanging upside down in the air is the best!

180811 Clouds in the sky_Melanie Franz

Splashing Around

I’ve tried doubles once at the hoop training. It was fun and challenging and everything but elegant.

We did not try this pose though. Neither is my back able to bend like that nor do I think I have the strength to hold someone by the feet. But mainly the back bending thing. 5 years of training improved my back bending somewhat, but  I most certainly have no natural flexibility in that area.

180808 Splashing around_ melanie Franz

Monochromatic Mood

Another prompt of my silghtly delayed #WorldWatercolorMonth.

I haven´t really done anything monochromatic since Inktober, as I usually love to use a lot of colour. But I actually equally enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the Inktober challenge again. Until then, I will focus on colour though.

180805 Monochromatic moods_Melanie Franz

Rainy Days

Actually I did this prompt for #WorldWatercolorMonth before the pelican pictures. But it was simply too sunny and nice for a change, to be reminded of the rain. So now that the rain is back, it is also back to the rainy days. This is how I feel.

I think it´s nice to hang upside down every once in a while. There is actually an aerialist who performs on a giant umbrella instead of an aerial hoop. That is where the inspiration came from for this illustration.

180802 Rainy days - Melanie Franz

 

Glorious Golds aka another Pelican!

Another prompt for #WorldWatercolorMonth was Glorious Golds.

I absolutely love how the pelican turned out! I think you can expect more of them in future. The girl was planing to catch the Golden Snitch while hanging in the hoop. Then she got distracted by the pelican, and fed him fish instead.

And why is there a hoop hanging over the water you might ask? Well, if you fall, you fall soft.

180804 Glorious Golds _Melanie Franz

Wet & Dry – Pelicans!

Sun is shining! Wet & Dry prompt of the #WorldWatercolorMonth list.

I love pelicans. Saw plenty of them in Mexico and also in Guatemala where they were surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean. It made me happy everytime I saw one.

Actually I wanted to draw pelicans for a while now but always postponed it. But here they are, watching the girl… or waiting for the fish?

180803 Wet and Dry_ Melanie Franz

#WorldWatercolorMonth – City Life

When I was in Germany last week I treated myself to a beautiful set of Schmincke watercolours. I´m already in love with them and after a week of not drawing, I feel super inspired.

Prompt of the day is city life. And yes, I also used to do the occasional pole pose whenever I would see a street sign or anything that resembled a pole. Have you tried it?

180731 City life Melanie Franz

 

#WorldWatercolorMonth – Sweet treats

Actually I did this 2 weeks ago but didn´t post it because I didn´t like how it turned out. What do you think?

Nevertheless I feel like ice cream now. Now that I am back in Reykjavík, I might just go for an evening ísbíltúr. 

180714-sweet-treats.jpg

At the Dreisam in Freiburg, Germany

Travelled to Switzerland and Germany last week, hence the break on the aerial themed illustrations for the #WorldWatercolorMonth. But I will continue from where I left off in the next week.

Until then, sketch from yesterday. I had a fabulous day with excellent company. We were sunbathing at the Dreisam river in Freiburg. Despite 35 degrees celsius I managed to get these two sketches done. Loved being in the sun for a week. Unfortunately it didn´t last long and I am back to the harsh reality of wet Icelandic summer again.

180729 Dreisam Freiburg

My friend Elise, having a nap in the afternoon sun. The grass is completely dried out and burned as it hasn´t rained in weeks.

180729 Dreisam Freiburg Elise