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by Marc Dalessio

Stockholm Sketches

Oil painting of Slälagårdsgatan street in Stockholm

Slälagårdsgatan, Stockholm. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

After three weeks of painting in Norway and Sweden, I was pretty exhausted in my last stop of Stockholm.

Sunday Fishermen with the City Hall, Stockholm

Sunday Fishermen with the City Hall, Stockholm. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

As a plein air painter I often feel guilty if I see a great subject for a painting and then don’t paint it for whatever reason. With the 19 hour days they have in Scandinavian in the summer it is very difficult to paint the whole time though, so one ends up feeling guilty a lot.

Painting of the Stortorget, Stockholm

The Stortorget. 30 x 20 cm, oil on linen.

Oil painting of a cafe on the Riddarholmen, Stockholm, Sweden

Cafe on the Riddarholmen. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

by Marc Dalessio

En Plein Air on Lake Siljan, Dalarna County, Sweden

Plein air landscape painting of a Sawmill near Laknäs, Sweden.

Sawmill, Laknäs. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

After struggling with the majesty of the Norwegian fjords, the Swedish countryside around the Siljan Lake in Dalarna county was pretty easy painting. The parts of Sweden I saw in the past ten days were all exceedingly picturesque. Small farms and lots of very pretty lakes and fields.

Plein air landscape painting of the parking lot at the Tällberg Forum

The Parking Lot at the Tällberg Forum. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

Plein air landscape painting of the Church at Rättvik.

The Church at Rättvik. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

I was staying in a cabin in the village of Tällberg with my student Louis Ryan. We were shown around a bit by the local talent Anders Ståhl, and the weather was beautiful for much of the time.

Plein air landscape painting of a field above Lake Siljan, Dalarna, Sweden.

Above Lake Siljan. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

Oil painting of the bell tower in Mora, Sweden.

The Bell Tower at Mora. 30 x 20 cm, oil on linen.

Plein air landscape painting of Birch Trees on the Banks of Lake Siljan, Sweden.

Birch Trees on the Banks of Lake Siljan. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

 

Plein air landscape painting of Preparing the Maypole for midsummer in Sweden.

Preparing the Maypole. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

Landscape painting of the June Gloom, Tällberg.

June Gloom, Tällberg. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

Plein air landscape painting of the Last Light in Rättvik.

Last Light, Rättvik. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

 

by Marc Dalessio

The Wedding Painter

Oil painting of a wedding ceremony in Sweden.

Wedding Sketch #1 (The Ceremony). 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen.

This is an idea I’ve wanted to try for a while. Everyone knows that 150 years ago, painters had all the image-making gigs. Today those have all gone to photographers, but one thought I’ve often had at outdoor weddings is that it would be a great occasion for a plein air painter. They can be very picturesque events. Also, since often a great deal of effort goes into making memories of the event for the couple, what better way than non-fugitive paints on oil-primed linen which will last a thousand years while decorating their decedents’ walls?

Oil painting of a wedding in Sweden.

Wedding Sketch #2 (Afternoon Coffee). 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen.

I’m sure this has been done before, but at a couple of friends’ wedding this weekend I tried batting out some small sketches. It was interesting trying to set up and predict where everything would happen. Also, many of the situations are fleeting and the artist has to work fast (or tell people to pose).

I only got a couple of sketches done, but it was a fun experiment nonetheless. Plus it was the first time I’ve painted in a suit and tie.

The Wedding Painter

The Wedding Painter.