Cassie

Cassie
12''x 10'', Coloured Pencil on Canson Mi-Teintes
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

Can’t believe it’s the middle of May already – where has the year gone! It’s around about this time that I start panicking about competition/exhibition pieces for shows I want to enter later in the year and deciding what I want to do for what, if I’ve done enough and if not will I have the time to do them. Trying to fit in a photography course I have started, and thoroughly enjoying, as well as Bella who is still very much a handful is making me panic that bit more. And of course I have my commissioned work to do. But it’s good being busy and I’ll get everything done. Staying positive at least.

I’m back working on the horse in my last post after taking a break to complete this coloured pencil portrait of Cassie, a Great Dane. I love Great Danes but will admit to being very slightly intimidated by their size when I first meet them. And you couldn’t get a better natured dog, very noble looking too.

Please do not use without permission from the artist

Ouch!!

Work in progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

Feeling a bit sorry for myself as I had a slight accident over the weekend that resulted in the middle finger of my right, aka drawing, hand being badly sprained/bruised – I don’t think it’s broken anyway. Still wincing at the thought of the pain when it happened *shudder* but then I’ve never done pain very well. Shot right up my arm it did! Anyway, it’s day 5 now since accident and while I still can’t bend or straighten it there is some movement coming back and the swelling has gone down. And best of all the pain is bearable – couldn’t have anyone, or thing, near it for days for fear of it being knocked or touched in any way. Drawing has also been out of the question which has been both frustrating and annoying …… can’t my finger appreciate I have lots to do, deadlines to meet and bills to pay!

I was really enjoying working on this drawing before things came to a halt. It’s one of those drawings where I find it really hard to stop, wanting to finish this bit first …… then another …… and another ……… yes, I’ll put tea on in a minute, just let me finish this bit …… oh and that bit …… have to do this bit first then I’ll take the dog out – you get the idea :) My thanks has to go to thank Francesca Morrison for allowing me to use her photo for this piece. If you have a spare moment or two, do have a look at her work.

Thoroughbred

Currently without a title!

15''x 7'', graphite pencil on Mellotex paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013
Please do not use without permission

Sitting here typing this post and the sun is shining which is such a welcome sight after all this awful weather we've been having recently – Spring might yet be on its way after all! What is it about the sun that makes facing the day that much better. Even my huge, never ending to-do list doesn’t look daunting and is more than doable and I can fit in some sun time with Bella. Don’t know why I have an urge (and it’s a big one) to do some baking though – that is not like me at all.

I’ve been working on a few drawings, this thoroughbred horse being one of them. I photographed her at Musselburgh Racecourse cooling off after a race and waiting to be washed down. The Thoroughbred truly is a beautiful animal and don’t think I’ll ever tire of drawing them. I loved getting lost in all that muscle and form while ignoring everything else around me. Still need to come up with a title and always seem to struggle with this bit - will give it more thought.

Now what shall I bake ……….

Been a while ...

Having a day of playing catch-up starting with my blog as it’s been a while since my last post. Life is still very much revolving around Bella in many ways. My vision of me at the drawing board with my adorable puppy napping peacefully at my feet while I worked was, I think, a bit naïve of me. Ok, obviously I knew it wouldn’t be quite like that, well for a good while anyway, but don’t think I was quite prepared for the force that is Bella, my headstrong, determined (oh how she is determined), beautiful girl.

Trying to work for any length of time was quickly becoming a distant memory for me with my ‘little bundle of joy’ demanding more and more of my time. It didn’t help that she had tummy problems for the first 3 weeks where my days more or less consisted of cleaning up poop 24/7 while in between I would be removing things from her mouth that shouldn’t  be there or removing her from no-go areas, that mainly being the couch ……… numerous times! My vocabulary was more or less ‘no’ and ‘leave it’ to the point I wondered if she maybe thought ‘No’ was her name! Glad to report she does respond to Bella and her recall is very good – we’ve been off lead a number of times now for a good run about and even played with other dogs and come back when called *proud mummy hat on* 

Hard work, headstrong, determined, naughty and mischevious she might be but she really is a good puppy and never fails to make me laugh.  Already I can see the amazing dog she will grow up to be and looking forward to all the fun times we’ll share. And of course I had to share a few of the many photos I have taken over the past 6 weeks.

I’m even getting more hours at the drawing board (yay:)) and finished my secret portrait, the one I can’t share quite yet as it’s to be a surprise for someone, and this carbon pencil drawing of a Lab I started back in January.

Approx. 10''x 8''
Carbon Pencils on Fabriano 5
Original available
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

It’s been a good few years since I’ve used carbon pencils and I do like them just not as much as graphite. They are a lot quicker to work with which I like a LOT, completing this drawing in almost half the time I would had it been in graphite. Think I’d like to do a lot more sketches using the carbon pencils ….. that’s my plan anyway.

Meet Bella

Bella at 8weeks

I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately and my reason for this is all down to our new addition to the family, Bella, a small mischievous, bouncing, bundle of fun and cuteness. There is also a lot of misbehaving, madness and naughtiness there too I might add! But obviously to be expected. 

It was a 6 and a half hour journey in the car to get her and the same back which was really quite an achievement for me being someone who doesn’t like Motorways and having never driven out of Edinburgh before – I left all long distance driving to my, now ex, husband. But every mile was worth it and it wasn’t too bad a drive as it turned out once me and ‘James’ the Sat Nav understood each other. 

So there has not been much in the way of drawing this past week or two while helping Bella settle in and it’s been a case of stealing the odd hour here and there when possible. But it’s back to work Monday before I get too far behind with commissions and Bella knows this :)

Cards and Prints

Greetings Cards
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

I haven’t shared my cards and prints yet here on my blog – I think deep down I was waiting until I had better photos of them but that could be a couple of months away and it will be old news by then. You can see what I mean by my photos and can only apologise! I’m actually really excited as I’ve signed up for a photography class that I start in March and I’m hoping it will not only improve my camera skills but encourage me to get out and about more with my camera and take lots of photos. I promised myself I was going to record more of my year by way of photos so it’s at least a start. Anyway, I digress, back to my cards and prints.

I currently have 5 of my drawings made into cards - ‘Seriously’, ‘Devotion’, ‘Beau’, ‘Want to Play’ and ‘The Look’. Blank inside for your own message they are professionally printed on 350gsm smooth silk white card, and include an envelope (of course) and are sealed in a clear bag. Cards are £2.25 each or 5 for £10. Great to give to family or friends or why not keep them and put them in a 5’’x 7’’ frame. Think that covers my cards but any questions please let me know.

Clyde
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

I was really excited about my ‘Clyde’ prints as not only is it one of my favourite drawings, I couldn’t be happier with how the prints turned out. Printed on 315gsm archival, acid free paper the image size of the print is 28cm x 24cm (mounted size: 41.5cm x 38.5cm). I am limiting this print to just 15 copies and all will be signed and numbered - £65 and one could be yours.

Daydreamer
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

‘Daydreamer’ is one of my older prints that I still have available, though I only have three that I could post straight away. This one is printed on the same paper as ‘Clyde’ so I wont go repeating myself here and image size is 19.5cm x 27.5cm (mounted, 30.5cm x 39.5cm). All are signed and numbered and cost is £60. This is a scan of Daydreamer to give you a better idea of how your print will look.

Daydreamer
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

 Both prints are available to purchase direct from myself so if interested in owning either one, or both, please message or email me.

Boxer

Hector
10''x 8'', Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2013

Plumbers, boilers, joiners, tax returns, paperwork, car, puppy searching, daughters 18^th – I’m sure there’s more - have all kept me away from the drawing board this past week so have been stealing minutes here and there to work on my latest drawing when I can. Not the most productive start to the new year I had hoped for but, fingers crossed, it’s back to normality tomorrow. I am working on two drawings just now, one I can’t share with you as it’s to be a surprise for someone and the other, a horse, I can and will in my next post. It’s still very much in the early stages but hoping to get lots done over the next few days. That’s the plan at least.

Hector, above, was a Christmas commission so I can now safely show him. He has to be, no, is the most adorable Boxer that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I could very easily have taken him home with me. I want me a Hector!

And before I forget (as if I could:)) - you can now view this years winners of the Ex Arte Equinus VI competition online and I seriously recommend you do if you can. But make yourself a coffee first as you could be there sometime! ‘Time Out’ is there with it’s rosette in the Drawing category along with ‘Pep Talk’. Genuinely couldn’t be happier to be amongst such talented artists.