Computer problems and another horse

High Spirits
9x12, Coloured pencil

I’ve taken a break from my easel this week and instead spent much needed time trying to move data from one computer (my old one which is currently on its last legs) to another (a lovely new Mac, which lives in my studio). Normally this should be straightforward but, as with all things involving technology and myself, I’ve had nothing but problems resulting in me nursing a headache these past few days.

I really don’t want to bore you with the details but can tell you that I am no further forward than when I started out at the beginning of the week. I even have the experts at Apple Mac scratching their heads in bewilderment. I’d been doing everything right according to them, which is good to know at least - I’m obviously not as dim as I thought I was in these matters. They are now off to have a look at their manuals to see what/where the problem could be and I’m currently waiting on them to get back to me. All I want is to get my printer up and running so I can start working on the prints I’ve been promising to do for long enough. I am getting there, albeit painfully, and it shouldn’t be too long now.

Despite everything, I have managed to fit a bit of relaxing drawing time in and finished another horse I’ve had sitting on the easel for a while. I’m really pleased with this one considering it nearly ended up in the bin half way through it’s making.

Horse in coloured pencil

Coloured pencil
10x14 inches

At the beginning of the year I set myself a goal/challenge to draw and paint more horses - 35 to be exact - quite simply to ‘get to know them better’. Unfortunately I’ve never had the opportunity to draw or paint one to commission and if I’m being honest found the thought of doing so a bit daunting in case I didn’t get it quite right. I’ve listened to far too many stories I think, about how critical horse people can be with portraits, hence my trepidations:) Dogs and other animals I am comfortable with and my aim is to be the same with horses.

So any spare art time I have these days is usually spent working on a horse of some description or other and have to say I love drawing them. This is one I started, would you believe, back in January - shows just how little time I actually find to spend on my own work, though it was put to one side for a bit so I could do other stuff.

Sadly at this stage it is without a title though I have been giving it a lot of thought – any suggestions? I’m also in two minds as to whether or not to add a background - any thoughts? I like it as it is and say no but an artist friend thinks differently. Decisions, decisions - think I’ll need to sit on it for a bit and decide later.

Day at the Races

With summer now here (although at times I find it hard to believe) I find myself out and about more often with my camera looking for some good reference material to work from. Right now I’m drawn to horses - just love them - so took myself off to the races yesterday at Musselburgh and spent a couple of hours happily snapping away at the horses in the parade ring before they were taken off to the course.

I’d have loved to have come away with some racing shots but couldn’t get a good enough position near to the track to take them from, plus I really don’t think my lens was up to the job – not if going by some I saw, they were huge and I mean HUGE.

I can't complain though as I came away with near enough 300 photos – whoever came up with the idea for the digital camera deserves a medal. There should be more than one or two in there that I can use, despite some annoying problems I seem to be experiencing with my camera.

Black Labs finished

Audley and Lola
Private commission

And here it is, the finished portrait with both dogs together.

I never think this is a good time of year productivity-wise for me with the kids now on their school holidays. I’ve tried not to let talk of holidays or thoughts of lazing in the sun get in the way of my work but I suppose subconsciously it does - and I have six weeks still to go.

It’s not that I don’t put in the hours in the studio, I just don’t seem to get a lot done and I'm easily distracted. Unfortunately my easel is next to a window looking out onto our street and I’m spending too much time watching the world go by and not enough time drawing. It doesn’t help neighbours over the road are getting an extension as I keep checking to see what the builders are working on next - like I said, easily distracted. Maybe I should get my sketchbook out and sketch the goings on – at least that way I can warrant the time away from my easel.