Labrador

I’ve put my Weim to one side to make a start on this small drawing of Sandy, a lovely yellow Lab. I say ‘small’ as this is only 8’x6’ and I don’t normally do anything smaller than 10’x8’ – until now.

Labradors have to be one of my favourite breed of dogs and definitely one of my favourite to draw.

Sandy
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Feeling uninspired

Weim
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Why is it when I’m busy on a commission, I want to draw this or paint that but when I have the time to work on my own drawings I am no longer inspired and nothing interests me enough to pick up my pencils? Just like when I have no money to spend I see lots of clothes or art materials with my name on them but when I have money I can’t see anything. Take last week for example, I really wanted to draw a horse but could I find ‘the’ reference photo to work from – no. I spent way too long looking though and still didn’t find it.

I think part of my problem is that I ideally want to start working from photos that I have taken, especially now that exhibitions, shows and competitions are virtually insisting on this, but I’m a novice when it comes to photography and I don’t really have a lot to choose from what I do have.

One of my goals for this year is to ‘learn more about my camera and improve my photography skills’ and this is exactly what I’m going to do, starting from now. To help me I have just signed up for a free DSLR Skills Course – if you're like me and are interested you can find details here – and hopefully by the end of the 6 months I’ll be happily snapping away with my camera and producing photos I’m happy with. If so I should have more than enough reference material to keep me busy, happy and motivated.

I did start a pencil drawing of a Weimaraner, as you can see above, but I’m struggling a bit with enthusiasm to get it finished. Could be a lot to do with the way I am feeling generally about my own work just now, but he wont be binned (I’ve invested too many hours on him to do that and I do like him). He’ll simply be put to one side to finish another time. I like having a pencil drawing on the go that I can do small bits here and there when the mood takes me.

Maddie

Maddie
8'x10' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Maddie is now finished and, despite my pencil issues at the start with getting the right colours for her tan markings, I’m pleased with how she has turned out. I always say it’s like getting the right ‘formula’ of pencils:)

I’m really enjoying the close-up portraits and hope to have the opportunity to do a lot more like this in the future - it’s nice to move away from the traditional head study and do something that bit different. The one thing I have found though, after working on both Colin and Maddie, is that they take a lot longer to finish than a head study. This is mainly down to the fact you can see more detail in a close up, so more to put in, and of course more paper is being covered in pencil - both of which take time. Something I need to think about when doing more like this.

Quick update

'Maddie'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Made some progress with Maddie, though not as much as I’d have liked thanks to having to ferry my daughter here there and everywhere it seemed lately. Just as I would be about to sit down with pencils in hand I was needed elsewhere. She’s back at school tomorrow so should get this finished in the next couple of days.

Another Cocker

Here are the first stages of Maddie, the last in my run of Cocker Spaniels that I have had the pleasure to draw. She has definitely been the most challenging out of the bunch to get right because of her colouring. I am told she is lemon and white with her ‘lemon’ being more of a light tan colour, which is straight forward enough if you have the right coloured pencils.

This is the one colour that coloured pencil manufacturers either omit from their range or haven’t got right in my opinion so I need to play around with what I have. Lots of experimenting – mainly on scrap paper so as not to ruin my drawing:) Think I’m going in the right direction now which is where you want to be heading.

'Maddie'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

A Titleless Horse

8"x11" Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Before working on my next commission I wanted to finish off this graphite drawing of a horse I started at the beginning of last year. I’m not sure it was such a good idea though as my right shoulder started to ache while I was working on the background. I remember thinking how I should really stop when I got the first niggling pains but carried on regardless. Big mistake as it turned out - my shoulder was sore for the next few days! As a result there hasn’t been much activity behind the drawing board this past week and what has been done isn’t worth showing at this stage.

I’m currently trying to come up with a title for this piece and open to any suggestions anyone might have.