Thursday, December 30, 2010

Last portrait for 2010

Tino
10'x8' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was good to you. I don't have a big family unfortunately (though some people may say that is a good thing:)) so it was a very quiet, but enjoyable, one for us at the Hardie household this year - just me and my kids! Spending time now relaxing and making the most of what's left of the holidays before I throw myself back into drawing and painting - first portrait of 2011 is going to be a painting so looking forward to that. Thinking a lot too about my goals for next year and what I want to achieve but more about those hopefully in my next post.

I have one more portrait to share with you before the year is out as you can see above. I actually finished this one back at the end of November but couldn't show you at the time as it was to be a surprise present for someone - delighted to say they were very happy with it. Vizslas are another breed that I love drawing but I can struggle with their colouring before I'm completely happy - reds are always difficult to get just right with coloured pencils (or is that only me:)) I did take a couple of in-progress scans while working on it...........

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed and supported my work throughout the year and I hope you will continue to enjoy my art here in 2011. Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR - here's hoping it's a prosperous one for us all!

66 comments:

Sue Clinker said...

Tino is beautiful ... but I wouldn't expect any less from you Laura.

So pleased you had a good Christmas and I wish you happiness and success in 2011.

Laura said...

Thank you Sue - no pressure then:-D

Spent Christmas with the two most important people in my life so what more can I ask for. Hope yours was a good one too xx

Sadami said...

Dear Laura,
Oh, I really, really love this work!!! Tino looks very nice. How sweet you are! Thank you for sharing these wonderful works. Wish you a Happy New Year.
Best wishes, Sadami

Laura said...

Thank you Sadami, you're too kind. Wishing you the very best for 2011:-)

noch said...

Это нарисованно с помощью планшета или отсканировано?
Как бы то небыло, очень красиво... вообще люблю животных)))

It is drawn with a tablet or scanned?
As if that was not very nice ... I do love animals)))
P.S. Sorry, but English is bad I know

Unknown said...

Oh. My. GAWD.

MY colored pencils don't do THIS! :) You are very, very talented.

Patrice said...

Hello! I'm your newest follower. My daughter and I literally stumbled on your blog and I'm so glad we did.
Your work is absolutely exquisite. I come from an art background and my daughter is currently teaching herself to watercolor, with great success. We will both be back to visit. Have a Happy New Year!

RSA QLD said...

I thought that was a picture until I saw the half finished sketch!! You're very VERY talented, Happy New Year :)

Melancholy State said...

wow

Ken said...

WOW! Your work in awesome!

yaya said...

Congrats on being a "blog of note"..great way to find really fun blogs like yours! Your drawings look more like photos..so beautiful! I had to go back to older posts to see if you had a boxer and was happy to see that you do! Boxers are a fav at our house. Have a happy new year!

Natural Spain said...

Oh my God! I thougt it was a picture too until I saw the second one!

Meredith said...

You're amazing! I, too, thought I was looking at a photograph...until I got further down and saw the scans of the work in progress.

I notice, by the way, that I can't see any pencil outline on those scans. Do you completely freehand your work without so much as sketching the rough shape ahead of time? How do you get the proportions so perfect?

Jaky said...

Man! You're a master! All your posts are so cute. A much deserved notable blog of the year :) Happy New Year!

Angela said...

So glad you are a blog of note. This is really beautiful. I am sure that your clients treasure your art. It must feel good to know you are making people happy!

Anonymous said...

WOW! That is so beautiful. You do a really good job with your art! I have tried to do that, but i have no success! Good job, and i wish you the very best new year! God Bless!

Anonymous said...

hi, they are great drawings! I like them so much! The same, wish you happy new year.

Anonymous said...

your work is unbelievable! you have an amazing gift!!! never stop painting (:

Swadhi said...

Have been going through some of your posts...your work is really beautiful! How much would a commissioned piece be, may I ask?

Bob Scotney said...

What a great portrait of Tino. Even the work in progress look as if he has been in a bag of flour.

Elen Susan said...

That's an amazing art work. You are really talented. You are soo good at this work. I don't haev words to describe your painting. It's soo good.
Wishing you a very happy and blessed New year!

Symdaddy said...

That's a rare talent you have there!

Rebecca said...

Oh my goodness...
How do you do that? Seriously.. how is your art so amazing?
<3 I genuinely would love to know. I want to be as good as you!

hmuxo said...

Beautiful Beautiful portrait!! Bravo!!

MrCachet said...

Excellent work! I've decided to follow. I do have a request, however. I too use colored pencils almost exclusively, and I would like to know what kind of paper (or board) you are using for your support. These that I've looked at are absolutely awesome!

Selena said...

I just stumbled upon your blog through Blogs of Note on my dashboard and I just wanted to tell you that your work is just wonderful. I'm your newest follower.

Thank you for such lovely art.

Selena
The Enchanted Book

Anonymous said...

Oh My Gosh!!! I thought this was a photograph at first!!! this is outstandingly good you are sooo talented. I'm a new follow and I can't wait to see your next work :D
Happy New Year!!!

Misha said...

Amazing work, Laura.

My children and I are thoroughly wowed!

Anonymous said...

those are really great!!! i like the blog too =) follow mine if you want at http://jenniferscavone.blogspot.com

CIAO BELLA!

Natyy.babe said...

Wow that picture is amazing, How long have you been drawing?

It looks so real.

California Girl said...

That is amazing. It is so photographic. Beautiful beautiful work. Found you through Blogs of Note.

SublimeHues said...

Beautiful work! Happy New Year!

whispersandteardrops said...

truly ,truly amazing! your work is facinating.keep it up!

miichu.xx said...

omg! :O
your arts are amazing *__*
you just draw it with colored pencils? :O
woooow.
now i'm your biggest fan xD
love your doing x3
miichu.xx

Laura said...

Thank you SO much everyone for all the great comments - what a lovely start to the New Year seeing them all and welcome to all the new followers to my blog - I guess I have 'Blogs of Note' to thank for that. How exciting to see my blog noted in this way (thank you Blogger team:))

@Swadhi - thank you for your kind words, you can see a list of my prices on my website at www.petportraits-bylaura.com/prices.htm

@MrCachet - Tino was drawn on Fabriano Artistico hp watercolour paper (extra white). I've used Fabriano Artistico very happily for years as it is smooth enough to achieve the detail I am after and has enough tooth to take many layers of pencil however lately I've been looking for a whiter paper as the Artistico is too 'off-white' for my liking. I'm still looking for a nice white paper that I like.

@Natyy.babe - I've been drawing literally for as long as I can remember but professionally for 7 years:-)

Hope I've answered all the questions and haven't left any out. Wishing you all a happy New Year xx

♥ onsku said...

That's great! =) Could you draw my dog? :)

My Mother's Daughter said...

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing these. I look forward to following you in 2011.

Marie said...

Hi, just new to your blog, came across it from someone ele's blog. I love your art work, really fabulous. Happy New Year.

Unknown said...

Hello, Your art is amazing - I just stumbled onto your site and I am going to forward it to my daughter (she is a 17 year old budding artist - she has been drawing since she was 5) who loves working with colored pencils. I did not realize what was possible with that medium. If I could ask, what paper do you use to produce a work of art like that of the beautiful dog.

Mary said...

This is gorgeous work! I've done a few animal portraits, nothing to this level of expertise of course. I look forward to more of your work.

hand made said...

Good topic and we hope more

Betty Manousos said...

What an adorable dog!
Great portrait!

Happy New Year!
Betty

Robin George said...

Hey Laura! You're really awesome! I too am a sketch artiste but not that perfectionist like you. :) I'm a dog lover & felt very nice too see these amazing works of yours. Your sketches are worth million. Keep sketching... Keep posting... :-)

Anonymous said...

That's soooo hot i like painting too.
i'm not that good but i don't care :P
when i first saw the dog i thought it was a photo!! haha your fucking godnesss!!!! love it!

ProudUSARECWife said...

You are amazingly talented! I thought these were photographs!

Julia said...

wow, really beautiful! :)
happy new year! ;)

Greatings,
Julia ♥

ananart said...

you painted with Acrylic color? So cute and professional .^_^

ananart said...

you painted with Acrylic color? So cute and professional .^_^

gwen fox said...

Laura....great portrait but I must admit ...I love Farley!

PriPat said...

wow!! mesmerizing work of art!!

Annay Dawson said...

Okay all I can say is Wow! Such great work.

Unknown said...

Wow! Your work is incredibly detailed! Very very impressed.

Rebecca Taylor said...

Such stunning work as ever Laura!
Your so incredibly talented :)
happy new year!

Roger Brown Art said...

Unbelievable work ,thought I was looking at a photo.Great to see some real art for a change I see so much rubbish that claims to be art.Look forward to visiting your blog again and seeing your new work for 2011.

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ivana said...

this is just beautiful, i love your work Laura. Your colouring is just perfect, red or any other colour...happy new year

RS said...

how on earth do u draw these?? they're amazing!!! so realistic and detailed. keep up the fantastic work. =)

Anonymous said...

Wow, your art is absolutely amazing!

ananart said...

happy new year

ananart said...

Thankyou.

but you drawing really perfect

amazing ^_^

i work about fine art in Thailand

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!

LaziaBoo said...

you are a true artist

Marshall Lynch said...

what a beautiful dog.great work.

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Anonymous said...

Wow, that looks just like a photograph! I would never have guess it wasn't.

Anonymous said...

O, wonderful work!

Kesha Tickets said...

Beautiful,delicate,enigmatic