Wednesday, January 05, 2011

New Start

Graphite Pencil, 24cm x 24cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

The start of a New Year - my daughter said to me on the 1st that she feels it is going to be a good one for us and after the last two we’ve had I’m hoping she’s right - we’re definitely due a good year and I, for one, am looking forward to it. So here’s to 2011, may it be a happy, healthy and productive one for us all.

Normally over the Christmas break, in between eating way too much (I would say drinking and partying too but I’m a good girl:)) I give some thought to my art goals and plans for the coming year. In the past I’ve put those up for all to see – the more people that saw my goals, the more real they were, making me more accountable to them and seeing them through. Gives you that extra push, well that was my reasoning, but what you never take into account is life and what it can throw at you. Those life ‘challenges’ can really interfere with all your good intentions no matter how hard you try not to let them. So this year, while I do have a business plan (honest) and know where I want to be heading, I’m going to keep it to myself for the time being. While I feel a lot more positive and determined this year I’m not unrealistic - I’m still going through a very painful divorce and I know that when I get those papers through the post that it will hit me hard as anybody who has gone through a divorce will know. Hoping that keeping myself occupied with my art and trying to achieve my set goals will help take my mind of it. As would a gorgeous, kind, thoughtful, Adonis ……..oh, and a lottery win – one or both would be very nice and a great help I’m sure!

The picture in today’s post is a drawing of a horse I started back in July of last year but gave up working on as I had no motivation left to finish it. Amazing what a break from a piece and looking at it with fresh eyes can do - I’m a lot happier with it now and just need to come up with a suitable title. Any suggestions welcome. I’m now thinking about including more horses to my portfolio in the hope of getting a drawing or two into the SEA Exhibition this year.

I’d like to finish this post by welcoming all the new followers to my blog, over 200 of you – I’m delighted you like it enough to want to come back. It was a wonderful surprise to see Animal Art Adventures had been chosen by the Blogger team as their ‘Blog of Note’ (thank you Blogger team:)) – how exciting to see my blog recognised in this way. I hope you all continue to like my work in 2011 and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

62 comments:

Heather M. said...

OMG I thought this was a photograph!!! Beautiful Laura!

MrCachet said...

What did you use for the black background? Ink? Gouache? Watercolor?

Laura said...

Thank you Heather:-D

Dave, the background is all graphite - started with a layer of HB then built up my layers using grades 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B.

Lily-Rose said...

WOW! I ride horses :)
That is one amazing photo! How did you learn?

Laura said...

Thank you Lily-Rose, though this is a graphite pencil drawing and not a photo:-D

Brenda said...

Beautiful work Laura! I think you should definitely draw some more horses. You have captured this one brilliantly and with so much character. Good luck in the New Year!

Sadami said...

Dear Laura,
So lovely work!! with all graphete backgroud!! Amazing. Please keep up wonderful work and hope...you will win lotteris.
Best wishesʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ
Sadami

Unknown said...

Oh wow! Amazing work.

Berts Blog said...

WEll I am a definite fan of your dog art but this is such a beautiful horse (as are all your others) it has prompted me to send your site out to all my equestrian friends. I know they will love your work and probably try and contact you for some work. thanks for your beautiful site.

Cheryl Mellema said...

Wow, so impressive. Here's to you and your daughter and a wonderful 2011

lovegardens said...

You are very gifted Laura
I loved your drawing

Laura said...

Thank you so much for your comments:-D

@Brenda - besides my next commission it is going to be a couple of horse drawings next I think.

@Bert - that is so nice of you to say so thank you. And a huge thank you to the recommendation:-D

Rebecca Taylor said...

That is a super stunning piece of work Laura.
Its so amazingly real!

Anonymous said...

wow thats amazing im at school and no of my art teachers could get close to that it is amazing

ivana said...

that is absolutely amazing Laura...the detail is so realistic and I love the composition too...beautiful

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! That's beautiful. I love your drawings, they are so good and look so much like photos taken with a camera! GOOD JOB!

Rhiannonb. said...

Laura, i'm a new drawer. I am just learning, do you have any tips for me?

Deb Williams said...

You are very gifted! I think a good name for him would be "Whiskers":)

Khlodia said...

three words. Beau-ti-ful :)

Lwolverine said...

lovely one
u have a lovely blog


check out my blog:

http://www.humortechblog.com

http://www.humortechblog.com

Memoirs of Me & Mine said...

What an amazing photograph. Awesome!

pett paintings said...

All good wishes for a great year ahead Laura....there is life after divorce and the pain goes away (eventually) stay focussed on your plans and keep turning out stunning work like this...you deserve a fantastic year xx

Laura said...

Thank you everyone for the great comments - delighted you like my drawing:-D

Maddy, there is so much advice you could give on drawing but probably the best is to practice, practice, practice and you can't fail to improve and learn with each drawing. Look at other artists work you admire and learn from them, read books, sketch from life as often as you can, join a local art group - to name but a few. If it's animals you are interested in drawing there is a great forum (http://pet-portraitartist.com/forum/) where you can get lots of help from other artists.

And thank you Kay, the pain is the hardest part but I'm getting there, albeit very slowly:-D

Angie said...

Wow! I've never seen a work like this before!!
Love it!
Greets from Germany
Angie

Barbara said...

wow! Black Beauty, so real! I'm so impressed, I'm.... speechless, they are all just so perfect, so alive! I'll definitely come back. :)

Sharmada Nagarajan said...

it's beautiful!!!!
luv ur blog....!!!
cheers!!!
http://vivarjitha-lifeisbeautiful.blogspot.com/

dogcarespecialist.info said...

I've just starting following your blog and absolutely lovely work. I love dogs too.

Gloria

Roger Brown Art said...

Between my Mom,brother and I, we thought the title should be something like (Noble blood).Or since it looks like a mature ,older horse something like (Reflection of wisdom).These are just crazy suggestions you'll probably think of something much better.But a great drawing, love the contrast of the dark background.

glasswork said...

Wonderful work!!!

Amy Cappelli said...

I am so happy that I stumbled across your page. Your work is exquisite. You are amazing!

Anonymous said...

hi there,
WOW! i'm speachless... you are amazing! please, keep up the great work!

Louise Page said...

Laura, you are the best charcoal and pencil illustrator I have ever seen!!
I am an illustrator (realist artist) too.
Your work is what realist art/illustration is all about.
There's no need for you to be a 'starving artist' with this work ;)
Cheers, Louise ;)

_Dekard said...

ваш блог очень интересный! спасибо из Москвы:)

Lene Daugaard said...

what a magnificent drawing - good you decided to finish it

S said...

WOW!!!! These portraits are wonderful!!!! They are so similar to a photograph. You have real skill, well done!

Pamela Arapi said...

You are truly talented :)

Unknown said...

Absolutely stunning work, such atmosphere in this piece)

TheTraveler said...

As for naming this piece, may I suggest "The Welcome Whinny"

The moment I saw this lovely piece, it reminded me of exactly how my horse looked, the moment he saw me walking out towards him in his pasture. It was his 'I'm So Happy To See You' Whinny. He knew that my approach meant he was going out for a ride, followed by a good grooming and a bucket of mixed oats, molasses, apples and carrots.

Your work is phenominal and your talent is precise. I wish you the best. =)

05chtone said...

if you don't mind me saying, that drawing is unbelievable. congratulations - i only wish i had that kind of talent!

Alex said...

Just awesome!! Sharply and deeply.

Anonymous said...

it's amazing! :)

Isavegas said...

Your horse art is amazing. Highly detailed and obviously done with respect for the horse. Sorry I don't have any idea for the title. I'm new to blogs and the art caught my attention enough to "follow". I'm going to check out your dog drawings that you apparently have on your website. Keep up the beautiful art.

J.C. Haynes said...

Oh my Lord... your work is FLAWLESS. I am speechless. You have a true gift. Amazing work, I am so impressed! Did you go to art school or have you just always had this talent?

Charlie said...

Wotcha love. Your reckon you could paint me? I'm a rather striking mink, if I do say so meself and am rather partial to the idea of seeing meself in oils. Something for the grandkids, like...

cathy said...

I am loving your work of art. Very artistic!

brook saddle

Elenka said...

Hi there, Laura.
Wow, I am some impressed with your work!!!

Laura said...

Wow, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback - and thank you to Roger and The Traveler for your title suggestions, I'm still contemplating this one :-D

@JC Haynes - Yes I went to art college many years ago now but have always enjoyed drawing for as long as I can remember.

Gabriele Agustini said...

What a talent you have!! Fabulous work!!
Thanks for sharing.

smartfoolonline said...

Hard to believe this is not a photo! Great job. I wish you would paint my dogs some day.

Irina
http://dogobediencetrainingeasy.com

butterfly journal said...

very sensitive

Aulia said...

Beautiful painting, laura....
How long have you learned and who taught you to paint with a beautiful technique like this?

Mandi said...

Wow!!
This is just too good. Your ability is amazing ... I'm so jealous, my horses always end up more like ... well this.

http://bit.ly/hSJ2Wb

He's a bit delusional.

Grim's Stream Blog said...

Wow! This is gorgeous! You are showing off the very basics of art with a potential that I have not seen in a long time. Working with graphite is not easy, I have done it myself. ^^

If you are interested, I am an aspiring writer and I think you might like to check out my blog.

www.fantasyaction.blogspot.com

Amion said...

Oh my that is stunning!
Great job.

How many pencils did you use up during that drawing? It must have been more than 10! :D

Shirley Bittner said...

Stunning work!!

Selene said...

You artwork is very beautiful. I have recently been dabbling in drawing and sketching some. A fellow co-worker of mine who worked at Hal-Mark once said that I have great potential for some one who has never been trained. I love to see all kinds of art. You are very talented.

AutumnBoy said...

Hi Laura

Your an incredibly talented artist
I am sure I will not be disappointed as a new follower
Wish you and yours blessings in the new year
Congrats on making blog note, things are looking up already!

Ab

http://loveofautumn.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I found your blog and your eye for detail to be truly inspiring, which I say at the risk of echoing the above sentiments; refreshing, even. Your patience must be astronomical. I also thank you for the tip of building up the layers of graphite - having never participated in an art class, it has never occurred to me to try such a thing. I don't suppose you have advice on how to stop the graphite from shining under direct light? I moved on to charcoal for that reason, but I find it harder to control particularly when I'm out of practice. Once again, kudos.

Júlia said...

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Elena Sanson said...

Incredibile!!!!! Stupendo!!!!!

Laura said...

I'm actually lost for words at all the lovely comments I've had for this drawing - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who has commented, I've loved reading each and every one of them.

@Amion - I actually didn't use that many pencils for this drawing come to think of it - maybe had to replace a couple but that was all:-D

@Airazaneo - thank you for your kind words. I don't have any tips to stop graphite shine unfortunately. To be honest it is something that doesn't bother me and I don't notice it the majority of the time. Have you tried carbon pencils? You might find you prefer those to charcoal:-D

Auction said...

Wow!fantastic,so stunning pic.

Thanks for sharing beauty full post.