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:
OMG I thought this was a photograph!!! Beautiful Laura!
What did you use for the black background? Ink? Gouache? Watercolor?
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.
WOW! I ride horses :)
That is one amazing photo! How did you learn?
Thank you Lily-Rose, though this is a graphite pencil drawing and not a photo:-D
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!
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
Oh wow! Amazing work.
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.
Wow, so impressive. Here's to you and your daughter and a wonderful 2011
You are very gifted Laura
I loved your drawing
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
That is a super stunning piece of work Laura.
Its so amazingly real!
wow thats amazing im at school and no of my art teachers could get close to that it is amazing
that is absolutely amazing Laura...the detail is so realistic and I love the composition too...beautiful
WOW!!! That's beautiful. I love your drawings, they are so good and look so much like photos taken with a camera! GOOD JOB!
Laura, i'm a new drawer. I am just learning, do you have any tips for me?
You are very gifted! I think a good name for him would be "Whiskers":)
three words. Beau-ti-ful :)
lovely one
u have a lovely blog
check out my blog:
http://www.humortechblog.com
http://www.humortechblog.com
What an amazing photograph. Awesome!
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
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
Wow! I've never seen a work like this before!!
Love it!
Greets from Germany
Angie
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. :)
it's beautiful!!!!
luv ur blog....!!!
cheers!!!
http://vivarjitha-lifeisbeautiful.blogspot.com/
I've just starting following your blog and absolutely lovely work. I love dogs too.
Gloria
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.
Wonderful work!!!
I am so happy that I stumbled across your page. Your work is exquisite. You are amazing!
hi there,
WOW! i'm speachless... you are amazing! please, keep up the great work!
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 ;)
ваш блог очень интересный! спасибо из Москвы:)
what a magnificent drawing - good you decided to finish it
WOW!!!! These portraits are wonderful!!!! They are so similar to a photograph. You have real skill, well done!
You are truly talented :)
Absolutely stunning work, such atmosphere in this piece)
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. =)
if you don't mind me saying, that drawing is unbelievable. congratulations - i only wish i had that kind of talent!
Just awesome!! Sharply and deeply.
it's amazing! :)
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.
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?
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...
I am loving your work of art. Very artistic!
brook saddle
Hi there, Laura.
Wow, I am some impressed with your work!!!
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.
What a talent you have!! Fabulous work!!
Thanks for sharing.
Hard to believe this is not a photo! Great job. I wish you would paint my dogs some day.
Irina
http://dogobediencetrainingeasy.com
very sensitive
Beautiful painting, laura....
How long have you learned and who taught you to paint with a beautiful technique like this?
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.
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
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
Stunning work!!
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.
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/
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.
I loved your blog and the animals! Please visit my blog: juliabijuterias.blogspot.com
Incredibile!!!!! Stupendo!!!!!
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
Wow!fantastic,so stunning pic.
Thanks for sharing beauty full post.
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