SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Time Out
Pencil, 37cm x 27cm

Copyright Laura Hardie 2012

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Was a quiet, but very enjoyable one for me and the kids but now it’s back to work. Well it should have been had I not received THE best email that saw me jumping about the place with excitement all morning! Think I have calmed down enough now to share my good news with you and might even get some work done this afternoon. My drawing ‘Time Out’ has been awarded 1^st place, that’s 1^st place, in the Drawing Category of the Art Horse Magazines International Equine Art Competition, Ex Arte Equinus VI. Not only this, another of my entries ‘Pep Talk’ has been accepted into the show.

This is the first time I have entered work into this competition so to say I am excited really is an understatement and I’m still trying to take it all in. You could say it’s made my day, especially when you see the standard and quality of work from other artists in previous years shows. They are still available to view on the Art Horse Magazine website should you be interested. Well worth a look.

This years Show should be online sometime in January or February – I will of course (if you hadn't already guessed:)) keep you informed when that, and the book, is out. Now I really must get some work done. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Bobby
10''x 8'', Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2012

Christmas has definitely crept up on me this year so everything has been left to the last minute, except cards funnily enough, I had these written and posted ridiculously early for me. But after what has to be the most stressful weekend ever fighting my way through crowds of Christmas shoppers I’ve never seen the likes of before, I can happily say presents are bought, wrapped and under the tree and the fridge and cupboards are full. All that is left for me to do now is hibernate until the New Year - with my pencils and paper of course. I have lots to do and so planning many an hour of me drawing, and very possibly painting, time.

The drawing in todays post was a Christmas commission but one that didn’t quite make it under the tree until the 25^th so I can safely share with you now. It was commissioned by a very thoughtful husband as a present to his wife and is actually one of two portraits, the other of which I will share in my next post.

Before I sign off I’d like to say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to all my friends and followers of my blog, for all your support and encouragement you have given me throughout the year – it means such a lot to me. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and here’s to a productive and creative 2013 – think it’s going to be a good one! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE XX

Happy Lab

Black Lab (temporary, unimaginative title)
23cm x 28.5cm, Coloured Pencil on Canson Mi-Teintes

Copyright Laura Hardie 2012

Stayed with Canson paper for this drawing but think I might be extremely, to the point of beyond, fussy because I didn’t enjoy working on this particular sheet nearly as much as the one I used for the Clydesdale! Does that make sense because I’m not sure I get it. Not something I will dwell on, it’s all part of the learning process after all and it certainly hasn’t put me off Canson paper. It's still a paper I am liking very much and I see many a drawing being completed using it. After the chaos that is Christmas that is.

Copyright Laura Hardie 2012

Please do not use images without permission.

Clydesdale

Clydesdale

10.5'' x 12.5''
Coloured Pencil on Canson Mi-Teintes
Original SOLD
Copyright Laura Hardie 2012

Have been doing a lot of catching up with things in general lately and noticed I hadn’t blogged my Clydesdale drawing that I completed back in October. I wanted to do this drawing on coloured paper and found some Canson Mi-Teintes I’ve had stored away that I could use. Actually I have a portfolio packed full of paper I’ve gathered over the years and need to work my way through but I liked the colour of this one. Thought it would complement the horse. Only problem was I have never been a huge fan of Mi-Teintes – it is too ‘toothy’ and not a smooth enough paper for me. Or so I remembered. Turned out it was a joy to work on this time round and I now really like it – will reserve raving that I love it and can’t do without it until I have done a few more drawings first. It’s still a bit of a learning curve and there are things I need to get used to with it.

Delighted to say that ‘Camera Shy’ (see last post), won’t be stored away for ever more in my portfolio after all and is instead making its way to the US and a new home. Not sure if I’ll go down this route of selling a drawing again however as I found people were unsure about what to offer and what was fair. Had some good feedback from it though and twas a lesson learned if anything.

Not long to Christmas now, 17 sleeps is all! Think I might spend the rest of the day decorating the house and putting up the tree. My daughter tells me we are to go ‘‘all out’’ this year with lots of decorations so it might take some time. Should make me feel Christmassy too.