Holly finished

Holly
12'x10' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Progress on Hollys' portrait has been slow and I had hoped to have her finished last week but, as always seems to be the case lately, life got in the way of that. And I'm still having problems with my computer which didn't help! Now need to play catch up with my next portrait:)

Holly

Working away happily on a commissioned portrait of a Cocker Spaniel by the name of Holly and thought I would show you where I am at with it (looks a bit strange without her nose:)).

Holly
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

It's been a while since I have accepted commissioned work, having taken time out for the majority of the year, but I'm delighted to say that I am now taking orders again from anyone that is interested in having a portrait or looking for an original work of art. Contact details etc, are on my website.

Cocker Spaniel in pencil

18cmx28cm,Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010
(My thanks to Nicola McClure for the reference photo used for this drawing)

And he’s finished. Still thinking of a suitable title and need to give this some more thought over the coming week – the hardest part of any drawing I often think!

Not quite sure what I’m going to attempt next …….. I'm thinking another Weim. I have a couple of references of this dog that I like so just need to choose which to do first.

Cocker in progress

I’m really enjoying working with pencil just now so decided to stay with it for my next drawing. Not only that but my subject is the gorgeous Rodaidh who you will be familiar with from my previous post. I wanted the focal point of this drawing to be his face with everything else not being quite as detailed. Not sure if I’m achieving this exactly though or if my hand knows how to do this - before I know it the detail is in. Loosening off now that I’ve made a start on his body – it’s funny because I find I have to think a lot more when trying to achieve less.

I've taken a few progress shots along the way which you may (or may not) find interesting.

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Changes

'Anticipation'
Approx. 23cmx19cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Still here – just! Things haven’t settled down as I’d hoped and, quite simply, life in general is a bit chaotic away from the drawing board not giving me much time to draw – lots of things thrown at me that I need to deal with unfortunately. As a result I am unable to accept commissioned work at this time and can't actually say whether or not this will be an option open to me in the future and I guess only time will tell.

I’m not giving up on my art altogether however, and instead I’m going to use this time (or at least what I have) concentrating on my own drawings and paintings and putting together a portfolio of work. It’s something I’ve been promising myself for long enough and I do need to do. What direction I want, and can, go with my art is still at a very early ‘not sure’ stage – I need to wait until things have settled down in my life and I have a clear head to make decisions with.

I needed something relaxing to work on, and of course the perfect subject, so chose to do a pencil drawing of a beautiful Cocker Spaniel called Rodaidh. The beauty of pencils is you can pick them up where you left off without any hassle and I do love to scribble away with my pencils – perfect combination! Rodaidh is not long finished and has now passed the ‘tweaking’ stage so is ready to be mounted and framed. I’m calling this drawing ‘Anticipation’ (thank you to fellow artist Karl Connolly for this suggestion).

My thanks to Nicola McClure for the reference photo.

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

Misty

Misty
12'x10' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I think I must be getting old as I can’t seem to do more than one and a half hours of drawing at a time lately without getting aches of some sort (just now it is my back) and I have to get up and move around a bit to ‘loosen’ up. I suppose being hunched over my drawing board for hours doesn’t help – that and the fact I could really do with a more comfortable chair to sit in.

Misty is now finished and sitting where I can look at her over the next couple of days to see if anything screams ‘fix me’. If not, and she is approved, it’s a trip to my framers for a mount before posting. In the meantime I have made a start on my next portrait which is that little bit different from the traditional head study as you can see from the reference on the right.

Spaniel update

Misty
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Another of my ‘quick posts’ where I don’t say much (do I ever) but to give you an update of where I am with Misty. As you can see there is just her neck area left to do.

Back to work

Starting the year off with another Cocker Spaniel. This is Misty and apparently she is always carrying something in her mouth so what better way to portray her than with one of her balls – as her owner told me ‘it sums her up nicely’. For me though it’s her soulful eyes – I could see me playing ball all day long with her if she gave me a look like this.

Misty
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Outside it is snowing again – I know we are not suffering nearly as much as in other areas of the UK, but having lived with it for over three weeks now I’ve had enough and just want it all to go away. I need some sun I think:)

Merry Christmas

Rhu
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Rab and Rhu
12"x16" Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Both Rab and Rhu are finished which means my pencils can now be put away over the Christmas holidays. I’ve not got anything special planned so it will be a quiet one for me this year, most likely spent watching too much TV and eating lots of chocolate. Whatever I do I hope it’ll be a time to relax, although I’m not sure that’s entirely possible living with a teenage, hormonal daughter:)

It’s not been a good year for me as regular readers of my blog will know but I’ve had some amazing support from people both here on my blog and through personal emails which I want you to know gave me much needed strength and confidence when I needed it. I’ve appreciated each and every comment/email – every one encouraged me to keep going through what I wont deny has been a very difficult and emotional period of my life - so a huge, warm, heartfelt THANK YOU to you all.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all who follow and read my blog a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Here’s to 2010.

More Cocker Spaniels

'Rab'
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

It’s snowing outside, Christmas songs are playing continuously on the radio as I work, presents are all wrapped and under the tree, plenty of mince pies are being consumed but I’m struggling to get into the festive spirit – it just isn’t happening this year. I normally love Christmas too.

I’m still working away on the Cocker Spaniel portrait and need to get this finished before Christmas. As you can see, Rab is now finished and I’ve made a start on Rhu.

'Rhu'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

And how they are looking together so far .......

'Rab and Rhu'
Copyright Laura hardie 2009

Spaniel update

'Rab'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Just popping in briefly with an update to show that Rab now has both ears and the beginnings of his neck area. Nearly there. Providing I don’t spend too long Christmas shopping, he should be finished tomorrow.

Back to colour

'Rab'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Another Cocker Spaniel and this time he is one of a pair I am working on. I don’t think I’ve come across a breed of dog that has such variations in coat colour and markings – I’m assuming, after doing a bit of research, Rab is an orange roan but please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

Woofie

Woofie
10x8 Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Finished. Neck area is now complete, and it has gone through the usual scrutinization process over the weekend to see if anything needs added, removed, lightened, darkened or tweaked a bit here and there. He is now awaiting approval and then I can add the final touch – my signature.

This weekend also saw me (at long last) adding PayPal buttons to my website which didn’t turn out to be as harrowing as I thought it would be. Actually it was all very straightforward – too straightforward if I’m being honest, which now makes me question if I’ve done it right and if they're actually going to work. If only Photoshop were as easy. Anyway, with my buttons added I now have my ‘Shop’ up and running. Here you can purchase limited edition prints, prints of your portrait, original artwork and eventually greetings cards. It is still a work in progress as I will be adding to it over the coming weeks but it’s a start and you have to start somewhere as they say.

Something else I have added to my website that may well go unnoticed if I don’t point it out, is a new portrait size. I have decided to go smaller and introduced an 8”x6”. It will be interesting to see how this goes and if it actually turns out to be a popular size.

Cocker Spaniel update

Woofie
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Made some more progress on the ears and, other than the odd touch-up here and there, would say they are finished. It never ceases to amaze me just how time consuming drawing all those curls can actually be but I do admit to a feeling of great satisfaction when they are finally done:)

Not much more to do now – just the neck area, which I’ll hopefully finish tomorrow.

Cocker Spaniel

Back in May of this year I, along with a few other artists, donated a portrait as a prize in a raffle run by Cockers Online who were running a charity fundraiser to benefit the Oldies Club. Very briefly the Oldies Club look after elderly dogs and help to find new homes for them so that they can see out their days in a loving environment. The winner of my raffle was Woofie whose portrait I have made a start on this week.

Woofie
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Woofie is actually the first in a run of four Cocker Spaniels I have to do (two single and one double portrait) which means lots of curly ears in store for me. I spent today working on Woofies ears and as you can see I managed to finish one and make a start on the other – only eight and a half to go (not that I’m counting:))

Another Cocker Spaniel

I don't know if it's the weather, something in the air or the stress that comes with the run up to Christmas but I've not been feeling myself these past two weeks - all headachy. Feeling like this does not help when you have to do close, detailed drawings so let's just say not enough's been getting done.

Something I did manage to finish despite all my suffering and pain was this beautiful Cocker Spaniel with very curly ears - my favourite.

Cocker Spaniels

Morse and Lewis
16x12 Coloured Pencil
Commission

My latest portrait of two Cocker Spaniels is now finished - 33 hours later, taking slightly longer than I had planned. I blame it on the ears. I'm going to be honest here, I've never been totally happy doing Spaniels ears in coloured pencil (and I love their floppy ears) but don't have this problem with pastel or paint.

It's all those layers of curls and flicks going this way and that and trying to create depth at the same time that I find a bit daunting. Strange I know but true all the same. Despite my 'struggle', and I'm sure we all have them, I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Is there a subject you find challenging or dislike doing? Do let me know and help make me feel less guilty about picking on Spaniels ears.