Another (adorable) Labrador!

19.5cm x 14cm
Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2012
Original available

Where has January gone!!! Seems to have just whizzed by for me which is a good thing really as it just means we’re that bit closer to spring and longer days – I’m not a winter person and would happily hibernate through it if I could. Wish I could say I’ve whizzed through some drawings but sadly no, this isn't the case. They still take what seems forever to complete!

I have finished this small coloured pencil drawing of a Lab (still thinking of a title) and realised I hadn’t shown it on my blog yet. It’s drawn on Mohawk Superfine paper, a new paper for me that I am currently trying out with mixed thoughts - LOVE it with pencil but still undecided, and a bit disappointed, when using it with my coloured pencils. Think I will need to do a few more drawings to get a better feel for it before I can decide if this one is a keeper or not.

Finished

Max
10.5" x 10.5", Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Still having problems with my computer and wishing that I was friends or living with a technical genius who could fix everything for me. Why, when something goes wrong with them does it have to be so complicated and frustrating to figure out and put right! But enough about my computer and onto the real reason for this post – Max and the final scan showing him all finished and ready for approval. Loved drawing this old boy.

Black Lab

Max
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Currently drawing one of my favourite subjects, a black Lab. Love, love, LOVE Labs! But then if you follow my ramblings on blogger you will already know this. I think Max might be the oldest Lab I’ve had the pleasure of drawing however – he certainly has the most grey hairs.

Inquiring Mind
Coloured Pencil, 23.5cm x 35cm
(With mount: 37.5cm x 48cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie

I only have one drawing left in the Dutch Auction as ‘Focused’ has sold and will soon be making it’s way to the US. That leaves ‘Inquiring Mind’, which strangely enough I thought would be the first to go, as the last one standing. It has dropped in price by another £20 and is now £90. If you would like more details or are interested in purchasing this drawing please email me.

'New' blog!

A Work in Progress
Coloured Pencil on gessoboard
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Couldn't resist playing around with templates in Blogger and give my blog a bit of a make over. I'm happy with this template (for now:)) but may make a few small changes here and there over the next couple of weeks. I know you can add pages for example, and I want to see if I can do this - hopefully it should be simple enough! Staying on the subject of my blog I'd like to draw your attention to the link to my Facebook page (on the sidebar to the right) and encourage anyone interested to follow my work and goings on there too - I tend to update this page slightly more frequently than I do my blog for some reason.

I've made a start on my next portrait, which is of a Rough Collie - not enough to warrant a photo for my blog just yet but those will follow over the next couple of days. I always find the start of a drawing takes the longest time as I find my way around and get to know my subject. I prefer the middle stage when everything seems to 'flow' a lot better.

The image in todays post is my Lab on gessoboard started back in September and currently still a work in progress. I'm still deciding what exactly I want to do with the background and if I should be brave and go for silver leaf in places. Need to give it lots more thought as I'd hate to ruin it at this late stage.

A Lab or two

28cm x38cm, Pencil on Mellotex
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Drawing number 3 (still trying to think of a title for this one) is now finished and can hopefully join Devotion and Patience at an exhibition in aid of Cancer Research here in Edinburgh later in the year. I will give details of this nearer the time for anyone who might be interested in going along.

My painting plans didn’t quite materialise after a disastrous start saw my attempts end up in the bin followed quickly by any enthusiasm I had left for it! Painting isn’t alien to me having done many in the past but it’s been a good few years since I’ve used my brushes and I found the whole experience frustrating. I just need to get used to them again and make paint like me. More patience would help too! I’ve not given up and I am going to go back to them as believe it or not I really do want to paint.

Still in ‘experiment mode’ I thought I would try coloured pencil on gessoboard instead and, after a bad start where I hated everything about the combination, I’m starting to like it. Saying this I’m not sure I’ll attempt another drawing on this surface simply because it doesn’t suit my way of working. I like to build up my values and tones through many layers of pencil and you can’t do that with gessoboard – I can get three, maybe four, layers at most. I also like my detail and couldn’t get as much of it in as I’d like which I thought was a good thing to start with as I’ve often talked about ‘loosening up’ and being less detailed but my hands say different. I guess you draw the way you draw and that is that.

Reflection
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Black Lab No 3

Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Wish my eyes were what they used to be 20 years ago! I’ve been noticing lately just how easy it is to over strain them if I spend too many hours drawing, and I’ve the headaches at the end of the day to prove it.

Not too much more left to do on my latest black Lab and then I’m going to put my pencils away for a while so I can play with paint again. I’ve been promising myself for long enough that I would dust of my brushes and I’m looking forward to it – I even have my first board drawn up ready to go but admit it looks a lot more daunting than a blank sheet of paper somehow.

And for anyone that's interested here are a couple of 'in progress' shots..........

Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Patience

Patience
29cm x 21cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Two down, one to go – drawings that is, for the exhibition I’ve been going on about in previous posts. I’m really enjoying working on this small series of drawings (and soon paintings) but need to get more Lab reference photos to work from I think as I’m running low.

I’m calling this piece ‘Patience’ as it reminds me so much of our dog Zara when she was at puppy classes. She would have to sit about 5 feet away from a very tasty, tantalizing treat that I’d placed on the floor and not touch it until I gave the command. She would have her eyes fixed on me the whole time, quickly checking now and again that her treat hadn’t moved, and willing me to let her get at it. It was hard not to feel a bit nasty when doing this, especially when she started drooling at the mouth and stared at me with those big brown eyes of hers. Really do miss her.

I’ve made a start on my next drawing – another black Lab but a different model. And just as handsome too! Should have progress shots of this to blog over the next few days.

Prints

'Black on White'

Pencil on Fabriano paper

Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Things are really busy, both behind and away from the drawing board, which is probably a good thing for me just now – less time to dwell on personal issues. Something I’m slowly working my way through (and organising) is my huge ‘to do’ list. One of the things on this list was to finish my pencil lab, which I did over the weekend and I’m really pleased with how he turned out – even more pleased to score something off as done:)

Another thing, which has been on my list for what seems forever, is to start doing prints of my work. Regular readers of my blog will be well aware of this and will have read about the (many) problems I’ve experienced along the way. But, I’m delighted to say, that all is now good and ‘Black on White’ can now be purchased as a Limited Edition print. The first of many if all goes to plan.

It comes in two sizes – small (225mmx174mm) and medium (280mmx205mm). Printed on specialist fine art paper with archival quality inks for long lasting quality, each print is hand signed by me and comes mounted ready for framing. Further details will be shown on my website as soon as I find the time to update it but should anyone be interested in enquiring about a print in the meantime please feel free to contact me via email.

Staying on the subject of prints I am also offering a print service to my customers (past and present) who wish to have one or more prints made of their portrait to give to friends or family. I’ve made prints from a few of my past portraits and have to say I’ve been really pleased with the quality and detail. Again, details will be put on my website but I can be contacted via email in the interim until this is done.

Moving on

'Black on White'
A Work in Progress

I should really start by offering my sincere apologies to all who follow or read my blog for the long delay between posts – thank you to those who have emailed concerned at my whereabouts, it’s nice to know I’ve been missed. I’d only intended taking a couple of weeks break, which to start with were fine, but just when I was preparing to throw myself back into my portraits life got in the way – and sadly none of it good.

Unfortunately I am not a strong person and someone who I loved and trusted for many years literally took it upon himself to destroy life as I knew it and while he was at it crushed what little confidence I had left. Trying to cope and make sense of his hate, all of it completely undeserved, has been a feat in itself and so hard to deal with that unfortunately my art (amongst other things) has suffered in the process. But, as the saying goes, life must go on and I do have commissions sitting waiting for me to complete. At this point I’d like to say a huge thank you to my customers who have been very patient, supportive and understanding at this time - it is much appreciated.

Things will take time to recover and I have to accept that fact and as a result I wont be working on my commissions as much as I’d like for the foreseeable future. Posts may therefore be a bit sporadic over the coming weeks/months but I do hope you stay with me as I’m not giving up on my art and will definitely be continuing with my blog.

During my summer break I did make a start on the above pencil drawing of a black Lab and actually don’t have much more left to do on him – his left leg needs finishing and various touch ups here and there should see him done. I love working with graphite pencils and should really do more with them – I actually have a reference of a Weimaraner that is screaming to be done in pencil so watch this space. First though I have a gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Bruno to do in coloured pencils and he is on my drawing board as I write, slowly coming to life. All going well I should have some progress shots to show in the next couple of days.

Black Labrador Pet Portrait

Tarka
12x10 Coloured pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie

I have had a run of Black Labs to draw recently and this is the last of them - for now anyway. I have another to do in a couple of months which I’m looking forward to doing as they’re great dogs and I always enjoy drawing them. Need to stock up on my black pencils before then though.

Black Lab in coloured pencil

Monty
10x8 Coloured Pencil

Copyright Laura Hardie

Schools are back tomorrow so hopefully things will return to normal behind the easel with more work getting done. I never seem to settle into my routine when there are kids around as I‘m always being distracted with one thing or another – I have a daughter who has an aversion to walking and prefers to be chauffeured around, pretty much on a daily basis. When they’re at school I get the peace and quiet I need to concentrate on my work.

I have not long finished this black lab. He has been sat on my easel all weekend to look at and see if there are any areas that jump out at me needing attention before I call it finished. I always find leaving a drawing for a couple of days and giving your eyes a break from it highlights any areas that might need fixed or worked on. All that’s left to do now is to have it mounted/matted before it's shipped off to its new owner.

Black Labs finished

Audley and Lola
Private commission

And here it is, the finished portrait with both dogs together.

I never think this is a good time of year productivity-wise for me with the kids now on their school holidays. I’ve tried not to let talk of holidays or thoughts of lazing in the sun get in the way of my work but I suppose subconsciously it does - and I have six weeks still to go.

It’s not that I don’t put in the hours in the studio, I just don’t seem to get a lot done and I'm easily distracted. Unfortunately my easel is next to a window looking out onto our street and I’m spending too much time watching the world go by and not enough time drawing. It doesn’t help neighbours over the road are getting an extension as I keep checking to see what the builders are working on next - like I said, easily distracted. Maybe I should get my sketchbook out and sketch the goings on – at least that way I can warrant the time away from my easel.

Black Lab - WIP 2

You saw Audley come together in my last post, so now some progress shots of his other half, Lola.

There’s not much left to do now – just Lola’s mouth and collar plus touch ups here and there and it should be finished.

Black Lab - a WIP

I love Labradors and they’re definitely up there when it comes to my favourite breed of dog. I’ve drawn the yellow and chocolate and wanted the opportunity to do the black so was delighted when I got not one, but three, to do (one double), almost one after the other. What is it they say about buses:)

I’m currently working my way through the second of the three on my list. This one is a double portrait and I thought I would show some progress shots for anyone interested in how my drawings come together.

This is Audley, coloured pencil (as if I need to tell you that) on Fabriano paper. I must admit to having been unsure of the reference photo I worked from to begin with, but while working on his portrait actually think it shows a lot of his character. His owners certainly think so.

Tomorrow I will show you Lola - you can see a bit of her ear on the last pic.

The Royal Highland Show

The last four days has seen the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, Edinburgh. According to their website it is Scotland’s biggest outdoor event and is one of the UK’s top agricultural shows attracting over 150,000 visitors each year. That is a lot of people and why I had hoped to have a tradestand at this years show had I been more organised. Keeping my fingers crossed and mind focused for next year but until then I need to build a cohesive body of work and spend some time developing my artistic style I think.

Exhibiting or not, I always make a point of going and made no exception this year – it’s actually a great day out, despite it being expensive, and well worth a visit if you can make it. This year I took my camera along hoping to get photos of the Clydesdale horses. I wasn’t disappointed and managed to take about 90 photos before I was dragged away by my bored daughter. They were gorgeous, so big and powerful looking, and I could quite happily have spent the whole day with them. Not to worry, hopefully I’ll have some great reference photos to work from.

Back in the studio I’m working away on two black labs and should have some work in progress shots to show you soon. Until then here is ‘one I finished earlier’ – an elderly black lab by the name of Bert.