Merry Christmas

Untitled (Morgan Horse)

12.5" x 7.5" Coloured Pencil

I don’t know about you but I always seem to be stressed and tired out in the run up to Christmas, and this year is no different. Thankfully, with 2 days left to go, I only have a few bits and pieces left to get – the downside is I need to brave the shops with millions of others.

Despite all the Christmas chaos, I have managed to finish my drawing of a Morgan horse and this will now sit over the holidays while I decide if there is anything more I need to add or change. I’ll also spend this time thinking of a title for it – not my strong point unfortunately, so would welcome any ideas you might have. Please.

Next up on my easel is another horse although at this stage I’m undecided as to whether it will be in pencil or coloured pencil and probably wont decide until the very last minute. I seem to be very indecisive about everything these days almost to the point of it being annoying and blame it all on the stress of Christmas. I'm hoping I'll be able to relax over the holidays and come back totally refreshed and ready for the new year ahead.

I'd like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

More horses

A work in progress - coloured pencil on paper

This week has seen the schools closed for the holidays so, as is always the case when the kids are off, I've had a lazy week doing not a lot.

When I have picked up my pencils it's been to work on another horse, well pony to be exact. What you see here is where I am now - pre-background, with the horse more or less finished. This will be no.3 in my series, leaving 32 still to do by the end of the year. I can't help thinking I've bitten off more than I can chew with this goal, especially with the speed I work at. Thirty five was a bit ambitious and, if I'm being honest, don't think I've fully thought this one through - we can but see.

Away from the easel I have been playing with my blog. I still haven't found a way to add my banner without having to change templates but thanks to FeedBurner, there is now the option to subscribe to my blog and get updates via RSS feed or via e-mail direct to your inbox. I'm sure I've done everything right and all is in working order but do let me know if you experience any problems.

A horse in progress

I've been working on this drawing of a horse on and off for the last couple of weeks - she's big and will be 14x10 inches when finished. Why I chose to do it quite so big I'm not sure as it's taking me aaaaages to do. This is approximately 15 hours so far.

Not that I'm complaining as I'm really enjoying it. I love horses, they're beautiful animals ......... to look at and draw. I don't mind admitting to being slightly - ok, very - wary of them and I blame it all on a traumatic childhood experience with a rogue horse.

I would tell you about it but it would take too long and I'm rubbish at telling stories, but what I will say is that it involved a HUGE horse - no, really it was; an ill fitting hard hat (i.e. far too big); lots of tree branches and of course, me. It was enough to put me off horses for good and the reason why I couldn't ride off into the sunset with my knight in shining armour - that bit really gets me!