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:)

Ruby

'Ruby'
8'x6' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Photoshop frustrates me, always has – not being able to understand or master what it can do gets to me from time to time. Like today while trying to correct a terrible scan of the now finished Ruby. Can Photoshop even do that, correct something that wasn’t there to begin with - like add the missing pencil strokes the scanner hasn’t picked up or tone down areas the scanner has chosen to brighten and highlight (like the yellows in this case!). Maybe I’m being too fussy and things like this just bring out the perfectionist in me but I’m really happy with this drawing and only wish you could see what I see.

Off now to see if I can find something to draw in time for the Canine Art Guild Members show.

Another Lab

Its been a busy but non eventful week with one thing or another resulting in very little drawing time. Also spent too much time procrastinating if I’m being honest.

I made a start on Ruby, another yellow lab but much lighter in colour than Sandy, and was able to spend the majority of today with pencils in hand bringing her nearer to completion. I’ve tried to get a good scan of the progress shots but it just wasn’t happening unfortunately – a problem I have with all light coloured dogs it seems.

'Ruby'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Like I said, not the best scan but hopefully there's enough there to give you an idea of what she looks like.

Sandy

Sandy
8'x6' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Sandy is now finished awaiting approval. I think my main problem with working this size (apart from my pencils needing to be that bit sharper:)) was getting used to it looking so small compared to other drawings I have sitting around – my Weim for one, his head is huge in comparison.

Saying this, it’s still a good portrait size and I’ve found I actually like working smaller. Just as well really as I’m now planning my entry to the Canine Art Guild members show where works are to be 5’x5’.

Labrador

I’ve put my Weim to one side to make a start on this small drawing of Sandy, a lovely yellow Lab. I say ‘small’ as this is only 8’x6’ and I don’t normally do anything smaller than 10’x8’ – until now.

Labradors have to be one of my favourite breed of dogs and definitely one of my favourite to draw.

Sandy
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

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

Colin

'Colin'
8"x10" Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

And he’s finished. Colin is definitely one of those portraits where I could have kept going adding bits here and there where said ‘bits’ wouldn’t actually improve the portrait in any way or more than likely even be noticed by anyone but me. At this stage of a drawing I almost have to force myself to stop for fear of over doing it and it ending up overworked or, worse still, my colours turning grey and ‘muddy’ looking. So no more pencil work will be taking place....... unless of course there are ammendments to be made.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Believe it or not I’ve been working all week on my current portrait of Colin, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, although it might not look like it from the progress shots. Being a predominantly white dog there are lots of subtle colours in there that are lost when scanned. I had hoped to have him 95% finished by today but there is still much to do - white dogs, I am finding, take a lot longer to do somehow.

'Colin'
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:))