Want to Play?

Want to Play?

Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

I should really be thinking about getting back to the drawing board this week but I have so much I want to do and try I don’t know where to start and what to do first! What I do know is that it will involve lots of playing and experimenting with mixed media, something I’ve been wanting and promising myself to do for a long time, so could be interesting. Really looking forward to seeing what creations I produce and just having fun. In between *cough* doing my usual drawings of course.

One of my favourite drawings of 2011 was ‘Want to Play’, above. I just loved this dogs expression and had to capture it on paper. The fact he was a Lab was a bonus – have I mentioned how much I love drawing labs before at all:) The original drawing has sold and gone to a good home but, as a small thank you for all the support I get both here and on FB, I am giving away a print, hot of the printer as it isn’t available to purchase yet, over on my FB page (link in the right hand column). You will find details of what to do to enter the draw on there should you be interested. If you are not a fan of FB but would like your name to be included just let me know by leaving a comment here on my blog and I’ll make sure it goes into the hat. I’ll be announcing the winner on Wednesday 11^th January.

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.

A couple of updates

Zara
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Not a big update but an update all the less, which shows a bit more work has been done to her body. Quite a bit more needs to be done in this area but it will have to wait as I work on my next commission of a chocolate lab – you can see my reference for this in the sidebar. I’ve made a start but it’s still in the early stages and there’s really not enough on paper just yet to warrant a progress shot.

Work still continues with my prints after encountering yet more unforeseen problems over the weekend – not that I should really be surprised. While I had hoped at this point to excitedly tell all that my prints were now ready I instead have to console myself that it’s not to be, at least for the time being. I am progressing; I am getting there and I am learning – it’s just taking (a lot) longer than I’d planned.

Prints and a new coloured pencil portrait

Something I have wanted to do for what seems like forever now is to turn my artwork into prints so I thought I would spend time this week working towards finally completing this goal. It certainly feels like it has been one long journey getting to the stage I'm at, believe it or not, with there always being something or other to sort out – anything from problems calibrating my computer to simply finding space to house my (huge) printer. I’ve been scanning, sizing, photoshoping and tweaking these past few days to get things set up and ready for the printing stage. Tomorrow I’ll spend the day printing proofs and making sure everything looks good – like the colours, image size, etc. At last I feel I’m getting somewhere.

My pencils haven’t been forgotten in all the excitement over my prints and I have been picking them up now and again to work on a portrait I started a while back. The subject for this drawing is very dear to me as she was our dog and, although no longer living with us, I still love her to bits. She was the model for this portrait, which reminds me – I originally wanted to make this into a print too.

Here are a couple of ‘in progress’ shots.

Horse on film

After a few touch-ups here and there and leaving it for a while to see if anything that wasn't right jumped out at me (it didn't) I am calling my horse on film officially finished. And I'm really quite pleased with it - it looks like a horse which is good.

I'm sure you'll agree with me that 'Horse on film' is not a good title to give it which is why, having been unable to come up with one myself, I am looking to you for inspiration. I'd really love to know what you think so let me have your ideas for a title - you could get a print for your troubles!

Limited edition prints will be available in the near future to purchase via my website but I will give the first of the run - signed, numbered and with a Certificate of Authenticity - to whoever gives me the winning title. There's no rush either, I'll make my choice and reveal the winner on Saturday 15 September, giving you over two weeks of serious thinking time. Now over to you.