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.

Some progress

A Work in Progress

I managed to spend a few uninterrupted, pleasurable hours on this yesterday, working mostly on the shoulder/chest area trying to portray all these beautiful muscles. Will be turning my attention to the mane next which incidentally is my least favourite part – strange I know considering I love drawing hair.

The pencils are out

A Work in Progress

I’d like to start this post by saying a big thank you to everyone for their kind words of support, both on and off my blog, all of which have been really comforting to me at this difficult time. I hadn’t realised there were so many artists whose work I have great admiration for followed my blog, so really chuffed about that:)

Following on from my last post I am happy to say my desk is now in place, built I might add all by my little self – not easy but at least now I have somewhere I can draw. Unfortunately it is also home to my computer so space is tight. I must take a photo sometime to show you exactly how tight, but I have to think positively and be thankful I can now draw.

I have had this picture of a horse on my easel waiting to be done for a while now, and thought it about time I made a start on it. My reference photo for this piece is courtesy of Heather Abounader, a photographer whose work I admire (and envy). From the state of Kentucky she tells me there are horse shows going on around there constantly giving her lots of wonderful photo opportunities – I definitely turned a shade of green while typing that last sentence.

I love drawing horses but unfortunately don’t have the opportunity to take many photos of them so I’m always on the lookout for good reference material. The photos I have managed to take myself are either not clear enough, uninspiring or I delete them by accident (a long story). I am however, always with my camera, looking for that perfect shot. You can view more of Heathers beautiful horse photos here.

This is very much a work in progress as you can see but have to admit it’s good working with my pencils again, if only for a bit here and there when the mood takes me. Apologies for the scan and the blue cast over it - I now have Photoshop CS3 which replaced my Elements 4 naively thinking it would be similar but with more features. Why it doesn't have the 'remove colour cast' button is beyond me, although I am sure there is a way to do this that is highly complicated.

Checking in

I thought it was about time I put finger to keypad and let you know where I have been, presuming of course there are still people out there following my blog after my long absence, and are still interested. The last few months have not been easy for me – okay, if I’m honest they’ve been awful – seeing me separate from my husband and moving into a new flat with my daughter that I still feel isolated in. Don’t know if I’ll ever settle here but that’s a different story and one I won’t bore you with just now.

According to statistics, separation/divorce and moving house are the top two causes of stress and with the way I have been feeling would wholeheartedly agree with this. I’m not the first woman to separate from their husband and I won’t be the last but it’s a first for me having been with him for 19 years and it hit me harder than I thought possible. Normally my art would be therapeutic to me through times like this but I couldn’t face picking up my pencils and putting them to paper at all – just as well really as I wouldn’t have been able to see through my puffy eyes. It was honestly a case of ‘surely there can’t be any more tears’ and started to wonder where they were all coming from.

I reluctantly decided to take time out from doing commissioned work for the rest of the year as my heart wasn’t in it. The run up to Christmas is always a busy time for me and I couldn’t face any added stress of deadlines etc. and thought the break would give me much needed ‘me time’ to adjust to my new life. I didn’t want to stop drawing altogether – I couldn’t do that – but be able to pick up my pencils when I wanted and for how long I wanted.

Lately, for the first time in weeks, I have been wanting to draw but have nowhere to do it, hence no picture to share with you in this post! I had a room in my old house that I made into a studio which I now miss terribly. Here in the flat I can’t have such luxuries as I simply don’t have the space but I can fit a desk in (when it arrives) which will do for now. It should be with me, flat-packed unfortunately, early next week so will have pics to share with you then. I have a couple of horses I'm looking forward to starting.

In the meantime I will have to make do with looking at what other artists are up to (I follow a ridiculous number of blogs) and admire their artwork instead – always inspires me to get out my pencils, which incidently are still packed away in boxes along with my countless other art materials until I can find the space to put everything.

A horse with no name

Coloured Pencil
27.5cm x 19cm
Copyright Laura Hardie

I always feel I’m making excuses but once again circumstances at home have seen me unable to spend the time I would like on my art, and blogging, with both being pushed to one side as I try to deal with other things.

One of these ‘things’ has been flat hunting - very tiring but I think I’ve found the right one. All going well I should be moved in by the first week in October and keeping everything crossed I’ll be online by then too – can’t bear the thought of having no Internet. I have a lot to organise before then but will be putting pencil to paper when the time permits and try to pop in a post when I can to show you the results, but if they’re a bit sporadic for the next few weeks, you know why.

As you can see with the above pic (currently without a title), I’m still continuing to draw horses when I can, and what began as a specific goal to finish a set amount within the year has turned into a bit of an obsession with me always on the lookout for my next model. I love drawing them and I'd like to see myself specialise in this area somewhere down the line – at least concentrate more on the equine side of things. I’ve still got a long way to go of course before I can say I’m an equine artist but I’m definitely enjoying the journey and putting together a portfolio of work – just wish I had the opportunity to take more of my own reference photos.

Arte y Pico Award

What an honour it was to find that Gayle Mason of Fur in the Paint had selected my blog as one of five to receive the Arte y Pico award - thank you Gail. This is indeed a compliment as I am a big fan of Gail’s coloured pencil work, especially her cats, and highly recommend you take a look at her blog if you haven’t done so already.

For those not familiar with the award you might find the following of interest.

Arte y Pico Award Origin and Rules:
The Arte y Pico Award has arisen from the daily visits that are made to many blogs, by you, which nourish and enrich you with creativity. In them, you must see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. You want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain and enrich you day to day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few.

The Rules:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.
4. Show these rules and the paragraph (above) explaining the awards origination.

I read many blogs (too many my husband would tell you) but the five artists I’d like to pass this award along to, for various reasons, are ….

Rhonda Bartoe Tucker
Sally Lancaster
Anya Tikomirova
Jeanette Jobson
Cindy Haase

All great artists I’m sure you’ll agree. I for one, thoroughly enjoy reading their blogs and looking at their art.

Thank you again Gayle for nominating my blog.

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.

On Parade

On Parade
Coloured pencil on paper

And yet another horse to add to my series. My reference for this one was taken from the many photos I took at the races back in July and is my first with bridle/reigns included. I spent the majority of my time there admiring the horses as they were taken around the parade ring and the rest of the time wishing I had a pass to go in and get closer to them. There are a few more race days to go before the end of the season so I might yet - provided I can find the confidence to ask around and enquire.

I’ll be taking a break from my horses for a bit while I turn my attention to commissioned work. My summer break is now over – or should I say my break from the easel as I didn’t go anywhere with sun, sea or sand but spent the majority of it stressed on the phone to Microsoft while trying to set up my new computer. For those interested (and if I can compose myself) it is STILL not working and I am no closer than I was three weeks ago to getting my prints.

To make matters worse the Microsoft technicians have apparently gone and added to the initial problems and can’t sort it out - unbelievable. I’m not exaggerating when I say I can be on the phone to them for up to 2 hours at a time and I’ve been on the phone to them numerous times so you can imagine my frustration. Grrrrrrrr, rant over before my blood pressure rises again.

And breath..... next up on the easel is a lovely Black Lab.

Computer problems and another horse

High Spirits
9x12, Coloured pencil

I’ve taken a break from my easel this week and instead spent much needed time trying to move data from one computer (my old one which is currently on its last legs) to another (a lovely new Mac, which lives in my studio). Normally this should be straightforward but, as with all things involving technology and myself, I’ve had nothing but problems resulting in me nursing a headache these past few days.

I really don’t want to bore you with the details but can tell you that I am no further forward than when I started out at the beginning of the week. I even have the experts at Apple Mac scratching their heads in bewilderment. I’d been doing everything right according to them, which is good to know at least - I’m obviously not as dim as I thought I was in these matters. They are now off to have a look at their manuals to see what/where the problem could be and I’m currently waiting on them to get back to me. All I want is to get my printer up and running so I can start working on the prints I’ve been promising to do for long enough. I am getting there, albeit painfully, and it shouldn’t be too long now.

Despite everything, I have managed to fit a bit of relaxing drawing time in and finished another horse I’ve had sitting on the easel for a while. I’m really pleased with this one considering it nearly ended up in the bin half way through it’s making.

Horse in coloured pencil

Coloured pencil
10x14 inches

At the beginning of the year I set myself a goal/challenge to draw and paint more horses - 35 to be exact - quite simply to ‘get to know them better’. Unfortunately I’ve never had the opportunity to draw or paint one to commission and if I’m being honest found the thought of doing so a bit daunting in case I didn’t get it quite right. I’ve listened to far too many stories I think, about how critical horse people can be with portraits, hence my trepidations:) Dogs and other animals I am comfortable with and my aim is to be the same with horses.

So any spare art time I have these days is usually spent working on a horse of some description or other and have to say I love drawing them. This is one I started, would you believe, back in January - shows just how little time I actually find to spend on my own work, though it was put to one side for a bit so I could do other stuff.

Sadly at this stage it is without a title though I have been giving it a lot of thought – any suggestions? I’m also in two minds as to whether or not to add a background - any thoughts? I like it as it is and say no but an artist friend thinks differently. Decisions, decisions - think I’ll need to sit on it for a bit and decide later.

Day at the Races

With summer now here (although at times I find it hard to believe) I find myself out and about more often with my camera looking for some good reference material to work from. Right now I’m drawn to horses - just love them - so took myself off to the races yesterday at Musselburgh and spent a couple of hours happily snapping away at the horses in the parade ring before they were taken off to the course.

I’d have loved to have come away with some racing shots but couldn’t get a good enough position near to the track to take them from, plus I really don’t think my lens was up to the job – not if going by some I saw, they were huge and I mean HUGE.

I can't complain though as I came away with near enough 300 photos – whoever came up with the idea for the digital camera deserves a medal. There should be more than one or two in there that I can use, despite some annoying problems I seem to be experiencing with my camera.

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.

Border Collie montage - finished

Bill and Molly
20x16 Coloured Pencil
Private commission

Again I find I’ve deserted my blog but must admit I hadn’t realised it had been so long since my last post. Keeping a blog definitely brings home, for me anyway, just how quickly time flies. In my defence I didn’t have anything finished to show or anything remotely interesting to say or report.

I’ve spent a lot of time working on my montage which I am pleased to say is now finished and been approved. Working on this for so long and looking at their photos on almost a daily basis for the last month or so, I feel like I have really got to know both dogs personally and will miss them.

Something completely different I’ve been working on and recently finished is a pencil portrait of two ladies, another commissioned piece. Graphite is definitely my preferred medium when drawing people but I still use the same technique as I would if using coloured pencils – slowly building up layer after layer of pencil until I get the depth I am after. I also tend to prefer the harder lead – here I used a 5H, 4H, 2H, H, B and 2B.

16x12 Graphite Pencil
Private commission

Next on my easel are two black labs and I will blog my progress as I work on them. Also need to finish work for the UKCPS exhibition – closing date for entries is the 9th July so had better get a move on.

Border Collie Montage - a WIP continued

Work on the Border Collie montage continues, albeit slowly – I say slowly as it is taking a lot longer to finish than I’d planned with just under 75 hours spent on it so far. The dogs are almost finished, just need to work on the legs and white areas of fur on the sitting dogs as well as the inevitable touch ups here and there.

That just leaves the background to do, with all those greens (sigh). I know how I want to go with this and how I want it to look but somehow I don’t think my vision will materialise onto paper if I jump in and do this straight away. So I'm putting it to one side for a couple of days to go back to it with fresh eyes but also to give me time to play around with my paints and pencils and see what different shades of green I can mix - I prefer to mix/blend colours where possible as green straight from the tube can be too bright and garish, not what I am after. Lots of grass studies as well I think before I move on to the montage.

I'd Rather be in the Studio!

I’ve just finished reading Alyson Stanfield’s ‘I’d Rather be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self Promotion’ and highly recommend you get hold of a copy if you can – for the motivation factor if nothing else.

I remember reading somewhere that you should, sorry need, to be dedicating at least half of your art time marketing – sometimes more! If you’re like me and don’t spend anywhere near this amount of time on marketing and come up with countless excuses not to, then this is the book for you. It will provide you with the tools, techniques and guidance to get your name out there in the art world and make your time away from the studio more enjoyable – no excuses allowed.

I have certainly come away from this book full of ideas but more importantly motivated enough to put them into action. I am more organised and focused which can only be good for my art.

I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion is for artists of all kinds. Painters, sculptors, ceramist, jewellers, photographers, and others will benefit from the easy-to-follow self-promotion practices in this book.

Author and art-marketing consultant Alyson B. Stanfield, of ArtBizCoach.com, focuses on sharing the artwork directly with potential buyers through electronic and traditional communication outlets – in a manner that is comfortable, not artificial. Artists match Internet marketing strategies with sincere personal skills to take charge of their art careers.

The book includes online worksheets and downloads.

Border Collie Montage - a WIP

WIP
20X16 Coloured Pencil

All my art time has been spent recently working on a montage of two beautiful Border Collies. Being 20x16 inches and mainly in coloured pencil, it is taking many an hour to complete, with many still to go, but I do think the end result is worth it.

So far I have completed the main head studies and have made a start on the background (although you can't see this in the cropped pic above), which in this case will be a view of Irton Fell in Cumbria. Completing the background will be interesting as I’m at my least comfortable when it comes to working with greens, I always have been and probably always will. Thankfully there aren’t that many green animals about or I really would be in trouble:) I'm hoping, weather permitting, to get a photo showing the full montage soon - watch this space.