Lusitano

Pencil on Mellotex Paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Concentration hasn’t been my strong point recently as I can’t seem to see a drawing through to the end without losing interest and starting something new. This is the third drawing I’ve started and have yet to finish. Saying that I’m still deciding how far I want to go with this piece or if in fact I want to leave it as it is. The more I look at it the more I’m leaning towards the latter. I have two more drawings I need to finish first so still have time to think about it.

The subject of this drawing is a stunning Lusitano horse called Sueste.

Work In Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
My thanks to Sarah Clegg for allowing me to use her photograph

More horses

Work in Progress
Graphite pencil on Mellotex paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

My drawing of two horses ended up beating me in the end and it’s been put to one side for finishing another day – it was the jockeys that finally did it and I blame them entirely! Or more specifically their silks, I’m not a huge fan of drawing clothing and find I have the attention span of a gnat when faced with it. So rather than spend wasted time looking for things to do rather than jockeys I started a new drawing as shown in the image above. A similar theme but with only one horse this time. I’m really enjoying drawing full bodies as opposed to a head study.

I don’t know if it’s something in the air or what but this drawing has been ‘abandoned’ too for the time being while I’ve made a start on yet another drawing. Three drawings on the go at once is almost unheard of from me (rebel that I am:)) I’m more your one drawing at a time kind of girl, but it does keep things interesting - less likely to loose motivation for a piece this way. I do have a deadline and I want to get all three finished by the end of February which at this point in time doesn’t look as if it should be a problem.

Horses

Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

With so much going on in my life just now, I don’t like to plan too far ahead as more often than not something gets in the way of any I make therefore best to say that, all going well, it is my intention to spend the next few months working on various drawings of the horse. Hopefully I will have a drawing or two I am happy with for the SEA Exhibition in August. This is an exhibition I’ve thought about entering work to for the past couple of years but haven’t for one reason or other. Want to make more of an effort this year with exhibitions and shows – no excuses this time!

On my drawing board just now are two horses in a Point-to-Point race and up to this stage I have thoroughly enjoyed working on it. It has been one of those drawings where I have struggled to put the pencil down when other things have needed doing, wanting to finish another part first, then another, and another. But as is nearly always the case when I’ve been working on a drawing for a long time I reach a ‘boredom stage’ nearing the end and can struggle to find the motivation to work on it. I find a short break away from it or working on something else helps to get the motivation back. I’m on the home stretch with this drawing now although lots of fiddly, time-consuming bits still left to do.

Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
My thanks to Sarah Clegg for allowing me to use her photograph

Originals for sale

High Spirits
23.5cm x 25.5cm
Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

It’s been a strange week full of interruptions from one thing or another so have only managed to steal moments here and there at the drawing board - one thing I LOVE about working with pencils is their convenience, being able to pick them up where you left off and put them down just as easily. No worries of paint drying, cleaning palettes and brushes, putting paints away, etc, etc. I’m hoping next week is less busy as I have a painting I really need to make a start on.

Seriously!
29cm x 21cm
Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Regular readers of my blog may recognise the images in today’s post as they are drawings I’ve completed in the past year or so and are amongst others I now have available for sale. I thought I would mention this as I’ve recently updated both my blog (links to pages are at the top of the sidebar to the right) and website to show those currently available. And you never know, there may be somebody out there reading this post who is looking to invest in an original work of art and I have just what they were looking for!

New Start

Graphite Pencil, 24cm x 24cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

The start of a New Year - my daughter said to me on the 1st that she feels it is going to be a good one for us and after the last two we’ve had I’m hoping she’s right - we’re definitely due a good year and I, for one, am looking forward to it. So here’s to 2011, may it be a happy, healthy and productive one for us all.

Normally over the Christmas break, in between eating way too much (I would say drinking and partying too but I’m a good girl:)) I give some thought to my art goals and plans for the coming year. In the past I’ve put those up for all to see – the more people that saw my goals, the more real they were, making me more accountable to them and seeing them through. Gives you that extra push, well that was my reasoning, but what you never take into account is life and what it can throw at you. Those life ‘challenges’ can really interfere with all your good intentions no matter how hard you try not to let them. So this year, while I do have a business plan (honest) and know where I want to be heading, I’m going to keep it to myself for the time being. While I feel a lot more positive and determined this year I’m not unrealistic - I’m still going through a very painful divorce and I know that when I get those papers through the post that it will hit me hard as anybody who has gone through a divorce will know. Hoping that keeping myself occupied with my art and trying to achieve my set goals will help take my mind of it. As would a gorgeous, kind, thoughtful, Adonis ……..oh, and a lottery win – one or both would be very nice and a great help I’m sure!

The picture in today’s post is a drawing of a horse I started back in July of last year but gave up working on as I had no motivation left to finish it. Amazing what a break from a piece and looking at it with fresh eyes can do - I’m a lot happier with it now and just need to come up with a suitable title. Any suggestions welcome. I’m now thinking about including more horses to my portfolio in the hope of getting a drawing or two into the SEA Exhibition this year.

I’d like to finish this post by welcoming all the new followers to my blog, over 200 of you – I’m delighted you like it enough to want to come back. It was a wonderful surprise to see Animal Art Adventures had been chosen by the Blogger team as their ‘Blog of Note’ (thank you Blogger team:)) – how exciting to see my blog recognised in this way. I hope you all continue to like my work in 2011 and I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

Last portrait for 2010

Tino
10'x8' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was good to you. I don't have a big family unfortunately (though some people may say that is a good thing:)) so it was a very quiet, but enjoyable, one for us at the Hardie household this year - just me and my kids! Spending time now relaxing and making the most of what's left of the holidays before I throw myself back into drawing and painting - first portrait of 2011 is going to be a painting so looking forward to that. Thinking a lot too about my goals for next year and what I want to achieve but more about those hopefully in my next post.

I have one more portrait to share with you before the year is out as you can see above. I actually finished this one back at the end of November but couldn't show you at the time as it was to be a surprise present for someone - delighted to say they were very happy with it. Vizslas are another breed that I love drawing but I can struggle with their colouring before I'm completely happy - reds are always difficult to get just right with coloured pencils (or is that only me:)) I did take a couple of in-progress scans while working on it...........

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed and supported my work throughout the year and I hope you will continue to enjoy my art here in 2011. Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR - here's hoping it's a prosperous one for us all!

Saluki

Teruh
12'x10' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Has it really been that long since my last post!?! Top of my goals for 2011, which I will be thinking more about over the Christmas break, has to be better time management and to stop procrastinating so much. In my defence I have had a lot of unnecessary 'things' thrown at me this year, not art related, that has unfortunately (and frustratingly) taken up far to much of my time than I care to think about. As has all this snow we've been having recently - I've had a shovel in my hand more times than I have my pencils I think!

So while I've been a bit quiet here on my blog dealing with 'things', I have been working away at the drawing board when I can and completed a couple of portraits. One is of the Saluki you see at the top of this post, called Teruh. Normally I would have blogged the stages as I worked on it but, as time got the better of me, will show them together here incase they are of interest to anyone.

Farley finished

Farley
12'x10' Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

The portrait of Farley is now finished and has been for over a week but thanks to Blogger having a wobbly I couldn't upload any images at the time. And then of course it slipped my mind later!

I am currently trying out new papers for my coloured pencil drawings as, after years of using Fabriano Artistico hp watercolour paper (and shouting its praises to all who asked), I've decided it is too 'off white' and cream coloured for my liking - I want a paper that is a lot whiter. I probably would have quite happily carried on using the Artistico paper had it not been for my wanting to try Mellotex. Mike Sibley, who needs no introduction and whose work I greatly admire, uses this paper as do more and more pencil artists it seems.

Mellotex did take a bit of getting used to as it was so smooth but what I liked straight away was the whiteness of the paper and the fact that this in turn made getting prints of my drawings so much easier - made my Artistico look yellow in comparison! I encourage any artist who hasn't tried this paper to give it a go - you wont be disappointed. The range of darks you can achieve with this paper is reason alone - lots of lovely blacks:)

Unfortunately it is just too smooth for my coloured pencils hence my search. Farley has been drawn on Fabriano 5 described in Jacksons catalogue as 'a very white paper ideal for botanical work'. Sounded ideal, and still being a hp watercolour paper I knew it would have enough tooth to take all my many layers of pencil. But, for some reason or other, I didn't enjoy working on it and found it hard going. I still got the results I was after only I had to work harder to get them. I'm not an expert on papers but did wonder if the fact it was mould-made using 50% cotton rag as opposed to 100% in the Artistico could make a difference. I'm probably way out and clutching at straws but it is the only difference between the two papers, besides the colour, that I can see and it would be interesting to know. Maybe I got paper from a bad batch, who knows.

I will try it again but for my next portrait, which I'm currently working on, I'm back to the Artistico this time in extra white. No problems to report with this paper so far (still not as white as I'd ideally like but thats being picky) and there are a few more out there I'd like to try. Especially one from a fellow coloured pencil artist that I hadn't come across before and, thanks to him, have small samples of to scribble on and play around with.

I am working hard on my next portrait but unfortunately can't show you how this is progressing (yet) as it is going to be a present for somebody and it could ruin the surprise. I will of course post the stages as soon as I can.

More on Farley

Farley
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Still working away on Farley - was hoping to have him finished over the weekend but had to down tools thanks to the cold of all things. My boiler decided it had had enough and as a result we had no heating or hot water (technically still don't - long story!). To say I was frozen would be an understatement and it really didn't matter how many woolies I threw on as it made no difference. So the majority of the weekend was spent under the duvet trying to stay warm. I do think I'll need to invest in some thicker jumpers (and fingerless gloves so I can still draw) should something like this happen again. Fingers crossed it doesn't.

Farley

A quick post as I have lots to do this afternoon/evening, but wanted to show where I am at with the Rough Collie portrait I'm currently working on. Meet Farley, or at least some of him ........

Farley
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I could have got a better scan looking at it now on screen but it'll pass - better ones in next post!

Update: Not so good image removed and better one put in its place - feel a lot better now:)

'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.

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:)

Holly

Working away happily on a commissioned portrait of a Cocker Spaniel by the name of Holly and thought I would show you where I am at with it (looks a bit strange without her nose:)).

Holly
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

It's been a while since I have accepted commissioned work, having taken time out for the majority of the year, but I'm delighted to say that I am now taking orders again from anyone that is interested in having a portrait or looking for an original work of art. Contact details etc, are on my website.

I'm Back!

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

My computer is now in working order, thankfully, but not without its problems along the way. I won't go into those (all very boring!) but I'm delighted that nothing important was lost and I didn't have to buy a new computer. It's still a work in progress restoring it back to the way it was before it crashed but I'm getting there - well almost! It's now looking more and more likely that I'm going to have to re-do my website with a new web builder programme as, despite searching high and low (for hours), I cannot find my Frontpage software disc anywhere. Very, very frustrating. At least I knew what I was doing in Frontpage!

But enough about my computer and an update of what I've been up to at the drawing board. My 'experiment' drawing using coloured pencils on gessoboard is now finished - will get a scan of this soon to put on my blog. I'm currently contemplating a background for this one as I'm not liking the white of the board left as it is and would like to get silver leaf in there somehow. I can't help thinking it would work with this piece somehow - if done right of course. Need to give this some more thought.

I'm also close to finishing another pencil drawing of a Labrador (a yellow one this time, see above:)) There are a few areas I need to 'tidy-up' here and there before I'll be happy to call it finished. As with a lot of my dog drawings, it was the expression on his face that attracted me to this pose - one of wonderment and curiosity. I can almost feel him trying to work out what it is that has captured his attention - I love it and it's so typical of a Lab. It also makes me smile seeing his face looking out at me every day - will be sad to see this one go!

Next up is a Cocker Spaniel in coloured pencils.

Computer Problems

My computer has annoyingly decided to crash on me so until I know whether it is fixable or not I will be offline for the next few days (possibly more - unless I can separate my daughter from her laptop!). This of course means I can't answer emails, etc, but will reply as soon as I can. Computers! Why do they have to give up on you?!?!

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.

Another Black Lab

Devotion
29cmx23cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I’ve not had much time to draw lately as I’ve let everything away from the drawing board get on top of me to the point of feeling almost overwhelmed by it all. As a result I’ve been feeling run down and definitely not myself. The good thing about working with pencils is I can pick them up and do bits of drawing here and there when I can and put them down as quickly – no need to worry about clearing away things like paints and cleaning brushes. Only problem with working this way is drawings take even longer to complete! My daughter started back at school yesterday so hopefully I can get myself back into a routine and start working on my ever-increasing ‘to-do’ list.

I finished the black Lab I was working on and started another that I would say I am half way through drawing. I’ve included a couple of progress shots to show the stage I'm at with this one.

Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

It is my intention to enter both drawings (hopefully a third if time permits) to an art exhibition held here annually in November in aid of Cancer Research UK. Which reminds me – must fill in my entry form and get it posted!

Starting something new

Didn’t quite manage to finish the horse drawing as it got to the point where I was having to force myself to work on it and my motivation just wasn’t there. When I start looking for things to do after only 10 or 15 minutes of drawing, it’s best I put whatever I am working on to one side and start something new - this way I don’t end up rushing to finish it and possibly ruining it in the process. Hopefully I can go back to my horse at a later date with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm.

I’ve been thinking for some time now about doing a small series of Labrador drawings and paintings and it was really a case of finding the right reference material before I could make a start. A friend of mine has a gorgeous black lab and I was able to photograph him while visiting recently – not the easiest colour of dog to take photos of but got a few good ones for me to work with and I don’t have to go far should I need more. So now I have my references I can begin!

Thought I’d start with a pencil drawing (no surprise there then:))

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

There are a couple of exhibitions coming up that I want to enter work into this year so need to start looking into these and filling out the various entry forms. Then of course there is the question of what drawings/paintings to enter so I’d better get organised!