Jack Russell Terrier

Flea
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Have made a start on a new coloured pencil portrait of a very lively, so I’m told, Jack Russell Terrier. So lively that she wouldn’t stay still long enough to be photographed and ended up having to be held in the end. Even so I think the resulting photo is full of character and hope I can portray this in the finished portrait. Love her name too, Flea – seems just perfect for her somehow.

Moving onto the Dutch Auction - there are currently three drawings still available for purchase and they are ‘Focused’, now down to £140; ‘Eye Contact’, down to £85 and ‘Inquiring Mind’ at £150. As always, if you would like details or are interested in any of the above please email me.

Pointer

Pointer
Coloured Pencil, 38cm x 28cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

It has taken me a lot longer than I thought it would to do but I’m pleased to say the Pointer is now finished and I don’t even feel the need to tweak bits here and there – and I have looked! All going well she will be making her way to the US by the end of the week. Another drawing I will be sad to see go but really happy to have had the opportunity to do.

Quick auction update now. If you have been following this you will know that prices have dropped another £20 on all drawings. ‘Focused’ is now £160; ‘Eye Contact’, £105; ‘Inquiring Mind’, £170 and ‘Morgan’, £70. This is the last chance you will get to purchase ‘Morgan’ (below) at this price as next week it will be removed from the auction and remain on my website at the original price of £250. A reminder of the other drawings available and which is which can be seen here.

Morgan
Coloured Pencil, 32cm x 18.5cm
(With mount: 46cm x 31.5cm)

Pointer update

Pointer, Stage 4
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Making slow progress on the Pointer but I am getting there and not panicking (yet) about getting it finished in time. It’s very much been a portrait where I have jumped around doing bits here and there, going back and forth over various areas building them up but not quite finishing them and continually moving around the drawing in this way. This is typical of the way I work and more often than not will do a drawing this way rather than finish one area to completion before moving onto the next (though I am known to do this also dependant on how I feel at the time). So why tell you this? I’ve had a few people ask if I can explain my process and while I’m more than happy to do this I’m left questioning if I have a process or method as such and have therefore been giving it a lot of thought while working on the Pointer, trying to think how I can break what I do down. There would certainly be a lot of stages:) Even if I can include more in-progress shots and let you know what has been done, colours used, etc. It has been duly noted anyway.

Pointer, Stage 3
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Auction news now with it being Monday. Prices on all available drawings have been dropped by another £20 which means 'Focused' is now £180, 'Eye Contact', £125, 'Morgan', £90 and 'Inquiring Mind', £190. If you would like details on any of these drawings please drop me an email.

German Shorthair Pointer

German Shorthair Pointer, Stage 2
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Still playing catch-up, so apologies for the late post. Going to jump straight in with Dutch Auction news to start with – ‘Intrigue’, I’m delighted to say, has been sold and is therefore no longer available leaving ‘Focused’ (£200), ‘Eye Contact’ (£145), ‘Morgan’ (£110) and ‘Inquiring Mind’ (£210) up for the taking. Prices have dropped another £20 and I know there are a few interests and people following so don’t leave it too late and perhaps lose out if interested in a piece.

Drawing board news now (very quickly) and a couple of in-progress images of what I’m currently working on. It’s a coloured pencil drawing of a gorgeous German Shorthair Pointer with lots still left to do. Busy, busy, busy:)

German Shorthair Pointer, Stage 1
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie

Just quickly ......

Intrigue
Pencil, 25.5cm x 21.5cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Monday again! I had hoped to have some in-progress shots of the drawing I’m currently working on to show today but it’s still in the early stages. Time hasn’t been on my side unfortunately so not as much drawing getting done as I’d like. Going to lock myself away for the rest of the week to catch up.

Drawings in the Dutch Auction have dropped another £20 today which means Intrigue (above) is down to £190; ‘Focused’, £220; ‘Eye Contact’, £165; ‘Morgan’, £130 and ‘Inquiring Mind’, £230. You can see all drawings and how the auction works here.

Dutch Auction Update

Eye Contact
Coloured Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Is it just me or are the weeks getting shorter. Either that or I’m getting worse at managing my time effectively as I always seem to be playing catch-up with everything lately - like doing this blog post which should have been done yesterday! It’s just a very quick post too so I can bring you up to date with the Dutch Auction – prices on all drawings have dropped another £20 with ‘Eye Contact’ (above) now £185; ‘Focused’, £240; ‘Intrigue’, £210; ‘Morgan’, £150 and ‘Inquiring Mind’, £250. If you are interested in any of the drawings in the auction and would like more information please feel free to drop me an email.

It's Monday

Focused
Pencil, 25.5cm x 20.5cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

I don’t have a new drawing, in progress or finished, to share today although I am working on one of a German Shorthaired Pointer in coloured pencil. I felt I should have something to show though as my post feels naked without an image so I’ve put one of the drawings currently in the Dutch Auction up – it being the reason for this post after all.

Monday means prices on all drawings have dropped £20 and ‘Focused’ (above) is now £260. ‘Intrigue’ is down to £230, ‘Eye Contact’, £205, ‘Morgan’, £170, and ‘Inquiring Mind’, £270. To see these drawings again just scroll down slightly to my earlier post.

Dutch Auction

Ok, back to the Dutch Auction and the ‘bit of news’ I mentioned a couple of posts back. I’ve decided to change things slightly and have a multiple auction where everything in my spring clear-out is up at once rather than doing it one drawing at a time as I have been up to now. How the Auction works other than this will stay the same as before.

All art works are signed, original pencil or coloured pencil drawings (by myself of course:)) that I won’t be using for upcoming Exhibitions or competitions and therefore thought I would offer them by way of a Dutch Auction. There is nothing wrong with them and they are not damaged in any way, and nor do I dislike them, I’m simply making room for new work while giving anyone who likes my work the chance to buy it at a greatly reduced price. Drawings also come double mounted/matted ready for framing.

So that just leaves the drawings themselves. ‘Morgan’ has been in the Auction for a few weeks now and as of Monday this week is down to £190. Joining him is………

Intrigue
Pencil, 25.5cm x 21.5cm
(With mount: 39.5cm x 34.5cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
Starting price: £250

Focused
Pencil, 25.5cm x 20.5cm
(With mount: 39.5cm x 33.5cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
Starting price: £280



Eye Contact
Coloured Pencil, 27cm x 19.5cm
(With mount: 41cm x 32.5cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
Starting price: £225



Inquiring Mind
Coloured Pencil, 23.5cm x 35cm
(With mount: 37.5cm x 48cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011
Starting price: £290

Should you be interested in any of the above and would like more information please drop me an email.

Stuart

Stuart
8"x10", Pencil on Fabriano Artistico Paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Drawing time has been compromised slightly thanks to T in the Park – well the run up to it at least. A lot of running around with daughter to get last minute essentials and now looking forward to them all coming back, including child, caked in mud! She enjoys herself so that’s what counts and I will be reminding myself of this when I’m knee deep in muddy clothes and chiselling off caked mud from her wellies.

Stuart is officially finished - he has been approved so no changes to be made and I’ve refrained from tweaking. It’s now back to colour with a coloured pencil portrait and painting to do next.

Stuart

Stuart
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Had a few problems with Blogger and trying to post last week so couldn’t show you the in-progress shots of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier I am currently working on. Not to worry though, I’ll put the three I have taken up today and it just means there is more to look at (hoping that’s a good thing:)) There is still a couple of days work left to do on this one provided I can stop tweaking which, incidentally, I’m terrible for doing.

I have a bit of news for the Dutch Auction which I am currently running and will do a separate post on that but for now I can’t forget ‘Morgan’ which, as of today, is down to £210!

Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Checking in......

And catching up!! Have started work on a pencil drawing of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier but it’s still very much in the early stages despite my good intentions of aiming to have it half finished by today. What started out as being a couple of ‘busy’ days away from the drawing board turned into more and simply means I’ll need to work that bit harder next week – still remain positive that I’ll have it finished in time so not panicking yet. Should definitely have some in-progress shots to show early next week.

One of my busy days was spent at the Royal Highland Show, which I always try and go to each year mainly because it’s now tradition but it’s also a great, if somewhat expensive, day out. I like to call it a mixture of work and pleasure and one year I hope to, no, will have my own stall there. I always go laden with my camera (the work part) looking for suitable reference photos of the animals on show for later use in my drawings. This year they (as in officials) made it difficult as for some reason lots of areas were cordoned off to the public unless you had a white wrist band – not sure how I go about getting one but have made a note to self to find out! So lots of zooming in with my camera was needed and only highlighted the fact that I want/need a better lens. I did manage to get a few good photos of Clydesdale horses that I really liked and can definitely see me using in the future but can’t help thinking how many more I could have had if I had a new lens……... obviously:)

'Morgan'
Coloured Pencil, 32cm x 18.5cm
(With mount: 46cm x 31.5cm)
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

As of last Monday there is a new drawing up for offer in the Dutch Auction with ‘Curiosity’ now sold and currently on its way to the US. It’s a coloured pencil drawing this time of a Morgan horse titled, believe it or not, ‘Morgan’. Drawn on Fabriano Artistico paper the image size is 32cm x 18.5cm and with mount (it comes double mounted/matted) the overall size is 46cm x 31.5cm. Regular readers of my blog will know by now how the Auction works but for anyone new and for those who can’t quite remember it basically works as follows ……

1. One drawing at a time will be auctioned here on my blog.
2. Every Monday the price will drop by £20 until it is either sold or reaches a predetermined and undisclosed reserve price and taken out of the auction.
3. Purchases will be made on a first-come-first-serve basis. Notifications should be made by way of email (see my contact details on sidebar).
4. Payments are accepted by credit/debit card via PayPal or cheque (UK bank accounts only).
5. Postage is an additional cost and will be determined by your location.

The starting price for ‘Morgan’ was £250 and as I’m going to be too busy drawing tomorrow to find the time to do anything else, including blogging, will drop the price by £20 a day early to £230.

Stella

Stella
10"x8" Pencil on Fabriano Artistico paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

And she’s finished! Now just needs to be approved and she can be on the way to her new home. Always feel a bit sad when a drawing goes as I get used to whoever I’m working on looking out at me from the drawing board every day – will have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier followed by a Jack Russell Terrier to do that soon.

With it being Monday I can’t forget the Dutch Auction of ‘Curiosity’ which is now in it’s seventh week already. Where has the time gone! As of today the price has dropped by another £20 down to £80. This really is a great chance to take advantage of my ‘spring clearout’ and get an original, signed pencil drawing at such a low price. It won’t be up for auction much longer and, if it doesn’t sell, will be taken out and will only be available to purchase from my website at the original cost. So if you've perhaps been wondering 'should I, shouldn't I' for the past few weeks take advantage now before it's too late.

I’d like to finish this post by welcoming all the new followers to my blog as I noticed I now have 900! I honestly didn’t believe I’d get anywhere near half that when I started blogging and I'm delighted you like my work enough to come back and see what I’m up to next. A very happy artist indeed:)

Stella update

Stella
A Work in Progress
10"x8" Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Working my way slowly across Stella’s body and you can now see the star-like marking on her chest. Next update should see her finished.

Stella

Stella
A Work in Progress
10"x8" Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Have been busily working away on this drawing as it needs to be finished, approved, mounted and posted by Thursday of next week at the latest. My lovely model is Stella, a Lab/Boxer cross, and she got her name because of the white star-like marking on her chest. Not sure if you can make it out at this stage of the drawing but it is there and should be more clear in the next update.

I took the image below before I worked more on her face and neck and thought I would post it for anybody who is interested in how my drawings come together.

Dutch Auction Week 6

Curiosity
24.5cm a 19cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Pencils are busy and not a lot of time so just a very quick post to say that ‘Curiosity’ is now down to the bargain price of £100. Get it now before it goes!

More drawing

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

I think fairies must be visiting during the night and rubbing out bits of my latest drawing as I’m continually having to go over areas I’d already done and was happy to call finished. I’d hoped to be showing the finished drawing today too but I’m not quite there yet. It’s been a challenging drawing, not only with having to re-do the bits the fairies deleted, but tonally too and getting them just right. Lots of subtle tones and building up of layers.

Can’t believe it’s week 5 of the Dutch Auction of ‘Curiosity’ already – where has the time gone. This of course means that as of yesterday it is now down to £120!

Start of a new drawing

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Pencils are out, paperwork is up to date, house is tidy, chores are done, no appointments to attend (well apart from one tomorrow:)) and feeling relatively organised so time to get back to the drawing board. Seems such a long time since I’ve sat down and done a proper days drawing. I’ve been working on this horse here and there for quite a few weeks now but not made a great deal of progress with other things taking priority so I’m hoping that I can get it finished by Sunday. Can’t see it being a problem if I can refrain from going back to areas that are finished – if you only knew the amount of times I’ve gone back to those front legs!

I’m a day late for the Dutch Auction of ‘Curiosity’ and if you have been following this you will know that the price has dropped by another £20 to £140. Normally I would show an image of ‘Curiosity’ at this point but as I have done so in my last three posts felt it a bit much to put it up yet again but you can see it, and details of the Auction, here.

Dutch Auction Week 3

It’s been a good week for getting a lot of things I’ve needed doing done and I feel a lot more organised as a result. Couldn’t fit in any drawing unfortunately, again, but have a drawing and painting sitting there waiting patiently to be worked on.

Curiosity
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Dutch Auction drawing ‘Curiosity’ has dropped in price by a further £20 to £160 today. If you missed my earlier post the auction basically works as follows…..

1. One drawing at a time will be auctioned here on my blog.
2. Every Monday the price will drop by £20 until it is either sold or reaches a predetermined and undisclosed reserve price and taken out of the auction.
3. Purchases will be made on a first-come-first-serve basis. Notifications should be made by way of email (see my contact details on sidebar).
4. Payments are accepted by credit/debit card via PayPal or cheque (UK bank accounts only).
5. Postage is an additional cost and will be determined by your location.

Dutch Auction Week 2

18.5cm x 30cm, Pencil on Mellotex Paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

I still do not appear to have improved with keeping my blog updated, despite my good intentions, as I haven’t posted the final stage of my latest Lab drawing. I actually finished this a few weeks ago, updated my FB page and promptly forgot about doing the same here so my apologies to anyone who has been waiting patiently to see how it turned out. I will admit to being so disorganised just now that I need to sit down and do a bit of prioritising I think – time to start the daily ‘to-do’ lists maybe.

It’s Monday and week two of the Dutch Auction of ‘Curiosity’ which means the price has dropped by £20 down to £180. You can purchase it now by emailing me.

Curiosity
22cm x 19cm, Pencil on Fabriano Artistico paper
36cm x 32cm with mount/matt
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Dutch Auction

Curiosity
22cm x 19cm, pencil on Fabriano Artistico paper
With mount, 36cm x 32 cm
£200
Copyright Laura Hardie 2011

Loving this spring weather we’ve been having lately and it’s so nice to see some sun and colour for a change – just wish I had a garden to make the most of it. Then of course I would probably spend too long there and not enough time at the drawing board!

With my motivation still causing me problems on the art front (though I think it’s more a case of me facing a creative blank and artist block) I’ve been doing a bit of a spring cleaning instead and decided it was time to have a mini clearout of my older drawings and offer them by way of a Dutch Auction. I’ve seen a few artists do this in the past and really liked the concept. For those of you unfamiliar with a Dutch Auction, it is “a type of auction where the auctioneer begins with a high asking price which is lowered until some participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's price, or a predetermined reserve price (the seller's minimum acceptable price) is reached. The winning participant pays the last announced price. This is also known as a "clock auction" or an open-outcry descending-price auction.” (Wikipedia). If anything, it’s a great way to own an original piece of art at greatly reduced prices.

The Auction will basically work as follows …….

1. One drawing at a time (I have a few:)) will be auctioned here on my blog.
2. Every Monday the price will drop by £20 until it is either sold or reaches a predetermined and undisclosed reserve price and taken out of the auction.
3. Purchases will be made on a first-come-first-serve basis. Notifications should be made by way of email (see my contact details on sidebar).
4. Payments are accepted by credit/debit card via PayPal or cheque (UK bank accounts only).
5. Postage is an additional cost and will be determined by your location.

Straight forward enough but hold off too long for a drawing you really like and you might miss out to someone else!

First up with a starting price of £200 is 'Curiosity', a 22cm x 19cm pencil drawing of a Weimaraner on Fabriano Artistico paper. It will come double mounted/matted ready for framing – size with mount, 36cm x 32cm.