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!

Studio updates

Contemplation
Pencil, 26.5cm x 33cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Note to self – I REALLY must stop neglecting my blog! Once again I find myself falling behind with posts and, short of laziness, there’s really no excuse for it.

As you can see from the above photo, my lab is now finished and is currently at the printers as I write, along with Black on White and Seriously!, ready to be made into Limited Edition Prints. After wasting many hours, paper and ink I decided that graphite was just too difficult to scan and print myself and that it was best left to the professionals!

I’m also delighted to say that two of my drawings, Anticipation and Daydreamer, have made it onto a gallery wall and can be seen at the Stockbridge Gallery in Hampshire. The Stockbridge Gallery specialises in dog art and I feel privileged to be amongst some great artists there.

I plan to keep adding to my collection of dog drawings but do want to include other animals along the way. So to start, I’m currently working on a horse that’s not too far from completion now – actually the more I look at it the more I can see that needs doing so it could take a bit longer than I think! I’ve included a couple of progress shots.

Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Labrador

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

If I were to choose a favourite breed of dog to draw I think the Labrador would come out tops ……. just! There are many breeds I love to portray but I definitely have a huge soft spot for Labs. I’m currently working on a drawing of one who seems to be enjoying a quiet moment to herself, lost in her own world of doggie thoughts. A bit like me at the minute with having so many things in my life to sort out and make decisions on – lots of moments where I am deep in thought, planning what best to do next.

There’s not too much left do on this drawing but enough that I may have to leave it to start something new and go back to it at a later date as I think I need a bit of a change. You can see a couple of progress shots on my Facebook page.

I had a great day out at the Royal Highland Show with my daughter (and camera:)) on Friday and, as always seems to be the case when I go there, have come away inspired – this time to do lots of paintings! I still have a couple of pencil drawings I want to do but I’ll definitely be dusting off my brushes after that.

Boxer finished

Boxer
26cm x 19.5cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

After what seems like forever working on this drawing my Boxer is now finished and I’m really pleased with how he has turned out. As I mentioned in my previous post, I know this Boxer well and the expression captures how I know him best. I’ve yet to think of a title for this piece, often the hardest part, and there are a few ideas floating about my head – just need to decide which fits him best!

Away from the drawing board I have been working on my prints which, let me tell you, has not been easy. Graphite is not only difficult to photograph or scan but a nightmare to print too it seems. Lots of hours, paper, ink, tears, frustration, anger and choice language just to try and get the print to look like the original! It can be done, I know it can, and I wont settle for anything less – I’m a lot further forward thanks to a fellow graphite artist (thank you Nolon) although turns out I need a new scanner. Not really a surprise as it has been something I’ve been looking at getting for a good while now and could explain why my scans are not picking up all my pencil strokes, especially the lighter ones. Just as well my birthdays coming up:)

Boxer

I’ve made a start on another graphite drawing and beginning to wonder if I’ll ever use my coloured pencils again! It feels almost strange doing one pencil drawing after the next having worked almost exclusively with coloured pencil for the past 6 years, but at the same time I like not having to think about colour and instead just concentrate on the tones. I find pencil very relaxing – exactly what I need just now. Picasso had his Blue Period and it looks like I'm having my ‘Graphite Period’:D Just as well really, as I’ve packed my coloured pencils away, amongst other things of course, ready for when my daughter and I move house.

The subject of this drawing is a very handsome boxer called Hugo. I blame him entirely for my love of Boxers and it was thanks to him that we got our own little Boxer, Zara, who sadly no longer lives with us. This is one of those drawings I’ve promised myself I’ll do but never got round to doing! Not much left to do on him now.

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Focused

'Focused'
25cm x 20cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Summer looks like it has eventually arrived and, as you do, I spent the weekend making the most of the sun and socialising with friends – only problem is I’m now a lovely shade of red and a bit sore so must remember to apply more sun cream in future!

I’m not one to sit patiently at my drawing board when the sun is out unfortunately – I need to be out there enjoying it! This of course means less time drawing but I do spend that time constructively thinking of ways to market my art and about short term and long term goals I need to work towards. As I am currently unable to accept commissions this is the perfect time to research and think about what I want and need to achieve.

Being represented by a gallery was something I intended working towards and thanks to a very good artist friend who pushed me to do something about it that goal is now almost a reality. Not giving too much away until things are finalised, a gallery in England is very interested in my drawings which I’m delighted about. Certainly gives me much needed confidence to approach other galleries in the future.

My latest drawing ‘Focused’ above is of a Weimaraner – I just love drawing this breed so no doubt you will see more appearing in future pieces. There are progress shots of this drawing on my Facebook page for anyone that is interested.

Curiosity

'Curiosity'
24.5cm x 19cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I’m running a bit behind with updating my blog lately and seem to put everything art related on my Facebook page much quicker – probably has something to do with the fact I’m on Facebook all the time! I will need to try and keep on top of it in future though.

The Weim I was working on a couple of weeks ago is now finished, titled and ready for the framers where I will choose a mount for it.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to what colour of mount looks best with graphite, especially now with all the pencil drawings I’ve been doing. In the past I’ve always gone with a dark ‘ash’ or ‘coal’ grey and was very happy with this choice until another graphite artist, whose work I admire a great deal, says this ‘kills’ the drawing and that I should be using white or cream. I’ve tried this and personally think that because I have a plain white background to my drawings it is too much white and the drawing is lost. Even light grey doesn’t seem right somehow – looks ‘washed out’. I’ll maybe try double mounting this time with various greys and whites but can’t help thinking I’ll stay with my old favourites. Would love to know if you have any thoughts on this.

Another Weim

I do love Weimaraners and they certainly seem to be appearing in my drawings a lot lately. I’d have one if I could but also want a lab, boxer and cocker spaniel and unfortunately I just don’t have the room (or money:)) so I’ll need to be satisfied with just drawing them for the time being. I had to draw this one as soon as I saw the reference photo as I loved his expression and the intense look in his eyes – would love to know what it was that caught his attention.

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Not too much left to do now and then it's onto .............another Weim!

Cocker Spaniel in pencil

18cmx28cm,Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010
(My thanks to Nicola McClure for the reference photo used for this drawing)

And he’s finished. Still thinking of a suitable title and need to give this some more thought over the coming week – the hardest part of any drawing I often think!

Not quite sure what I’m going to attempt next …….. I'm thinking another Weim. I have a couple of references of this dog that I like so just need to choose which to do first.

Cocker in progress

I’m really enjoying working with pencil just now so decided to stay with it for my next drawing. Not only that but my subject is the gorgeous Rodaidh who you will be familiar with from my previous post. I wanted the focal point of this drawing to be his face with everything else not being quite as detailed. Not sure if I’m achieving this exactly though or if my hand knows how to do this - before I know it the detail is in. Loosening off now that I’ve made a start on his body – it’s funny because I find I have to think a lot more when trying to achieve less.

I've taken a few progress shots along the way which you may (or may not) find interesting.

A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Changes

'Anticipation'
Approx. 23cmx19cm, Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Still here – just! Things haven’t settled down as I’d hoped and, quite simply, life in general is a bit chaotic away from the drawing board not giving me much time to draw – lots of things thrown at me that I need to deal with unfortunately. As a result I am unable to accept commissioned work at this time and can't actually say whether or not this will be an option open to me in the future and I guess only time will tell.

I’m not giving up on my art altogether however, and instead I’m going to use this time (or at least what I have) concentrating on my own drawings and paintings and putting together a portfolio of work. It’s something I’ve been promising myself for long enough and I do need to do. What direction I want, and can, go with my art is still at a very early ‘not sure’ stage – I need to wait until things have settled down in my life and I have a clear head to make decisions with.

I needed something relaxing to work on, and of course the perfect subject, so chose to do a pencil drawing of a beautiful Cocker Spaniel called Rodaidh. The beauty of pencils is you can pick them up where you left off without any hassle and I do love to scribble away with my pencils – perfect combination! Rodaidh is not long finished and has now passed the ‘tweaking’ stage so is ready to be mounted and framed. I’m calling this drawing ‘Anticipation’ (thank you to fellow artist Karl Connolly for this suggestion).

My thanks to Nicola McClure for the reference photo.

Weim

'Weim'
Pencil, 25x22cm
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I have been here, there and everywhere recently, both physically and emotionally. Keeping fingers crossed that things will settle down now and I can concentrate more on my art. I started by finishing my 5’x5’ entry to the Canine Art Guild members show and got it in just in time. I’m looking forward to seeing all the entries when they go online which I believe will be 1st April.

I also finished my pencil Weim drawing (above) and I’m so glad I have as I can now move onto something new without feeling guilty about it lying there half finished – I’m funny that way:) I will now sit on this over the next few days to see if anything needs changed or tweaked and if I can come up with a suitable title for it.

Not quite sure what I’m going to be doing next – really want to do some painting but somehow I think my pencils will win………..again!

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

Feeling uninspired

Weim
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Why is it when I’m busy on a commission, I want to draw this or paint that but when I have the time to work on my own drawings I am no longer inspired and nothing interests me enough to pick up my pencils? Just like when I have no money to spend I see lots of clothes or art materials with my name on them but when I have money I can’t see anything. Take last week for example, I really wanted to draw a horse but could I find ‘the’ reference photo to work from – no. I spent way too long looking though and still didn’t find it.

I think part of my problem is that I ideally want to start working from photos that I have taken, especially now that exhibitions, shows and competitions are virtually insisting on this, but I’m a novice when it comes to photography and I don’t really have a lot to choose from what I do have.

One of my goals for this year is to ‘learn more about my camera and improve my photography skills’ and this is exactly what I’m going to do, starting from now. To help me I have just signed up for a free DSLR Skills Course – if you're like me and are interested you can find details here – and hopefully by the end of the 6 months I’ll be happily snapping away with my camera and producing photos I’m happy with. If so I should have more than enough reference material to keep me busy, happy and motivated.

I did start a pencil drawing of a Weimaraner, as you can see above, but I’m struggling a bit with enthusiasm to get it finished. Could be a lot to do with the way I am feeling generally about my own work just now, but he wont be binned (I’ve invested too many hours on him to do that and I do like him). He’ll simply be put to one side to finish another time. I like having a pencil drawing on the go that I can do small bits here and there when the mood takes me.

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

A Titleless Horse

8"x11" Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

Before working on my next commission I wanted to finish off this graphite drawing of a horse I started at the beginning of last year. I’m not sure it was such a good idea though as my right shoulder started to ache while I was working on the background. I remember thinking how I should really stop when I got the first niggling pains but carried on regardless. Big mistake as it turned out - my shoulder was sore for the next few days! As a result there hasn’t been much activity behind the drawing board this past week and what has been done isn’t worth showing at this stage.

I’m currently trying to come up with a title for this piece and open to any suggestions anyone might have.

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:)

A New Year

I for one am pleased that 2009 is now behind me and I’m very much looking forward to the year ahead and what it brings. Like many other artists at this time I like to give a lot of thought to my goals for the year and what I want to achieve. This year my two main goals are to stop procrastinating and to manage my time better so that it is a more productive year for me with more artwork to show at the end of it. I am the worlds best at saying ‘I am going to do this and that’ and it never quite materialising – well not this year!

Last year wasn’t productive for me with one thing or another so I'm ‘carrying forward’ the goals I made back then and making them this years goals – I’ve made a few tweaks here and there.

• Spend more time on marketing. Update my marketing materials such as business cards, postcards etc.
• Print, market and sell prints of my work.
• Start a newsletter.
• Experiment more with my pencils, try new supports, techniques and mixing them with other media.
• Work more with paint – aim to complete at least one painting a month.
• Put together a portfolio of work with the aim of approaching galleries next year.
• Submit work into at least two exhibitions.
• Learn more about my camera and improve my photography skills - start photography course.

I’ve kept my goals ‘do-able’ for the time being, no point making the list long and daunting. There are more things I want to do and may well add to this list as the year progresses and time allows – this way there is no pressure:)

'Seriously!'
11.5"x8" Graphite pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2010

I had a very quiet Christmas watching too much TV and eating lots of chocolate as predicted. I did manage to work here and there on the Weimaraner I started back at the end of November however, and he is now finished.

Next up on the drawing board is another Cocker Spaniel.