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

A couple of updates

Zara
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

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

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