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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Weimaraner

'Weim'
A Work in Progress
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

I had a bit of a break last week (well from the drawing board at least hence my lack of posts) even though I had every intention of working on my next Cocker Spaniel. I should maybe point out that it wasn’t laziness on my part but down to the fact that I don’t as yet have a reference photo to work from. It wasn’t a problem though as there are always things to keep me busy and it gave me a chance to catch up on a lot of chores that needed doing.

I did find time to pick up my pencils and make a start on one of the Weimaraners I’ve been promising to do for long enough. I just loved the expression on his face – so full of attitude and mischief – and hope that I’ve captured that. It was certainly my aim. Still a long way to go with this drawing and I’ll be working on it between commissions so it might be a while before you see it finished.

I’ve also become one of the millions who are now on Facebook and I invite you to join me there and become a Friend (link is on sidebar). Only problem is I’m spending way too long on there now but what a great way to meet new people and other artists and see their artwork. If I take longer to finish a piece I’ll definitely be blaming Facebook:)

Twiggy

Twiggy
10x8 Pencil
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Twiggy is now finished and, if I can say so myself, I’m really pleased with how she turned out. This is one of those times when the drawing looks much better than the scan unfortunately, but then I’ve always found graphite drawings difficult to scan or photograph (as many of you will know:))

Although somewhat unorganised, I’ve been spending more and more time at my drawing board recently which I’m glad to report, and I’m feeling a lot more motivated with loads of ideas running through my head - both on the creative and marketing side. Lets hope they materialise and I don’t spend all my time procrastinating. The weekend has also seen me doing some much needed updates to my website – nothing major, still the same layout etc, but I want to get my ‘shop’ area up and running so have been working on this. Providing I don’t have any problems with adding PayPal buttons, which I very much doubt knowing my past history with technology, I’d like to say I should have this finished by the end of next week. Wish me luck:)

Something quick(ish)

'The Look'
8x8 inches, Pencil on paper
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Another graphite drawing except this time I set myself a challenge – to complete it in 4 hours or less. I can easily spend up to 6 times longer than this normally on a drawing (coloured pencil even longer) but I wanted this one to be more of a sketch. This meant of course leaving out a lot of the detail that I love putting in and, as it turned out, couldn’t completely leave out. It’s almost as if my hand has a mind of it’s own:)

I wouldn’t call the finished portrait a sketch as such although it is much ‘looser’ (for want of a better word) than I would normally do – maybe a ‘refined sketch’? I failed to complete it within the time I set myself and took 5 hours 15 minutes instead – oh well, there’s always the next one and there will be more.

Prints

'Black on White'

Pencil on Fabriano paper

Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Things are really busy, both behind and away from the drawing board, which is probably a good thing for me just now – less time to dwell on personal issues. Something I’m slowly working my way through (and organising) is my huge ‘to do’ list. One of the things on this list was to finish my pencil lab, which I did over the weekend and I’m really pleased with how he turned out – even more pleased to score something off as done:)

Another thing, which has been on my list for what seems forever, is to start doing prints of my work. Regular readers of my blog will be well aware of this and will have read about the (many) problems I’ve experienced along the way. But, I’m delighted to say, that all is now good and ‘Black on White’ can now be purchased as a Limited Edition print. The first of many if all goes to plan.

It comes in two sizes – small (225mmx174mm) and medium (280mmx205mm). Printed on specialist fine art paper with archival quality inks for long lasting quality, each print is hand signed by me and comes mounted ready for framing. Further details will be shown on my website as soon as I find the time to update it but should anyone be interested in enquiring about a print in the meantime please feel free to contact me via email.

Staying on the subject of prints I am also offering a print service to my customers (past and present) who wish to have one or more prints made of their portrait to give to friends or family. I’ve made prints from a few of my past portraits and have to say I’ve been really pleased with the quality and detail. Again, details will be put on my website but I can be contacted via email in the interim until this is done.

Moving on

'Black on White'
A Work in Progress

I should really start by offering my sincere apologies to all who follow or read my blog for the long delay between posts – thank you to those who have emailed concerned at my whereabouts, it’s nice to know I’ve been missed. I’d only intended taking a couple of weeks break, which to start with were fine, but just when I was preparing to throw myself back into my portraits life got in the way – and sadly none of it good.

Unfortunately I am not a strong person and someone who I loved and trusted for many years literally took it upon himself to destroy life as I knew it and while he was at it crushed what little confidence I had left. Trying to cope and make sense of his hate, all of it completely undeserved, has been a feat in itself and so hard to deal with that unfortunately my art (amongst other things) has suffered in the process. But, as the saying goes, life must go on and I do have commissions sitting waiting for me to complete. At this point I’d like to say a huge thank you to my customers who have been very patient, supportive and understanding at this time - it is much appreciated.

Things will take time to recover and I have to accept that fact and as a result I wont be working on my commissions as much as I’d like for the foreseeable future. Posts may therefore be a bit sporadic over the coming weeks/months but I do hope you stay with me as I’m not giving up on my art and will definitely be continuing with my blog.

During my summer break I did make a start on the above pencil drawing of a black Lab and actually don’t have much more left to do on him – his left leg needs finishing and various touch ups here and there should see him done. I love working with graphite pencils and should really do more with them – I actually have a reference of a Weimaraner that is screaming to be done in pencil so watch this space. First though I have a gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Bruno to do in coloured pencils and he is on my drawing board as I write, slowly coming to life. All going well I should have some progress shots to show in the next couple of days.

Fabriano paper and watercolour

8x10 Graphite pencil
Private commission

Isn’t it strange how some papers are good for one medium but terrible with others. My paper of choice when working with coloured pencils is Fabriano Artistico hot pressed watercolour paper (140lb) – I love this paper and haven’t yet found one to top it. I even fought its corner with a fellow artist after she complained about it being terrible for working on with her watercolour paints. As far as I was concerned it could do no wrong, no matter what medium was used.

Imagine then my disappointment after discovering it is hopeless with watercolour (in my opinion). I’ve just spent the day fighting with the paper, willing it to love my watercolours, but alas, it wasn’t to be and the painting is now no more. Watercolour paints are not my forte and no doubt if they were I would have put up a better fight and at least finished the painting - even if deciding never to use the paper again.

I can't help feeling - however strange it may sound - that it had something to do with me not using my normal weight of paper, ie. 140lb, and instead used the 300lb. I know from experience that the heavier weight paper doesn't work well (again in my opinion) with coloured pencils so it might be the same with paint.

All in all a very frustrating day – I have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't wasted and instead is all part of the learning curve.

8x10 Graphite Pencil
Private Commission

A lot less frustrating, and certainly more enjoyable, was working on my latest commission - two pencil portraits of a brother and his sister. If I’m not drawing animals it’ll be people. Faces have always been a passion of mine - they continually fascinate me and I always get great enjoyment from drawing them.