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Blog

New canine drawing

by Sheona Hamilton-Grant on 6/26/2008 6:39:51 AM
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It has been a quite while since I last posted about what was actually on my drawing board...I seem to have taken to talking about what's going on around it more than showing you the actual creating.

I really have been busy drawing as well as typing.

A new commission has started. It is a portrait of 2 Riesenschnausers (Giant Schnauzers.) Jack and Libby.

Both are dark and have beautiful expressive eyes hidden under their long haired fringes.

I researched a little to find more about the particularities of the breed - this helps me really pin-point elements which are crucial and typical to a specific breed.

Here is the first stage of the portrait: it is an initial layout and the beginning of detailed work on the eyes. This is Libby.

I am using 6B and 3B Staedler clutch for the hair and 2B and 2H Derwent pencils for the eye. This portrait is being drawn on Steinbach paper (250gr. 73 x 110cm).

I have penciled in the second dog Jack and will start on his eyes in the next session...

The eyes are the most important part of the portrait. It is when, and only when, I feel they are the way they should be (expressive and believable) that I feel I can get on with the rest of the study.

At this stage I am about 4 hours into the portrait.

I will keep posting as the portrait comes along.

More of WIPs and thoughts can be found over at my studio blog Black on Grey on White


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When iron will falters...because of a kitten.

by Sheona Hamilton-Grant on 6/10/2008 8:03:32 AM
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Sometimes iron will is just not enough.... and you really just have to go with the flow...
I had finished my morning session in the studio and was on my way to grab another cup of coffee before sitting down to do some research for my new post when... Jess appeared... out of a shoe box!
Deadlines were plugging at the back of my mind, phone calls had to be made, research started, end of the month exhibition logistically sorted out, washing sorted (yep I work from home!), printers organised (that's another story), promotional material indexed, shipping forms understood, prints priced, emails answered, filing done (not too difficult to postpone I agree) but, oh no, the list was still not long enough to shoo (no pun intended) away temptation!
No... I had to pick up my camera!
I had to get this cutie-pie on film (card!)
The battery was nearly full (good), the card empty (excellent), the light workable and the subject (Jess) in full action.
I shot nearly 50 pics before she stopped, shoe lace dangling from her tiny mouth, and looked round at me.
I'm sure the look she gave me was exactly the same as the one I received when disobeying as a child...
Why DID I pick up my camera?
Why didn't the amount of work hold me back?
Was it really the loss of willpower or was it something else?
I picked up my camera to follow my instinct.
I picked up my camera because the passion for my art, my work is forever present.
(Which artist doesn't keep adding crucial reference images either mentally or digitally?)
I picked up my camera out of sheer enthusiasm.
I picked up the camera because spontaneity had become stronger than common sense.
I picked up my camera because my iron will had let Beauty in.
As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wisely said "Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest."
Quote taken from Robert Glenn's excellent pages of artistic quotes
I was stopped in my tracks by an 8 week old kitten.
This adorable beautiful feline has indirectly reminded me that art is all about enthusiasm, passion and spontaneity .
Here's one of the pics for your pleasure.
The other one is on the drawing board... I'll keep you posted...


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