Black on Grey on White

We've had a pARTy! Meaning a wee bunch of us (artists) have used one reference pic to create a piece of work. Hugo's photo was the centre of attention and supplied to us by friend and artist  Linda Shantz . Linda runs a small  maternity ward  thouroughbred farm in Canada and Hugo is one of the newborns skipping around the yard. The pARTy rules were very simple. Create a piece of work using the reference within 24 hours. My (homemade) rules a little tougher; create a drawing in under 4 hours, keep loose (cross hatching), keep detail  normal, no tweaking, sign, spray. The difficulty being in the time and the lack of tweaking I allowed myself. Klein Hugo is the result. Not only did I want to highlight his cuteness but also underline delicacy by grounding him with strong edgy shadows. These babies are all legs and I loved the way the shadows extended them even more. Good friend and fellow artist (the other force behind this pARTy) Kim Santini has the full Hug...

Image reproduced by kind permission of the artist Linda Shantz The progression of the internet has been both a blessing and a curse to artists. On the plus side, we are able to reach a much larger audience with our work, and do more marketing on our own than the old days. The negative is that sharing our work online – through websites, blogs, and social media – makes us vulnerable to image theft. One of my artist friends, Michelle Grant , likes to say, “You can die of exposure,” and when it comes to the internet, it’s very nearly true! Image theft has become a huge problem for artists and photographers . Just in case you don’t know, grabbing someone else’s photos (by right-clicking or doing a screen capture, that sort of thing) and sharing it with your friends is more than wrong – it’s illega l. We artists are usually nice people, but this sort of thing makes us rabid. We hate appearing as ogres. It’s really not in our nature. We’d rather be creating new work than chasing aft...

Way back last year, when the grass was still green, I "got together" (cyberly) with good friends and fellow artists Linda Shantz , Elizabeth McCrindle and we challenged ourselves to take a break from the old routine by drawing or painting an apple. This, ladies and gents, is how breaking my routine materialises. Apple Sketch #1 Colour Pencil in a sketch book Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved . Linda's Apple is a lovely red luscious sample tempting for any snow white princess. Like to think might tempt a wee worm. Oh and for the record, my Ladies did not respond to the challenge preferring to sketch a dog and run off to a brunch B-day party! Guess I'll have to bring out the paints next time and shout Dino!!!

Do you have a few equine art fans on your list and still haven't found the perfect Christmas gift? How about an outstanding quality piece of artwork... Here are three outstanding artists whose work hangs beautifully in every home, have made many an animal lover's heart beat faster and make wonderful, unique gifts. Spell bounding quality equine paintings will greet you in Canadian Equine Artist Linda Shantz art world. Her work will have you drifting off into a world of equine beauty, calm and serenity. Visit her website http://www.lindashantz.com/ and be prepared to be transported into a world of equine warmth, elegance and harmony . Oil Linda Shantz. 2010 All rights reserved In time for the festive season, her studio is currently offering an online December Celebration. Until December the 18th, a 25% discount will be given on any of the paintings found in both Linda's Thirty Horses, Thirty Days blog and in her Red Willow Gallery blog. Should a world of Black and White...

Up and running and drawing! My pencils are enjoying their new home as are both Wilbur and Bernadette. The space we have been allocated is just fantastic! Our previous work area was really cool too. Totally different and just much much smaller. Here, well this is pure luxury with space for the indispensable drawing board and red trolleys but also for my (big) favorite sofa, all my music, books, fellow artist, mementos and ... a chess board. For all of you interested here's a wee guided tour... New work area: great light, space and view. Behind work by Kim Santini , Juliette Harrisson and Linda Shantz . Old well loved yellow sofa. One of the 2 studio cats in action (also known as Jessy Jane or Jess ) Music, books, reference photographs and files Printing and Prints area. Above work by Karmel Timmons . Over looking the action: Wilbur & Bernadette . Side view of new cutting and framing area. In frame works by Donna Ridgeway , Kim Santini , Tami Oyler , Jenn Pratt , Kathi Pete...

This weeks circles are beautifully shaped but still displaying a wild side (which interferes relentlessly with any attempt at time management....) I have just realised it's the end of January and I have still not got round to sharing two new books that have "hit" my bookshelf. The first is: " That's 14 in Dog Years " by Kimberly Santini . Described by the artist as and I quote: " That's 14 in Dog Years" is a beautiful summary of the over 360 paintings that were created in 2008. Including almost 120 pages packed with full color reproductions and text highlighting the year’s accomplishments, this is a book artists and animal lovers alike will treasure." It's a wee bit more, I like to think of it as a "treasure trove book" filled with delicious, bright and vibrant dog portraits. Able to capture in simple accurate brush strokes so much energy, affection and precision, the artist's work come alive on the page. I first post...

Christmas continues in the blogosphere and you are, I'm sure, curious to see what a few of us created for the occasion? Presents have been unwrapped and many of us (commission artists) are now able to unveil our artwork. This is why today's post is not directly about my work but that of some of my fellow artists. Did you know that all too often commission artists are looked upon with a certain disrespect? This is mainly because we are considered to be selling ourselves and copying photographs. Total rubbish. Being commissioned to render a loved one is MUCH harder than copying a photograph. Why? The artwork has to be above average artistically , spot-on accurate , come from the heart and display total understanding of the rendered subject. All these elements are crucial. Should one of these fundamentals fail the artwork will hold very little credibility (if any at all!). Oh this could get so very long... ! We are simply wizards of our chosen mediums. Artists with a skill for r...

Do you ever have  that Wish , the one when you wish you could just have another "go" because you know you are able to do so much better? Silly questions: sure you do, we all do! This is the beauty with blogging you can discreetly, without total chaos,  turn back time ...! Today, I am grabbing time by the collar and reintroducing you to fellow artist  Juliet Harrison .   Many of you may recall last years post focusing on Juliet's work. Unfortunately, it was way back before I had understood the  important basics  when posting on a blog. I wrote my review and did not label or illustrate it ...  say no more! So without further ado, here is the new improved version, which will no doubt leave a longer lasting impression... Paying tribute to fellow artists is something that I hold dearly and that I am trying to make into a regular feature of on Black on Grey on White . Juliet is a talented photographer who, like myself, is passionate about the equine world, passionate about port...

Many of you may have noticed the new widget cartoon in the right hand column.   Cool isn't it?  (and it changes very regularly...) I had to add it to Black on Grey on White after reading the author's - Hugh MacLeod - 49 pages on "How to be creative"  49 pages on the value of being authentic and hard working. I love his sense of humour, his bluntness and the very valid points he brings up. Somehow, I don't mind being referred to as a noodle and told that I am hiding behind pillars... A recommended read to all that are fed up of being swamped by theories, thesis's and (supposedly) novel ideas on how to become a great artist in a heartbeat with slippers on! A refreshing, energetic read filled with truth dished out with a big spoon. The icing on the cake : free as a pdf download generously provided by Hugh himself. P.S: You can discover a whole lot more at www.gapingvoid.com

I proudly present Rien Poortvliet (1932- 1995) Rien was born in Schiedam, Holland. (His name may not ring a bell straight away but mention the word Gnome and bells sound, resound, loudly, happily...) Rien's "shortish" Biography His parents were strict Dutch Reformists. They had Rien's future firmly mapped out and were quite opposed to the idea of their oldest son going to study art. Rien's talent was apparent at a very early age. After finishing his primary education he went to work for an advertising agency. (Where he was able to let his talent mature and learn the "in's and out's" of the publishing world.) Poortvliet's heart really lay in illustration and it was by the end of the 1960s that he felt it was time to resign from publishing and change career. He became an independent illustrator. Not having enough work when starting out on this new journey (rings loads of loud bells for many of us out there!) he made ends meat by publishing a ...

Fellow artist, rephrase that super talented fellow artist Laura Hardie had this on her blog a few days ago. I gave it a shot et voila.... Museum quality... I bet nobody thought graphite could look so good so big!!!! Dreams can come true so I am told.... Back off to the drawing board make that dream board. p.s: if you want to give it a go yourselves this link will get you there.

All sorts of reasons have brought me to want to mention the artists whose work I admire and whose work is really too good not to mention. These artists all have a direct influence on my work or way of working and are helping me become the best artist I can. This is why would like you to discover the phenomenal work of Mike Sibley. When you think of pencil you automatically think sketches, drafts, layouts but there is a great deal more to pencil, to the art of graphite than you could ever think possible. One of the best in the business is Mike Sibley . Look and study his work and you will be mesmerized (in my case inspired). His eye for detail and sharp controlled use of pencils is just plain stunning. Specialising over the years in drawing dogs, he has brought every canine race to life. The realism achieved is uncanny, extraordinary. Trial and error have enabled him to fully understand all the intricacies of both pencil and paper. By mastering his technique to perfection...

T here are several artists out there that are having a great influence and indirectly helping me with my art and my understanding of the art world. Over the next few months I would like to pay credit to them, pay credit to their talent and the way in which they generously share their knowledge and experience. The first talented artist I would like to mention is Kim Santini Kim is the founding member of the CAG and fellow EAG member. Kim Santini’s work is worth taking time to enjoy. Once in a while you are struck by an artist, by their use of colour and light. By work that is alive, colourful and vibrant. I remember the first time I saw Kim’s work. It had all these attributes and more. It struck a chord. The painting was entitled Patience. I stopped, looked and really enjoyed. “Patience” , a close up painting of a donkey, shows an imaginative use of colour and light to portraying a classic pose of a donkey. Kim brings emphasize to the donkeys mood by her use of c...