Black on Grey on White

of my comfort zone. I went big and warped the rules of composition as much as possible. I craved for a new angle.  An angle that would emphasise all the strength and power of this amazing horse but also an angle that would defy compositional rules and regulations. Pinned to the edge was one of my hardest challenges yet.  The knowledge of my subject (we've met over seven times on the drawing board) and the energy he ignites in me kept me smiling and my pencils fervantly scribbling. The rest was hard, very hard. The proportions were hard, the dynamics were hard,  cracking rules to create drama was hard. Operating for weeks out of a zone of familiarity, uncomfortably hard. Stepping back, pencils paused, and calling it done: hard.  Letting it out of the safety of the studio into the world to face reactions: super hard! One thing though that is in no way hard:  endorsing the claim ...  pencils rock ! Pinned to th...

Mea culpa. Stalled my blog!!!! Life went into overdrive. Foot slipped off the clutch, releasing it too way quickly, timing went up the creak and the word flow came to one terrifying standstill, lasting not days or even weeks but months. Two to be exact. Neglect like this has not happened in the 6 years I've been blogging. Quite shocking! Behind the scenes, in the depth of the studio, my pencils have been active, totally ignoring (and forgiving) my poor blogging skills and have been working scribbling near to non-stop. No bad driving going on in the studio.... Instead new explorations have been concocted, fun combinations have emerged. The result a combined rendering of my favourite subject ( Hurricane ) and favourite substrate ( paper )... Fingers crossed life resume a touch of normality ...soon. "Paper Clone" Pencil on Paper, 35x49cm Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved

Dicke Tour Pencil on Paper, 50x46 cm Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Limited Edition  Prints available. ( Run of 99) This tutorial is dedicated to all of you who have asked so very nicely and waited so very patiently all these very long months for an answer to the question “how do you do it?” So without further ado and with great rejoicing (include sharp drum roll here*) I present  the various steps that led me to my latest commissioned drawing  “Dicke Tour .“ THE COMMISSION: Produce a drawing for and of the North Rhine Westphalian Stud’s annual stallion show. Third image in a series of five. To be produced as a Limited Edition Print. Run of 99 quality Fine Art Prints. TOOLS CHOSEN: Mellotex paper (large sheet) Staedler pencil 2B & HB Staedler Clutch F & 6B Blue Tack Derwent SuperPoint pencil sharpener SIZE OF IMAGE: Large (for added impact) 50x46 cm THE PROCESS : Stage 1 ...

Freeze! Hold! Observe and wonder... This is how the complex high-tech well oiled absolutely stunning machines that are race horses look in full and I mean full action. They are breathtakingly beautiful. "Up & Running" pencil on paper. 50x46 cm Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. The reference photograph for my new piece has been generously provided by friend, TB specialist and talented artist Linda Shantz .  Capturing this moment is down to her. Million thank yous Linda! Freeze frame a moment like this, at this angle, and you highlight just how much power, height and thrust is collected before sending the legs extended to pound the ground on their next stride. Drawing this has been a unforgettable journey of re-discovery and learning. Part of the journey involved: refreshing my knowledge and recollection of personal high speed gallops on various horses over various terrains and how they felt. discovering that a horse moves around 180...