Black on Grey on White

Bismarck Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. The 14th CAG Virtual art show "Old Friends" is now live (well since Sunday)! If you have a moment to grab a warm cup of tea (or coffee) please do so to Come on over to check out some nice and original canine art! Have a wee browse, treat yourself to a special canine moment, choose a favourite and tell your friends. All portrayed canines have marked and shaped someones life forever. The quality and variety of the art displayed is enough to make the coldest of hearts smile. My entry Bismarck was a well loved and special canine friend, who swept all in his way with boisterous happy tail wags and this for well over 15 years . Hearing that the passed away 3 days after my portrait of his smiling face was hung did wipe the smile off my face! Having said this be sure to add a smile to your day and warm your heart by viewing the newest canine art here on the Canine Art Guild website http://www.caninear...

"Behind Closed Paws" 27x20 cm, Graphite on Paper 380 Euros In all honesty, I had a little help with this drawing... professional help: the concept and initial references are not my own. The photographer behind "Behind Closed Paws" is none other than Erin Vey. ( Here is how it came about.) Erin Vey's photograph of Vinnie not only turned my head and but triggered my imagination. Erin's photography is stunning. If you are not familiar with her work, like dogs, enjoy great photography then there is only one thing for it : you have got to visit her website . "Behind closed Paws" is one of three entries featuring in the sixth CAG online show The Company Dog's Keep . There Vinnie the pup is in brilliant and versatile company and isthoroughly enjoying being cuter than cute.(Maybe he'll get a few of the public's votes) Unfortunately, I can't share much about the creation of this piece: I have no work in progress set up ...real life and...

Finished!  I have sifted through and (somewhat) organised the major part of my "holiday snaps". Todays selection is of the barking kind.   A few highlights of canines on a day out and of hounds saying hi... Hunting hounds were introduced to the public and the result was no less than thick muddy paw-marks on light jackets and peels of laughter from all ages. Enjoy, there will be more soon but for now I'm off up to the drawing board to see how much dust actually settles after 3 weeks of absence... Love people as much as foxes. Kiss...please! Spots and rubber flowers.... new season's trend! Saw you...missed the puddles! Not so sure about mum! Any chance of a hug...please!

Here they are: pretty much finished. I spent another 4-5 hours on Basti. Working on his ear and teeth mainly and achieving a little more shape to his head and nose. The result so far is quite OK. Now I put the drawing out of sigh. Not seeing it for a couple of days means: fresh eyes, being able to instantly pick out any mistakes, sternghten the weaknesses and/or "not so strong"patches. During this time (of absence) I contact the client(sending them a scan for their approval), get the paper work done, process the commission (size, medium, date...) into my database, clean the scan, organise the framing and finally publish it to my portfolio website. Here for your viewing is a raw (dirty) scan of Basti and Titus. The portrait will still be tweaked I am sure of that.(I can allready see a few spots!) Off to find a nice safe place for it hide for a few days. Have an excellent week-end!

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.

Finished.  Here is the final version of "what's on the Table?" On hindsight I had a great time with this drawing...I have learned a little about the intricacies and subtleties of wood and the variety of blacks found in a black dogs' coat... Now what is on that table?