Black on Grey on White

I don't know about you but I love out-takes. Those great moments captured not quite how they were planned. In our constant battle with perfectionism this side of our art-world tends to be hidden and very often deleted. I still have a few. A few lovely unique canine blunders. They make me smile. Can't be that bad right?

The "Christmas Secrecy Act" is lifted (and has been for the last few weeks...wee bit behind again whoops!) Christmas commissions #1 is the handsome Gizmo. A great big chocolate lab with a lovely nature. A beautiful subject to render, my pencils had no problems getting dug in with gusto and enjoying all the details from his vivid eyes all the way down to the small wave in his coat. "Gizmo" 44x25 cm Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved

Here are the first steps of my new piece "What's on the table". Inspiration for the piece is taken from a photo I took last summer. Layout is first sketched in, the tones and values established, the work starts.  5B and 2B pencil used for the dog and HB and 2H used for the table.  A total of 12 hours work.  The table was drawn first as it a major player in the composition. The first dog is finished and just needs a little tweaking...