The New decade is here.
Hellooooo to you all, it’s nice to be back.
I hope you have all had a spiffing festive season.
Opened the studio doors, turned on the “puter”, paid the bills, read the snail mail and emails, sharpened some scribble friends and got back into steady action.
At this end, the year ended with cheap fireworks (some chaps thought they had the real deal and well…. at least they got more laughs than expected) and great studio news.
Drawing a Blank and Legacy will be published in what has to be the best book of contemporary equine art: Ex Arte Equinus III.
Drawing a Blank came 7th in the Drawing category
“Drawing a Blank”
Mixed Media, 35×27 cm
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved
and Legacy was juried to form the Equinus Show.
“Legacy”
Pencil on Paper, 34×37 cm
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reservedMost excellent news which was quite simply the sherry on the cake, rounding of a great year in style.
Have a lot to live up to this year.
Off to get a few more pencils ready for action!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
“Hurricane”
Graphite on Paper. 36×56 cm.
Sheona Hamilton-Grant
Finished.
Hurricane is my first drawing this big.
The result was well worth the extra hours.
In this post I thought it would nice to share the set of instructions used for preparing and producing this specific drawing.
(p.s:The ingredients used can be found worldwide, the way in which they are combined comes from trial and error.)
INGREDIENTS
1 sheet of Mellotex paper, whole
3 clutch pencils, filled (6B, 2B &2H)
1/2 piece of Blu-Tack
1 gorgeous subject (1.1 tones/2425 lb)
12 finely detailed digital photographs
XL Foam board
Artist Tape
1 “White Lies” cd
2 Marillion cds
Collectors Edition Pink Floyd
11/2l of drinking water (daily)
2 nespresso coffees (daily)
Preheated studio to 19 ºC = 66.2 ºF.
65 hours of drawing time.
Freshly ground passion.
DIRECTIONS
In a warm studio, over angled drawing board, outline subject and study eyes, movement and light. Add a pinch of passion and bring inner vision to a simmer.
Place paper on foam board. Tape corners with artist tape. Secure and set aside.
Turn on music.
Review sketch and bring to parchment. Begin eyes to get a perfect expression.
On a clear drawing board, under good light, add more work to overall subject. Pin down the darks and gradually stir in the lighter values. Allow the lighter grays melt into the drawing, and then add detail to the mix. Work gently for approximately 65 hours until the values are completely coated with details.
Finish with a pinch of zeal and a crack of freshly ground passion.
Serve immediately.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
09-09-09
Visually pleasing.
A post today is a must even if it means not posting the finished portrait.
Here it is nearing completion.
Bridle still to do and all sorts of fun fiddly bits
Will tackle all that tomorrow.
Off to mow the lawn while the girls play and the sun lasts!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Bet you were all thinking I was still gallivanting around la France hunting down pics of shutters.
No, been a busy bee.
Spent a great few hours with friendly grey Marble Arch.
Actually we had such a ball I’ve signed the portrait. Yeah!
“Marble Arch”
Pencil on Paper, 20×30 cm
Copyright:Sheona Hamilton-Grant
Sold
His roman nose was a tad difficult: “over do it” and he looked deformed, “under enhanced” and he looked too much like a dainty thoroughbred. Needless to say a “few” minutes were spent tweaking here and there, there and here, here and there …
Slowly working down to the nose and nostrils. Strangely enough I am still working with a Derwent 2B. I thought I might moved on to a B or F but there seemed no need to.
This stage shows progress being made on the lower part of the face and the mouth.
To render the skin around this area I used a Derwent 3B for the added darkness which I then worked over with a dry Derwent 2H. Like the effect.
One of the big challenges with pencil is not the rendering but the scanning!
Here a zoom in on the nose, roman “bump” and all the finer details which are quite difficult to make out in the full image scan.
The week-end is just around the corner.
Bringing out worn grotty jeans: painting and re-decorating kiddie bedrooms planned at this end.
Wishing you all a great one wherever you are and whatever your plans.
Cheerio for now!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Marble Arch now has slightly more defined face, a soupcon of an ear and a sprinkling of a mouth.
The progress is slow (laying all of the blame at summers door…) but quite good.
A 2B Derwent pencil has been used with various strokes: some harder some softer but all short and crisp.
Slowly approaching the problem area: his roman nose.
The good news: still love greys!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Untitled Black Lab
Graphite on Paper, 17×22 cm
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.
Finished and awaiting approval (and a name).
Below: the vital steps that led me to the end result.
Following on from where I left off
last week here are steps 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Step 4
Here more work has been done on the bone structure and depth. This was done by refining the layer of 4B and adding to the nose and mouth. Remembering to follow the lay of the hair.Work has also begun on the longer hairs around the neck.
Step 5
More emphasis is brought to the jaw line and start given to the ear. Invisible on the scan: work was also refined around the eyes.
Step 6
This step was all about getting more hair blocked in and establishing movement and texture to the neck. The ear also takes on a little more shape and texture. At this stage I am only working with a 2B and varying the layers over the blocked darks.
Step 7
This step is were the nose and the lighter areas of the head get “covered” in hair.
After which I was unhappy. A niggling annoying feeling.
When this is the case, best to mirror the image. This showed (and as suspected) the nose and muzzle were not quite right nor was the mouth and the outer eye.
This is crucial step. The changes are minute (sometimes in can be only a stroke) but I feel make a massive change to the overall accuracy.
The finished portrait mirrored with small changes made.
A gorgeous chap: he was great company -
At last it felt right beating back memory demons! I lost
my Lambda 9 years ago and still feel the void.
If only he had a brother: I’d love to make his acquaintance…
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
I love labs especially when they are that traditional wise black.
My own lab was black and lived by my side for over 16 years.
I am amazed at the speed this portrait is coming along.
Subject knowledge and memory lane are the paths I am following.
The pencils making the marks: my good & faithful Derwents in 4B and 2B.
Their marks are going down on Hanemuhle 200gr paper.
The only one thing truly bothering me: I don’t know this chap’s name…and will have to wait (not cool!) three whole weeks until the owners are back in reach of modern day communication…
Oh and tomorrows a pARTy …. a first for Black on Grey on White!!!!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
“Complicity”
Graphite on Paper, 27×38 cm
Sheona Hamilton-Grant, 2009 All rights reserved.Finally, hours, days and weeks of drawing have delivered “Complicity”.
Motherhood took over, the pencils did the scribbling and I was somewhere in the middle breathing. Savouring every moment…:)
Sadly, I had to interrupt the WIP because of the size. (Scanning became very tricky and not the safest…)
I stuck to my rules of using 2B, F and 4H and kept working from left to right .
Leonardo da Vinci (who many of you know helped with the drapery of the fabric) left the studio last week after completion of the jacket.
This meant the Foo Fighters were on the scene again (hi, hi,hi), their rock contrasting wildly with the detailed rendered in the dog’s coat. Their musical world spurring me on no end.
Before ending this post, I would like to send big handful of thank- yous to all of you for the support and the comments over the last few weeks. (They mean so much), accompagnied by a bundle of apologies for the “wishy washy-not-quite-finished WIP” – I confess to bad management on my part.
Have a great Sunday.
Back in a tick with a black canine…
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Pencils scribbling away, Leonardo present and happy having me find inspiration from his 450 year old study; I tried desperately to introduce him to The Foo Fighters ( one of my fave keep-me -focused-on-detail- rock groups).
He was not impressed…
I guess it was the generation gap.
I searched my music library and he agreed to… Morcheeba. The man has good taste.
So with Morcheeba subtlely playing in the background and Leonardo’s drapery study in the foreground, good progress was made to my intricate piece.
Enough to say : “ready for the week-end and an overdose of quality family time“.
Back on Monday with more musical and artistic up-dates.
Wishing you all a spiffingly excellent week-end.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Progress is being made, slowly, intricately… this weeks luxury of not working to a dead line.
I love drapery.
This concept was added to the texture of the jacket.
I had help.
Referred to the best for inspiration : Leonardo da Vinci.
His draperies, especially the studies are so strong.
He achieves a perfect balance between soft and hard lines; between delicate and thick highlights. This harmony creates beautiful textured material.
Da Vinci effortlessly draws a wide range of shapes and folds, perfectly placing shadows and contrasts, which in turn gives the hangs of the folds their own movement, their own individual size, twists and turns.
Study of a drapery of a woman kneeling to the left
Leonardo da Vinci
Silver point on red surface heightened with white chalk
Corsini Gallery, Rome.
Source: Artlex
Leonardo da Vinci, Drawing of drapery
late 15-early 16th century
source Wikimedia commons
Learning by doing is the name of the game at this end. I’m loving it!
Eagerly awaiting tomorrows discoveries…
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Here is the “state of affairs” before the beginning of the WE.
Pencils have been eagerly scribbling and co-operating. Some progress has been made to the hair, the head and the jacket.
Drawing hidden eyes and expression is a little tricky. Not quite there yet.
Will need a few more hours and once that is looking good I’ll put a jacket on.
Will post a new update on Monday (or Tuesday).
Until then, wishing you all a “spiffingly” excellent week-end and a terrific Mother’s Day.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
I have not been sitting pretty (I wish!) but scribbling away with my partners in crime.
Above the result.
This is a big drawing.
Paper: A2 sheet of Mellotex paper.
Concept: interpreting the special bond that can develop between children and man’s best friend. A special kind of happiness.
Rules: only three pencils: 2B, F and 4H.
References: self made photos taken last year at an agricultural fair in Scotland.
Models: my youngest and a big anonymous hound.
This is a very interesting drawing to work on: it is the first time I combine motherhood and my love for dogs.
One thing for absolute certain: I’m going to savour every moment.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Approved, sprayed and signed!
“Charisma”
Graphite on Paper, 18×23 cm
Copyright Sheona Hamilton-Grant
Charisma is finished and being framed ready to make tracks to his forever home in Germany.
He was a gorgeous subject to draw: athletic, fit, alert, dark and handsome…
The angle of the reference was not ideal with quite a bit of foreshortening and distortion. (Since the last post I corrected the right ear, the nose and the right eye…!)
This however was a good challenge: the type you need to keep artistically &”graphitely” fit.
On the drawing board this week is a combination of both figurative and canine art.
Nothing definitive has made it yet on paper …ideas are still spinning in my mind and being sketched out.
I will post when the pencil marks start to make harmonious sense.
Until then, wishing you all a super start to the week.:)
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Back on track.
Below the proof.
Step 5: Top line in neck defined and detailed helping to accurately define the neck muscle.
Step 6: Leather bridle and pelham bit added, more work on muscle structure in both chest and neck.Music, back bone and inspiration to many artists, was my rescue as I started work this am.
Song #3 on Depeche Mode‘s Sound of the Universe saved the day (and more grey hairs!)
The title: “Wrong”!!!
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Step 3: Jaw line finished, nose band and a few shadows added to face. Chest started. Blank spaces left for the leather on the neck.
This is what one could refer to as the ugly phase…
I can’t believe the way I’m fumbling around with his neck muscles…I’m not getting the shape right.
No worries: I know what I’m looking for and I will get my (misbehaving) pencils to humour me:)
Step 4: chest darkened to help establish depth, neck mapped out and top line penciled out. Somehow I feel I’ve taken a wrong turn and have now found myself at a dead end…Only one cure: take a short break, find bearings and post new update tomorrow.
Cheers from a frustrated graphite artist.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
A horse. Yeah! It has been a wee while since Black on Grey on White has featured a horse. The last being Drawing a Blank my interpretation of an equine nose
This is the start of Charisma’s action portrait.
My classic combination of Hahnemule paper and Derwent pencils are being used harmonising (indirectly) with a very classic show jumping perspective.
The contrast has been pushed a wee bit to bring out more in the scan.
Step1: initial layout mapped out, eye brought to life and darks established.
Step 2:Work on expression and shape of cheek and jaw line
Charisma is my center of attention this week so there will be more progress steps posted over the week.
Looking forward to sharing them with you until then back to the drawing board for step3.
Cheerio for now.
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
“Lilly”
26×22.5 cm, graphite on paper
Sheona Hamilton-Grant. 2009.
Finished.
This portrait has been a long time in the making.
Many external influence kept dragging me away from the drawing board and because it took my wee brain way too long to figure out how to render all the intricacies and in’s and out’s of the tartan without going O.T.T.
After much deliberation I opted for a looser effect.
Her wee face is in the spotlight (and very detailed) by over working the tartan the piece would have become too rigid.
I’m really chuffed by all the lessons learned and the result.
The icing on the cake: the client is over the moon and cannot wait to have her hanging on their wall.
Before saying cheerio for my Easter break I would like to extent a big cheery wave to ALL my followers.
Sadly time has not allowed me to personally welcome you all, but please believe I am so excited to have you all follow my wee tribulations as an artist.
Will be back in 10 days.
Very best Easter cheers from me here to you wherever you are!
May the Easter bunny leave you all an extra portion of joy and a serious mount of choc eggs…:)
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
More work has been done on Lilly’s portrait.
The internet connection was close to non-existent yesterday allowing for more drawing and unfortunately no blogging.
Todays steps show how the hand, the dress and the baby’s head have taken shape.
Step 4
There is more detail coming into the dress.
A 6B was used, lightly mapping out a route for the folds in the dress, the tartan squares and the shape of the mother’s neck.
I have not quite worked out how to render the tartan and to be honest if I wasn’t a Scot I would be cursing this gorgeous material to “kingdom come”…
The hand was drawn using light 2B shading which I then blended with… toilet paper. A top layer in F was added.
Step 5
Here progress is made in both defining and refining the shape of her head, the expression of her mouth and the lay of her baby hair.
Before doing this a darkening layer was added to the background jacket. I felt the dark value was too weak and could use a bit more oomph!
I worked on her expression and head through careful application of F graphite for the skin and 2B for the strands of hair.
Step 4: focus brought to hand and dress. Notice protective sheet of paper on right.
Step 5 Work on head and expression.
(p.s:The muddy look in both images is due to scan. Her wee face does not look this blotchy when seen live!)
Back soon with more.
p.s: Music has also been
a major key so far: bringing focus and sustenance. Thank you
Reammon and
Snowpatrol…
©Copyright 2009 by Sheona Hamilton-Grant. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
“Drawing a Blank”
“Legacy”
