A Scan of Harry

I currently don't have access to my laptop, meaning I can't finish up the image and prepare to send him to print, but being on the old family computer means I can show you a quick scan of the sketch as he currently is. I'm going to add one last layer of pencil over the darkest areas, such as the nostrils, inner ears, and the shadows, and use a white gel pen for the highlights on the eye and nostril wall, then he'll be pretty much complete. Then once I have access to my tablet and photoshop, I'm going to clean up the background and replace the written name with a name-plaque. 

I hope you guys like him enough to maybe buy a print when he's done, and help me raise money for Redwings Horse Sanctuary and their Harry Potter memorial! Learn more about that here.

Subscription Sunday: Among Wild Horses

For this week's Subscription Sunday, I've chosen the small book 'Among Wild Horses' by Lynne Pomeranz (I brought it in a charity shop, however it's available here for only a few pounds). This book is full of photographs and prose centred around the lives of the wild horses. The beautiful imagery is good for both getting accurate references of wild horse colours, as well as providing a lot of interesting poses and movements for the sculptor or artist. The photography really is gorgeous, and I've included some of my favourite pages below. Just a truly lovely book!

Tip Tuesday: Starting Harry

I've spent this morning working on the start my charity print, and I thought I'd share my process as the first 'Tip Tuesday' post! To find out more about why I'm drawing this pony, see here.

I start by doing several freehand 'warm-up' sketches, preferably of the same subject. I do these to loosen up my wrist and hand movements, and also to get me in the right frame of mind before working on a larger or longer piece. Today, the subject of my 'real' work is Harry, so the warm ups were small, quick Harrys, referenced from photos. These maybe took 2 or 3 minutes each.

After the warm up sketches, I begin the piece that is the focus of the day, Harry's portrait. I start by drawing out the linework. Unlike in my freehand sketches, where I draw it out with circles and sketchy marks with a heavy pencil, I begin realism with either a grid system or a projector, and a light HB, which ensures I get all the proportions correct. I am not yet confident enough with my freehand skill that I would get the proportions right, though that should come in time and with practice. I then quickly scribble in some shading to give him some shape.

I use close cross-hatching to build up the shadows and forms of his face. I am still using a HB pencil at this point.

And this is how he looks currently. He's had three hours work, from blank page to this. After sorting out the mane, I will then be working over the image several times with softer pencils, deepening the shadows and adding details. I'll post another update later, hopefully he'll be finished by tonight!

Syria Crisis Appeal Live

Over the last weekend, hobbyist Cat Harris held a live show in Woodcote, Oxfordshire. That's definitely quite a way away from me, however, this morning I found out that a piece of my work had made it's way into the show, and better yet, done me proud!

This baby chestnut Shetland foal, painted last year, managed to take 2nd place in the 'CM Ponies' class, and qualified for BMEC! I'm not sure how big the class was, but I'm still rather proud, especially as they were only beat by a Liz Hibbert CM! I'm glad this little one is doing well for their owner :D

(Photo credit: Taya Stevens)

Sales!

I've finally gotten around to updating my blog with a sales page, and the first batch are up now! I'm really pleased with some of these guys, especially the Clydesdale chap, so please take a look. You can find the 'Sales' button on the top bar, or click the link here!

jodie-ann-equine.blogspot.co.uk/p/sales-page.html

Summer Begins

I'm finally out of London and back in the countryside. I passed my first (and probably only) year of uni, and picked up my work yesterday. Thank god that's over with, haha.

Being back home for summer break now means I have the time and space to reopen up my books for re-painting commissions, feel free to get in touch through my facebook page, Jodie Ann Equine. It also means I spent last night finishing off two paintjobs that were only half done when I left. In a few days, once the sealant is dry and I've taken some photos, I'll put them up for sale, so keep an eye out. I also have access to all my bookcase, so expect some more Subscription Sundays to crop up over the next few weeks!

Also, no update on the Harry portrait. I've not had a response back from the email I sent Redwings, which is frustrating. However, I'm going to start sketching him tonight from the small photos I found online, just going to have to use artistic licence across some of it. 

Schelich re-paint waiting for his sealant.

HA resin on the work bench.

Redwings' Harry Potter

Harry and Frodo (www.redwings.org.uk)

I'm feeling slightly heartbroken. I've just found out, the gorgeous black shetland pony, named Harry Potter, has died. Harry was one of the adoption ponies living at the Ada Cole Rescue Center, run by Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

I've had Harry on adoption for several years, ever since my old neighbor Vanda brought a year's sponsorship as a birthday present in the early 2000s (the earliest certificate I can find is from 2008). Even after she moved away, she kept renewing my adoption. I used to pour over the letter 'Harry' sent, and I had every picture that came with them bluetacked to my wall. 

When we held jumble-sales and fundraisers at Brownies, I somehow always convinced them to have the money raised by the group I was in be sent to Redwings. I remember doing a sponsored silence and raising £70, and then sending that money to Redwings, I even got a little rosette back in the post.

News Screenshot  (www.redwings.org.uk)

I was originally checking their website for another project I was about to work on, a medallion run to celebrate 30 years of Redwings, but I then spied a news story about Harry (29th May 2014). I've decided to put the medallion on hold for a while, and try to raise some money for Harry's Memorial Fund. I'm going to draw a portrait of Harry, and release a print run, with all the profit going to Redwings. I'll then consider auctioning off the original drawing, or gifting it to Redwings, who could then auction it off themselves (larger audience, more chance of a higher bidder). We shall see soon enough I guess.

I'm going to email Redwings to check it's okay for me to use one of their photographs of him, and I'll give you guys an update once I get a reply.

If you would like to find out more about Redwings Horse Sanctuary, or adopt your own pony-in-need, see www.redwings.org.uk

Throwback Thursday #4

I just spent a while flicking through my photos from Silverdale, and I thought I'd share some of the glorious colours that could be considered for my El Rabia .. I'm so undecided, they're all such beautifully coated animals!

 

Not Much Is New ..

Being stuck up in London keeps me away from the hobby a lot of the time. I'm away from my paints, my pastels, my epoxy, just most of the studio stuff in general. The only real hobby interaction, other than forums, is when I get especially equine shaped parcels. 

Whilst looking about the Animal Artistry website, I spotted an El Rabia arabian colt in their 'Special Offers' section. Reason being, he had a broken foreleg. After a little dilly-dallying, I emailed Donna and snapped him up. Glad I did, he's a cutie.

Now I'm going to go through all my photos I took whilst working at Sliverdale Arabian Stud to try and choose him a colour ..