"Looking Back in Time" is 2nd place winner!

I was super excited to get a letter from the Art Instruction Schools yesterday notifying me that my draft horse drawing, "Looking Back in Time" was chosen as a second place winner in their annual art competition!

For those who are new to my blog, this is quite a large drawing that I did last summer/fall; I ran a contest to name it and chose the name "Looking Back in Time". I finished it just barely in time to have it shipped in for the art competition, and after I'd already sent it off, I found out that the scan taken of it didn't turn out, so this is a very poor look at it, but it's all I have at the moment:

I look forward to getting the original back soon, and with the prize money, I'm hoping to have giclee prints made of it. The original will also be for sale; you can email me if you're interested.

Looking Back in Time

I'm quite disappointed that I don't have something better to show you. Apparently, the scanner didn't pick up the subtle shading in the white areas, and since the drawing has been mailed off for a contest, I can't have it rescanned. The print shop has been trying this week to darken those areas without compromising the rest of the drawing, but it's impossible to darken pixels that just didn't scan.

Here it is, the bad scan of the finished drawing.

The title chosen for the drawing is "Looking Back in Time". I thought it was appropriate both since it's a portrait from a time gone by and because the horse is looking back over his shoulder.

Most of the suggestions were names for the horse himself, and I almost went with that instead. My three favorites were Goliath, Samson, and Titan. Big, strong names for a big, strong horse.

The original drawing is now in Minneapolis awaiting judging for a contest. Unfortunately, prints will not be available until the drawing is returned late winter/early spring. Hopefully, by then I'll have found a place able to scan it properly.

Sketchbook Sunday - September 30

Good news! I finished the draft horse this past week in time to get him in for the contest!

Bad news - I took him in to the print shop to get scanned, and I haven't gotten the file emailed to me yet, so you don't get to see him today.

I started doing the drawing activities in my art lesson. I had to put my own hand in a foreshortened position and draw it starting with the see-through basic shapes (hence all those ugly extra lines). This was quite difficult as it's in a bound book that didn't want to lay open flat, so I was trying to hold the book open and draw with my right hand while I held my left hand perfectly still.

And a sketch from this week. Yet another of the photos I took for the county fair.

I'll post the scan of the finished draft horse as soon as I get him from the print shop. At that time, I'll announce the name I chose for him.

This may be your last chance!

As you can see, he's getting close to being finished. Suggest a title for this drawing now for a chance to win a free print! I'll choose the winner as soon as I finish the drawing, so don't wait!

Sketchbook Sunday - September 23

Another busy week. I'm losing hope of getting the draft horse drawing done in time for the contest, but I'm still going to try. I finished the blinker, did the eye and that big section of his face, and am working on the bridle again.

And a sketch from this week - from another of my county fair photos. I really like how it turned out.

I'm working on my lesson on foreshortening. I've read through the lesson book but have no drawing to show of it yet... next week.

Don't forget to enter the name the drawing contest for a chance to win a print of the draft horse drawing when it's finished.

Name the drawing and win a print!

I'm still hoping to have the draft horse drawing done to enter in a contest before the end of September, and I don't have a title for it, so I need your help.

If you come up with the best name for the drawing, I'll send you a free print of it. The name will be chosen solely by what I like the best and what I think best fits the drawing.

The contest will remain open until the drawing is finished.

Here it is in its current state:

And the reference photo to give you an idea what the finished face will look like:

You can post your name ideas here or email them to me at black_unicorn11 (at) yahoo.com.

Sketchbook Sunday - September 16

Busy week. Between bottle calves, and new horses, and a show to prepare for, not a lot of time for anything else. I'll post more about the show later this week, but for now, a peek into my sketchbook.

Just the bottom buckle this week and started on the blinker.

The proportions lesson is finished. He's the final assignment. Starting now on foreshortening.

 I did a real quick sketch of a Border Collie puppy that I photographed this spring.

Sketchbook Sunday - September 9

Busy week! I bought some baby bottle calves, and I've got to feed them twice a day. Plus, I arranged an exciting trip! I'll be leaving this afternoon and coming back tomorrow, and, if all goes well, I'll have some very exciting photos to share of my wildest dreams coming true! Stay tuned!

Draft horse - Did the cheek pieces on the bridle and halter and part of the chin strap on the halter. Still not happy with the chain, so I'll probably be tweaking that more.

Assignment for Art Instruction Schools. Just finishing it up and should get it sent off this week.

Some supplemental practice - sketching the photo of my sister that I entered in the county fair. The face got to be too round, but I'm happy with how the eyes turned out.

I also spent some time framing some prints for the show this coming weekend. If anyone is in the Willmar, MN, area, come visit me at Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee! on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Sketchbook Sunday - September 2

Progress this past week:

The figure drawing assignment is coming along. I'm starting to put in the shading.

Starting to work on the long part of the chain on the draft horse. I also did the far rein and the halter strap and rings under the horse's chin.

Sketched another photo from the same event as the draft horse I'm currently drawing. I'm thinking it might be fun to have a pair of them - am I crazy?

These next couple weeks are going to be a lot of prepping for a show on Sept. 15. I hate to beg for sales, but I really need to print some more cards for this show, and my funds are a little low, so if you've been thinking about buying something from my Etsy shop, now would be very good timing!

Sketchbook Sunday - August 26

I'm working pretty slowly on that chain. I also did the halter's throat strap and horse's cheek this past week.

I started the assignment for the lesson on human proportion. My drawing is so light it's hard to see, but you can see the photo I'm working from.

And I sketched another of my fair photos. This was done with colored pencils. I've never really used them before, so I didn't worry about getting in the details, but it was fun to just try blending colors together to somewhat match the photo.

In other news this week, I finished up with the photos I took of the county fair. Narrowed them down to the five best photos of each event, and now I just have to get them to the fair board president to put up on the website.
I also went to the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee last weekend. It was lots of fun, and I'll try to get some photos from that put up in the next few weeks.

Sketchbook Sunday - August 19

Getting back into the swing of things with a more normal work schedule this week.

This was the last page of practice, and I'll start the assignment this week.

Finished the studded rein and am starting on the chain attached to it. There is a lot of chain, and I'm kind of dreading it. Wish me luck!

I sketched one of my fair photos this week too, thinking it might be fun to draw someday.

Don't forget - my blog subscribers can use the code 3rdetsybday for 25% off when checking out of my Etsy shop until Wednesday in celebration of three years on Etsy!

Sketchbook Sunday - August 12

Not much done this week. I worked every day since the head librarian is on vacation, and I had my friends' wedding on Saturday.

Still working on the practice work for my art course. Nothing too exciting.

Still chugging along on this guy. Worked on the base of the collar and also that studded rein lying between the collar and the mane.

Looking forward to some more studio time this week with my schedule back to normal.

Sketchbook Sunday - August 5

Got a little bit of time in on the draft horse this week. Art Instruction Schools is having a contest I'm hoping to enter him in. Just have to get him done and to them by Sept. 30.

Also started on the next lesson for Art Instruction Schools. Figure drawing - very intimidating for me. I am NOT good at drawing people! This is just some practice work in the lesson book that I just started on.

Sketchbook Sunday - July 29

This is what he looked like the day before the fair when I decided to give up on getting him done in time.

I entered tons of photos in the fair, however, and I'll let you know how I did with them. If you want to take a peek, they're all posted on my Facebook site.

Sketchbook Sunday - July 22

The draft horse continues to come along, but I don't think I'm going to have him done for the county fair which begins on Thursday. I was really hoping, but he's just so big, and I don't want to run the risk of ruining him by rushing.
I got to the mane this week and seriously started questioning WHY I chose to draw this horse - I despise drawing white hair!
Here's his current state:

Neither his mane or ears are finished yet. I had to move on from the mane for a little while, so I started the ears. To give some perspective, I have 45 min. in so far on the mane and 15 min. on each ear. That's why I don't believe I can finish him by Thursday.

In other news:
-I finally called the Art Instruction Schools to check on my assignment. It should be in the mail right now. I'll be receiving lessons 23-28 all at once, and that's everything that's left! Nice to see the end in sight!
-The church sign boards were supposed to be prepped yesterday, and I'm just waiting to receive them.
-I'm working frantically on getting photos ready for the county fair. I went through all 1500+ photos I've taken in the past year, picked out around 50 that I really liked for the eight different categories, and now I have to cull them down to four in each category (color, black and white, sepia, and computer enhanced).

Sketchbook Sunday - July 15

Progress on the draft horse this week:

That's really all I've done this week that I can show you.

Other things I've been doing:
-I'm still waiting on my next assignment from the Art Instruction Schools. It's been two weeks now, and I'm getting a little impatient - will call tomorrow to check up on it.
-I've been going through all my photos from the past year and choosing possibilities for the county fair.
-I gave my church sign sketches to the ministerial association, they chose a design, and now I'm just waiting for the boards that I'm to paint.
-I'm also done editing rodeo photos and just have to put together the post, so you'll see that early this week.

Sketchbook Sunday - July 8

I made quite a bit of progress on the draft horse this week. I'm pretty happy with how he's coming along so far. I'm adjusting to the texture of the paper and am able to work more quickly.

I've also been working more on the church sign designs. I have two sketches finished and decided to add one more. That one is partially done at the moment.

In other news, I was accepted to display at a show in September. I'm super excited as it will be my first outdoor show. Since I don't own a canopy, I've been limited to indoor shows, but this one offers a large tent for artists to display under.

I'm still waiting for my next lesson to be sent from the Art Instruction Schools. I mailed in the assignment last Friday, so I'm hoping the next lesson arrives soon.

I'm editing rodeo photos and am hoping to have them to show you this week. I also took a trip to Door County, Wisconsin, for my fifth anniversary and have some photos to share from that trip, so stay tuned.

Sketchbook Sunday - July 1

Here's what I've gotten done this past week:

Still working on sketches of signs for the churches. Here's two of the designs I'll present for consideration. There may be a third depending on if I can make it work the way I want. It's hard with the variety in the length of the names of the churches. These are just larger sketches. I'll do a more final version with everything measured out better to actually present.

Which one do you like better?

And here's a current view of the draft horse. I'm really not liking the texture of this paper. It's got more of a grain than I'm used to, and it's really difficult to get that leather to look smooth. I'm at the point where I need to decide if I'm really going to kick it to get him done this month or if I should abandon him for July and work on the bison drawing. I'd like to have something to show at the county fair the last week of July besides my ACEOs.

I haven't forgotten about rodeo pictures from last weekend. I promise they're coming. I'll also have tons of photos to share of my anniversary trip to Green Bay and Door County, Wisconsin. Stay tuned!