27.6.06
RUNNING WITH THE HARE AND HUNTING WITH THE HOUND.
Well.. here I go again..... another large pen and ink. Started late night on the 24th after mulling over the title ... ..an old adage of "Running with the Hare and Hunting with the Hounds" Overall size at the start is 30 inches by 16.5 inches.
Here's the 1st stage with the pencil detail done and starting off the pen and ink work. As usual I've started with the eyes first. Get them right and the rest just follows ..... or so I convince myself.
26.6.06.
Here.. after a few more hours work concentrating on the head of the hound.. deciding muscles and shading. Really happy with the strong eye and the ear are going well. Not to sure about the the pose of the Hare.
I think his rear should be higher to suggest travelling at speed.
28.6.06
Whilst stewarding an exhibition at Aberglasny I took the drawing along to work on. The raised haunch of the Hare is looking o.k and I've got on with working on the hound which is fun to do ..establishing the planes of the face and veins under the skin ...as you can see from the close-up of part of the hound's head. The ear is rather fun to do .. I don't know if hounds have all those complex folds and ligaments in life... but then again.... don't really care .... it pleases me to put them in.
Next job is to put in the moon which adds a dynamic effect and as I have confessed earlier ......is a great ploy to save having to painstakingly cross hatch in large areas of the background so much. This will be the biggest moon yet! After searching around the house for a circular tea-tray .....I found the lid to the laundry basket was just the right size and drew around it.
At the end of the day at Aberglsny ... this is as far as I got.. The moon is now established plus more detail on the Hound head and work started on the Hare body. This picture was taken in daylight so you can properly see the colour of both the ink and the "Off White" board I am using.
more to follow..... The Hare is looking a bit cross, which is bothering me.... I rather wanted it to look sublime and enigmatic... ...Some thought needed before I attack the problem.
9.7.06
Got cracking on the background using small pen strokes following the texture of ridges...about 2mm apart... on the board itself . Some work now on the Hare filling in the body fur. Need to look at getting some strength into the shadows behind the shoulders of the Hare. I have a nagging suspician that this picture will not be anywhere as good as it could be... So I will do a second version when I get time. Meanwhile I'll slog on with it.
3.9.06
Near as dammit ..finished ... It's been a bit of a slog this one and I'm not completely happy with it....just some work on the Hare's fur and time to get it in a frame.
The 2nd version will be a lot tighter and I think I'll have 3 Hounds in it.
It has been pointed out to me that such a picture might suggest agreement with the practise of Hare Coursing. I'd like it known that I do not agree with the practise at all or support it in any way. The statement behind this piece is much more personal.