Black on Grey on White

Massive mistake! I never introduced you to Cherry. I had the pleasure of spending time with her image in the studio at the end of last year. The wee lass is an amazing 32 years young. An impressive fact that qualifies her as the oldest horse I have had the honour of drawing. This mare's honest, charming and friendly nature were a joy to render. Quite frankly, interpreting and immortalising this gentle soul is what makes my job plain fantastic. Cherry Pencil on Paper Sold

Beauty, attitude, energy and black & white. Welcoming 2014 with open arms and sharpened pencils. Wishing each and everyone of you a fantastic New-Year filled to the brim with family, friends and the beauty of life.           "Napoleon" 25x30 cm Sold Pencil on Paper Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. p.s: This is Napoleon, a very smart, beautiful and affectionate Australian Shepherd. His gorgeous alert face (have to admit to being fascinated with his eyes, especially the left one and the white mark in the corner …) with all  the subtle contrasts and detail:a  joy to draw.

Drawing Henry was easy. A warm friendly aura encircled him, reflected in his eyes, echoed in his sun-bleashed forelock, highlighted by his bold sprinkled blaze, completed by his soft snuggly nose. It was an honour to immortilise this noble soul. It is so easy to see why he is sorely missed. "Henry" pencil on paper SOLD Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.

Born into a world that did not want him, this wee chap’s fate changed. He can now be found frolicking around the daily life of his new warm and loving forever home.  His cuteness and adorability reaping smiles, hourly. A joy to be around, a joy to draw. Meet Nemo ... Nemo Pencil on Paper, 32x27 cm Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved

Still a blogger and still drawing! (If anything I've been scribbling my wee friends blunt!) Been an absolute age and so it is with a "shy hi" that I return to my wee blog. Many drawings have been started (and finished) and until THE  Christmas Present act of secrecy is lifted in January 2013 my posts will have to remain well... limited. However, there is one "on the go" and unaffected by any secrecy act . A drawing all about contrasts, lines and trust. A drawing that big & delicate. A drawing built around memories. "Untitled and still in progress" Pencil on Paper to be continued ...

Some wee dogs are so much bigger than the mother nature intended. They ooze personality and their character is boundless . Finntjebelongs to that clan. She's the size of "thruppence a-penny" but only for the initial minute after which her presence takes over and size becomes "so last season!" (yep there's a tween in the house and it's having quite an impact on my outlook on life ;D) I am very happy to have more wonderful pics of her and will no doubt find her back on my drawing board. Finntje Pencil on Paper SOLD Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Back to mummy duties... I believe they involve the use of beautiful smelling green liquids, colour sorting and programming a digitalized screen...

So here you have it! My latest commissioned portrait. Not just one but two, deux, zwei, dos, två... I was asked to portray a double bundle of cuteness! Milo and Howard, two adorable Welsh Corgi's, now have their own special mark in time. Everything, from their low-set yet sturdy built, big eyes, alert ears, fluffy "cheeks", bold and friendly aura, made my pencils day. As a result: an energetic and accurate pencil drawing smothered in detail. Simply said: I'm smitten! Milo & Howard Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.

(Picture shaking head) In my perfect disorganisation I've managed to leave this aristocratic grey mares' story under wraps - unintentionally . Readers of my newsletter have been introduced but many of you have not... Apologies This is Kalaglowa, also referred to as Kali. A thoroughbred with no speed and a tricky character. Traits that pretty much mapped out an uncertain future. One day (like in all fairytales) Kalli was seen by someone who instantly wanted to connect with the young hectic grey mare. Kali's future changed. Kali was taken in, loved and  cared for ...  unconditionally. Sadly she passed away last year, her health having let her down. Her owners unconditional love did not follow her over the rainbow bridge but took a wee turn and came into my studio. Kalli's presence was to live on, immortalised in a portrait. Both the grey mare and my scribble friends connected and spent a few weeks in each others company, retracing her life and more importantly

Coralina Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Coralina, this big brown mare is known for her speed, her braveness, her very good carriage skills. Now Coralina is also known for her indoor presence. Her portrait was drawn in time for the festive season and, I am told, has taken pride of place in her owners dining room. A great big thank-you to my new collector. On Monday I will be drawing a Dinosaur. Kim Santini pointed out Draw a Dinosaur Day. I'm in! A change in the old routine is much needed and drawing a dinosaur fits the bill! However, right now (and for this minute only) I wish I had little boys with a big collection of the extinct beasts as opposed to a box full of long haired cute blondes! Off to get me a Dino. Have a great week-end.

Hoppeditz Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved Erlander Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved Here's the first unveiling of my Christmas commissions. You have all been so mega patient and super understanding (thank you), the least I could do is give you a double dose. Meet Hoppeditz (sire to Hurricane ) and Erlander , two Rheinlander stallions (Rheinisch-Deutsches Kaltblut) from the Warendorf Landgestuet in Germany. Both these g orgeous equines joined me for a few weeks last September in the studio. Commissioned to draw their portrait in time for Chirstmas, my pencils eagerly took up the challenge. No wonder: these are fantastic models. Big eyed, loads of personality, mass of muscles and oozing charisma in over-load, they are every equine artists dream to render. More stunning equines to come, stay tunned.

To be honest, I never realised you could drown in pencil shavings and graphite... You can. It's happening at this very moment, here in the studio . Christmas commissions have been "on the go" for the last 6 weeks (most excellent news) and Christmas is roughly another 6 weeks away (not such excellent news). Every minute now crucial to getting the next commissions finished on time. The result: days in my black and white world are madly fun: studio's buzzing, the artist scribbling, music pumping, Wilbur and Bernadette rocking, coffee brewing, cats if not playing paperweights very busy being feline. Sadly, due to the world of secrecy surrounding all the commissions coming on and off the drawing board, none can be shown. However, I do have one that I "prepared" last month. Meet Frederic T a gorgeous handsome (now retired)) German Warmblood dressage horse. Frederic is horse with oodles of talent who has given his rider and owner many a happy moment. Frederic T

Emily Pencil on Paper Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Chocolate stains, happy grins and sticky tape have featured heavily, as I emerge apron strings loosened and scissors lost, from our "birthday week". Every year, from the 5th of March through to the 10th, 6 important family birthdays are celebrated in style, wrapped in loud laughs and decorated with acrobatic happy dances. As all you fellow Mummies can well imagine, work in the studio has been festively slowed down. No worries tough, here is a portrait I "prepared" earlier and want to share. Meet Emily. A gorgeous 6 year old Poodle Pointer with piercing kind eyes. A gem of a dog, well mannered and high on life, Emily sat and stared me out while I triggered a few reference shots and discovered the depth of her eyes and softness of her nose. Next week, when I reconnect with my scribble friends and the last of the colourful tacky balloons has popped, focus will once again be on rendering big cani

One month ago Xmas trees were into their last week of shining glory and seasonal gifts making their way to new homes. Here are another two action portraits, Christmas commissions, which found their way under a glimmering pine tree. Always enjoy drawing show-jumpers especially when they are in full flight and have that extra special look in their eyes. Both of these successful equines offered me just that as well as a lovely walk down memory lane. "Art is In" Pencil on Paper, 32x28 cm Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. "Conquista" Pencil on Paper, 32x28 cm Sold Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.

Driving four wheels, loads of PS and fast down German motorways is my idea (and experience) of driving. You can imagine how intruiged I was to discover a little more about the lower PS driving last summer. Horses, controlled, focused, beautifully groomed and on a mission to win, greeted my Eos and I over three days at the annual Ostenfelde driving show. Understanding a little more of the in's and out's of equine driving helped me no end in creating my first driving portrait. Nelle is a 6 year old Haflinger/Welsch Cob mare with a massive heart and beautiful manner. Her blond looks and pretty movement are deceptive: she's a real "go getter". She won her categories not only at this show but also the over regional Westphalian Cup. Her owner and driver found this portrait of her under her Christmas tree as a great big bonus success. "Nelle" Pencil on Paper. Copyright Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Sold Next week, Black on Grey on White, will feat

"Big Ben" Graphite on Paper. 27x11 cm SOLD Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved. Monday has turned into to Wednesday...late as usual! Here is the promised updated and finished portrait of Big Ben. The references I had to work from were, for various reasons, a little off. This left loads of room for my imagination. I have used powder graphite to create the darker values. They limit the detail but give a lovely soft feeling. Big Ben is just that: big. His features are are also a little larger than usual. The frontal view was picked as it shortens his nose . The result: all the attention goes to his large kind eyes. Next step: the framers.

It would be fair to say that a million words have not been flowing off my keyboard lately. Sorry for the sporadic posting. Life has a habit of keeping me on my toes with all sorts twists and turns. This week has been no exception. Sadly, all this spinning has kept me away from the buzz of the cyberwaves. Actually to be very honest, in order to get away from the twirling demands, we (pencils, cats and I) have been hiding deep and low in the cave studio and working on my latest commission. Time has been spent on Big Ben, a great big (surprise!) bay gelding. Sadly, due to injury, Ben is not able to live a full active life but is incredibly well cared for and loved by his owners. Below are the first few hours into the drawing. I am using a 200g Hahnemuehler paper and Derwent's 2B, 6B and B. So far so good. I'm a happy with his expression meaning: green light to go ahead and complete the portrait. All being well will be back at the drawing board on Monday and will be sure to post

Made it! Unpacked the boxes, made a comfy space, re-tuned the hi-fi. As a result have actually got a flow going which in turn allowed me to complete my first commission in our new home. As many of you know we have moved and it shook us all to the core (unforeseen events, mistakes and situations added to the already existing stress that comes attached to any international move). Two weeks ago the prospect of getting to create and scribble were looking very grim. Today, that is history. Pencils are up and running. Motivation and energy levels are following. All sorts of wee hitches are still present and adding their own kind of excitement. They are however not worth wasting too much time over as I am sure they will be sorted some time soon. So, it is with great pleasure that I would like to introduce Bismark a fluffy canine with a great gentlemanly charcacter. (please forgive the over dark contrasted scan...one of the wee hitches that still needs to be sorted!) "Bismark" Pencil

Deadline reached and my new commission is now ready to be shipped. Powered Together was commissioned by the NRW Landgestuet for their annual stallion show ( Warendorfer Hengstparade ) in September. I'm really chuffed with the way this drawing has come out. "Powered Together " Pencil on Paper. 39x30cm Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved 2010 Power, strength, speed, beauty, skill, trust and harmony are present in overdose. Elements that my pencils adore rendering. Meeting with my clients in a couple of days. Looking forward to hearing their thoughts. On the drawing table another beautiful stallion. Will post a few updates soon.

Another week has been and gone leaving spinning heads and square circles in its wake. Pencils were, however, exercised and good progress has been made to " Powered Together ". The mid-July deadline is definitely within reach! Here below, proof of the progress.... Powered Together: Step4 Powered Together: Step5 The dark stallion now has a rider, both horses have the correct number of limbs. A few pieces of the puzzle are however still missing. Having a ball drawing this powerful action piece. Loads of fiddly parts that are really helping keeping my mind off the tumult that our "not so long now" move is creating backstage. Thank goodness summer is in full swing and the sun on top form! Wishing you all a wonderful warm summer week-end wherever you are.

The 200 year old house in the south of Belgium is about to be replaced by a 40 year old house in the hills of the former German capital. We are moving our tri-lingual family and lazy cats to a new country, a new life. Move, as you can well imagine, is the "in" word, used in all sorts of manners, tried out with different intonations and set in just as many contexts. As a result, "in" now not only shapes our days, our actions but has also overflowed into my work. Below the third step in a very spectacular "Pas de Deux". .. Powerful poetry in motion. "Powered Together" Work in Progress step 3 Pencil on Paper Completion is scheduled for mid-july, in the heat of pre move fury, in a haze of action and a cloud of tumult .... To be continued ....