BLACK ON WHITE Friesian graphite drawing

I decided to start the new year with the elegance of Black On White. Many years ago, I worked exclusively in graphite, and despite the medium's delicacy and unforgiving nature, I loved working in shades of grey. One of my art teachers told me that one day, I would discover colour and never look back, and he was right - for the most part. Eventually, I moved on to watercolour and loved it, but every so often, I still get the urge to get out the graphite pencils and work in a black and white world. I couldn't resist drawing this Friesian, my first new Horse Drawing of the New Year, in graphite.

Heather Anderson

www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

Sleigh Bells

December is upon us, and this year, we have snow already. When we first moved to the village we live in, there were a lot of horse people living here, and sometimes in winter, you could see people driving past in their sleighs. It was lovely to hear the sound of sleigh bells approaching. One winter, with a borrowed driving horse and sleigh, I tried my hand at driving, and it was wonderful. This Colored Pencil painting, "Sleighbells" with a willing Morgan and delighted Shelties brings back happy memories of that winter.

Heather Anderson

http://www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com/

Pool Party

This past summer, I was asked to do a very challenging commission. My client wanted a painting with 7 Golden Retrievers in it for a Presentation Gift. All the dogs were owned by the person who was going to receive the painting.

I decided to go with Coloured Pencil for this one. Each dog was to be an individual mini portrait so there was no attempt to place them all in proportion to one another, but I needed something to pull the whole painting together. As so many of the photos of the dogs showed them playing in and around the pool, it was a natural anchor for my painting. Many photos were used in this piece, several of each dog, and I hoped that I had made each one an individual.

POOL PARTY was presented late last month, and now I am free to present it on my website and blog. The recipient loved the painting, and to my delight, effortlessly picked out each one of her dogs. Happy faces all around!

Heather Anderson

www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

November

Frosty mornings, dark, leafless trees, and silvery skies announce that November is here again. On cold, rainy November days, the Shelties take as little time as possible on their trips outside, much preferring to curl up on a cozy couch in front of a window to watch the world go by. I love November. To me, it is a month of mystery and dark elegance. I think if November was a horse, it would be a Friesian.

www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com

BOO!

Here is our last Sheltie Hollow Spook. Bram is our leader, and he isn't about to let the girls get ahead of him. His favourite costume is this ghost that was made especially for him. He happily "haunts" the house for treats, and was gracious enough to pose for this little watercolour painting.

From Bram, Lily, and all of us here at Sheltie Hollow, have a safe and Spooktacular Halloween.

Heather Anderson

http://www.heather-anderson-animals-in-art.com/

Miss Witch

Whisper does things her own way. She wanted to be a Witch at Halloween, just like Lily, but can Sheltie Hollow have two Witches?

Of course we can, as long as one little witch comes up with a creative way to wear her hat. Now all we need is a third little Sheltie Spook and we will be ready for the big night. Stay tuned.

Eskie Witch

Halloween is coming, and the dogs here at SHELTIE HOLLOW are getting excited. They love to hear the scratching of leaves on pavement when the wind blows, and love to sniff the wonderful rich aroma of the drifts of autumn leaves. They really seem to enjoy putting on a costume. I think they are looking forward to the Trick-or-Treat cookies they get every year. Lily, our American Eskimo dog, thinks she looks very charming in her witch's hat and orange bow. We hope you agree.

This image is available on my website as cards or as a small print.