Mac - Stage 2...and some exciting news!

 Here is another update of Mac's portrait. I'm trying something a little different this time. I always find tabbies a little hard to draw because of all of the flecks of lighter hair throughout the dark. So I've been using an indentation tool for the light coloured hair. My indentation tool is a blunt darning needle, held in a mechanical pencil (I had to break off the eye so it would fit in the holder). If you're unfamiliar with indenting as a drawing technique, I'll explain...

You use an indenting tool pretty much the same as you would a regular pencil. Anywhere that I want the paper to remain white, I go over it with my tool and it indents the paper. Afterward, when you go over it with your pencil, the graphite doesn't go into the indented parts, leaving it white! I've used this technique many times before, but usually just for whiskers and little white hairs around the chin, etc. But this time I've been using it for all of the lighter coloured areas of Mac's fur, and so far I'm really liking the look! The only problem with the indenting tool is you have to get it right the first time. If you make the hairs go in the wrong direction, it's pretty hard to fix later. So it's important to take your time and do it well.

"Mac"

Pencil on Paper

8 x 10

Work in Progress

On another note, I have some exciting news!! I'm finally getting my Australian Shepherd puppy next Friday!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!

I have been waiting for a puppy for almost a year now! I first started with one breeder in NB, but unfortunately the prospective mom had some troubles getting pregnant. So this winter, I decided to contact other breeders around the Maritimes, but none of them will be breeding until this summer and I had my heart set on having a puppy by this spring. So then I decided to look outside of the Maritimes and I found a few different people that have puppies that will be ready later on this spring. Last weekend, it was suggested that I contact a certain breeder in Ontario because she has a litter that is ready to go now. I think all of the puppies were originally spoken for but she ended up not having homes for a couple of them because people either backed out or she wasn't comfortable with the prospective buyers. So I called her up right away and it turned out that one of the puppies that was available was EXACTLY what I've been looking for!!

So long story short, I have sent my money, signed the contract and the puppy will be shipped to NB this coming Friday!! It all happened pretty quickly once I first contacted her, but I've been ready for this for a long time! Since then, I've been shopping!! I thought I had a lot of the supplies already (I've been collecting all year), but man, was I wrong! I spent quite a bit of money on this puppy over the last couple of days: crate, toys, food, treats, collars, etc.

Meet "Ronin", my red merle Aussie...

(these pictures were taken at 8 weeks and he'll be 9 weeks old when I get him)

Love him already!!!