Meet Harley, an English black lab. He belonged to a very close friend of mine who just had to put him down this past Tue. The poor fella was ill with cancer and his quality of life had dwindled to near nothing. What a very, sad, sad day/week this has been for his family & friends =(

This dog, like so many others, was very unique! His fav past time, when he wasn't sleeping, was to literally carry a very large, black tire around in his mouth with his two front legs inside it as he walked. This brute could even carry a tire coming out of the water while it's filled to the brim! When he'd get tired of carrying it, he'd lay it down and begin his routine of circling around and around it while licking the tire walls, making them shine as good as any armor all could!

Harley also loooooved to play fetch! When his 'daddy' wasn't throwing his favorite, soggy, slobbery tennis ball for him to chase, he'd throw, not a stick, but a thick branch, as thick as someone's lower leg! Much like this one in my drawing. And we're not talking 1 or 2 ft in length either. It was more like 5 or 6 ft long usually! His daddy would throw it into the Chattahoochee River here in GA and Harley would swim out to get it and bring it all the way back to dad. When he was finally tired of that, he'd lay down in the edge of the water and begin to make mincemeat out of it! That's what he was doing the day this photo was taken, this past summer.

Harley was a 'huge statement' in his family and among his family's friends, who will be missed more than anyone will ever realize! I wanted to do something special for my friend, his 'mommy' so when I found this picture, I decided I'd pour everything possible into this drawing! Even while sick, since I came down with something yesterday =(. It's all worth it tho.....I will have this printed and framed for my friend =)
Although a very challenging drawing, I enjoyed drawing it more than I knew I would!

RIP my gorgeous friend, Harley! I love you! =)

was 55 when, astride her horse, she watched the British Navy defeat the Spanish Armada. Cate Blanchett was in her 30's when she did the movie. This is really frustrating because every couple of minutes the drawing tools just stop working for about 10 seconds. I don't know if it's my computer or what but it sure makes drawing a pain in the butt. The real QE1 was swarthy with reddish hair and brown eyes, a hooked nose and thin lips.
Here's a link to the ref photo.