Nude, Reading - oil pastel figure painting

I have oil pastel on my mind, lately, because the Oil Pastel Society is holding its annual competition for members. In fact, the entries are due tomorrow and I'm in panic mode because I don't think I have anything to enter. So, I've been doing lots of oil pastels, which I love doing, and trying to find something, somewhere, that I can submit.

What I enjoyed about this painting is all the greens and blues in her skin. I love doing that, because they really are there, although this interpretation veers into neon territory, which I also enjoy. Well, I may not have anything to submit, but I sure am having a good time!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Red Kimono - oil painting by Connie Chadwell

Red and green, pink and green - I love the combination. So, it was perfect when the model posed in a red kimono against a green wall, although I must admit the green was a little softer than this one and maybe the red wasn't so red. But I got carried away.

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!SOLD

The Painter - oil painting by Connie Chadwell

This junior artist has the right idea in stepping back from the painting to check her progress. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord - thanks for looking!SOLD

Nude on a Blue and Green Scarf - oil pastel by Connie Chadwell

I decided it would be fun to pose the model in front of a painting, instead of just a blank wall. This was a very difficult pose to hold because of the twisted position of the model's neck, so we worked in short increments. This painting is from the drawing I did of this pose. I'm such a fan of models - with all the things we ask them to do, they are almost always patient and pleasant and a joy to work with.

This painting is on Pastelbord and is 7 x 5". Thanks for looking!

Liza, Reclining - oil pastel figure painting

I did this painting on Ampersand Pastelbord, which is a really amazing surface. Even though I apply lots and lots of oil pastel and the support seems loaded, in a few days it feels dry. When working this quickly, I don't work in layers and don't scrape or wipe any of the oil pastel off before applying more - it's just really thick. I'm partial to a fairly raw finish, so I leave the strokes visible.

"Liza, Reclining" is 7 x 5". Thanks for visiting my blog!

Another Night - original oil figure painting by Connie Chadwell

And who knows what it holds?

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord and is 7 x 5". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Nude Looking Away - oil pastel nude by Connie Chadwell

I was so busy today and nothing was really finished enough to post, so here's just about my favorite subject - a nude - and my favorite medium - oil pastel. It's on light green Canson Mi-Teintes board and is about 12 x 7". Thanks for stopping by!

Invitation - oil figure painting by Connie Chadwell

She did accept his invitation to dance (although I thought for a minute there she would turn him down) and they made a beautiful couple.

This painting was done from an earlier drawing and I painted it very quickly, which is why there are lots of brushmarks and it's not very detailed. That's my favorite way to paint and for the most part, the only way I paint (or draw, for that matter). It just makes me happy! SOLD

This one is 7 x 5" on Ampersand Gessobord.

Promises - original oil painting by Connie Chadwell

They only had eyes for each other. The painting is 6 x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Sinthy - oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Sinthy - I love that name - held the pose for about an hour, but I stopped before the hour was up because I didn't want to "kill" the painting. Plus, my board is only 6 x 6", so I didn't need much time. I just made lots of strokes while mainly looking for values. I am happiest when working quickly and then moving to another spot in the room to do a charcoal figure drawing from the same pose at another angle.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Taking a Break - original oil figure painting

This painting is 8 x 8" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

More Tea - oil pastel figure painting

This was painted from a little drawing I did at my favorite Thai restaurant (now closed, unfortunately). It's 16 x 20" on Ampersand Pastelbord. Thanks for visiting my blog!