Connie Chadwell's Hackberry Street Studio

Three Figures Dancing - original charcoal drawing of nudes

2012-01-23T22:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a quickly drawn group of nudes with lots of restating. I'm a big fan of that and when I teach figure drawing classes, I have students put away their erasers. Kind of messy, but I find it instructive, although I do make a few passes with a kneaded eraser. This is drawn with vine charcoal on Strathmore 400 Drawing paper, 11 x 14". Thanks for stopping by!

Backward Bend - original oil figurative painting

2012-01-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

I hadn't posted this 6 x 6" on Gessobord that recently sold at Artworks in Austin, Texas, but here's an example of a difficult pose, both for the dancers (I imagine) and the painter. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

More Tiny Jive - original oil figurative painting

2012-01-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile, but I'm back and am hoping all of you are having a wonderful start to the New Year! This painting is on 5 x 5" Gessobord. I could say that I've found a fabulous cosmic satisfaction in painting even smaller, but the truth of the matter is that I found some great sale prices on 4 x 4" and 5 x 5" Gessobord at Herweck's in San Antonio, Texas, not long ago, and I'm loving these very small supports. They're fun! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Bailora - original oil figurative painting of Flamenco dancer

2011-12-24T19:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas y'all! No matter the weather outside, may you be cozy and warm and surrounded by family and friends on this special day. Thank you for dropping by my blog. PS. this painting is oil on 18 x 12" stretched canvas.

A Bit of Holly - original oil pastel portrait drawing/painting

2011-12-23T21:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a little Christmasy piece - the hat is boiled wool, I think, and the model pinned the little holly sprig to it. This is another quick drawing - not fussed over at all. It's done on Sennelier 12 x 9" oil pastel paper and the actual drawing is about 9 x 7". Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Waiting - original oil pastel portrait painting

2011-12-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

This painting is oil pastel on 7 x 5" Pastelbord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tiny Jive - original figurative small format oil painting

2011-12-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a little 4 x 4" painting on Gessobord. Much fun to paint. Thanks for looking! Sold

Three Evening Nudes - original ink drawings of nudes

2011-12-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Three more nudes, from two different sessions, on 9 x 12" Bristol board paper. Thanks for looking! Sold

Evening Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

2011-12-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

This nude, which I drew in a 20 minute pose over a failed drawing and which I chose not to really "finish" was done in an evening life drawing group. Those groups are getting harder to find, so I'm thrilled when I can drop in at one of them. As for working over a drawing that didn't make the cut, I think that it sometimes lends a certain charm to an artwork. I had a painting teacher once who said that you should leave a little of your previous stroke when you make a change to your work - just to show what you had been thinking earlier. Maybe this isn't exactly what she had in mind (a new drawing over the erasure of an old one) but close, I think. It's done on 14 x 11" Strathmore 400 drawing paper, using vine charcoal and General's charcoal pencils. If you would like to contact me about this drawing, please click the "Contact Me" button to the right of this post. Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Nude Model - original oil pastel painting of a nude

2011-12-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

This nude painting is done on 7 x 5" on Pastelbord - that marvelous surface for oil pastel - and was done quickly without lots of attention to detail. That's my favorite thing, you know.

I love this time of year, sitting here listening to Christmas music - right now, Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is playing. Beautiful!

I hope all is well with you and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Another Barrel Racer - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-12-12T22:15:00.000-08:00

Here's another rodeo drawing/painting done from one of my squiggly drawings. It's on 5 x 7" Pastelbord. I love rodeos where the women get a chance to show their skill at barrel racing. Those cowgirls and their horses are really something. Thanks for stopping by!

Almost There - original oil figurative rodeo painting of barrel racer

2011-12-11T22:22:00.000-08:00

This 7 x 5" painting on Gessobord was done from a sketch that I did at a rodeo. The drawing is mostly squiggles that only I can understand - my own little shorthand - and is so much easier for me to work from than a photo. Every time I've tried to take an "action" shot, it's the second after the main event. Not much of a photographer am I. Hence, my drawings are my favorites to provide the basis for my paintings. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Country Lovin' - original oil figurative painting

2011-12-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

As I post tonight, I'm sitting in front of the TV watching Celtic Woman, and to make the evening even more perfect, it's raining! After our parching summer, we're loving the rains we've been getting lately!
This painting, which reminds me of the dance hall couples I loved watching years ago, is oil on 6 x 6" Gessobord.
Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio here in my little town on the Llano River, where it's raining tonight! And please check out my oil pastel blog.

Reading the Menu - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-12-07T21:32:00.000-08:00

This oil pastel painting is 5 x 7" on Pastelbord. I went a little crazy with the orange. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketch of the Model with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative drawing

2011-12-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick sketch of the model on 7 x 5" Pastelbord. I love these little Pastelbords for sketching with my oil pastels. Thanks for stopping by - have a great week!

More Hot Tango - original figurative painting of dancers

2011-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.
Have you ever seen the movie Shall We Dance - I mean the Japanese version, which is so charming! It's on Netflix, too. If you haven't seen it, yet, I hope you will. You'll love it, I'll bet, and I'd love to hear your impression of the movie.
Please check out my latest artwork on my oil pastel blog.
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Scootin' - original oil figurative painting of country dancers

2011-11-22T21:08:00.000-08:00

This cowboy is taking a really long step, but he aims to get himself and his little lady across the floor pronto.
Many of my youthful hours were spent in this kind of entertainment. Back then, it was not very mainstream, but now country dancing has become quite popular.
I loved going to the dance hall on Saturday nights - not only because I wasn't supposed to, which made it so tempting - but because I could soak up the surroundings, the people, the atmosphere, and the music. It's all burned into my brain and I often paint these experiences. There are a couple of larger country dancers paintings that need to be finished and I hope to get that done in December.
Scootin' is painted on 7 x 5" Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Nude Facing Away II - original charcoal life drawing of a nude

2011-11-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

If the model didn't take a break, I could just fiddle with the drawing forever, but, thankfully, she does, and I can't wear out the paper. Here's a short pose - I think it was fifteen minutes - that I did with vine charcoal and a kneaded eraser. The darkish blob in the upper left corner is what's left of an earlier drawing of the model that I erased, mostly, anyway. I had originally planned to have three or four figures, but changed my mind. This one is about 8 x 8" or a little less, on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. Do you ever have the feeling - when the model leaves the stand - that you could or should have done more? I always do! Oh well, that's why I/we keep coming back, I guess - looking for that perfect moment.
Thanks so much for stopping by - I really appreciate your visits! Sold

Tiny Little Portrait - original oil pastel portrait painting

2011-11-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

This little portrait is done on 3.5 x 2.5" heavy paper (pastel-colored illustration board) and was a real challenge to do with unsharpened oil pastels. Although it's a little more difficult to do, I like the looseness that the dull point gives.
As a dog lover (see my Able Assistant at right), I've been listening to a Chet and Bernie mystery
Dog On It and loving it. Chet (the dog) makes so many funny comments about humans that I look at Roger and think to myself 'is that what he's thinking when he looks at me?' - such a fun book! As soon as I finish this one, I'll begin another one in the series.
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

A Little Tango Kick - original oil figurative painting

2011-11-08T23:00:00.000-08:00

This is a quick little 6 x 6" on Gessobord. I just applied the paint thick and fast and didn't spend any time getting everything just so-so. Maybe it's a choice between loose and inexact vs. perfect and killed. This time, I chose the former. Thanks so much for dropping by!

Sketch for Tango Fantasy - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-10-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

This drawing is one I did to work out a tango position for a painting. Although I will make some adjustments to it, I am mostly pleased. The painting won't be exactly the same as the drawing, though. No matter how I try, these characters have minds of their own and won't let me do just anything I want. I did learn how to transfer a drawing to canvas or board for painting years ago in art class, but I never use it because I like the unpredictability of doing it my way.
I went to the art store on Saturday to get only one thing and walked out with much, much more. One of my new acquisitions was a General's pencil set #15, which is what I used on this drawing. I drew this piece on Strathmore Bristol board, also new. Don't you just love new art supplies? They're so fresh and untouched - and then the madness begins and they're never the same.

On a totally different topic, I've included some photos of a couple of my blooming Cenizo bushes. They're reputed to predict rain, and I'm hoping that's true. It worked the last time they bloomed - we got over three inches! The bees are just going crazy with so many blooms - I can hear the low hum of their buzzing as soon as I walk out onto the porch. Cenizos have lots of names - purple sage, Texas rain sage, and Texas silverleaf are a few. Whatever the name, here's hoping they're accurate in their weather forecasting this time around!
Thanks for stopping by! Sold

More Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

2011-10-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

How is this possible? I have actually seen this and I think it's the position - not to mention strength - of the man's leg, mainly the one that is bearing most of their weight, that allows this pose to work. Fortunately for them, it only lasts a beautiful, dramatic second or two. I LOVE this hold and enjoyed making every stroke. For this one, I set my timer. The timer has a magnetic back on it, so it stays on the little refrigerator in my studio and I don't have to go hunting all over for it. Such an improvement over the one I'm still looking for. Anyway, this was a quickly done painting, which is the best approach for me and I must say I'm pretty happy with it - 6 x 6" on Gessobord.
Goodnight from my pretty little town on the banks of the beautiful Llano River and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Salsa Night - original oil figurative painting

2011-10-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Here, for a little change, is a salsa. It's painted on 10 x 10" stretched canvas. I'm late posting, but was watching the game and -Yippee! the Rangers won! It was pretty unnerving to watch after last night's total disaster, but it turned out great! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jive Lovers - original oil figurative painting

2011-10-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio. Have a great weekend!

Dance With Me - WIP oil figurative sketch

2011-10-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

I've been away for several days and am only now getting back to painting. However, when I got to my studio today, I realized that I had left my oil paints behind so I resorted to using oil sticks - not oil pastels - but oil paint in a stick. I didn't finish this sketch, and I don't know that I will do anything more to it. It's just a painting of the moment and it's okay with me to leave it this way - really I do like things sort of unfinished. Tomorrow, back to tube paints and brushes. I drew/painted this on 10 x 8" archival canvas board. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Geisha with Her Mirror - original figurative oil painting

2011-09-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

IT RAINED in Junction today!!! As I painted, I listened to one of my audible.com books - Barbara Tuchman's The Proud Tower - and although it's a great book, when the rain began, I just had to turn it off so I could listen! It was such a thrill - even the thunder was beautiful!
Thank you so much for stopping by - I'm always a delighted to see you here! Oh, and the painting is 14 x 11". Sold

The Model Looking Up - original oil portrait painting

2011-09-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

For this one, I perched on a stool, looked down at the model as she sat on floor pillows, and painted fairly quickly, which is why - from the chin down - it's pretty sketchy. It was a difficult pose for the model to hold and I was trying to make it as easy as possible for her. This painting is on 10 x 8" linen on board. Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Tango Sizzle - original oil figurative painting

2011-09-22T23:49:00.000-07:00

This couple was so passionate and I loved watching them. I saw them dance in San Antonio; I made a tiny little sketch that would probably look crazy to anyone else, but it's my own personal art shorthand. From that sketch, I did this painting. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord - I had such a good time painting this one! Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Nude with a Flowered Screen - original oil painting of a nude

2011-09-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

In one of my painting classes from many years ago, I was kidded about loving and paying attention to backgrounds. Well, I still love backgrounds, and screens and old wallpaper are among my favorites. Backgrounds, plus a model - does life get any better? At least, art life. I initially drew the pose with vine charcoal and then came back to my studio to paint in oil, using the drawing as my guide.

This one was done rather quickly (I timed myself to fight my overworking tendencies) on 10 x 8" stretched canvas. I don't usually like to work on canvas when doing nudes, but this worked well, for some reason. Maybe it's that I have more paint on the surface.

While painting, I was listening to The Poisoner's Handbook. It's not what you might think when you hear the title, but about the development of forensic science in New York City by a few dedicated chemists. This book carried me through a number of paintings and, today, I'll begin another juicy one. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Orange Shawl - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-09-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Since I've been extra busy and also traveling a lot, I've concentrated on oil pastels, since there's little clean-up and not a lot of supplies to tote around. After this weekend, all that should change, at least for a little while.
The end of summer - also the end of a time I was privileged to spend a bit more (but never enough) time with my grandchildren. So, it's with a little sadness that I say goodbye to another summer.
Now back to painting. This one was done on 12 x 9" deep black Colourfix paper. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Dressing Table- original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-09-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a 9 x 12" on Colourfix paper work in progress - one of my experiments based on a charcoal drawing from about three months ago. Thanks for looking!

Lila With a Cap - original oil pastel portrait painting

2011-09-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

I love Lila's attitude when she poses. She's been one of my favorite models for years. This was a fairly quick pose - no noodling time at all, so some things are left undone. It's oil pastel on taupe Strathmore 403 paper, which was mentioned in Kenneth Leslie's book as a barrier paper, meaning that no oil would get through the paper. There seems to be this fear that somehow the oil in oil pastels will destroy the support, but a different oil is used in oil pastels from that in oil paint. In my experience, there's never been a problem with the oil seeping through, but I also don't use as much pressure on a lighter paper as I would on say, Sennelier's oil pastel paper, Colourfix, Mi-Teintes BOARD (not paper) or Pastelbord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Emily - original oil pastel portrait sketch

2011-09-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in ages, because of internet problems - finally, though, it seems everything's cleared up (but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!).
This oil pastel is on deep black Art Spectrum Colourfix paper (12 x 9" - but the image is about 9 1/2 x 8" and because I was obsessed with her curly hair, I put it a little farther down on the page than usual to make sure I could draw all those curls.
For some reason, I'm doing lots of oil pastels these days and trying different supports for them. Love these experiments - you just never know when one of them is going to be successful and it does happen now and then.
It's a little bit cooler here in Texas, but just as dry and we're thinking a lot about the folks around Bastrop and all they're going through with the fires there. We had some fires in the last week here in Kimble County, but because of all the hard work done by our dedicated firefighters, we seem to be doing okay at the moment. Thanks guys!
Thanks so much for stopping by - great seeing you here! PS - to see more of my oil pastels, please visit my oil pastel blog.

Mother and Child II - original oil portrait painting

2011-08-30T22:48:00.000-07:00

This is a redo of an earlier Mother and Child and is 10 x 8" on gessoed board. Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Bringing Tea - original oil figurative painting

2011-08-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

This painting is 14 x 11" on Fredrix archival canvas board. An experiment, really, but aren't they all - at least for me! I was in a restaurant where the servers were dressed in kimonos and the kimonos and the doors caught my eye. I made some tiny sketches and am just doing some paintings from them. This young woman was serving a huge gathering of people and at times, she seemed overwhelmed and a little unsure of herself. A couple of times she paused for a second as she came through the door. We were seated in a raised area, which provided a different perspective.

Thanks so much for dropping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Tango Moment Once More - original oil figurative painting of dancers

2011-08-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I just have to get the weather thing over with - it's 88 at 11:43 p.m. and there is no sign of the heat letting up.
Now on to painting. This is one of the little moments when the woman brings her leg up against her partner's leg for but a moment - then they continue on with the dance - just a little embellishment. She's turned her head away from the man and I always think this is to show a little independence of movement. I just adore painting dancers and while I enjoy other subjects, this is my all-time favorite thing to do. It's the energy and the passion that dancers exhibit that I love so much. Hmmm. Maybe I'm a teensy bit envious.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by. And please send us some rain. Sold

Tango Smooch - original oil figurative dancer painting

2011-08-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

There were probably some things I could have changed about this painting and when I'm being kind of uptight, I do make some changes. But this time I just let it go and let it be loose and I'm happy. Looseness is probably more accurate for portrayals of dancers, anyway. They can sometimes be a blur because they're moving and viewers often just get an impression of movement, energy and grace. This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Rodeo - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-08-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Junction, Texas, there's going to be our annual summer rodeo! It's a ranch rodeo - my favorite - and there's much excitement in the air here in our little town on the Llano River! We have a parade on Saturday morning, and dances after the rodeo both nights. Everyone has a wonderful time. It's small town America at its best, so if you're anywhere near Junction on the 12th and 13th of August, come on and join us!
The painting is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".

Check out my oil pastel blog

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lexie's Embroidered Blouse - original oil pastel portrait painting

2011-08-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

This is a repost from my oil pastel blog, The Oil Pastel Review. It's 14 x 11" on Pastelbord. Thanks for stopping by.

Beach Madonna - original oil figurative painting

2011-08-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the ladies I observed at the beach in California a few weeks ago. I debated changing the color of the umbrella - too much blue, maybe - but I love that turquoisey aqua that I use a lot, so I just had another excuse to use it. This painting is on 10 x 8" Gessobord. Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Beach Momma - original oil figurative painting

2011-07-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

This young woman was busy tending to her children - sunblock, safety warnings, towels - and was in constant motion. Maybe that's how she keeps in such good shape. The painting is 10 x 8" on Fredrix archival panel.

As I write this, I'm sort of watching The Seven Year Itch and marveling at Tom Ewell's acting - he was such a great actor, but taken for granted, I fear, like most character actors. Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Above is a closeup of the painting.

Jive Sketch - original charcoal figurative sketch

2011-07-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

This sketch is one that I did to include in a painting of jive dancers. At first, I had his left leg straight, then kind of bent, as it is here. I was looking for a more dominant position for the guy and either leg position will do. I was pleased with his presence here and you may have noticed that he is now sporting a jacket.
The drawing is on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper. Thanks for stopping by!

Gold Kimono - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-07-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

This post is coming to you from the inferno that Texas is at this moment. At almost midnight, it's 88 degrees. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have no more wildfires.
I saw this "pose" at a restaurant; one of those moments that stick with you. Or me, in this case. I love to see women in a kimono, which is such a graceful costume and I never tire of drawing them. This oil pastel will probably turn into an oil painting, soon. It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper and is about 8 x 5". Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

More Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

2011-07-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

More of my tango painting - I do get on these kicks. This one is looser and I didn't worry too much with it. It does have foreshortening with her left leg, which I love to do. Always fun and challenging. Painting these small dancers has been so instructive for me. I can be more loose - now to try and translate that to larger paintings. Thanks so much for stopping by - and I hope you'll check out my oil pastel blog. Oh, and it's 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Sold

Three Palm Trees - original landscape oil painting

2011-07-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

This painting is SO out of my comfort zone - not a human in sight! These are some trees I saw in California and I painted them on 7 x 5" Gessobord. Whew! Tomorrow - people painting! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Another Standing Pose - original charcoal nude drawing

2011-07-11T22:26:00.000-07:00

Standing poses are my favorite, especially back poses. There's a little mystery when her face isn't showing. This drawing is one I did a few weeks ago, but it's posted today, because I'm working on lots of beach paintings. This past week I was in La Jolla, CA, where I went to the beach and drew people. It was heaven for a people-watcher like me! This drawing is 15 x 8". Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

2011-07-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here they are again - these happy tango dancers - and although it seems a less emotional, more fun swingy step, I notice that they're looking into each other's eyes. I think I may actually convince my husband to sign up for tango lessons in the fall. Or maybe he's just feigning interest - we'll see how this turns out. In my earlier life, when I took dancing lessons, tango didn't have the meaning for me that it has today. It was just another dance. But now, I realize its beauty and it has captured me totally. This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and I hope you'll drop in on my oil pastel blog, too! Sold

Another Evening at the Bistro - original oil figurative painting

2011-07-04T22:06:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great Fourth! Most places in this part of the world nixed the fireworks display because of the wildfire danger, but we had one here in Junction. I watched from my back porch - it was actually down at the city park on the Llano River - but still a good view and the show was really fine!
This painting is on 8 x 10" archival canvas board. Thanks so much for stopping by!

WIP Portrait of Sue - original oil portrait in progress

2011-07-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

This isn't finished, obviously, but it's off to a pretty good start and will be completed in the next day or so. When somebody comes to my house for a visit, I'm always so thrilled when they're willing to pose for me! Thanks for looking!

More Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting

2011-06-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here's my favorite reason for putting paint on board - my tango dancing couple who never tire of this wonderful dance. Check out this site for dancing info and how-to. The painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting - I'm signing off now from the hot, dry inferno that is Texas these days. Stay cool! Sold

Lindy Lines - original watermedia figurative drawing

2011-06-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

This evening, I drew many pages of dancers in my Borden and Riley pad of paper for pens. I used Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons, but didn't add water. The crayons have such a soft, almost gooey feel when they meet the paper and I love them. I've been painting lots of oil pastel pieces and a few oils - will probably post them soon. But I love to draw my dancers - they're my absolute favorites. I love their energy! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - stay cool!

The Mechanic as the Model - original watermedia portrait drawing/painting

2011-06-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

This painting is one of those fun things that is quickly drawn with watercolor crayons (Caran d'Ache) and then with a very wet brush, just go a little crazy. It's always great to have a live model, especially when you find a regular guy who can hold a pose. The painting is done on Rapidograph paper for pens - which I think I've mentioned before is practically an antique - and it will wrinkle a little, since it doesn't like to get this wet, but after being weighted down for a day or so, it's perfectly fine. Oh, and it's 12 x 9". Thanks for dropping by.

Seaside - original oil figurative painting

2011-06-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

This painting is on 5 x 7" Gessobord. Sold

The last few days have been ones of experimentation for me. I spent (wasted?) lots of time today working with oil sticks - not oil pastels - but it was just so messy. I don't think I've even gotten close to figuring it out, but I'll keep at it. Here's the result below, although it's not finished and probably never will be. Do any of you use oil sticks and have some tips for me? I'd love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by!

They're Really Jivin'! - original charcoal figurative sketch

2011-06-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

This drawing is one of those 'draw it and don't look back' things. Fun and fast - vine charcoal, with some white pastel on grey mat board - the image is about 8 x 8". I love it when I can hear their feet hit the floor and I did with this one. Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Drawing Exercises - original charcoal portrait sketches

2011-06-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

On these hot, steamy summer nights (91 degrees at 10:30 p.m.), I plunk myself down in front of the TV and draw whatever's in front of me. These old library book cards were around because I had thought of doing something with them - maybe not drawing - but they're a portable size, so they were pressed into service. Since the actors are moving around, the resulting sketch uses a lot of memory drawing, which is good training, I think. Sometmes, the sketches end up with different eyes or noses or mouths from the "models" onscreen. I just "borrow" the next person's feature and plug it into my drawing. So, they're not anybody, but a combination of several faces. I have dozens of these practice pieces - here are a few.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Waiting at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

2011-06-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

She kept glancing toward the door. As I was leaving, I passed the guy she was waiting for and - nosy me - when I looked back, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were fixed on him. I'm always happy when these little stories end well. This painting is on 10 x 8" archival canvas board. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Seated Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

2011-06-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a sketch on warm grey pastel paper, using charcoal and touches of black, grey and white pastel. It's on 12 x 9" paper, with the image about 9 x 6".
While I love drawing from the posed model, I had a good time this evening doing little sketches from the TV, where, because the people move constantly, my drawing will always have one person's mouth, another's eyes, etc. - it's a great drawing exercise, I think. Does anyone else do this? I'm sure I'm not the only one. Maybe I'll post some of them tomorrow. The latest ones are on vintage library book cards. Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

The Dance Hall - original oil figurative painting

2011-06-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

This painting is on 11 x 14" Fredrix archival canvas board. I was going to describe

my summer self-education in drawing and my new adventures in oil sticks (not oil pastels), but

trying to post on Blogger tonight is difficult and is driving me so crazy, I just want to get out of here - maybe

tomorrow's posting will be easier! Hope all is going well for all of you - thanks for stopping by!

A Kiss At The Bar - original oil figurative painting

2011-06-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio. I have to hurry to get this post finished so it will be ready for picking up by Daily Painters. Please check my latest posting on my oil pastel blog. Thanks again!

The Print Shirt - original pencil portrait drawing

2011-06-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

This 13 x 10" drawing began life as a pose taken by the little girl, but then I realized the futility of having a youngster try and hold a pose for a long time, so I took a picture of her and mostly drew from that. Drawing from life has its limits when dealing with children. Actually, I don't think I could hold a pose for any length of time. I cringe when the model doesn't show and we have to take turns posing. Just like waiting to give a book report in middle school, I always hope the session will end before I must take my turn. This is on wonderful Stonehenge white paper and instead of using charcoal, as I usually do, it's done with a graphite pencil. Pencil just has a sort of softness that I like for children. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

A Sketch Begins - original oil pastel figurative drawing

2011-05-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

The model got tired and got up, so, of course, I had to stop. Every single time that I've tried to finish something after the model left, the drawing lost its life and emotion. Even if the model returned, I wouldn't work on this drawing any longer because I had the "feeling" while I was working on this quick sketch and I just don't think it's coming back. Sometimes "unfinished" works better, anyway.
I used 9 x 12"Sennelier Carte d'Art which has a rough finish that helps me stay loose. Check out my blog for oil pastel to see my work there. Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - I'm always glad to see you here!

Reclining Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

2011-05-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

I loved the wistful look on the model's face, as if she had a pleasant scene that she was turning over in her mind as she posed. As in the last post, I used Strathmore 403 9 x 12" taupe paper. I'm a paper fiend - I love it and have way-y-y-y too much of it. There's just something that happens when I stand before a blank piece of paper with charcoal in hand. Sometimes a good drawing is the result and sometimes not. But I still love the moment - filled with possibility - just before the drawing begins!

Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Nude with Arms Raised - original pastel nude drawing

2011-05-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

This was a beautiful pose, but not a long one, so I just drew part of the model. As you can imagine, this one was hard to hold even for a little while. No matter what else I do, I always return to my first love, black and white nude drawings. This drawing is about 10 x 7" on Strathmore 403 paper, which is actually oil pastel paper. It's just an all-around great surface. Also, I used General's black and white pastels. There are also a couple of greys in the set, as well - but this time, I just used black and white on the taupe paper. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Straw Hat - original oil pastel portrait sketch

2011-05-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

This was a really strange straw hat that the model was wearing - sort of flat all over. I would love to go back to the days of wearing hats. They're such a great finish to an outfit and are SO romantic - like all the women in hats at the recent royal wedding.
This sketch is on 12 x 9" Colourfix black paper. Thanks for stopping by!

Solitaire - original oil figurative painting

2011-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I play solitaire pretty often so maybe that's why painting someone playing the game appeals to me. It's a no win - or seldom win - game. In fact, I read the other day that a player only wins one out of 31 times. Terrible odds, but I keep at it. I even have a book on the different types of solitaire. I play Klondike, which is the kind my grandmother taught me and from what I can tell, it's the one most people play.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord. Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Preparations II - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-05-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

This oil pastel is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord. Thanks for looking - hope everyone's having a great weekend!

Cello Practice - original figurative oil painting

2011-05-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

This quick painting is on 10 x 8" archival canvas board. I've been wanting to do a painting of a cello player and this is an oil sketch toward that goal. I'll do a few more to better understand the position of the player and the instrument before I do a larger painting. This was fun - thanks so much for stopping by!

Crazy Jive - original mixed media figurative painting

2011-05-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

In this drawing/painting on 12 x 9" Yupo paper, I used everything but the kitchen sink - as they say. First, a very few graphite lines, then marker; next came Caran d'Ache Neocolor I (a wonderful wax crayon), then NeoArt crayons, which are richly pigmented water-soluble oil pastels. I'm just fooling around with different media and maybe I'll find a new love. I'd love to hear of your experiments with new media - if you'd like to get in touch, just click the "Contact Me" in the right-hand column.
Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Tango in Black and White - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-05-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

I could do charcoal drawings all day long. When I do them, I don't worry about much - just let go and see what happens. That's when happy accidents occur - well, they're not always happy, but most of them are. Vine charcoal is my favorite for just about any kind of drawing. I like the really soft sticks because they're capable of smoky atmospheric effects as well as fairly sharp lines. When I go into the art store, after I've finished picking out the main things I want to purchase, I always get extra charcoal and a kneaded eraser or two.
Maybe this drawing will become a painting, but in any case there are passages in it that please me. No planning on my part, just happened. Maybe there are some things to change, but if I start fooling with it, it'll get tight. It never fails.
This drawing was done on Strathmore Bristol 6 x 6". Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Ginny Again - original oil figurative painting

2011-05-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

This is another Ginny pose. It's on 14 x 11" archival canvas board. Hope everyone survived Friday the 13th. We had phone and internet outages all over the area today, 'til late tonight, but FINALLY we're back in business! Have a great weekend - thanks for stopping by!

The Oriental Panel - original oil painting of a nude

2011-05-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

Here's this afternoon's effort - oil on canvas, 16 x 22". Thanks for visiting my blog!

Ellie with a Cigarette - original portrait drawing

2011-05-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

This is a contour drawing that I did too quickly. You know the drill - feel as if the pencil (in this case a marker and litho pencil) is actually touching the model and go very, very slowly. But I get impatient and besides, I kind of enjoy the weird things that happen when I do. Like Ellie with a Cigarette. It's on 12 x 9" Yupo paper. Thanks for visiting my blog!
PS. check out my oil pastel blog for my latest posting there.

Lexie in Line - original charcoal portrait drawing

2011-05-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe a little goofy looking, but sometimes I just get the urge to do a line drawing. They don't ever seem to turn out perfectly, because I spend a lot of time just looking at the subject, rather than at the drawing itself. Almost a blind contour, but not quite. This has always been one of my favorite drawing exercises.
I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! Thanks so much dropping by Hackberry Street Studio. NFS

Another Couple at the Bistro - original oil figurative painting

2011-05-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

I just love the blues that decorate this little establishment - juxtaposing warm and cool of any hue is thrilling to me and it's probably why I've always loved this place. Plus there are always plenty of people to observe - and then paint. I'm sort of a gossip in paint. Instead of saying "you should have seen so-and-so at such-and-such a place", I just paint them. But you're safe! In almost all cases, I don't know my subjects and only make teeny little sketches - maybe just a turn of head that's hard to remember otherwise. I do just a few lines, more akin to a gesture than a full-fledged sketch, and then I make them 'my people', anyway.
This one is 5 x 7" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! Sold

The Tango Lesson - original oil figurative painting

2011-05-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

The painting comes from my many visits to tango demonstrations where you sit on the floor to watch the various dancing couples. It's 11 x 14" on panel. Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Gentle Creature - original oil painting

2011-05-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a sweet thing I visited with the other day - a totally different subject for me - but I did enjoy it.

This painting is 5 x 5" on Gessobord.

At last, the fire seems to be out - I'm so happy and grateful to so many, many people who saved our homes!

Thanks for stopping by! Sold

A Little Drawing Exercise - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-05-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

I know. This is just a teensy bit weird, but everything is either not finished, or not dry enough to photograph without very shiny spots. These tiny drawings are great drawing improvers, I think, and every time I attend a drawing group, I do some of these - they're perfect for positive/negative. The whole thing is about 14 x 14", so you have some idea of how small the individual drawings are. They're done on Canson Beverly drawing paper, which probably isn't produced anymore. I have lots of drawing paper on hand - some from years ago - that I'm sorry I can't find in stores these days.
We still have the fire in our county - it's about four miles from our small town - and it's really unnerving. Sincere thanks to all the firefighters who are battling the blaze - they must be exhausted by now. We are so fortunate to have our local firemen, plus selfless volunteers from around the area and the Texas and U.S. Forest Services and other government agencies to defend against this monster. It has burned over 10,000 acres and we are hoping it can be contained soon. It hasn't helped that we've had over 100 degree temps and 30 mph winds. What a summer this is going to be!
Thanks so much stopping by - it's always great to see you here! Sold

Tiny Doodles - original mixed media Artists' Trading Cards

2011-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the little 3.5 x 2.5" things I do when I'm traveling or don't have time to do anything larger. Some of these are mainly oil pastel, others are mostly colored pencil, but they are all mixed media.
Right now, I'm trying to keep up with a wildfire that's burning about ten miles from us. Many of the residents west of town were evacuated from their homes - much worry tonight, but hoping for the best for everybody!
Thanks for stopping by!

Ginny's Just Waiting - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-04-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

This sketch is going to evolve into a painting, probably, but I really love a drawing for its own sake. For me, a drawing, especially from life, always captures that moment in time that the model was really right there in front of me. Done with pastels and charcoal, the sketch is on Borden & Riley sketch vellum, 12 x 9". Thanks for stopping by. Sold

Donna's Red Dress - original oil figurative painting

2011-04-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

I guess I have a thing for fans and screens and this time, used a square format on stretched canvas. Thanks so much for dropping by. Speaking of fans, I'm going to go sprawl out under a ceiling fan - we've had another scorcher today and at 10 p.m., it's still 88 degrees! Sold

Sketch of Marie - original pastel portrait drawing

2011-04-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I adore working with black and white and I especially enjoyed drawing Marie using General Pencil Co.'s black, grey and white pastels. The sticks are very thin - not like regular pastels. They're sold as a set of four - one black, two greys and one white and the greys have a warm tone to them that I find charming. They've been around awhile and I've used them occasionally, but have never done an entire drawing with them. The next time I'm at Hobby Lobby, I'll be stocking up on these - I love them!
The paper I used is Borden and Riley sketch vellum, 12 x 9". Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Happy to See Him - original oil figurative painting

2011-04-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

I am interested in painting a tango dancer with her hand on her partner's face - like here - and although these two aren't necessarily tango dancers, it just seemed to me to work here. Last weekend, I was in a coffee shop with the most gorgeous green paint on the walls. I love green and I've been thinking about that paint color, so here we are - hand on face, green on walls.
As always, though, there was red paint involved. Cadmium red. The worst offender. It seeks me out. It finds me. It attaches itself to my skin, hair, clothes and everything else it can find. And it's not just cadmium red that bedevils me. For years, I painted with only ivory black, yellow ochre, titanium white and Indian red. Indian red is much the same, I can tell you! Does this affect anyone else? Am I the only one? Sigh.
This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for dropping by!

Cowboy Boogie - original oil figurative painting

2011-04-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a little ditty that I did some time ago and just now decided to post it. This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by - have a great weekend everybody!
PS. Now that I look at this painting, it seems that she had to take him by the hand and show him how to dance. This cowboy seems a little intimidated! Sold

Another Tango Twist - original oil figurative painting

2011-03-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

This tango painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord. Today was a good day to stay inside and paint, since it's very chilly, so I got a lot done. It's good to focus solely on art instead of the garden - which is very tempting this time of year. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Another Snooze - original oil figurative painting

2011-03-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

She's taking a little break from her book. This is such a favorite thing for me - read a little, sleep a little. Ahhhhhh. It's 8 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!

Jivin' All Over Again - original oil figurative painting

2011-03-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Been busy for awhile, but am turning my attention back to art. Here is today's 6 x 6" painting on Gessobord of my jivers. I was listening to a little of Matthew Pearl's The Last Dickens while I did this one - I love his work! Hope you're all having a nice early spring - thanks so much for stopping by! PS. This painting is based on my drawing from a few posts ago, Jivemania Again.

A Little Mystery - original oil pastel portrait painting

2011-03-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

This loose, sort of scribbly oil pastel was done on black 12 x 9" Colourfix paper. Some of the black bits of paper show through here and there and I like the way that look accentuates the looseness of the work.
This afternoon - between my dandelion pulling efforts - I took my oil pastels outside and did some color studies. I have been reading Hensche on Painting by John Robichaux (a Dover publication) and decided to do experiments just with white - white in shade and then in sunlight. I then tried to duplicate the colors. Normally, I would use oil paint for these studies, but the oil pastel worked just great because it blends easily! It was a worthwhile exercise in learning to see better and it was so lovely being in the back yard with Roger while it's still cool and springlike.
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Lost in the Rhythm - original oil pastel figurative drawing

2011-03-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

This is a quick study of the drummer in a band that I saw recently. Musicians can't possibly "hold the pose", which is what makes drawing people in motion so exciting to me and, since they are constantly moving, a lot of what I do in these cases is done from memory. This drawing is on 12 x 9" Pastelbord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting

2011-03-01T22:05:00.001-08:00

Here's something that I posted on The Oil Pastel Review, which is my oil pastel only blog, a few posts back and now I think it's finished - more or less. Nothing is ever finished, really, but things do sometimes come close. It's on 16 x 20" Pastelbord and is one in my ongoing series of bar scenes.

By the way, do check out the nude sketch I did on OPR using Sennelier Nature oil pastels.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio - it's always great seeing you here!

Lisa's Robe - original oil portrait painting

2011-02-27T17:32:00.001-08:00

This 14 x 11" painting is on Gessobord. I think it's finished - but you never know. Thanks for looking!

Cezannesque - original figurative oil painting

2011-02-26T20:45:00.001-08:00

I saw this artwork - which was probably a Cezanne poster since I did see a little printing on it - in a coffee shop. I loved it and was able to sketch the scene with some Caran d'Ache wax crayons - that are wonderful, by the way. Then I painted from my sketch back in my studio. It was pretty involved to get an accurate drawing of this artwork. My painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

More Tango Swing - original oil figurative painting

2011-02-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

I spent so much time outside in the gorgeous day today that I didn't do any painting, but here's one from yesterday. It's on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lisa Sleeping - original oil figurative painting

2011-02-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

I loved painting this one, but initially I wanted to be less "above" the model. It worked out though, and it was a quick little "brushy"painting, too. It's always rewarding when you just go with it and don't think too much. Thinking

can be a killer. This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord - thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Jivemania Again - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-02-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

I just did a lot of scribbling to come up with this drawing. I sort of let my hand go to see what would happen. The figure on the far right is how these things begin - well, the bottom half of her, anyway. And, as always, I really worked the paper over.

This weekend I saw a small but wonderful drawing show at the McNay in San Antonio. I never tire of looking at drawings and as I've probably said over and over, drawings are - to me - a look into the soul of an artist.
This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore Bristol vellum and is about 8 x 12". Thank you for stopping by!

Tango Doodle - original oil pastel figurative drawing

2011-02-11T21:39:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to do a drawing - lots of black lines and scribbled color and done quickly without a lot of thought. It's just so satisfying! This oil pastel is on 12 x 9" Pastelbord sand (color) which is a dark taupey shade. Really beautiful and a delight to work on. Thanks so much for stopping by - have a great weekend!

Letha - original oil pastel portrait drawing

2011-02-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

I've sort of been away from my blog - wasting time doing paintings that didn't really succeed. But you have to try, right? Today it was so cold - okay, I know you folks up north think we're a bunch of sissies, but 15 degrees? That's cold for this part of the country! After I went to my Zumba class this morning, I came back home and then started to my studio, but it was still absolutely freezing. I just did a U-turn and walked right back to the house. So no oil paintings today. This oil pastel is from a drawing group in November. I loved the model's hair - it was expressive, if hair can be expressive. Although it wasn't a particularly remarkable pose, she was a good model and I really loved doing this drawing. I drew it on Sennelier Carte d'Art paper and is about 8 x 8".

Check out my blog at The Oil Pastel Review for an oil pastel painting that I'm working on - without a lot of success, I might add. Thanks for stopping by - stay warm!

Rockin' to the Beat - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-01-31T21:18:00.000-08:00

It seems like forever since I posted anything, but I've been really, really busy! That should slow down now and at this point, I'm loving to draw my little charcoal dancers. They rock the night (and probably the day) away. I just can't keep an eye on them all the time, so who knows what they get up to!

If you are near the Kerrville, Texas, area, drop in at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center to see our Kerrville Art Club show. It will open on Thursday, with the reception on Saturday. The show will be up for a month. It was judged by Steven DaLuz, a San Antonio based artist, and is really beautiful!

This drawing was done with vine charcoal on 9 x 12" vellum Bristol. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Feelin' the Beat - original charcoal figurative drawing

2011-01-23T21:34:00.000-08:00

Drawing these figures is so much fun for me and I never really know how they'll turn out. Sometimes they lead to a painting, but I'm such a fan of drawings and think they stand on their own as works of art. This drawing is on Strathmore Bristol paper, 6 x 6". Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

2011-01-14T21:40:00.001-08:00

Here is the painted version of the drawing from a few posts ago - "Another Black and White Tango". This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Bailora with a Fan - original oil figurative painting

2011-01-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

This painting is on 10 x 8" linen panel. Thanks so much for stopping by - have a happy weekend!