Girl with Tablet - original oil pastel portrait

I just colored over the notan I did in the previous post and realized, too, that I had not included some shadows in the original.  Oh well, a learning process and a really great guide for further work.  Years ago, I took a portrait class in pastel in which we did something similar - the underpainting wasn't black and white, but color values instead.  This coming week, I'll be concentrating on that way of working.  Thanks for stopping by!

Dark and Light - original water-soluble pencil notan sketch

A little notan sketch - I guess it qualifies as notan - just trying to simplify and then maybe work in color.  It's drawn on 9 x 12" Yupo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch for "Formal" - original charcoal figurative drawing

I came across a formal dress that might work in my figure drawings and decided to sketch the model in it.  Maybe this drawing is one that will end up as a painting - we'll see.  I'll post it if the painting works out.  My Able Assistant, Roger, is recovering from eyelid surgery and he isn't able to assist as much as usual, so I've been a little slow in getting new drawings/paintings done.  Amazing how one relies on one's helpers!  This drawing is about 16 x 14" - thanks for looking!

Shelly Reading - original oil figurative painting

Every now and then, I like to go really small like this 4 x 4" oil - can't noodle with it too much and can't have much detail.  Painted with a pretty big brush, it's on Ampersand Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Rapt Attention - original charcoal figurative drawing

I've done a few sketches lately of groups of people and this woman particularly interested me, so I singled her out for a drawing.  She was so interested in what the other two people at the gathering were saying that it was perfect for me.  She (unintentionally) held the pose for a long time and I was able to do a little sketch to work from when I got home.  She likes the drawing, too - always a good sign!  I used a Peel n Sketch charcoal pencil by General Pencil - one of my favorite drawing implements - on Strathmore sketch paper and is about 13 x 12.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude Looking Down - original oil pastel nude

I did this one over an oil painting that just didn't make me happy - which is why this one is on Gessobord, instead of Pastelbord.  Done quickly - on autopilot - it's 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

Nudes Over Nudes - original mixed media drawings of nudes

As I was taking the photo for this post, I laid the oil pastel drawing on top of the ink drawing and realized - hey I like this! - and since I'm always looking for a way to have my line drawings along with paintings, I think I've found it!  One of life's little happy accidents.  The bottom drawing is brown Sharpie ultra fine on 9 x 12" watercolor paper and the top is oil pastel on 8 x 6" mixed media paper.  Can't wait to combine this technique on one canvas.  Do y'all love making discoveries in your art unintentionally like this?  I'll bet it's a pretty usual art experience for artists.  Thanks for looking!

Country Evening - original figurative oil painting

Another evening of dancing Texas' favorite dance - the two step.   I paint endless images of this dance, and never tire of it.  And I love to play country music while I work.  Today I listened to Bob Wills, the great country musician who is remembered for his western swing music.  Waylon Jennings' song "Bob Wills Is Still The King" is absolutely right!  (I don't think the Bob Wills site has music, but it can be found many places on the internet.)   I used stretched portrait canvas for this - very smooth and so easy to work on.   It's 10 x 8" - thanks for stopping by!

More Hot Tango - original oil figurative painting

This 8 x 8" painting was done on Gessobord.  It's the middle of the day and somehow, I'm not as loquacious (guess that applies to the written word, too) as I am when it's much later in the day.  Much, much later.  Night owl stuff, actually.  That's the long way of saying this will be a short post.
Thanks for stopping by!

The Print Dress - original ink portrait drawing

This afternoon I was watching what I guess one would call a 'costume drama', but this 'costume' was definitely not in the movie.  Somehow, though, I just had the urge to draw a print dress and here it is - a little sketch, but very pleasing to do.  Ink is so tricky - this was actually a very thin marker - but you never know until you actually make a mark whether it'll work or not and then it's too late.  Great for drawing training, but still, sometimes best to leave things out, which is what I did here.  Usually, I just go for it and then regret it.  Maybe after all this time, I'm learning that less really is more.  Who knows?  Anyway, it's 8 1/2 x 6" on cold press watercolor paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Special Moment - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I used Sennelier oil pastels on 10 x 8" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Lavender Nudes - original ink and water soluble crayon drawing

I held a Penstix ink marker pen at the end next to me, so that I couldn't control the pen very well, plus the cold press watercolor paper with all those hills and valleys also makes the job a little more iffy.  SO much fun to do  - I can get a looser line and somehow it's just so satisfying to my soul.  Don't know what it says about me that I don't like to be in control - just an artist for ya, I guess.  It's about  9 x 10 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Rita - oil pastel portrait painting in progress

This one started from life, but now I'm at the photo stage and trying to finish it.  Great model - sultry, but dignified - hope she poses again.  I was interested in the negative space, as well.  On 14 x 11" Pastelbord - thanks so much for looking!

Saturday Night Scribbles - original charcoal sketches

Always a fan of using the TV when there's no model nearby, tonight presented some opportunities for sketching.  When the scene changes, or the subject moves, I just concentrate on another "model".  This is one of the great drawing improvers, I think - right up there with drawing in ink.  I feel my drawings got better as I went along - the right-hand side is just looser and more confident.  It's also brighter, since I laid a lot of charcoal on the upper left of the first page.  Still, it's interesting to see how one improves after warming up. My Able Assistant, Roger, was curled up next to me as I drew.  He's recovering from surgery on his paw - but my sweet boy wagged approval with his little stub of a tail when I showed him what I had done.  You just can't keep an Able Assistant down!  Drawn on 14 x 11" pages of mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch for Barrel Racer - original charcoal figurative drawing

I do love barrel racing - here's another sketch from the past summer's rodeo.  It was ready last night, but my internet connection was almost nonexistent, probably because of the storm we had here with all the welcome rain.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" Strathmore Mixed Media paper.  Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

The Pitch - original charcoal figurative drawing

I've been obsessed with this left-handed pitcher thing - I suppose you can tell - and I'm getting closer to what I'm looking for - such joy when that happens!  This drawing is on 11 x 14" Strathmore paper. It is ridiculously late, but really couldn't sleep without getting this to a certain point.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketches for Lefty - original charcoal figurative drawing

My favorite season - baseball!  Did a few charcoal sketches of the left-hander on the mound, and where I thought a little more info was needed, filled in later by referring to my iPhone.  I used a teeny piece, barely there, of vine charcoal on mixed media paper.  Fun to draw, too, on phone or using Evernote.  This one is on 9 x 12" paper.  There are more of these - may post some over the next few weeks.  Maybe by then I'll have some drawings of batters worth posting.  Thanks for stopping by.

Laurie - original oil portrait painting

Laurie was painted on 10 x 10" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Three Linear Nudes - original ink drawing of nudes

When picking the name for this drawing, I looked up "linear" in the trusty Merriam-Webster (love getting Word of the Day from them) and decided that linear would, indeed, apply.  I've heard about linear thinking, linear regression, linear algebra, linear garage door openers, and on and on, so thought maybe the way I've used the word as applied to art might have been wrong.  But it's a perfect use of the word and these nudes ( 9 x 12") are SO linear - totally nothing but lines.  Again with the Alex Powers thing - you like line or you like shapes.  Me, I'm a line woman.  I would  love to have a poll as to which of y'all like lines or shapes.  I think there may be a poll gadget on Blogger somewhere, but I'll probably never figure it out.  So anyway, thanks for stopping by!

Lisa Playing the Flute - original oil pastel portrait painting

More blues and greens - always looking for an excuse to use these colors. Plus the touches of reds and orange.  Alex Powers says - and I believe him - but then I believe Alex Powers in all art matters - that one is drawn to either cool colors or warm colors.  If a painting is all warm colors, I feel like I'm in the middle of July - okay, being dramatic, but still.  This painting is on 5 x 7"  Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

The Heavyweights - original ink figurative drawing

I guess I'm on a line drawing kick - the most fun for me, actually.  I just came across this 9 x 12" while looking through some drawing pads today.  This one is from December, I think.  Listening to George Jones right now - a great Saturday night, folks!  Thanks for stopping by!

Shayna In Line - original nude ink drawing

I used a brown ultrafine point Sharpie on Strathmore Mixed Media paper - love that stuff - about 8 1/2 x 10".  Thank you for visiting my blog!

Sketch of Barrel Racer - original charcoal figurative sketch

This quick 9 x 10" sketch began its life at the rodeo held in Junction this past summer, then I filled it in (more or less) from the photo on my iPhone.  I used a General Pencil Company's Peel and Sketch charcoal pencil because they're very handy when I'm on the move (no sharpener needed) and they make beautifully varied lines.    I love barrel racing and think I'll make a rodeo painting of this one with cowboys on the fences and the gates and all the things that make up the rodeo arena.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jacee's Stance - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

I loved this assertive pose - wish I'd had more time on it, but just grateful to be able to draw from this excellent model.  They don't grow on trees, unfortunately.  This drawing is about 12 x 8" - thanks for stopping by!

Jitterbug in Lavenders and Blues - original Sharpie and watercolor drawing

I have had this brown Sharpie ultra fine point for a long time and just never used it, but am so glad I finally got around to it!  Always a fan of black and white, I am beginning to appreciate other colors of ink and there's nothing better to draw with than a Sharpie, which comes in tons of colors.  I drew this on 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" watercolor paper, then painted with watercolor.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Sketch for Torrid Tango - original charcoal figurative drawing

Loving the tango as I do, it's always fun to draw or paint dancers of this emotional and elegant dance.  Well, I'm not so sure this is pose could be called elegant, but it's definitely emotional!  It's matted to about 14 x 11 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude with a Flowered Screen - original oil pastel nude painting

This nude is painted on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  This was a tough pose to hold - the model never actually sat on the floor, so she didn't hold it for long and we just did quick gesture drawings and the gesture drawing was what I worked from on this piece.   I'm such a fan of blue and green - love to paint with these colors and love to wear them.  I've been watching "Hinterland" which has so much blue and some green, as well.  I adore it - yes, the story is good and the acting, as well, but the blue - ahhhh! Thanks for looking!

Blue Sash - original figurative oil painting

Fairly quickly done, because the model didn't have much time and really wasn't a model anyway, just someone with lots of patience and a good heart.  Always favoring cool colors, I loved doing this one. It's 10 x 8" on panel - thanks for stopping by!

Pensive - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing is on multi-media paper, about 8 x 6".  We've had rain here in our little town tonight and it's SO welcome for our parched area!  Since our chances for rain are scheduled to end in May (at least according to lots of weather experts),  I'm even happy to wipe Roger's wet feet when he comes in from a romp in the yard.  Actually, I'm happy to do most anything for Roger - he's getting pretty old, but still the sweetest, most wonderful doggie - and a great example of a rescue dog.  Plus, he's an excellent assistant - lies at my feet to keep my toes warm (when he's not on my lap) and waits patiently for me at my studio while I work.  Love you, Roger!

Red Jive - original ink and watercolor figurative drawing

Just fooling around again with ink and watercolor - about 9 1/2 x 12 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!