Sunday, November 13, 2016

Nude on a Kilim Rug - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

I just decided to leave the rug as a drawing (obviously) and probably won't "finish" it.  Artist's choice, you know.  This is drawn with Sennelier oil pastels on multi-media paper, about 9 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Friday, November 11, 2016

Sketch of a Native American Girl - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I started this drawing on 12 x 9" paper, using Sennelier oil pastels, and have decided to leave it as a sketch, rather than "finishing" it.  Thanks for visiting!

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Another Nude Facing Away - original oil pastel drawing of a nude model

I did this nude study on a piece of 7 x 5" hardboard that I gessoed with a bristle brush and never did sand it to make it smoother.  And I had fun with it - it's almost a canvas-looking surface.  There's just something that is so appealing - to me, at least, of a nude who is looking away from the viewer.  I guess that's why I do so many of them, but maybe this is the biggest reason:  Where I'm sitting in the room always seems to be sort of behind the model.  Works pretty well for me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Gina At The Bar - original graphite portrait drawing

I got busy with a graphite pencil, which I seldom do - I guess because charcoal is more forgiving - and drew from an old sketch on tan toned paper.  It's about 8 x 5 1/2".  The white accents are General's Primo white charcoal pencil.  Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, November 03, 2016

Sitting at the Table - original acrylic portrait painting

I was sort of looking down on the model as she sat at a table. Working as quickly as I could - since acrylics dry so fast - maybe I was a bit intimidated by this quality and was furiously brushing the background while the paint was still workable.  I did add a little water to the piles of paint, which helped a lot.  Acrylic is a medium I really want to get comfortable with and will keep working with it.  The support is 6 x 6" Strathmore acrylic paper.  Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait painting in progress

While I will probably do another painting of this pose, working out things I want to emphasize - maybe in oil - I just loved doing this one.  My ambition is to keep my enthusiasm while doing the second one, because I always seem to lose the motivation.  Am going to try very hard!  Actually, maybe trying hard isn't the best option - just relax I tell myself.  This is on Strathmore pastel paper - formerly for oil pastel and is about 9 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Sketch of Shelley - original charcoal portrait drawing

I did this little sketch on 10 x 8" Strathmore 403 paper.  I'll consider it finished, especially since the model loved it and will probably buy it.  Although this was mostly vine charcoal, I had forgotten how nice it is to have nice sharp charcoal pencils - in this case General's Primo and the Ritmo brand pencil I used many years ago.  I wasn't able to find Ritmo for such a long time, but it's back and as good as ever.  But I think my favorite now is the Primo - really deep blacks and a smooth application - very nice charcoal pencil.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Friday, October 28, 2016

On My Easel - Glenda - oil pastel portrait in progress

There's a little left to do on this portrait, but decided to go ahead and post it.  This is Sennelier oil pastels on 12 x 9" Strathmore 403 paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Newspaper Scribbles - original figurative ink and charcoal drawings


Here are a few of tonight's doodles I did while sitting in front of the TV.  When I find one that I want to keep, I just spray it with Make-It-Acid-Free, mount it to museum board and apply fixative.  What I like about doing these drawings, is that it just feels like practice - I can try things out, zoom around the paper and be very loose.  There are probably 15 out of about 40 that I found worth keeping tonight and I promise I didn't watch all that long - really just through one movie.  Not much of a TV watcher, really, but it does come in handy when looking for people to draw very quickly.  These were done with ink and charcoal.  The ink was the medium for the actual drawings, then I added charcoal for value.  Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Another Woman with a Fan - original oil portrait painting

Here's another version of an earlier drawing that I did in charcoal - made some changes, but maybe I'm not through, I don't know.  The model looks sort of tired, maybe she's sick of being fussed over, so I'll just let her rest for awhile and see what I think in several days. In the drawing, I used a slightly different pose that I did quickly when she was resting her eyes while the monitor was talking.  But this was her actual pose.  It's 16 x 20".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Cowboy Love - original figurative oil painting

I love doing this one because of the gesture - it's just the way I saw it.  If you get the gesture, you have the drawing.  Everything builds from that.  Well, I'm obviously counting my chicks - time will tell how it actually turns out.  Don't mean to sound so pessimistic, but I am always getting to this stage and then killing it.  Will see tomorrow or probably the next whether this turns out the way I want it to.  Thanks so much for stopping by!
Update:  Finished!


Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Three Nudes on Turquoise - original acrylic paintings of nudes

I started out thinking this would be easy.  But I just felt so rushed - which I actually love and makes one move the paintbrush around very quickly - so why am I complaining?  Must just be a bad habit I've fallen into.  It was a challenge, but a fun challenge!  I love some of the passages, which is always so rewarding for us artists.  Was involved in a conversation yesterday about passages we love when we paint and the very accomplished artist I was speaking with said that's why she keeps on painting.  I can identify with that!  The panel is 8 x 10".  Thanks for looking!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Two-Step Sweethearts - original acrylic figurative painting

I almost never use acrylic for a painting.  To me, it's mainly great to use in brush drawings, but using it today for this piece just reminds me of the good qualities of acrylic.  It dries really fast, which is enough to make me love it.  And I don't feel so constrained when I work with it - for instance, the fat over lean that's so crucial in oil painting.  I vow here and now to continue doing some of my stuff in acrylic.  (Fingers making "X" over heart.)  This painting is 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Nude on Chartreuse - original oil drawing of a nude

I really like working on the acrylic painted panel, especially on the chartreuse color.  The combination of black and chartreuse reminds me of a tap dance recital costume that I wore when I was a kid - the outfit was black satin trimmed with chartreuse feathers.  And I just love that color combination even today! This drawing is 10 x 8" - thanks for looking!

Saturday, October 15, 2016

On My Easel - original oil pastel figurative in progress

I worked today on this drawing of the model on Strathmore 403 oil pastel paper - listed as pastel paper - but is originally for oil pastel and it is absolutely wonderful for this medium.  I love this model and the poses she takes.  It's 12 x 9" and the paper is a little more gray blue and darker, but if you read my blog, you know about my photographic limitations.  Thanks for visiting my blog.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Joanie - original charcoal portrait drawing

I was going to do this in oil paint, but when I realized I just wouldn't have time, it was charcoal to the rescue.  Could probably do a painting from this drawing, but am happy with the charcoal version.  I used vine charcoal and General's Peel n Sketch (I think I've called it Peel n Draw before) on Strathmore 400 Mixed Media paper.  This paper is really versatile - it's 140 lb. and has just the right amount of tooth, although maybe not as easy to erase as I'd like.  But then I'm pretty hard on paper and work and work it 'til it's worn out, so really, there's no paper for me - I should probably work on my technique!
I kind of dreaded doing the hands, especially when there's not much time, but think they worked out okay.  This drawing is about 11 x 8".  I hope to be able to do a painting of Joanie - maybe we can have her as a model again soon.  One can hope.
Thanks for stopping by!

Jive Scribble - original charcoal figurative drawing

Trying to capture the energy here - will probably end up with a little painting from this one.  I did the drawing on Strathmore 14 x 11" Mixed Media paper - actually more of a sketchbook, I think, and I really like using it.  Also used General's Peel n Sketch charcoal pencil.  Thanks for looking!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Doubting Sarah - original charcoal portrait drawing

She looked as if she didn't believe a word they were saying.  I could get busy and "finish" this piece, but I'm happy with it.  It captures her expression, which was one of amused doubt.  This drawing is about 8 x 6" on mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Geisha on Aquamarine - original charcoal portrait drawing

The paper is actually a slightly warmer shade of aqua, but it's difficult to get it to display perfectly.  This drawing is on Fabriano Tiziano aquamarine, about 8 x 8".  I love different kinds, colors, brands, etc., of paper and have such fun learning the qualities of each when I use them for my drawings.  This one has a slight tooth, and the color - ahhhh the color - is so gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Sketch for Tango Drama - original charcoal figurative drawing

I love these dramatic moments in tango - tango dancers always dance like they mean it.  And I'm convinced they do! This is drawn on 14 x 11" mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, October 02, 2016

Ink Folk Dancer - original figurative ink drawing


I was pleased with this one - not easy to draw when someone is dancing - they just go off and leave me working on three or four steps ago.  Funny thing - didn't realize I was drawing on the other side of a jive dancing ink couple that I enjoyed doing - something about her foot that I hadn't captured before, plus a turn in her torso.  I never finished the guy, though, and instead, will probably just use the girl dancer in another drawing or painting.  I love the way these dancers move in and out of my life.  Never know when I'll see them again, but they're always there, just waiting to dance for me.
Both drawings are from my mixed media sketchbook, about 5 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

Thursday, September 29, 2016

On My Easel - Gallery Visit - original oil figurative painting in progress

Not finished with this one, but probably won't finish it 'til late weekend - maybe move the floor down, plus finish the model (who isn't a model,  but a girl I sketched).  It's on 10 x 10" canvas.  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, September 26, 2016

Cello Practice - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This was a fun drawing to do, but I won't return to it to "finish" it - I love leaving things "unfinished". It's 14 x 11" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Another Tango Kick - original figurative oil painting

Another little tango painting - these tango dancers are never far away from me.  Lots of brushwork here - it's 7 x 5" on panel.  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, September 19, 2016

Girl in Blue - original oil portrait drawing

I just loved doing this one - I think I've found a new love.  But of course, I seem to find one every time I try something new.  I used a bright blue acrylic paint for the panel, then drew on it with oil paint. There's just something so fulfilling about having a good art day and I am really grateful for that.  On 7 x 5" panel.  Thanks for looking!
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Sunday, September 18, 2016

Woman in a Chair with a Fan - original charcoal figurative sketch

This drawing is one that I hope to turn into a painting - just working out some details.  Actually, she looks a little sad - got to fix that.  Or maybe not.  It's on 14 x 17" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, September 16, 2016

Three Apples - original graphite still life drawing

Now for a total departure.  This is a drawing I did about 20 years ago.  Most of my older drawings - hundreds of them - have ended up in the garbage because I had way too many.  I took photos on my iPhone and will work on paintings from them.  I did keep this one, though, even though it's a bit of a mess with a crease here and there - but the drawing itself is in good condition - because I enjoyed the dry wash technique.  I LOVE black and white drawings and spend more time at exhibitions with the prints and drawings than looking at the paintings.  Hope everyone's having a nice weekend - thanks for looking!  PS.  please check out my oil pastel blog here.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Seated in a Red Chair - original oil figurative painting


I love it when the model is on a break and takes a "pose" that's natural for her.  Then we can ask her to hold it while we paint - works out great for all of us!  This painting is on 8 x 8" canvas.  Thanks for looking!
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Saturday, September 10, 2016

Formal #2 - original oil figurative sketch

This sketch is based on an earlier charcoal drawing of mine and I'm just fooling around with it here; playing with the idea that working on a pose over and over helps to understand it better, resulting in a  more successful painting in the end - we'll see.  Today's sketch is done on 8 x 8" canvas and it is SO absolutely not finished.   Another stream of consciousness thing.  Thanks for looking!
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Friday, September 09, 2016

New Pen, New Dancers - original figurative ink drawing

I have a new black Sharpie that doesn't come through the paper and I'm loving it!  Captured these dancers with it - this pen is a keeper!  It's smooth and the although the ink feels so free flowing, it doesn't make a mess.  Well, of course, no Sharpie I ever heard of, does, so this pen continues the grand tradition.  Still, it does have more of an ink feel that the feel of a marker.
This drawing is also an audition for the dancers on the page.  Some will get to stay with me, but as for others, they will have to go back for a few modifications.  See?  You thought I'd say 'drawing board'.  On 5.5 x 8" mixed media paper - thanks for stopping by!