The Hotel Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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One of my favorite places - a bar; people, atmosphere, people, atmosphere - I could go on and on, but I'll let the artwork do the talking. The evening's fleeting dramas played out against the backdrop of a large landscape painting hanging behind the bar. As I sketched, I wondered about my 'people' - the ones in my sketchbook, that is. Were they happy or sad, hopeful or without much to look forward to? I don't know, but I wish the best for them.

This oil pastel on Pastelbord is 8 x 10". Thanks so much for stopping by!

Woman with Shamisen - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

In my travels around Texas this past week, I attended a drawing group that had a model in a kimono. This 7 x 5" on Pastelbord was one of the paintings from that session. Thanks for stopping by!

Note: The model was left-handed and held the shamisen backwards, but I went ahead and put the two tuning keys toward her - a mirror image, really. I could have changed it, but loved the face the way it was. Okay, I know an artist shouldn't fall in love with a piece and should always be ready to wipe it off and start over, but..... I think I will paint it - with more background and facing the right way - in oil at my Thursday Painters group tomorrow. A square format, maybe, I don't know. SOLD

A Glimpse of Kathy - original oil/oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

This little portrait began as an oil painting. After it was dry, I painted over it with oil pastel. It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

Al - original charcoal portrait drawing from life by Connie Chadwell

This twenty-minute drawing of Al is an example of my all-time favorite art method - drawing from life with a stick of vine charcoal. I have a box of different thicknesses of charcoal that is very messy and disorganized; at the end of the session, there is as much charcoal on me as on the paper. In the heat of battle, I just grab a stick and go to work.

I don't really look - just reach. If that stick works, great; if not, I grab another.

Timed drawings from life are such great training - you don't have time to focus on each mark and can put your drawing know-how to work without really thinking about it.

This piece is 24 x 18" on Strathmore 400 drawing paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hopeful - original oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

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I loved doing this on Pastelbord. By now, you may have realized that I have lots of "favorites". I guess I just love the one I'm with.

The great thing about oil pastel on Pastelbord is that in most cases, it can be framed like an oil painting. Really, the oil pastel gets dry on this surface and then can be fixed and varnished. Wonderful!

Today I learned what I guess just about everybody else knows - how to link to individual pages in my blog (is that deep linking? -guess I'd better go back and study the lesson). I'm taking the blog improvement class from Alyson Stanfield and Cynthia Morris and having a great time!

This piece is on 10 x 8" Pastelbord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

3 A.M. - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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This is my post for Daily Painters Gallery's first Wednesday theme day - Celebrating Mom.

Babies are so sweet - even in the wee hours. I can say that, of course, because my kids are a long way from being babies! The only problem with them is that they don't stay babies for long. Before you know it, they're all grown up!

This quick little painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Waiting - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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After I finished painting her, I wasn't sure whether she was a torch singer or a woman waiting to be asked to dance. I decided she wanted to dance. I have a little influence with my characters - but only a little.

She is my second painting of a wallflower. Not a flattering term, but since I've been one at times, I qualify to use it.

When I was about 13, my mother signed me up for ballroom dance class. I was gangly and awkward and a couple of years younger than the other students. At that age even a year makes a difference. Nobody - and I mean nobody - chose me as a partner. My teacher had some of the boys dance with me so I could at least learn the steps.

Oh the humiliation! It rates a smile from me now, but back then it was a major trauma! Maybe experiences like that make me especially sympathetic to the lonely and unappreciated. Other than dancers, they are my favorite subjects.

This painting - still so wet, it was tough to photograph, hence all the shiny areas - is oil on Gessobord, 12 x 12". Thanks so much for visiting my blog!