On My Easel - Sketch for Flamenco - original oil figurative sketch

I should probably call this 'can you figure out what this is?' - a sort of shorthand, I guess.  I know how it should end, and I'm very hopeful, but the best intentions don't always turn out as one would like.  So I'm fully prepared, knowing it may join lots of others I've thrown in the garbage this week.  I find it hard to get rid of things that I once liked or maybe even just liked one passage in the painting, and keep them well past their prime.  Gotta be tough, I keep telling myself.  Thanks for stopping by and listening to my little rant or maybe it was a pep talk to myself.

Tango Smooch - original oil figurative dancer painting

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
 

Bailora in Red - original oil figurative flamenco painting

More flamenco on a 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  To send me an email, just click on the "contact me" button on the right of my posts.  SOLD

"Tango Luv" - original oil figurative painting

This oil painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  To send me a private message, just click the "contact me" button to the right of my posts. SOLD

Tango Flirt - original oil figurative painting

This couple was both graceful and athletic - thrilling to watch!  The painting is on 7 x 5"  Gessobord.

At the risk of boring you with my shorthand sketches, I thought I'd put some on this post, anyway.  These were done at the local swimming pool, while I was there with my grandchildren.  It's amazing the energy the little boys had - they were tireless in the games they played.  These drawings are definitely from memory, because the second I put pencil to paper, they had zoomed on to something else.  There are lots of these, but you're in luck - I'm just posting a few of them.  I don't imagine anyone else can tell what's going on in these sketches except me.  There's just enough information to remind me of the angle of the head or the foreshortening of the arms, especially (it's probably impossible to see) the hands of the little boy as he releases the ball.  My eyes just zeroed in on his hands and I got them - tough to see, I know, but the little sketch speaks volumes to me. 

I guess everyone has his or her own "shorthand" and it's particularly useful when working with figures in action, like these little fellows. 

Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm always glad to see you here!

Flamenco Fire - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Oh so much fun to do!  I just felt - this painting was done from a drawing that I did from life last year - that the dancer was oblivious to anything but the insistent rhythm of the guitar and the stamping of her feet. My objective was to capture her movement and her involvement in her art.

It's on gessoed panel, 10 x 8".  Thank you for visiting Hackberry Street Studio.
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Flamenco Passion - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting - 8 x 8" on Gessobord - was one that I did quickly without much attention to detail.  When I noodle too much, I always kill it, so I just let it go.  Hope it shows motion - that's what I was after in this piece.  Today was a moody day - dark and rainy - and a great day to stay inside and paint.  And with Mother Nature watering my tomatoes and roses, I had no gardening cares!
Yesterday, I mentioned a support I enjoyed using and today I found that it's Creative Mark Centurion.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!   Have a great Thursday!

 If you would like to inquire about this painting, just email me.

Flamenco Frenzy - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I know it's a little crazy and a little wild, but she's totally involved in the music as she stomps her way across the floor.   This painting is 7 x 5" on gessoed panel and I LOVED doing this one!  Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio - I'm always glad to see you here!

Portrait of a Bailaora - original oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

I could have entitled it 'Female Flamenco Dancer', but the Spanish sounded so much better.

What an evening! My USB ports quit working, so I had an interesting time getting the photo on my laptop. Then my laptop quit on me for about ten minutes. I'll bet I get to know the Toshiba customer service people really well in the morning.

Back to my posting - it was a quick one and small - 5 x 7" on Pastelbord. I could have done a larger one and taken more time, since she held the pose awhile, but I just wanted to get the essentials down.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I was going to post a picture of family and friends at the table on Turkey Day, but got all involved in visiting and completely forgot.

Thank you for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I didn't really intend for this couple to look as if they were going to kiss - I just wanted them to dance. They paid no attention to me, however, so here they are on canvas, 12 x 9". Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tango Sketch - original charcoal figurative drawing by Connie Chadwell

Here's a quick charcoal dancer sketch that didn't stray too far from its gestural beginnings. It's about 12 x 9" on plate bristol. Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

A Little Tango Fancy - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This 7 x 5" is one of the last from my current tango painting collection. The lady was adding a little flourish to a crossover step, which is her prerogative.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - stay cool!

A Little Tango Dip - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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Here's another one of the tango paintings that I finished a week or so ago.

This is a really, really difficult step to paint. As in all dance paintings, the "poses" aren't held for long, so memory is crucial when doing gestures. The gestures are only half or maybe even a third finished when the dancers move on to another step. Actually, I think the gestures themselves are pretty interesting. Maybe I'll post some of those - my gestures are mostly squiggly lines, but they are a road map or framework for the eventual finished drawing or painting.

Gesture drawings are like fingerprints, I think, because no artist does them exactly the same as another artist.

Today I spent time getting submissions ready for the annual Oil Pastel Society show.

Tomorrow I plan to begin fairly early (for me, anyway) to work on a small restaurant scene, and a nude painting - both of which just need to be finished.

The weather is horrible here in Texas. The heat just steals ambition right out of the body, so maybe getting to work while it's still cool will be the key.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and I hope you're staying cool!

Ooops! I forgot to say that this painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

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A Little Tango Kick - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I'm back to my blog after a few days' absence, with lots of drawings that I will be turning into paintings - nudes, and bar and restaurant scenes.

Here is one of the tango paintings that I did several days ago. I loved the way the woman of this couple seemed so languid in this pose, but offered the little kick - or patada - I think it's called. The painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Backstep - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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I painted a few tango scenes in a couple of afternoons, and here is one of them. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Tango Swing - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Today was total fun for me - another tango painting. This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Flamenco Rhythm II - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

It's hard to focus on painting these days with all the things to do in the garden - I'm really torn. Soon, though, it will be so hot in Texas that I won't be interested in going outside!

This painting is similar to a larger one that I did a couple of years ago, but this one is much more expressive, I think, and I really loved painting it. Just sort of went wild.

It's 10 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Lady with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I was in San Antonio last week and struck the artist's version of gold when I saw some dancers before they began their performance. I was able to do lots of gesture drawings that I will be turning into oil and oil pastel paintings. And then there was the dancing that followed - absolutely gorgeous - so I'm well supplied with drawings!

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

Folk Dancer - original charcoal figurative drawing

I was watching a group of dancers from Central America and this enthusiastic young lady was in front of me - she put her soul into her dancing and it was wonderful to watch.  I did a quick gesture drawing and continued with this drawing even though she only held this position briefly.  I was forced to remember the pose even though the model had moved on - a great drawing exercise.  And not too bad for helping my memory, either.   It's 8 x 6" on charcoal paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Flamenco Rhythm - original oil figurative painting

Flamenco - another Latin dance I love - really wonderful when the stomping is fast (I think it's called 'buleria'). Anyway, it's exciting to see and hear. This painting is 10 x 8" on linen panel. Thanks for visiting my blog!