A Little Tango Kick - original oil figurative painting

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

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

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

More Tango Sizzle - original oil figurative painting

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

Tango Moment Once More - original oil figurative painting of dancers

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

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
 

More Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

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

Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

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

More Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting

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

Tango in Black and White - original charcoal figurative drawing

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

The Tango Lesson - original oil figurative painting

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!

Another Tango Twist - original oil figurative painting

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!

More Tango Swing - original oil figurative painting

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!

Tango Doodle - original oil pastel figurative drawing

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!

Another Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

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!

More Black and White Tango - original charcoal figurative sketch

This sketch will be the underlayer for a painting. I've not used this approach very much, but I know artists who do this - spray fixative on it and then paint over the drawing. Using this method should make the painting practically paint itself. This pose with the outside leg extending back is really a difficult one, because it's not very easy to make obvious which leg is in back, which is in front. While I'm pretty pleased with this one, I still may make changes in the painting as I work. This sketch is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.

Thanks so much for stopping by - check out my post on The Oil Pastel Review. If you'd like to email, just click on the "contact me" button on the right side of my blog.

Another Black and White Tango - original charcoal figurative dancer sketch

Here's a little loose gestural sketch of a painting to do tomorrow.  It's charcoal on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 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 Memories - original oil pastel figurative painting

This quickly done - my favorite way, lest I "kill" it - tango painting is on 12 x 9" black Colourfix pastel paper.  Yum!  One of my favorite supports!  Thanks for looking!

More Tango Drama - original oil figurative painting

Here's my tango couple again - doing what they love best.  And so am I.  This painting is 8 x 8" on Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!