Coral Kimono - original oil pastel portrait of a maiko

 I (obviously) love painting maiko (apprentice geisha) and geisha.   Their culture and training fascinates me and I hope they don't fade away.  This painting is on Strathmore recycled paper bonded to museum board.  When I have the chance to draw a model in geisha costume, I make as many sketches as I can in the time allowed.  Thanks so much for looking!

Sketch of Mei as a Maiko - original charcoal and white drawing

A several month old sketch of Mei, who has posed before as a geisha/maiko, drawn with charcoal and white pencil on Mi-Teintes paper.  I've always loved using the textured side since I think it keeps me from overworking, but for this drawing I used the smooth.  Not sure if this is my best depiction of Mei - and I have a lot of drawings of her - but I am happy with how it turned out.  Thanks for looking!

Geisha with Flower - original oil pastel figurative painting

This is a really quick one - not because I was in a hurry - but it's just better for me so I don't kill it.  Did this on Pastelbord - just the right grittiness - and loved every touch of the oil pastel on the surface.  Yum!  It's 7 x 5" - thanks so much for stopping by!

Gold Kimono - original oil pastel figurative painting

This post is coming to you from the inferno that Texas is at this moment.  At almost midnight, it's 88 degrees.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have no more wildfires.
I saw this "pose" at a restaurant; one of those moments that stick with you.  Or me, in this case.  I love to see women in a kimono, which is such a graceful costume and I never tire of drawing them.  This oil pastel will probably turn into an oil painting, soon.  It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper and is about 8 x 5".  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

Geisha with Fan - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting is on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  I worked on it while I watched the Olympics finals in ice dancing.  While I've always been such a fan of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto and am so disappointed that they didn't medal, there was a lot of beautiful skating tonight!  I was always surprised when I could just get around the rink without falling flat, and am completely in awe of what these 'real' skaters can do!  And they make it look easy!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - it's always so nice to see you here!

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

The Japanese Screens - original oil pastel figurative painting

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

My drawing of "The Artisan"
a previous post on this blog, was awarded Best of Show at the Kerrville Art Club juried show in Kerrville, Texas! So, if you're passing through the area, drop by the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center to see the show. It was juried by Linda Hammond and I'm very flattered that such an accomplished artist chose my works for prizes.

I also won second place in oil painting and the oil pastel pictured here won a third prize in pastel.

Since I've been recuperating from surgery the past several days, these awards are especially sweet!

This painting is 9 x 12" on Colourfix paper. Thanks for stopping by!