"Just A Little Ink Sketch"- original ink life drawing of a nude

Not an easy pose to hold with the feet in that position and one arm over the other - just increases my respect for models!  I used a Sharpie pen to 'feel' the model and since the lines this left around the subject couldn't be erased, they're still there.  Actually I think it gives an interesting look of lightness to the drawing - resulting, I think, from using the Sharpie Ultra Fine Point - the lines are so fine that they are not a distraction from the drawing.  Drawn on Strathmore 90 lb Mixed Media paper, it's about 7 1/2 x 3 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!  Click here for a bit of Sharpie history.
 

"40's Jive" - original ink and watercolor figurative drawing

 This drawing is totally loose and undirected with absolutely no thought to the end result.  Shouldn't admit it, but yeah, that's the truth.  I just put splashes of color here and there and basically had a great time.  Sometimes I think I'd like to make wire sculptures of dancers and this sort of has the same fun feel to it.  About 5 1/2 x 8" on Canson mixed media paper. Thanks so much for stopping by!

"Loree" - original graphite portrait drawing of a woman

Although I love to draw with charcoal, occasionally I will use a graphite pencil to do a portrait.  I used HB and 2B on this one -  the support was Canson mixed media paper.  The paper is white although with my great photography, you wouldn't know it😞.  I also trimmed it to 8 x 4 3/8".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Seated Nude on Cream Paper - original charcoal life drawing

This drawing was done on a 9 x 12" cream colored paper that was in a stack of my acid-free papers.  I never tire of drawing nudes - that's where I started my formal art journey and I think that's the best way to understand the figure.  It was really hard during the shutdown, so a lot of my drawings are sort of "elderly".  But now life drawing is back and so am I! Thanks for stopping by!

Although I absolutely prefer working from life, this piece was done from my photo of this model.  It's on 10 x 8" Ampersand Pastelbord with mostly Sennelier oil pastels from their portrait collection as well as some Caran d'Ache oil pastels.  Thanks for looking - and Happy Thanksgiving!

A Nude from Summer - original ink drawing

Here is a nude drawing done this summer - can't believe it's been so long since I posted!  I used a very thin dowel - so thin that it kept breaking until finally I was left with a piece about four inches long.  Must have been using a bit too much pressure - and then brushed with water.  It's loose without much thought and that's the way I like it, so I consider this one a success.  The paper is Canson Mixed Media, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

"Lainie" - ACEO original oil pastel portrait

I love to do these tiny art pieces (3.5 in x 2.5 in) - and although they are so small, they really do take a good amount of work.  Lainie was a model at one of the life drawing groups and was so good at holding a pose.  Being a model is tough work - I know this because when the model doesn't show up, the attendees are usually pressed into service!

For this one, I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels plus some Caran d'Ache Neopastels on Strathmore illustration board - all completely archival.   Thank you for visiting my blog!

Clara's Hat - original oil pastel portrait

I used a rather casual approach to this little piece which always seems to be my best option. Loose and inexact makes me so happy - not just in what I do but in most all artwork.  Her pose was perfect as a design, I thought, so I kept her over on the side.   My tools were Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord.  Much fun.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

More Valentines - original oil pastel portrait

Another oil pastel done from one of my charcoal drawings.  I do love the beauty and emotion of dance - whether waltz, two-step or tango (or actually any other kind).  It was so apparent to me that these two were really happy to be together.  This one is on 8 x 10" Judson's Guerilla carton board - two of my favorite artists from the past, Vuillard and Toulouse-Lautrec used cardstock, but I could never find any that was archival, but now - thank you Judson's - comes this great surface which is so wonderful for oil pastel!  If you want to use oil paint and want a little extra protection for the surface from the damage that can be caused by oil (not the same as the oil in oil pastel, which is not a problem) clear gesso is a great option.  After it gets a little more dry, I will bond it to museum board.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Valentines - original charcoal and pastel drawing of tango dancers

I know it's kind of an odd name for such an intense drawing, but I actually meant to post this on Valentine's Day and got sidetracked.  I drew this one with charcoal, graphite and soft pastel. It's been awhile since I posted at all - have been busy with a landscape painting course as well as getting my garden going.  Am soaking Hyacinth Bean seeds for my new arbor, planting another couple of tomatoes today, as well as some squash, corn and beans.  Roses are looking wonderful - but it's spring.  We'll have temps in the 90's and above 100 one day this week so my lovelies will be suffering soon.  Thanks for stopping by!

            
 

Silva's Attitude - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This young woman displayed lots of confidence and it was fun to try and get that attitude down on paper.  Good model - easy and pleasant to work with.  This was a quick drawing, with no "amendments" and although I did a larger one later, I felt this drawing captured her perfectly.  Drew
this on a Canson 6 x 8" mix media pad, which I love to carry around with me.  Fits in my purse - even a couple of my crossbody ones - and I can pull it out and draw anyplace, even with some water-soluble pencils, because it's pretty heavy paper.   Thanks for looking!
 

Drawing of a Young Girl - original oil pastel portrait

I did this on Judson's Guerilla Carton Board.  Carton needs an accent mark, but I will have to wait till later - it's late and I'm sleepy and don't remember how to do it on my laptop.  This surface is wonderful for oil pastel - it's really a love affair between the two.  If you use oil paint, it's good to apply Gamblin GAC before painting on it.   I usually bond the carton to painting panel or mat board.  I don't know if artists appreciate this lightweight board/paper, but it's wonderful!  It's archival and so lightweight - plus I just swoon over how wonderfully it works with oil pastel!  This drawing is on 10 x 8" carton.  Try this surface - it's really great! Thanks so much for stopping by!
 

Tangled - original oil pastel portrait

This piece is one that I did on Strathmore acrylic paper using black acrylic paint and drawing/painting over it with oil pastel.  This is so rewarding for me - it looks like the model yet not exactly - she is my creation and the drawing is loose, just the way I like it!  Do y'all get this wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you do something you love?  Yes of course you do - that's why we spend hours alone with dirty hands maybe listening to music or audiobooks and in the end maybe aren't crazy about what we just finished, but sometimes . . . .😊. Thanks for stopping by!

 

The Model Napping - original oil pastel portrait drawing

 Such a relaxing pose for the model - she couldn't help nodding off - especially since there had been a couple of hard poses before this one.  This drawing helps me to blend my love of line with a painted part of the piece - there's always a dilemma regarding exactly how much to describe with paint vs. line drawing  and I could have crossed the line (pun) 😀with painting more of the hair.  If I'd done any more, I might have needed to go ahead and paint the whole piece.  Just one of those things you never know until you've actually done it - so I stopped - maybe 'quitting while I'm ahead'?  I don't know, just did.  This one is on Canson pastel paper on the rough side, which I didn't realize - just had that urge to grab the paper and get started.  Actually, though, it's done with Caran d'Ache Neocolor 1- which I love - and then a bit of "touching" with Caran d'Ache oil pastel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketching at the Bar - original figurative sketch

Much fun even for a teetotaler like me.  And folks there knew what I was up to and they didn't care.  They were having a good time ringing in the New Year - and Happy New Year BTW!🎉 This woman was gazing at someone farther down the bar and was having a good time watching what was going on.  I was involved in drawing her as quickly as I could and didn't see the object of her stare.  Anyway, I always find that folks at bars are having a good time and I love trying to capture those emotions. Well, mostly they're having fun, but sometimes, not so much😧.  I love emojis (can you tell?😀😀).  This sketch was drawn with Caran d'Ache NeoPastels on heavy gray paper - sometimes it separates from the tablet.  I could put an emoji here but I won't.  Oh well😁

 

 

The Model in a Flowered Dress

 

 Her pose was captivating to me - kind of nonchalant.  And oh the dress - the print dress.  I loved it!  The drawing started with the gesture from life,  then I had to be content with a photograph.  Being such a line person, I did have fun with the arms and legs - didn't add finish at all to the legs, using lots of line segments.  The late Alex Powers, whose drawings I loved - said you're either a line or shape person and I totally agree.  I'm all in for line, especially loose, weighted lines and continuous line drawings.  I got some new pens today and was also eyeing my reed pens and thinking about getting out the ink.  Much fun ahead!  Thanks for stopping by and happy drawing!  PS. oil pastel on blue toned Strathmore mixed media paper, 12 x 9".

Della - original charcoal and pastel portrait

This drawing is one that I think will end up as a painting.  Her solemn demeanor appealed to me so much  - didn't have enough time to add more details and maybe that's a good thing since her face and hair seem to be the most important.  But we'll see. Sometimes when I turn things into a painting, there's a totally different result - probably happens to y'all sometimes too - right?  I did this on Strathmore 12 x 9" toned blue paper, using General Pencil Co Peel and Sketch charcoal, plus their compressed pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Flamenco #17 - original oil pastel drawing

Here's a quick drawing that I loved doing on 12 x 9" Strathmore mixed media toned blue paper, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Nothing like the movements of dancers and the fun of my attempts to capture them!  Of course there's a lot of memory drawing whether dancers or bull riders or athletes because the "pose" is quickly and constantly changing.  I'm such a believer in life drawing whether it's long poses or gestures  and I do it every chance I get.  

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

  

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!

Path to the Dune - original landscape oil painting

Something totally different which I do from time to time.  I painted this landscape on Gessobord, 6 x 8", with professional oil paints, using a limited palette.  Just about all my work is done with a limited palette, not always just my favorite four colors - titanium white, ivory black, Indian red and yellow ochre, but still many fewer than most artists.  And often I try out a guest color which is lots of fun for me.  Thanks for stopping by!