Akimbo - original charcoal figurative drawing

How I love to draw with charcoal!  And I was lucky to get this pose - it was kind of dark where we were, but still am pleased with the outcome, even though I didn't totally "finish" it.  I just love when I get almost to the bottom of a figurative drawing, just getting really loose and making it more about line.  A bit about charcoal - I used a vine charcoal here, so lovely and soft, but there are other forms of this fabulous medium:  Click here to read a little about it.  This drawing is about 14 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

Sunday Sketchbook - black and white sketchbook drawings

This page is one I worked on today - mostly plants, for some odd reason, but that's what I was mainly seeing, I guess.  This is just one of three sketchbook pages I did.  It's about 8 1/2 by 11", well, probably a bit more with the spiral.  The tree is water-soluble pencil, and everything else is vine charcoal.  Thanks so much for looking!  

Black and White Country Luv - original charcoal figurative drawing

After the rodeo dances here in Junction a couple of weekends ago, I have lots and lots of two stepper drawings and paintings.  Here's one of my faves.  It's about 11 x 8 " - it's actually on 12 x 9" paper, but I've matted it smaller.  This is on Bee Drawing paper and I'm really glad to see this brand around again - bought it at Michael's.  Love the paper, although it's not as forgiving as some others, it's still a pleasure to draw on.  With me, I make so many changes and erasures - I sort of like to mess up the surface a little -  I love paper and love to work it over.  Thanks for looking!

Curlicues - original ink drawing

Since I haven't posted in awhile - busy with lots of happy things - here is an ink drawing of an ironwork balcony I did earlier in the summer.  It's about 9 x 5 1/2" - thanks for stopping by!

Middleweights - original ink figurative drawing

Sometimes I watch boxing matches - reminds me of sitting with my father as we watched the fights.  Nice memories.   This drawing is on 9 x 12" Bristol board, which is such a good paper for drawing - I used the vellum type and two kinds of pens - Itoya and Penstix.
Just as with drawing dancers, it's important to use memory, which is what I did here.   I saw an online drawing course recently that included memory drawing.  I taught that concept in my figure drawing classes from years ago, and although I haven't seen it mentioned in classes very often, it's a really great drawing exercise.

Drawing of Clarice - original charcoal portrait drawing

This drawing is done with vine charcoal, mostly using the side of the stick - on 14 x 11" drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Scenes from a Tango - original charcoal figurative

Just a little fun with my tango dancers.  This charcoal drawing is 10 1/2 x 14" on drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - charcoal portrait in progress

I just started this one this evening - having to work with mainly a photograph, although I will finish it with the actual girl.  So much to do, but it's great to work in charcoal - so soft and forgiving.  This one is 17 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by.

iPhone sketch of Shayna - original black and white iPhone drawing

I love drawing with my finger on my 6 plus screen - talk about living dangerously when drawing!  It's a complete toss-up as to how it will turn out, but really satisfying for me.  If you haven't tried this, do it! Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

The Folksinger - original charcoal figurative drawing

Nothing like a musician to get the charcoal working.  Really good performance by this guy and I feel I really captured him.  This drawing is on mixed media paper, about 10 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Rockabilly - original figurative water-soluble pencil drawing

Looking out the window of the restaurant, I saw this fellow as he listened to a friend.  I was ready with my sketchbook, water-soluble pencil and a brush with the water reservoir.  It's so quickly done, but I loved the gesture and his concentration.  This one is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for visiting!

Standing Nude - original colored pencil nude drawing

I used grey colored pencils on this drawing and I find them pleasant to use.  They're not as easy to work with as charcoals, but that's probably just because I'm not used to them.  It seems to take a long time to build up values and since I had the time (and no model), I worked from an old drawing that was not in the best shape any longer - this is the updated version.  This piece is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch for A Little Waltz - original charcoal figurative drawing

I had models (my wonderful family) over Thanksgiving, and am planning to paint from some of the drawings.  This piece is one that I'm hoping (fingers and toes crossed) to make into a painting that's less detailed than usual.  It's on 12 x 9" mixed media paper, and drawn with vine charcoal.  Thanks for looking!

Four Futures - original charcoal figurative sketches

Hope you can make out these quick charcoal sketches on 6 x 6" Gessobord that I will begin to paint tomorrow.  The top two are tango dancers and the bottom two are already jiving away.  Can hardly wait to bring them to life and I think just for fun, maybe they'll be a little more abstract than usual.  But that remains to be seen.  These little dancers usually get their way. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Doubting Sarah - original charcoal portrait drawing

She looked as if she didn't believe a word they were saying.  I could get busy and "finish" this piece, but I'm happy with it.  It captures her expression, which was one of amused doubt.  This drawing is about 8 x 6" on mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

Nude with a Fan - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

Although I spent my day working on some quick landscape studies, I still gravitate to figures, hence this nude that I did a few weeks ago.  My interest in this drawing is the joining of the arm to the back, then the darker lines farther down the arm. It's drawn with General's Peel and Sketch charcoal pencil on Strathmore Mixed Media paper, 8 x 4".   Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend!

Curly - original charcoal portrait drawing

I loved drawing her hair, which is a remarkable feature.  She isn't a regular model, so I didn't have much time - there I go again - anyway, much fun to draw.  This drawing is on mixed media 10 x 8" paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Dark and Light - original water-soluble pencil notan sketch

A little notan sketch - I guess it qualifies as notan - just trying to simplify and then maybe work in color.  It's drawn on 9 x 12" Yupo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch for "Formal" - original charcoal figurative drawing

I came across a formal dress that might work in my figure drawings and decided to sketch the model in it.  Maybe this drawing is one that will end up as a painting - we'll see.  I'll post it if the painting works out.  My Able Assistant, Roger, is recovering from eyelid surgery and he isn't able to assist as much as usual, so I've been a little slow in getting new drawings/paintings done.  Amazing how one relies on one's helpers!  This drawing is about 16 x 14" - thanks for looking!

The Heavyweights - original ink figurative drawing

I guess I'm on a line drawing kick - the most fun for me, actually.  I just came across this 9 x 12" while looking through some drawing pads today.  This one is from December, I think.  Listening to George Jones right now - a great Saturday night, folks!  Thanks for stopping by!