"Sketch for a Tango Painting" - figurative sketch in ink and charcoal

I was copying a step that I saw a couple practicing.  They were really concentrating to get it all just right, and were working on foot placement.  Not as simple as it appears.  But of course when they actually did their show I'm sure they made it seem so easy.  Wish I could have been there to see it!  The charcoal pencil I was using and the oil pastel paper it's drawn on were supplies that I picked up while I was visiting Hungary a couple of weeks ago.  More on that great trip and all the wonderful beautiful art I was so lucky to see there!  
 

A Few Quick Figurative Drawings from Life - pen and ink drawings

I love doing these kind of drawings - maybe a minute or two.  They're fun and helpful in quickly 'estimating' where the different body parts are in relation to each other - plus they can be entertaining to look at.  The pens used were by Derwent and Itoya - such different creatures from each other but both great to draw with. The paper I drew on is actually white, but my photography skills. . . oh well.  😕

Thanks for stopping by!

"Three Guys" - pen and ink drawing from life

 I was running out of room on my page so just drew over previous drawings.  I love doing this sort of thing.  The drawing is on 6 x 8" paper from a Strathmore Bristol board sketchbook.  It's useful sometimes to use a smaller piece of paper than usual and crowd everything on it. A big piece of paper can be a bit intimidating, so for warm-ups I often use a sketchbook this size or maybe 8 x 10".  Plus you never know what will develop when there are overlapping figures. 

On this one I used an Itoya calligraphy pen with two tips (mostly used the smaller one), an ultra fine Sharpie,  and a Derwent Line Maker that was included in a little painting/drawing kit that I received as a gift.  Mine is a 0.3 and I really like it, and would like to try a couple more sizes.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Black and White Variety - drawings from life

Here are some of my life drawing efforts - mostly quick pieces, which are my favorite.  I learn a lot from this kind of work even if I don't finish and there are mistakes because it sharpens my drawing skills.  I used Sharpies and charcoal on these fun pieces.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

"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.
 

Guitar Practice - original graphite portrait drawing

 Although I hardly ever use graphite, I had a great time doing this one on Strathmore marker paper that I had to buy for a landscape course.  Maybe y'all have used this paper before, but I never had and was surprised to find it such a delight to draw on.  Even though there's a slick finish - it's great for graphite!  Drawing is my first art language - not painting, really - and I will be doing many more pencil drawings  (used HB, 2 and 4B) on this paper - a great find for me!  Plus, even though the weight is only 50.5 lb, the paper feels much more sturdy. This drawing is 7 x 12".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Scribbled Dancers - original ink figurative drawing

I was watching a movie and this couple was dancing and I just had to draw them.  This was one of those times when drawing from memory came in handy since I had to draw really quickly before the vision left me!  Drawing the action on the TV is one of my favorite practice devices.  Anyway, much fun doing this one, using unforgiving ink and giving my memory a workout.  The ink was a Sharpie ultra fine and a Prismacolor marker on Strathmore Mixed Media matted to about 12 x 8".  Thanks for stopping by!

A Quick Life Drawing - original charcoal life drawing

I came across this drawing today from several months ago - it illustrates my favorite art thing to do which is drawing quickly without thinking - just reacting to the model.  This kind of approach often produces something unexpected, but always interesting and full of life.  In this drawing, I'm most pleased with her hair and the tilt of her head because it's done with economy plus it has a bit of an Oriental feel to it.  And I was also happy that I didn't overwork her hand.  Charcoal on paper.  Thanks for looking!

Country Music - original charcoal figurative

This drawing started out as a gesture sketch from life at a dance, then I just filled it in with vine charcoal and the occasional swipe of my kneaded eraser.  Really, it is like the silhouette drawing exercise, which I think is so effective for showing each part of the figure in relation to everything else.  Charcoal on pastel paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Drawing of a Nude - charcoal life drawing

This charcoal life drawing was quick and needs some "fixing", but I know every time I do that, I just mess it up, so just leaving it alone.  It's on 9 x 12" paper.  Thanks for looking!

Bullrider Sketch - ink and water-soluble pencil rodeo drawing

This drawing is one that I did at a rodeo(albeit a total shorthand version that only I could decipher) and then worked over it loosely with ink and water-soluble pencil.  I thought this bull rider was about to bite the dust, but then he righted himself and lasted for eight.  I love this "pose" and am definitely going to do a larger painting in color and am hoping to maintain the looseness.  It's so easy for me to lose the casual look of an action painting and totally kill it.  Alas.  This is on 6 x 6" Bristol paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Live Oak Twig - original graphite drawing

Here's a little drawing I did for a landscape class - a live oak twig from my front yard.  The thing that looks sort of like an acorn isn't - I think it's called a gall and is caused by an insect.  It definitely gives some more texture to the drawing.  About 8.5 x 5.5" - from my sketchbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch for Sunday - Man in Boat - charcoal figurative drawing from life

On Saturdays, I like to get out and do sketches of whatever I can find  - and I found this guy.  I had just a moment to capture him and the essence of the scene, which could end up being a little painting.  With maybe a little more detail, of course.  It was fun and I think sketching from life always helps my drawing immensely.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!  

Piano Practice - acrylic figurative sketch

Okay, not perfect, but a fun drawing of an earnest piano student mastering Bach - I think it was.  I used a stick with acrylic on cold press watercolor paper and in some places, I used my finger and more water to smudge.  This drawing is about 9 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Tiny Spaniel - original charcoal drawing

I love dogs and here is a little drawing - about 8 x 11" - that I did of a King Charles Cavalier spaniel.  One of my boards on Pinterest is about dogs - when you have a minute, please check it out!  Thanks for stopping by!

Baseball Doodles - figurative ink drawings

Okay, maybe not the most accurate or elegant thing ever, but I love the chance to catch a baseball game and especially love getting in a few quick sketches.  It's on Bristol paper, 9 x 12".  Thanks for stopping by!

Thicket - original charcoal landscape drawing

I've been finding lots of enjoyment in drawing thickets.  Doesn't sound too exciting, but the line making is so satisfying.  I'm basically a "drawer", so putting pencil to paper and making marks is what I love best.  I have many more of these, plus I've been working on pen and ink nudes, mapping the shadows and then practicing my hatching.  Will post some of those tomorrow. Drawing is my fave!  This one is on 8 x 10" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!😊

Dancers In Lines - original ink marker figurative drawing

Just about my all time fave thing to do - line squiggles that form people.  Used an Itoya Doubleheader calligraphy pen for this one.  Great drawing instrument, btw - gives such variety of line.  This one is about 8 x 11 1/2"  - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

A Nude for Tuesday - original charcoal drawing

This nude drawing is done on Strathmore drawing paper, 14 x 11".  I also added touches of white hard pastel.  Thanks for looking!