Lexie Just Thinking - original charcoal figurative drawing

I always wonder what the model is thinking and how she can possibly stay awake.  They earn their pay!  This one was done with responsive vine charcoal on Bristol paper, 14 x 11".  Thanks for looking!

Nude on Rose Paper - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here's another nude on some of the patterned paper I've been experimenting with.  I think this is the last of the paper, and I just couldn't resist using the one remaining piece.  I used mostly compressed charcoal with touches of white on this drawing - not my usual, but I feel it worked well.  For me, when working with charcoal, I love the sensitive line that can be achieved with vine charcoal rather than compressed, but compressed was handy and since I'm a lazy artist, I just went ahead and drew with it.  The paper is about 8 1/2 x 11".  Thanks for stopping by!

The Nude on Thursday - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

Just about my favorite subject to draw - the nude from life.  I love poses where the model is looking away and this drawing fills the bill.  Hoping to make it into a painting to see if I can capture her air of mystery.  On 9 x 12" Borden & Riley Paris paper for pens.  Thanks for looking!

Rock Star - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is one that I found while throwing away some old drawings and paintings.  I was so happy to rediscover this one - I did a painting from it back in 2008 and just stuck this poor thing in back of lots of other drawings and forgot all about it.  Thankfully, every now and then I get on a cleaning kick and find all kinds of oldies but goodies.  It's charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper and is about 21 x 15".  Thank you for stopping by!

Jive Crazy - original charcoal figurative drawing

Listening to lots of jive music today, just couldn't help drawing this little couple - they're loving the oldies!  It's on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Little Black and White Tango - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is about 6 x 6" on Bristol paper.  Thanks for looking! Sold

Charcoal Tango - original charcoal figurative drawing

The tango dancers have danced my way again - this time they're on 14 x 11" Bristol paper.  I used vine charcoal plus General's new Primo Elite Grande charcoal pencil.  Very nice to work with.  Charcoal is probably my all-time favorite to use in my drawings - so responsive and so forgiving and the delicious variety in the strokes one can make with it are such a joy!   Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold
 

Nude Sketch - original charcoal sketch of a nude

It seems I got a little caught up in the model's face and never really "fleshed" it out.  She had such a lovely face and I was trying to do it justice.  Anyway, maybe I'll get another chance with this model - she said she'd be back.  Also, not totally pleased with how I took the photo; maybe I'll retake it tomorrow.  I'm such a nitpicker! Vine charcoal on warm white - with a peach tint - Strathmore 403, it's 12 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Black and White Jive - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is on Strathmore 403 paper, which is really formulated for oil pastels, although it's being touted as good for soft pastels, as well.  They should definitely mention that it's also a great and forgiving paper for charcoals.  I enjoyed drawing this one so much, not just because of the paper, but I had fun with my kneaded eraser.  I like to turn a drawing upside down to see if I like the marks and this one pleased me.  It's on 9 x 12" Strathmore 403 - thanks for looking! 

Nude with Her Cell - original charcoal drawing of a nude

It's always so great to have a model, that if they need to talk on their cell - or whatever - it's okay.  Good models are hard to find - or maybe I should say - models are hard to find, whether good or bad.  This one was good, I'm happy to say.  Vine charcoal on drawing paper, it's about 13 x 6".  Thanks for looking.  Steaming in Texas tonight - after 11 o'clock right now and it's 86 degrees!

 

Bareback Rider - original charcoal figurative drawing

This little charcoal drawing is one that I did in front of the TV last night while I was watching a rodeo. Working really fast is artistically invigorating for me and it's such good practice.  Also very challenging is that the format is only 6 x 6".  On Bristol board.  Thanks for stopping by!

One Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here it is morning and I'm posting a drawing - usually it's late at night or in the wee hours that I post.  Actually, I think I like this better, but one probably can't change one's established ways.  This drawing was done from a seated position, so I was looking upward at the model - my favorite way to draw from life. Well, I don't mean that I like to draw sitting down, but there was no stand for her, so I sat down.  Standing is my favorite way to draw, but that only works for me if the model has a platform. This was a quick drawing, so there's a lot that could be 'corrected', but then I would probably lose a lot, too.  And every time - and I do mean every time - I do that, I ruin the drawing  This nude is one that I cut from a group of three.  There's some shading on the right from the nude that was there.  Just didn't like the others and I really loved this pose, too.  This was done on Borden and Riley Bristol Plate - and as much as I love Bristol, it's just a bit less forgiving for charcoal work.   This drawing is 14 x 5" - thanks for looking!

Charcoal Sketch of a Seated Model - original figurative charcoal drawing

I was very fortunate to have some wonderful company for the past week or so and they just happened to be terrific models, so I have lots of drawings from which to make paintings.  Maybe my enthusiasm for the drawings will carry over into making the paintings.  For me, drawings are so immediate and don't even require me to think - just react to the model.  It's absolute heaven!  I did one painting from life, last week, that turned out really well, but the other one was a failure.  Except for the nose.  The nose was pretty good, so I wiped off everything but the nose.  This drawing was done with really soft vine charcoal on cream Strathmore drawing paper and is about 10 x 8".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Seated Nude in Black and White - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This is a drawing I dug out from a few months ago.  It's about 12 x 8 1/2", done in vine charcoal on Bristol paper.  I love the way charcoal behaves on Bristol board - the way it copes with that slick surface.  Thanks for stopping by.

Tango Snuggle - original charcoal figurative drawing

I told myself at the first of the year that I was going to post three or four times a week and look how long it's been!  Well, family things came up and for me, it's family first, but maybe next week, I'll be better at getting things onto my blog.  I'm in Austin at the moment and ahhh - the art supplies!  You can't tell how I'm enjoying the art goodies since I've posted another charcoal drawing, but as y'all know, it's just wonderful to wander through the aisles of paints, papers, art implements of all kinds, and dream of all the masterpieces to come.  I naively think - and deep inside I know it's not true - that if I just had a new something or other, I could do great things.  Oh well, it's pleasant to think on, anyway.  This drawing, which I scribbled madly just because I didn't want it too exact and even thought about doing a sort of abstract drawing, is on 17 x 14" Borden and Riley Bristol (vellum).  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Black and White Flourish - original charcoal figurative tango drawing

I drew my latest tango dancers with vine charcoal, extra soft, on 12 x 9" plate Bristol.  I love the way charcoal sort of sits on top of the smooth Bristol - can't explain it, but charcoal just has a different look and feel on this paper.  Another joy for someone who LOVES to draw!  Thanks for visiting my blog! Sold

Flounce - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's a drawing I did a couple of years ago after watching a live flamenco show.   First, there was the gritty, gypsy flamenco that I adore, then a more modern version, I guess you'd say, with such swirling of skirts.  Lots of ruffles and grace, yet the dancers retained much of the original flamenco and it was just beautiful.  I drew this, I think, with a charcoal pencil.  Looks like it, anyway, and it was originally on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper, but I trimmed it to about 8 x 7" or so.  It seemed to me that everything after the first few flounces was superfluous.  I guess I didn't think so at the time, but do now.  Thanks so much for looking!

Bullrider Sketch - original charcoal figurative rodeo sketch

You're whispering "what's wrong with her - posting something like that".  No need to whisper - it's okay.  This is a sketch that I did from life at the local rodeo this past summer.  The back end of the bull doesn't really show well, but it's there.  Just thought I'd show one of the things that I work from.  Probably only I can understand this shorthand scribble, but it will become a painting one of these days.  I always think I can 'feel' the subject better if I draw it, than if I take a photo, even though I did take a bunch of photos that night.  Thanks for looking and do check out my oil pastel blog.

Sweet Thing - original charcoal portrait drawing w/touches of sanguine

Just got some new drawing papers - I'm a paper fiend - I love all kinds of paper!  And this is one of the pieces - it's Stonehenge, one of my very favorite manufacturers.  This kraft color is new for me.  I also got light blue - drool - plus some of my usual colors.  This drawing is about 14 x 10".  Thanks so much for stopping by and please visit my oil pastel blog.

Sweet Jive - original charcoal figurative drawing of dancers

This drawing is set to become a painting (oil on canvas or panel).  I don't always do this, but the painting usually goes a little quicker when I have a plan of sorts.  Plus, I just love using my vine charcoal - this time, it's Coates brand - to squiggle my dancers into being.  (They're always there, of course, but I give them a little nudge.)   Drawn on Strathmore Drawing paper, it's about 10 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Thanks for looking!