On My Easel - Wanna Dance - original charcoal figurative sketch

With this drawing, I was searching for the right casual approach by the woman.  Since I photographed this sketch, though, I have decided to do the painting with only her hand on his shoulder.  Will post the painting when I'm through.  It's fun to go through all the possibilities and work out the right approach.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" pastel paper.  Thanks for looking!

The Pitch - original charcoal figurative drawing

I've been obsessed with this left-handed pitcher thing - I suppose you can tell - and I'm getting closer to what I'm looking for - such joy when that happens!  This drawing is on 11 x 14" Strathmore paper. It is ridiculously late, but really couldn't sleep without getting this to a certain point.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketches for Lefty - original charcoal figurative drawing

My favorite season - baseball!  Did a few charcoal sketches of the left-hander on the mound, and where I thought a little more info was needed, filled in later by referring to my iPhone.  I used a teeny piece, barely there, of vine charcoal on mixed media paper.  Fun to draw, too, on phone or using Evernote.  This one is on 9 x 12" paper.  There are more of these - may post some over the next few weeks.  Maybe by then I'll have some drawings of batters worth posting.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sketch of Barrel Racer - original charcoal figurative sketch

This quick 9 x 10" sketch began its life at the rodeo held in Junction this past summer, then I filled it in (more or less) from the photo on my iPhone.  I used a General Pencil Company's Peel and Sketch charcoal pencil because they're very handy when I'm on the move (no sharpener needed) and they make beautifully varied lines.    I love barrel racing and think I'll make a rodeo painting of this one with cowboys on the fences and the gates and all the things that make up the rodeo arena.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Pensive - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing is on multi-media paper, about 8 x 6".  We've had rain here in our little town tonight and it's SO welcome for our parched area!  Since our chances for rain are scheduled to end in May (at least according to lots of weather experts),  I'm even happy to wipe Roger's wet feet when he comes in from a romp in the yard.  Actually, I'm happy to do most anything for Roger - he's getting pretty old, but still the sweetest, most wonderful doggie - and a great example of a rescue dog.  Plus, he's an excellent assistant - lies at my feet to keep my toes warm (when he's not on my lap) and waits patiently for me at my studio while I work.  Love you, Roger!

Charcoal Portrait of Doris - original charcoal portrait drawing

This drawing is about 7 x 6", using vine charcoal on mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - original charcoal portrait of Lindy

I have a number of things to fix here, but thought it was far enough along that you can tell what it is.  Used charcoal sticks on Strathmore drawing paper 17 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Trish - original charcoal nude drawing

This charcoal nude is on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper using vine charcoal - drawing is about 9 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Sketchbook Drawing of a Couple Dancing - original charcoal figurative sketch

Here's a charcoal sketch from my sketchbook - I love it when I actually get to draw people dancing.  It always ends up being a memory drawing, though, because they always move on very quickly - which is the exciting thing about dancing!  I have so many sketchbooks, but my favorite is a spiral-bound one - not pretty with a charming cover as so many are - but I love it and just bought more.  If they're not fun to draw in, what's the point?  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of a Girl Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

The paper is really a little whiter than the photo shows, but anyway, here's a drawing I did of a young girl who just couldn't stay awake any longer.  It's on 14 x 17" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday's Nude - original charcoal life drawing

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Here's a nude I did a couple of months ago - it's on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Flamenco Sketch - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's a sketch of a flamenco dancer done in charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper.  This drawing is about 8 x 14".  Have been watching "Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance" from The Great Courses.  It's just wonderful and the instructor makes what could just bore one to death, very interesting.  I've listened to and watched many of their offerings and recommend them highly.  Thank you for stopping by  (Originally, my drawing was cropped in the photo to 8 x 8", but I like it this size a lot more.  Always a fan of portraits and figures in a horizontal format.)

On My Easel - The Midnight Oil - original charcoal portrait drawing in progress

I've been taking a course that works with design webbing and tried to do this drawing according to what I've been learning.  I don't know if I totally succeeded and when I do the painting, will probably bring her up on the page a little bit.  Or maybe I'll just darken the bottom of the painting.  Hmmm - much to think about - so I'd better get this finished before I worry about doing a painting.  This is done on Strathmore drawing paper, 14 x 17".  Thanks for visiting my blog!

On My Easel - Her Sketchbook - original charcoal portrait drawing in progress

She really seems pleased with her artwork and I'm looking forward to working on this some more and getting it finished - much to do, though, to get to that point.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Kerri Looking Down - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing's on Strathmore

drawing paper, 11 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Another Seated Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Here's another drawing from awhile back - I've been hung up on the Mad Men marathon, then the final episode (sob) and have done very little in the way of art.  Now I'll get back to work.  This drawing is about 11 x 14".   It has some lines in the background and a few on the figure itself that are kind of a mystery - a good bit of restating going on, I think.  I always like seeing the original intentions and then what finally happened.  Anyway, it looks like a drawing I enjoyed doing.  Thanks for stopping by!

Standing Charcoal Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

 I always love standing poses.  This one was done months ago at a drawing group and everything I'm working on at the moment is nowhere near being finished - can't even be a 'work in progress'.  It's very handy to have lots of drawings around for times like this.  This one is about 14 x 8" - thanks for looking!

Flamenco in Charcoal - original charcoal figurative drawing

I adore working in charcoal and I love flamenco, thus, this drawing.  It's 12 x 8" on plate Bristol paper.  Thanks for looking!

Lindy's Curls - original charcoal portrait drawing

A compressed charcoal drawing on Yupo is probably the craziest thing, but that's all I had at the time, so I went with it.  This model's hair has a life of its own and I had to draw it right that minute! There's a lot of "texture" in the negative area that came from the charcoal that found its way there by accident and was impossible to erase, so I've learned to love it.  The compressed charcoal is very deliberate and once a mark was down, I could do little about it.  Yupo is forgiving with watercolor, but not too much with something like compressed charcoal - actually, the compressed kind of charcoal is hard to get rid of on any surface.  Anyway, I enjoyed doing the drawing and am pleased with how it turned out.  It's about 8 x 8".  Thanks for stopping by!

Lindy Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's a sketch from life of a sleeping girl - done with compressed charcoal (not my favorite, but okay once in a while) on Bristol paper.  It's about 11 x 14".  I could clean it up, but this is just a quick sketch after all, and I'm always inclined to overdo the cleaning up, so am just leaving it alone.  This is probably one I could use for a painting.  Thanks for stopping by!