"Monday's Model" - charcoal drawing from life

Lately I've been indulging in life drawing sessions on Zoom and am loving it!  This drawing was done  with General Pencil Co. Peel 'n' Sketch charcoal and Primo charcoal - both SO wonderful - on Strathmore toned paper.

It's kind of a different experience using Zoom since I can connect with a life drawing group anywhere.  In this case, instead of my studio, I was in my kitchen, of all places.  And although this was a 40-minute pose, there seemed to be a few distractions that cut into my drawing time (possibly due to my usual disorganization😉),  but it's still a great way to get life drawing time in without having to drive.  I highly recommend it!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

The Student - original charcoal portrait drawing

Here's a 14 x 11" drawing of a young woman done on Strathmore toned paper, using General Pencil Company's EuroBlend charcoal pencils and vine charcoal. Hope y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Profile in Charcoal - original charcoal drawing of woman in kimono

Love these profiles - this is a quick one in charcoal on 12 x 9" smooth Colourfix paper.  Not a lot of grit to it (what did I expect when it says "smooth") and I like it a lot for pastel pencils, not so sure about using it when drawing with charcoal.  It'll be okay with oil pastel, but won't hold lots of layers, so I'd better work at getting it right the first time and not piling it on the way I ususally do.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

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.

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 - 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!

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!

Janie - original charcoal portrait drawing of a young woman

This little portrait - on 12 x 9" Canson illustration paper - is one of my all time favorites, because I feel I captured the slight smile (which at times verged on a bit of a smirk) and her reserve.  And also because it's not what one would call finished.  Works for me.  The paper is 150 pound - nice and hefty and great for the side of a little piece of vine charcoal, which is what I used, except for a few lines here and there.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Sketch of Sandra - original charcoal portrait drawing

 

I think vine charcoal is ideal for portraits - it has such a soft look, but it can also make a sharp line.  This model was done fairly quickly, as I was going to also paint her and I had only so much time to do both.  Although I like to paint, drawings are my favorite.  Every time I attend a master painter's show at a museum, his/her drawings attract me first.  Often, I will spend most of my time with the drawngs and only a few minutes with their paintings.  Drawings are like fingerprints to me - that's how I sort of "know" the artist.   This is vine charcoal on 14 x 11" Strathmore drawing paper.

 When I was very young and people came to visit my parents, I always asked them to draw a picture for me.  That seemed so natural to me, but to people who don't draw, it must have been like being asked to sit down and play the piano.  One time, my mother said that a friend - I suppose someone that she and my father hadn't seen in a long time or that they didn't know well - was coming and I was NOT to ask him to draw a picture for me.  The guest arrived and settled down in his chair and I simply climbed up in his lap with a paper and pencil and asked him to draw a picture.  I remember that I was careful to face away from my parents when this was taking place. They must not have been too pleased, although I don't remember any comments after their guest departed.  I didn't mind very well, did I?  But I did get my drawing.  Sold

Little Girl Drawing - original charcoal portrait drawing

I just had to capture this little girl as she drew.  She was totally involved in what she was doing - aren't all artists that way!  It's always great to have a bit of charcoal handy - you just never know.  This little drawing is about 8 x 6 1/2".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketch of 'Chele - original charcoal portrait drawing

This quick drawing - on 14 x 11" Strathmore drawing paper - is just one of those satisfying things because when you don't have much time to draw and the result looks like the person - well, that's where the satisfying part comes in.  Of course, I could change this or that, but I think it's more valuable when you can see the hand of the artist and see what was going on at the time artist did his or her work.  Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

A Guy with a Guitar - original charcoal portrait drawing

Since I draw so many women, I decided to include a portrait of a man in my posts, so here he is.  I did this one on Strathmore Windpower smooth Bristol, 14 x 11", and I used the always wonderful vine charcoal for the drawing.  I've not used this paper before, but I like it.  Thank you for stopping by!

Robyn's Gaze - original charcoal portrait drawing

I was fascinated by this young woman's way of  - not staring, exactly - but gazing intently.  I felt she was sort of looking through me, but actually, I think she was not even aware of this mannerism and was mentally far away.  Robyn is a wonderful model and I hope she'll pose again.  Good models are so tough to find!  This drawing was done with vine charcoal - mostly turned on its side and working very quickly - on 14 x 11" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!  PS.  see what I published on my oil pastel blog.  Sold

Lexie's Summer - original charcoal portrait drawing

This was drawn about midsummer, when the boredom sets in.  Remember when summer went on forever?  I loved it - even if I didn't have anything to do sometimes.  Now time flies by, but Lexie hasn't gotten to the age where it just zooms along. 
I began drawing this from life - she is a wonderful model and can hold a pose amazingly well for a young girl - then finished from some quick sketches, plus a photo.  I kept it kind of loose and sketchy, but I'm pleased with the likeness.  This drawing is about 20 x 16" on Stonehenge paper.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  See what's new on my oil pastel blog!

More Drawing Exercises - original charcoal portrait sketches

On these hot, steamy summer nights (91 degrees at 10:30 p.m.), I plunk myself down in front of the TV and draw whatever's in front of me.  These old library book cards were around because I had thought of doing something with them - maybe not drawing - but they're a portable size, so they were pressed into service.  Since the actors are moving around, the resulting sketch uses a lot of memory drawing, which is good training, I think.  Sometmes, the sketches end up with different eyes or noses or mouths from the "models" onscreen.  I just "borrow" the next person's feature and plug it into my drawing.  So, they're not anybody, but a combination of several faces.  I have dozens of these practice pieces - here are a few. 

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Lexie in Line - original charcoal portrait drawing

Okay, maybe a little goofy looking, but sometimes I just get the urge to do a line drawing.  They don't ever seem to turn out perfectly, because I spend a lot of time just looking at the subject, rather than at the drawing itself.  Almost a blind contour, but not quite.  This has always been one of my favorite drawing exercises. 
I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Thanks so much dropping by Hackberry Street Studio. NFS

The Art Student - original charcoal portrait sketch

Today I attended a lecture where I was able to sketch this young art student as she listened intently to the speaker.  Her concentration was amazing.  She wasn't aware I was sketching her, but when I showed it to her, she absolutely loved it.  I'm always pleased - no, actually, thrilled - when the subject thinks it looks like them!  This drawing was done on 6 x 6" Strathmore smooth Bristol board paper with General's Primo charcoal pencils.  Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!
Check out my other blog.

Lexie - original charcoal portrait drawing by Connie Chadwell

I did this charcoal drawing on 12 x 9" bristol paper  - the medium I love the absolute most!  Well, I have so many favorite media and surfaces, but for the moment, this is my true love.  Vine charcoal and bristol board, plus a kneaded eraser, are a delicious - not to mention forgiving -  combination!
You probably noticed my banner across the top of my blog proclaiming - or screaming, I guess more accurately - that one of my drawings, "The Artisan" was selected as a finalist in American Artist's Drawing magazine cover competition.  I am totally thrilled!
Hope you're all having a glorious spring as we are here in the Texas Hill Country - thanks so much for stopping by!

Kathy's Homework - original charcoal portrait sketch by Connie Chadwell

Happy is the portrait/figure artist who has a real live person to draw! This young girl was involved in her homework - cozy in a wingback chair, with her notebook balanced on her knees, oblivious to the artist lurking to her side. Although she was occupied, I still didn't have time for much detail, but was delighted for even this small opportunity.

Most of my day was spent finishing some paintings, all of which are too wet for photos, so I was really glad to have this drawing to post. It's 14 x 11" on Stonehenge drawing paper. Thank you for stopping by!