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!

Another Charcoal Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing is from my 8 x 6" sketchbook - thanks for looking!

Sketch of a Guitarist - original charcoal/watersoluble pencil figurative drawing

This drawing is on paper for pens, but I think it makes a nice surface for other media, too.  Will probably use this drawing for a flamenco painting.  Lately, I seem to be as interested in the musicians as the dancers  The paper is 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Charcoal Two Step - original charcoal figurative drawing

Maybe they're dancing to Ray Price or Hank Thompson - some of the best country music ever for the two step.  I just gave the tinted paper another try in a different way - usually I would just use it for nude drawings, but I did really enjoy it in this case, too.  The pencils were General charcoal pencils soft and extra soft, plus General Primo white charcoal.  The size is about 12 x 9".  Thank you for stopping by!

Flamenco Frenzy - original charcoal figurative drawing

After watching a flamenco performance, I scribbled from memory some of the "poses" - I guess you'd  say.  I got on a roll with these, so you'll be seeing more of them.  Using one of those boxes of vine charcoal in which there are varied thicknesses, I completed - a version of completed, anyway - many 11 x 14" drawings.  Do you ever get started on a project and just not want to stop?  Well, it was like that with me and was so satisfying.  Lots of squiggly lines add up to time well spent for me.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

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!

Sketch for Cowboy Painting - original charcoal figurative sketch

I've done and redone and redone this one again and again - my painting teacher used to say 'just start another one', but since it's charcoal and easily erased on this canvas with hardboard backing, I just ignored the little voice in my head and went ahead with it.  I'll spray it well - have never done this before, but I hear it works - and paint over it, making changes as I go.  Anyway, it was fun and instructive, which I guess is another way of saying that I was learning from my mistakes.  It's 16 x 20" - thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Jive Start - original charcoal figurative sketch

Here's how it looks when I have absolutely no models.  Tons of lines trying to find the right positions for my little couple.  I just know - even though it's raggedy right now - that I can make a pretty good drawing and then a painting out of this.  Really.  I do. Thanks so much for stopping by!