Two-Step Scribble - charcoal and oil pastel figurative sketch

This sketch is one I did from the 2019 rodeo dance (didn't have rodeo in 2020😞) and sometimes I just get such satisfaction from one of these drawings, even though it lingers somewhere between drawing and painting.  As a line lover, I'm always looking for ways to incorporate line in what I do and not totally cover it up with paint.  Will just leave this one as it is and do a painting from it.

I hope everyone out there had a great Thanksgiving!🦃 Thanks 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!

Two-Stepper Sketch - original oil figurative sketch of dancers

Every summer I go to the rodeo dances here in Junction and draw and take photos, just like I do at the rodeo that precedes the dance.  I have tons of drawings and photos that I can draw upon (pun intended) through the winter months.  There's just nothing like the way people move, plus their expressions - endlessly fascinating, I think.  Like this guy and the way he was looking at his dance partner - I keep wondering. . . .  I'll be posting more two-steppers in the days ahead - have been looking for two-step instructional videos for those of you who are interested in learning, but most I've seen are so corny.  Will keep searching, though.  This one is 14 x 11" on stretched canvas.  Thanks for looking!

Black and White Country Luv - original charcoal figurative drawing

After the rodeo dances here in Junction a couple of weekends ago, I have lots and lots of two stepper drawings and paintings.  Here's one of my faves.  It's about 11 x 8 " - it's actually on 12 x 9" paper, but I've matted it smaller.  This is on Bee Drawing paper and I'm really glad to see this brand around again - bought it at Michael's.  Love the paper, although it's not as forgiving as some others, it's still a pleasure to draw on.  With me, I make so many changes and erasures - I sort of like to mess up the surface a little -  I love paper and love to work it over.  Thanks for looking!

Country Love - original oil figurative painting

Nothing like a little two-step romance on a Friday evening at the local dance hall.  I've had folks  from the Washington D.C. area, where I used to live, tell me how romantic the two-step looked to them.  Having grown up with that kind of dancing, I never thought about it, just took it for granted, but now I realize it is pretty sweet.  Who'd have thought a bunch of Texas cowboys could be tamed by songs like "Crazy Arms" or "Faded Love", but the music and the two-step work their magic every time.  This painting is on 8 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!
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Weeknight Two-Step - original figurative oil painting

What a monster this site is tonight.  I keep posting and when I check the post, there are three or four copies of the painting.  I'm not quite that prolific a painter.  Anyway, this oil painting is done on 6 x 6" Gessobord panel.  Thanks for looking!

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!

Country Evening - original oil figurative painting

Here's a group of western dancers two-stepping their way through a Saturday night - on canvas, 11 x 14".  Not a bad way to spend the evening, either.  Speaking of evenings, I was lucky to see Huey Lewis and the News on Sunday night - they're still just wonderful and their a cappella singing is lovely (if one can use the word "lovely" when referring to a rock band) - it was a great evening!  Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm always delighted to see you here!

Her Blue Boots - original oil figurative painting

I just finished watching the Olympic ice dancing - SO gorgeous and they make it look so easy, which, as someone who can barely get around the rink, I know it can't possibly be!  Now back to art - this 5 x 5" painting is done on Gessobord.  I've seen some really beautiful turquoise blue boots lately - luscious, really - and just couldn't resist putting them in my painting.  Thanks for stopping by!

Two-Steppin' Romance - original oil figurative painting

 



Here are a couple of sweethearts on the dance floor. I had such a great time painting this - I guess it was feeling free with the brushwork or maybe the turquoise boots - I don't know exactly. Sometimes it just happens. Check out my oil pastel blog, too, if you have a minute, and thanks so much for stepping - uh, stopping - by!

Last Dance - original oil figurative painting

I hope this painting captures the last dance of the evening - made no corrections and just let the brush do its own thing.  It's on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!  Sold

Country Lovers Again - original oil figurative painting

Went a little crazy with the brushstrokes, which makes it so much fun for me to paint!  While painting, I was listening to the soundtrack from Honeymoon in Vegas from 1992 - love those Elvis impersonators!  But, impersonators aside, just a wonderful, sweet soundtrack.  Then, on to A Bronx Tale, another fave from 1993 - one great song after another. 
This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Dance Hall Night - original oil figurative painting

Just working on so many things this afternoon and came across this 12 x 18" painting from a few months ago that I never got around to posting.  Re the other things I'm drawing/painting, I spent the day trying to get the paint to do its own thing while at the same time minding me at least a little.  Quite an interesting struggle.  At one point, I started a painting with very little drawing, just an indication of where the model would be and using mostly luscious R&F pigment sticks with some Sennelier and Winsor & Newton, as well.  It'll be interesting to see how that turns out - but will be slow drying with our weather - we'll be in the triple digits much of the week.  And probably much of July/August!  Oh well, it's definitely summer.  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Two Step Night - original oil figurative painting

I know this 6 x 6" painting is similar to another of my two step paintings, (which is currently at Artworks) but I always love it when they're cuddled up like this couple.  Sweet to watch - and to paint.  While doing this painting, plus working on three others, I listened to the late, great Roy Orbison, the inimitable Jerry Lee Lewis and the fabulous young musician, Andy Leftwich.  What a great afternoon!  Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday Night Two-Steppers - original oil figurative painting

Was I actually there tonight?  Well, no, but back in the day . . . .   This one is on 6 x 6" Gessobord - thanks for looking!

Another Saturday Night at the Dance Hall - original oil figurative western dance painting

Here's a painting I had sort of forgotten - just kept passing it by and not really finishing it, so in my current studio cleanathon and general rearranging, these two steppers have been rediscovered.   The painting is 16 x 20" on Fredrix paintboard.   I love the surface of the new Paintboards!  Fredrix seems to emphasize the mulimedia uses for this product, but it's also great for oils.  Thanks for looking!  See what's going on at my oil pastel blog!  Sold

Two-Step Night - original acrylic figurative painting

I loved fooling around with acrylics on this painting.  Every now and then, I experiment with acrylics and usually I'm not happy with them, but this time they really clicked with me.  They really have everything going for them, I think, and I'm hoping this will be the start of a beautiful love affair.  This painting is on 8 x 10" stretched canvas.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Country Lovin' - original oil figurative painting

Here are my characters dancing that famous Texas Two-Step - seen every Saturday night at dance halls across the state.  We're having some really chilly weather here in the Texas Hill Country, which is maybe a little early, but who's complaining, after our summer!  And the East Coast, where I lived for many years, is facing some horrid weather news, so I hope all my friends and collectors in that area stay safe and warm! 
This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Two-Step Lovers Again - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here is one of my favorite couples again - all cuddled up and dancing the two-step.  This drawing is vine charcoal on 17 x 14" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog!

More Western Swing - original oil figurative painting

Here's another in my ongoing western dancers series.  This painting is oil on 10 x 8" stretched canvas.  I really do have more to say, but my internet connection is suddenly really slow, so maybe it's going to go out in a minute - better hurry and get this posted.  Thanks so much for looking!