Sweet Jive - original oil pastel figurative

I love the looseness I can get with oil pastel and fairly gritty surfaces (in this case Ampersand Pastelbord).  Lines, scribbles and emotion always make me feel like I've done something with my day!  I used Holbein oil pastel on this 7 x 5" piece.  Thanks for looking!

Another Country Evening - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's another drawing of my country dancers that I did on Strathmore's Toned Tan paper - 12 x 9".  I think this darker color gives more of an "evening" impression.  They were into sort of a country/two-step/swing dance and were really good - watched them last summer at the rodeo dance.  I used vine charcoal, as well as charcoal pencil, plus white pencil for his shirt and hat.  Thanks for stopping by!

Purple Dress - original oil figurative painting of dancers

I have been away soooo long - actually working on landscape classes that seem to take much of my time, but am learning, for sure!
This 7 x 5" painting on panel is a bit more abstract and it's one that I sort of let 'it be it' to paraphrase the saying 'let _____ be _____' - just so much fun for me! I did it on a Richeson panel, which has a pale umberish, greyish tone and really liked working on it.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Touch of Tangerine - original oil figurative painting

This piece is done on 10 x 10" stretched canvas - actually, it's been around awhile, but somehow I just never got around to posting it.  I painted these dancers using a sketch I did a few years ago - it was a challenge to get her arms right.  I could have changed it, I guess, but just really wanted to do it like the sketch, because I really love the position.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tango Flourish - figurative painting of tango dancers

I was watching from a chair and got lots of good views, looking a little bit up at the dancers on that evening.  Such a beautiful dance - tango - and I never tire of watching (and painting).  This is on 12 x 9" panel.  Delighted you stopped by!

Country Evening Two-Steppers - oil pastel figurative painting

This is from a scene at the dance after the rodeo here last summer - I drew and photographed many rodeo action and western dance scenes during those two days, which means lots of oil and oil pastel bull riders, bronc riders, barrel racers and two-steppers coming up.   I did this one on 8 x 8" Multimedia Artboard pastel panel, which holds many layers of oil pastel - click here to visit their website.  Thanks for stopping by!
PS.  to see how this one began, click here to see my January 18th post of the drawing on my oil pastel blog. C

Jivin Once Again - oil pastel figurative

I never tire of my jivers.  These happy dancers are painted in oil pastel on 6 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Tango Drama #5 - original figurative oil painting

How they do this and then keep on dancing is beyond me!  I would be finished if I attempted this sort of thing, but the dancers are in such fabulous shape that it doesn't seem to bother them a bit!  This piece is 12 x 12" - thanks for stopping by!

Warm-Up - original oil pastel figurative drawing

These young girls - the three at the barre anyway - are warming up for their lesson.  I think the older girl was rehearsing in the adjacent studio.  This oil pastel is on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

More Two Steppin' - original acrylic figurative painting

My two-steppers are back.  I suspect they never really go away, but just wait their turn to show up again at Hackberry Street Studio.  This painting, like most I've done lately, is acrylic.  Great stuff!  This one is on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  Thanks for looking!

Scenes from a Tango - original charcoal figurative

Just a little fun with my tango dancers.  This charcoal drawing is 10 1/2 x 14" on drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Jumpin' Jivers - original acrylic figurative painting

Yes, I really saw it - I think youth is the first prerequisite for a jump like this one! And tons of practice, because he didn't seem to give it a second thought - all in a day's work!  He probably didn't think of it as work, though, just lots of fun.  I used Golden Open acrylic paint on an 8 x 8" panel.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Warming Up - original oil pastel figurative work in progress

Maybe I will do something with this sketch - or maybe not, but it was fun to draw.  I do love ballet dancers, just like I love all dancers!  I drew this on Art Spectrum Colourfix - the grittier kind.  Thanks for looking!

Wild Jive - original figurative oil painting

This painting is what listening to oldies will do for you - what a way to spend a couple of hours on Friday afternoon.  The music is from my workout playlist, so it's all pretty lively.  On 8 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

More Little Jivers - original figurative oil painting

These little dancers are dancing on 6 x 6" Gessobord and having the time of their lives!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Really Red Tango - original oil figurative painting

Here's one I think I forgot - discovered it today.  It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch for A Little Waltz - original charcoal figurative drawing

I had models (my wonderful family) over Thanksgiving, and am planning to paint from some of the drawings.  This piece is one that I'm hoping (fingers and toes crossed) to make into a painting that's less detailed than usual.  It's on 12 x 9" mixed media paper, and drawn with vine charcoal.  Thanks for looking!

Four Futures - original charcoal figurative sketches

Hope you can make out these quick charcoal sketches on 6 x 6" Gessobord that I will begin to paint tomorrow.  The top two are tango dancers and the bottom two are already jiving away.  Can hardly wait to bring them to life and I think just for fun, maybe they'll be a little more abstract than usual.  But that remains to be seen.  These little dancers usually get their way. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Two-Step Sweethearts - original acrylic figurative painting

I almost never use acrylic for a painting.  To me, it's mainly great to use in brush drawings, but using it today for this piece just reminds me of the good qualities of acrylic.  It dries really fast, which is enough to make me love it.  And I don't feel so constrained when I work with it - for instance, the fat over lean that's so crucial in oil painting.  I vow here and now to continue doing some of my stuff in acrylic.  (Fingers making "X" over heart.)  This painting is 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

Jive Scribble - original charcoal figurative drawing

Trying to capture the energy here - will probably end up with a little painting from this one.  I did the drawing on Strathmore 14 x 11" Mixed Media paper - actually more of a sketchbook, I think, and I really like using it.  Also used General's Peel n Sketch charcoal pencil.  Thanks for looking!