Flamenco Rhythm II - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

It's hard to focus on painting these days with all the things to do in the garden - I'm really torn. Soon, though, it will be so hot in Texas that I won't be interested in going outside!

This painting is similar to a larger one that I did a couple of years ago, but this one is much more expressive, I think, and I really loved painting it. Just sort of went wild.

It's 10 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Martha - original oil pastel portrait sketch by Connie Chadwell

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This is a sketch that I did of a young woman whose portrait I painted in oil. Sometimes I do extra drawings if the subject is willing to pose - I do them quickly so the sitter doesn't get too tired. It's really hard to pose, which I've found out by having to fill in if the model for a drawing session doesn't show. Then we all take turns. It's tough!

After I finished the drawing, or at least after the model had left, I used some oil pastel medium on the piece to give it a smoother look. That's rare for me to do, but I was just experimenting.

On Colourfix paper, this drawing is 12 x 9". Thanks for stopping by!

Music Lovers - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I've had this painting in my head for awhile and today I finally got it done - or 'got 'er done' - as they say in these parts. I'm happy because I think it expresses the emotion I was seeking.

It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Lady with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I was in San Antonio last week and struck the artist's version of gold when I saw some dancers before they began their performance. I was able to do lots of gesture drawings that I will be turning into oil and oil pastel paintings. And then there was the dancing that followed - absolutely gorgeous - so I'm well supplied with drawings!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Valentines - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel on Pastelbord is 7 x 5". I loved doing this one and am very happy you stopped by! SOLD

Red and Black Tango - original oil pastel figurative painting

This is oil pastel on black Stonehenge paper and is 11 x 7 1/2". Thanks for visiting my blog.

Nude Impression - original oil pastel figurative painting

There's nothing I love to do more - artwise - than oil pastel nudes - just completely lose myself in them. It's done quickly and 'recklessly', so that I don't lose the flavor of the model, whether it's done from one of my drawings or directly from the model. As I painted this one that I did from a life drawing, I decided that no matter what other painting or drawing I do each day, I'm going to do one of these, too. (Maybe I'll actually stick with this resolution.)

On Stonehenge black paper, this painting is 10 1/2 x 11". SOLD

Thanks for stopping by.

Tango Kiss - original oil figurative painting

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This is a little more loose than usual and loose makes me happy. It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Red Guitar - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's another version of Rock Star, this time it's oil on panel - 7 x 5". Thanks for looking!

Another Flamenco - original oil figurative painting

Using the previously posted drawing as my model, I painted this little flamenco dancer today when I attended the Thursday Painters - a group of artists who paint together once a week.

When I do the larger version of this painting, I will be able to include the fan that's in the drawing.

This is done on Gessobord, 7 x 5". Thanks for visiting my blog!

Early Evening - original oil figurative painting

Here's another of my bar series. Bars are great people watching places. This one had a big window behind it and there was a pink glow as the sun began to set. It was really lovely.

This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

Party Girl - oil pastel figurative painting

I was so intrigued by the position of this young woman's legs as she held forth on something or other for her listeners. She was very animated and became even more so as the evening wore on. Luckily, I had my little drawing notebook with me. The "model" enjoyed seeing my drawings of her, too. Kind of a 'candid camera' thing, but with charcoal. When I got back to my studio, I painted this very quickly from the gesture drawing.

The Ampersand Pastelbord that I used in this painting - and most of my oil pastels, lately - is just great for these quick drawing/paintings. This one is 7 x 5".

Thanks so much for dropping by!

"Runnin' Wild" - oil pastel figurative painting

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PLEASE CLICK ON THE OIL PASTEL SOCIETY LINK ON MY LINKS LIST TO SEE THE CURRENT MEMBERS' SHOW. I'm happy to report that I received third place in the show - the whole show is gorgeous and I'm so proud to be a part of the organization!

"Runnin' Wild" is painted on Pastelbord from one of my drawings of jive dancers. How great to just let go like that and put worries behind you, if only for a little while. It's 12 x 9". Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Little More Tango Romance - original oil figurative painting

Another of my paintings of tango dancers, this one has a little more texture than they usually do. It's 7 x 5" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Three Gals - original oil figure painting

Whew! Dealing with three women, even if they are at the business end of a paintbrush, is not easy - especially if they refuse to be controlled by yet another woman (me).

Of course, I didn't know what was in the photo they were studying, but there was much comment and giggling. This was one time I was glad to have my sketchbook with me, so that I didn't have to draw in the back of my checkbook or on a scrap of paper.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord and is 6 x 6". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Heather Again - nude painting in oil

Here's another rendition of Heather. This one's in oil on 9 x 12" Gessobord. I started out with a very limited palette - titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt sienna and cobalt blue (which is kind of cheating in a truly limited palette, since gray next to red reads as a blue, but, oh well). After it was done, I decided that it needed a little more color, so I added a little cadmium red and yellow.

This time, not working from life, but from a drawing from life, the likeness isn't there as well as it was, but I am pleased with the painting because it's not really intended to be a portrait. And she still has that proud elegance to her, which is the most important element to me. If the gesture is right, then I'm happy. SOLD

Heather - drawing of a nude model

I loved drawing Heather, who takes beautiful, graceful poses and is able to hold them so well. I hope to do a painting from the drawing - tomorrow if everything works out okay. I like to work quickly and loosely. Some of my artist friends have said to me "Connie, you're just a loose woman". Maybe. But only in art.

This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper about 10 x 14". Thanks for dropping by! SOLD

Alone at the Bar - original oil figure painting

I guess this is sort of a series - bar paintings. Taverns, bars and such are a perfect place to observe people, because they really let their hair down there. However, it's a strange place for a teetotaler like me to be found, but since most people I know are not teetotalers, I seem to be in these interesting places on occasion and I make the most of it.

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for visiting my blog!SOLD

The Letter - original oil figure painting

Gone are the days when a letter was the only means of communication across long distances, which is a good thing, but still, someone reading a letter is one of my favorite subjects to paint. I always wonder, was the news good or bad, was there tragedy within its lines, or did news from home just make them lonely? SOLD

This painting is 8 x 8" - a little larger than I usually do - on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!

Little Jivedoodles - charcoal drawings of figures

This is another, smaller version of the larger Jivedoodles that I posted some time ago. I am endlessly fascinated by the contortions of jive dancers, and I LOVE the energy they exhibit.

These are poses that are stuck in my mind from shows and dances that I attended - great memory drawing practice!

It's drawn on Strathmore drawing paper and is 11 x 14". Thanks for looking!SOLD