Joanna - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Another nude - this one in charcoal - about 16 x 12" on Strathmore drawing paper; thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Steps to a Nude - original oil pastel nude in progress

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Here are steps I'm taking in developing a nude painting.  It began as a charcoal drawing (bottom photo) which I used as a "pattern" to do my 7 x 5" oil pastel on sand Pastelbord.  In step 2,  I covered my Pastelbord drawing with a light blue Sennelier oil pastel, then, in step 3, covered most of the blue with ochres and added bits of red.  I like the more raw version of step 3 and have to try hard not to overwork it - just add a little here and there and then call it 'finished'.  Just about done, I think. The feet were a real challenge because of the way they're tucked under her - so I may have to work on those a little.   Also, the original charcoal drawing of the face was too fussy, and looked as if I didn't even look at the woman who was posing, so in doing the oil pastel, I left the face pretty much alone.  Thanks for stopping by!

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Nude in Charcoal - original charcoal drawing of a nude

The essence of drawing for me is the nude - humans are beautiful and I never tire of drawing them.  This one is about 11 x 3 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Nude with Flowered Panel - original oil pastel painting of a nude model

I love painting and drawing nudes and I love flowered panels, so this was one I really enjoyed doing.  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Charcoal Tango - original charcoal figurative drawing

The tango dancers have danced my way again - this time they're on 14 x 11" Bristol paper.  I used vine charcoal plus General's new Primo Elite Grande charcoal pencil.  Very nice to work with.  Charcoal is probably my all-time favorite to use in my drawings - so responsive and so forgiving and the delicious variety in the strokes one can make with it are such a joy!   Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold
 

Nude with Her Cell - original charcoal drawing of a nude

It's always so great to have a model, that if they need to talk on their cell - or whatever - it's okay.  Good models are hard to find - or maybe I should say - models are hard to find, whether good or bad.  This one was good, I'm happy to say.  Vine charcoal on drawing paper, it's about 13 x 6".  Thanks for looking.  Steaming in Texas tonight - after 11 o'clock right now and it's 86 degrees!

 

Nude on a Red Tuffet - original oil pastel painting of a nude

Trying to get this done before my internet connection completely stops - 7 x 5" on Pastelbord.    Whew - done!  Thanks for visiting! Sold

Thursday's Model - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

 

Using carton board, I started this drawing with Crayolas, but decided I needed a little more 'oomph', so went for my wonderful Sennelier oil pastels.  They never disappoint.  It's on 12 x 9" carton, but I cropped it - in the photo only - to about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

The Nude in Watermedia - original painting of a nude in watermedia

This painting is one that I did from an old drawing while I was watering the lawn at my studio.  We can water twice a week and this was my day.   Having been away for several days, it was nice to be back  -  there's no place like studio!   I used mostly watercolor sticks with touches of pan watercolors, and a couple of ink lines.   It's about 11 x 17" on Yupo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Three More - original charcoal nude drawings w/touches of white pastel

This is a drawing that I did over several weeks, one model one week, then another model a few weeks later, then the third model maybe a month or two after the others.  Different models elicit different responses from the 'drawer', I think.  Instead of gray, the support is actually light green Canson Mi-Teintes board, which I love, but it's hard to find.  Thankfully, ASW still carries it.  It has the textured side of the Mi-Teintes paper adhered to board and I always find the textured side encourages looseness.  The drawing is 16 x 20".  If I don't post before Sunday, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Nude in a Red Skirt - original oil painting of a nude

This painting, which I did from a charcoal life drawing, is still so wet and shiny, but I hadn't posted in awhile, so here is what I did today.  It's 14 x 11" on canvas.  I thought about making her skirt less red, but the model was wearing red, red lipstick - in fact, I have a note about it on my drawing - so I just decided to make the skirt and the lipstick as red as they were in person.
We got rain last night - so no dragging the hoses around tonight.  Such a relief - I am so grateful!  More time to paint, right?  Thanks for stopping by!

The Nude Model - original oil pastel painting of a nude

This nude painting is done on 7 x 5" on Pastelbord - that marvelous surface for oil pastel - and was done quickly without lots of attention to detail.  That's my favorite thing, you know.

I love this time of year, sitting here listening to Christmas music - right now, Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is playing.  Beautiful!  

I hope all is well with you and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

A Little Modesty - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

This 6 x 6" painting is on Gessobord and was done from a drawing that I did in a life drawing group.  I get such a kick out of painting quickly and just letting the chips - or in this case, the paint - fall where it may. 

Today, I worked while listening to Matthew Pearl's The Poe Shadow.  When we lived in Washington, D.C., we often went to Baltimore to see the formerly fabulous Orioles play and would occasionally visit the gravesite of Edgar Allan Poe.  As soon as I finish this book, I'm going to reread all of his works.  That'll keep me busy!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Delia Again - original acrylic nude painting by Connie Chadwell

Today's posting was painted from one of my life drawings. Since I wanted to paint quickly, I set my timer, turned on the thriller I'm currently listening to while I work, and in a few seconds, was totally engrossed in the protagonist's latest frightening situation. Involved as I was in that scary stuff and having completely forgotten about the timer, I almost freaked when it went off. So glad nobody was there to see that!

Every now and then, I like to get my acrylics out and get to work - I like that it dries so quickly and somehow, I just feel freer when I paint with acrylic. For me, it's as much a drawing medium as a painting one. I've had to explain that idea more than once when I've submitted an acrylic drawing to a juried show.

This "Delia" is 12 x 9" on board. I love it that you stopped by my blog - thank you so much! SOLD

Nude on a Green Chair - original oil painting by Connie Chadwell

I promise - this is the last time I'll do a painting from this pose. I really love it, but all things must eventually end. The painting is on 8 x 8" gessoed panel. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Delia - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

This is an oil painting that I did in oil pastel a couple of years ago. Although I sold the oil pastel version, I still have the life drawing and since I love the pose, I redid it in oil.

This model took great poses. She did have a little attitude, which I always find interesting, and I tried very hard to capture it.

I hope the painting has plenty of life - I always start out with loose strokes, but sometimes overwork the painting. There is such a delicate balance between loose and lively and tight and overworked. I find it hard not to step over the line.

It's 10 x 8" on board. Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Ana, Seated - original charcoal nude drawing by Connie Chadwell

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I've been working on nudes the last few days - first the drawings that I do from life, and then the paintings. I'll probably post the painting of "Ana, Seated" in the next day or two.

This was a ten-minute pose and it has more finish than my usual ten-minute life drawings because I used 14 x 11" paper, so I didn't have to work fast.

Thanks for stopping by!

PS. I originally said five-minute pose, but it was a ten-minute one.

A Little Pout - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

The model was wonderful and I loved her pout. She wasn't angry at all - she just had this great expression on her face.

I painted this from a drawing that I did in a life drawing group. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's easy to get hung up on one area when not drawing from life and then end up killing the painting, so I tried to go quickly. Hope I didn't overwork it!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for dropping by Hackberry Street Studio!