"We Demand to be 'Just' a Drawing!" - ink and charcoal figurative line drawing

 Here's a drawing that I love but simply cannot paint.  Painting from this piece just eludes me.  This happens a lot - I guess because when I do the drawing, so often I'm actually looking at the dancers (in the dark, I just move the pencil or pen on the paper without looking) and the drawing actually captures what I'm seeing. Painting it later just doesn't seem to do it justice sometimes.  Too stiff, maybe?  You can see a few lines I drew later to see where to place on canvas.  Anyway, I love this couple because they're determined to be what they are and I support them in being a drawing and never feeling they must be represented in paint.  All of this said by a Lover of Drawings!!!!! It's about 10 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

"Sketch of Alexis" - mixed media portrait sketch

This drawing is one of those "catch them while you can" drawings.  Not often enough do I have a live model all to myself! Alexis is a model I've drawn from before, but this time it wasn't in a group setting. For this fun drawing, I used acrylic with touches of oil pastel and charcoal.  The acrylic did 95% of the work in this piece.   It's done on acrylic paper by Strathmore - a really tough support that I love - has a definite pattern to the paper that really works when using acrylic and I even like it for other media (obviously).  The size of the paper was originally 12 x 12" but I cut it down to about 11 x 6" and did something else with the rest of it.  One of the most fun things is using scrap pieces to do something experimental - and sometimes it actually works!  Thanks so much for stopping by!
 

Sketching at the Bar - original figurative sketch

Much fun even for a teetotaler like me.  And folks there knew what I was up to and they didn't care.  They were having a good time ringing in the New Year - and Happy New Year BTW!🎉 This woman was gazing at someone farther down the bar and was having a good time watching what was going on.  I was involved in drawing her as quickly as I could and didn't see the object of her stare.  Anyway, I always find that folks at bars are having a good time and I love trying to capture those emotions. Well, mostly they're having fun, but sometimes, not so much😧.  I love emojis (can you tell?😀😀).  This sketch was drawn with Caran d'Ache NeoPastels on heavy gray paper - sometimes it separates from the tablet.  I could put an emoji here but I won't.  Oh well😁

 

 

From an Ancient Torso - original mixed media figurative drawing redux

So great to sketch from these beautiful creations - in this case, using charcoal, graphite and Caran d'Ache neocolor 1 -  on Strathmore 300 mixed media paper which I use as a sketchbook because the paper is tough enough for any dry media but not quite as expensive as the 400 series.  Somehow, I just feel a little bit freer to do things on the less costly paper that I might not otherwise do on more expensive paper.  Ever have that feeling?   I love the 400 series though, and when it's on sale, I stock up!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

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!

Ballerina Sketch - original figurative charcoal drawing

I love dancers - whether ballet, tango, country - they are my favorites to draw and paint!  This pensive little dancer was a dream to draw on one of my favorite papers, Colourfix smooth, using my true love of a medium - vine charcoal.  Also used my trusty kneaded eraser a lot.  I just went with the looseness, especially in the body and kept it kind of flat, only modeling the face.  A lack of time makes one choose from the available options.😊
  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketchbook Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

I was attempting to draw the model without much modeling.  It was kind of slow work since there was no gesture drawing as I usually do.  Loved the heck out of doing this one!  It's about 10 x 14" - thanks for looking!

Stella Doing the Twist - original charcoal figurative sketch

Play old-time rock 'n' roll music and get the model doing 'the twist' - much drawing fun!  (I recommend Chubby Checker's music.)  This all dates me, of course. 😃 I loved doing this drawing and would like to do a much longer piece of dancers twisting - it would probably have an athletic look - something to pursue - always looking for ways to depict the figure!  This one is on 14 x 11" Strathmore toned paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Exhausted - original charcoal figurative drawing of a young woman

This young woman was clearly so tired as she waited for the bus.  I asked her if I could snap a picture for a drawing - and she was agreeable.  It's always great when someone agrees to pose or lets me take a photo.  This piece is on toned paper, using vine charcoal - and although the support looks tan, it's really grey - surely my photo skills aren't that lacking!  It's gotta be the camera.  I used some scribbles of white for the background and for highlights.  This drawing is 12 x 9" and I loved making it - thanks for stopping by!

Model on a Sofa in Black and White - acrylic drawing of the model

A quick, kind of unconsidered drawing of the model - was looking for something I could use for a painting and think I've found it in this pose.  For this one, I used black acrylic on 9 x 12" cold press watercolor paper. (I had a couple of requests from readers to explain art terms, so cold press is kind of bumpy paper, not at all smooth.  Then there is hot press which is very smooth.  I love it, myself, but it's thought to be less forgiving.  And also there's a rough watercolor paper, which, you guessed it, is rough!)  Black lines on white paper.  Ahhhhh.  Thanks for looking!

Moment of Truth - original charcoal figurative drawing

Did he see it through?  This drawing was done on Mi-Teintes paper, 12 x 9".  I used a stump along with my charcoal pencils (General's Primo, black and white).  Thanks for stopping by!

Easy Listening - original pastel pencil portrait drawing

I'M SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT 'EASY LISTENING' HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE BOOK 'STROKES OF GENIUS' 10!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                          After a long day - nothing like some 'easy listening' music - at least that's what I hear.  For me, though, it has to be something with a beat.  Right now I'm listening to salsa music, mixed with a little jive - of course, I had a really good day with no problems, so maybe I wouldn't want the zippy stuff if I were really tired.  This woman is being rejuvenated by the soothing music, which is perfect for both of us.  She is very still and, therefore, a good model.  She's happy - I'm happy.
This drawing is on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper - fresh grey color.  The problem with drawings that aren't "finished" is where do I stop?  I'm tempted to work on the chair, but won't because I think I've covered all the bases without doing that.  And if I do "finish" it and then decide I shouldn't have done it,  it's too late - can't be undone.  Same with her other leg.  Decisions, decisions.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of Jana in Trois Crayons - original figurative drawing

Fooling around with trots crayons today - basing this drawing on a charcoal one where I sort of pestered someone to pose for me (sigh) I can be so tiresome.  So while listening to The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo - yummy for us English history buffs - I did a quick sketch using the big three.  Maybe not the best example, but something that's not my usual.  It's on bluish Colourfix paper - thanks so much for stopping by!

Standing Nude - original colored pencil nude drawing

I used grey colored pencils on this drawing and I find them pleasant to use.  They're not as easy to work with as charcoals, but that's probably just because I'm not used to them.  It seems to take a long time to build up values and since I had the time (and no model), I worked from an old drawing that was not in the best shape any longer - this is the updated version.  This piece is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

Sketch for Tango Drama - original charcoal figurative drawing

I love these dramatic moments in tango - tango dancers always dance like they mean it.  And I'm convinced they do! This is drawn on 14 x 11" mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Standing Nude with Blue Background - original charcoal and oil pastel drawing of a nude

I love all colors, but the combination of blue with whites and grey and black are an obsession - at least that's my obsession at the present.  Am thinking of ways to do it - with backgrounds of blue drawings - then the main drawing over it in black - sometimes all I can think about.  When I arrived back in town today and worked in my yard, I was focusing on the combination of black, grey, white and blue.  Are all artists obsessed with one art thing or another?  Maybe.  Hope I'm not the only one.  Then I'm going to start worrying.

Trish - original charcoal nude drawing

This charcoal nude is on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper using vine charcoal - drawing is about 9 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Sketchbook Drawing of a Couple Dancing - original charcoal figurative sketch

Here's a charcoal sketch from my sketchbook - I love it when I actually get to draw people dancing.  It always ends up being a memory drawing, though, because they always move on very quickly - which is the exciting thing about dancing!  I have so many sketchbooks, but my favorite is a spiral-bound one - not pretty with a charming cover as so many are - but I love it and just bought more.  If they're not fun to draw in, what's the point?  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of a Girl Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

The paper is really a little whiter than the photo shows, but anyway, here's a drawing I did of a young girl who just couldn't stay awake any longer.  It's on 14 x 17" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!