More Valentines - original oil pastel portrait

Another oil pastel done from one of my charcoal drawings.  I do love the beauty and emotion of dance - whether waltz, two-step or tango (or actually any other kind).  It was so apparent to me that these two were really happy to be together.  This one is on 8 x 10" Judson's Guerilla carton board - two of my favorite artists from the past, Vuillard and Toulouse-Lautrec used cardstock, but I could never find any that was archival, but now - thank you Judson's - comes this great surface which is so wonderful for oil pastel!  If you want to use oil paint and want a little extra protection for the surface from the damage that can be caused by oil (not the same as the oil in oil pastel, which is not a problem) clear gesso is a great option.  After it gets a little more dry, I will bond it to museum board.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Sketch of the Model in a Black Robe - original oil pastel figurative

I love when the model is just relaxing - not worrying about maintaining a pose - and waiting until the break is over.  This 11 x 10" oil pastel is done with Sennelier oil pastels on Strathmore acrylic paper, which I like for its "canvasy" pattern and the 246 lb. weight.  Very sturdy!  I also like using this paper for acrylic brush drawings - give it a try.  Thanks for looking!

Nude on Pale Green - oil pastel nude drawing

Here's a quick oil pastel - just had enough time to pretty much fill it in before time ran out.  First I put a pale green acrylic on acrylic paper, then used oil pastel for the drawing.  It's about 12 x 5 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Ballerina Conversation - original oil pastel figurative sketch

A just for fun sketch that I loved doing - me and my gesture drawings - my favorite thing is to try and capture little moments, then work on them later back in my studio!  I would like to have known what these girls were talking about - maybe a tough practice?  I used 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Violet and Chartreuse - original oil pastel figurative

I used to spend hours at the National Gallery of Art when I lived in Washington D.C., especially in the room that housed the small French paintings.  I always loved the way the colors in the paintings were combined; these masterpieces were often more about the colors and design than the accuracy of the subjects.  This piece was a fun experiment for me, and maybe I'll attempt some more in this vein.  Although it's probably not obvious, there are bits of all the colors everywhere in this painting.  On 12 x 9" Colourfix paper, I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Two Geishas - original oil pastel figurative in progress

Here's a little of what I was working on today.  The support looks like canvas, but isn't.  I applied gesso to panel with a bristle brush that one would use to paint woodwork.  With the first layer going up and down, and the next one side to side, the effect is more like canvas.  I only needed two layers because the panel was already gessoed.  It's really fun and instructive to paint a 7 x 5" because it's so intimate and also easier to work out problems or go in a different direction.  For instance, I'm now more interested in the geisha in the back and want to explore that a little more, possibly in a larger piece.  I think it's the values that are appealing in the back geisha.  For me, it's always the values!  Will probably finish this on Tuesday.  Thanks for stopping by!

Cello Practice - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This was a fun drawing to do, but I won't return to it to "finish" it - I love leaving things "unfinished". It's 14 x 11" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - A Little Solace - original oil pastel figurative

Working on this - much to do - it's 11 x 14" - thanks for looking!

The Godmother - original oil pastel figurative painting

We hear a lot about godfathers, but not so much about godmothers, of whom I am one.  It's an awesome responsibility.  I loved the tender way this woman held her little godson as they were waiting to go into the church.  You can tell it was early in the spring, because not even a tiny baby would need a blanket in the triple digits we've been having this summer.
I was looking today at the forecast for the next couple of weeks.  It looks like it might cool down to 93,  which is pretty good when you're used to 102 degrees! 
This piece is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Basket of Flowers - original oil pastel figurative painting

This painting is done on 7 x 5" Pastelbord, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Thank you for visiting my blog!

Searching for the Right Word - original oil pastel figurative

I was trying to make a composition with variety in the background - but don't know if I succeeded.  And tried not to make the model too abstract, nor too realistic.  I sound like Jackie Mason.  But you get what I mean about the painting, right?  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  I love that stuff - could kiss it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Taking a Break - original oil pastel figurative

Nothing like a little snooze between chapters - on 7 x 5" Pastelbord, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Shelley's Blue Ribbons - original oil pastel portrait painting

I think this model has such a sweet face - a pleasure to paint.  I drew
very quickly, then moved to another location in the room for a different view.   I generally do that in a long pose, so I have a few different sketches/drawings/paintings instead of just the one pose for three hours, plus with three hours on the same pose, I tend to overwork it.   This is another piece using Sennelier oil pastels on sand colored 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Waiting Again - original oil pastel figurative

I hope he shows.  This oil pastel is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking - have a great weekend!

Lady with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative

This oil pastel is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Solace - original oil pastel figurative sketch

Listening to Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder as I post.  Love all that talent. Never paid much attention to bluegrass 'til I lived in Virginia and there was a bluegrass program on Sunday afternoons  - can't remember the station now.  Anyway, it wasn't long before I was hooked.  Sort of got off-subject here - this oil pastel is on Pastelbord, 7 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Lainie's Tea - original oil pastel figurative painting

A little experiment with totally blunt (unsharpened) oil pastels on 7 x 5" Pastelbord - just to keep me loose.  Much fun to do and although I see a lot of things I could improve upon, I'm just leaving it and moving on.  Tomorrow I am definitely and absolutely going to have my country dance painting finished, but it might be too wet to photograph.  Well, we'll see.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

At the Soirée - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This drawing happened quickly - I had been thinking about this tilt of the head, so I just experimented.  There wasn't a model in sight, so I simply had to make do.  And I just let it be the way it is - pretty loose, my favorite thing, actually.  For the support, I used multi-media artboard that I purchased from Jerry's and I love it!  I think it'll take lots of abuse and the surface is wonderful - accepts everything I've tried.  I'm SO thankful to be living when there are many art products available - no grinding colors myself - ugh!  The artboard is 10 x 8" and I left a little border around it, so maybe it's about 9 x 7".  Thanks for stopping by!

They Say It's Good for the Heart - original oil pastel figurative drawing

Nothing like a little glass of wine for heart health - don't know if that's true, but lots of folks swear by it - plus they love the cure.  This drawing is done with Senneliers on 9 x 12" Art Spectrum Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

WIP - Lexie's Reflection - original oil pastel figurative painting

I have some changes to make to this painting.  It's on 12 x 9" Art Spectrum Colourfix paper in aubergine.  Not sure about the mirror frame - may just do away with it since it's so close to the edge of the painting.  I seldom paint reflections, but couldn't resist giving it a try.  Thanks for looking!