Livy Reading - original oil pastel figurative painting

There's nothing like a good book - right now, I'm reading (or listening through audible.com, I should say) The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark, about the events that led
to WWI.  Have read many books on this subject and am also reading the Maisie Dobbs mystery series which is set in the years immediately after the war.  Good to mix mystery and history - my two favorite subjects.  I'm wondering if other artists out there listen to books while painting.  Anyway, I'm not sure what Livy's reading, but she does seem engrossed in her book.  I painted Livy on 10 x 8" Ampersand Pastelbord, using mostly Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Texas Heat - original oil pastel figurative painting in progress

It is SO hot here - and BTW where is El Nino?!  It's triple digits day after day, although tomorrow it might be in the high 90s.  I was actually sitting here, thinking 'wow it's going to be cooler' - that's what happens to the mind under these searing circumstances.  But maybe, just maybe, it will finally cool down a little bit, anyway.  This oil pastel is done on 14 x 11" Pastelbord.  Not through with it, but really fun to work with creamy Senneliers on the slightly gritty surface.  Art heaven.  Thanks for looking!

Dreamer - original oil pastel/watercolor pencil portrait

I had drawn this watercolor pencil piece and let it hang around for a few days, not paying much attention.  Then I got the idea to use a little oil pastel, wondering how it would work over the watercolor pencil on the Yupo surface.  I am happy to report that it worked great - I love the finish and may try this again.  Thanks for looking!

Jive Drawing - original oil pastel figurative drawing

Here's a just for fun thing I did with Sennelier oil pastels on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper - just perfectly gritty - 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Seated Model with Wineglass - original oil pastel figurative painting

Done on Judson's Guerilla Painter carton paper, this painting is 7 x 5" - I used mostly Senneliers with a few Caran d'Ache and Holbein.  It's so satisfying to work on this paper - it has many of the attributes of the carton paper of the Impressionists' day, but is touted as being more archival.  I love its warm color, as well.  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - check out my latest posting on my oil pastel blog by clicking here.

The Model Takes a Break - original oil pastel figurative painting

This little piece is one I did while the model was waiting 'til break time was over.  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord and is another one I think will become a larger piece.  My previous post (The Model in a Dark Robe) is one that I have been painting as a larger work and it is SO different from the original.  When the larger painting is finished, I'll post it - or maybe I shouldn't, since it's taken such a different turn that it may look as if someone else did it.  Hmmm - don't know how that happens - oh well, thanks for stopping by!

The Model in a Dark Robe - original oil pastel figurative painting

This sketchy piece has made me so happy because I feel I got her skin tones correct.  Lately, I've been working on skin tones and trying to pay a lot of attention to getting just the right hue, value, etc., and - yippee - I have a good feeling about this one!  Am hoping to turn this into an oil painting, but whenever I attempt such things, something is lost - will keep trying, though.  Am I alone in having the problem of losing the feeling of the original when trying to move it to another medium?  On Strathmore 403 oil pastel paper, about 11 x 8".  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Red Mug - original oil pastel portrait painting

This little 7 x 5" painting on Pastelbord began with a drawing of a young woman sitting in a café.  She was having a quiet moment before getting back in the fray.  I left this pretty loose and it's not really "finished", but that's my kind of thing.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Model on a Sofa - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel was done from a drawing that I did of a model last summer.  Using Mi-Teintes paper's patterned side, 9 x 12", I applied plenty of gooey Sennelier oil pastels to it.  Lately, I've been picking up fabrics that interest me and using them in my work.  I'm accumulating a pretty good stash.  This piece will probably be mounted to museum board when it's a little drier.  Thanks for stopping by!

Waiting at the Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's another bar scene, although it's a little lighter than the bar was in real life - I think because I was using this beautiful grey Holbein oil pastel stick and just couldn't get enough of it.  She sat and waited until her fellow showed up - must've been awkward, but she was loaded with poise.  While I usually use Sennelier, this painting was done with Holbein oil pastels.  They are so gorgeous, and with their square shape, very useful in turning on their sides for big strokes, or using the corners of the sticks for details.  I'm a confirmed Sennelier user, with their lipsticky gooeyness, but it's great to try other brands on occasion.  The painting is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

WIP - Day's End - original oil pastel figurative painting in progress

This painting is sort of in limbo at the moment.  Will finish it in the next couple of days, I guess.  Things to do include toning down the acid green, carrying the pattern over the back and much better  (I hope) defining of the figure.  May include a pair of stilettos on the floor.  That can exhaust anybody - wearing them, I mean.  On 16 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketch of Boxers - original oil pastel figurative drawing

As a little kid, I watched the 'fights' on TV with my father - a brutal sport, I know, but I admire the superb conditioning of the contestants.   I'm thinking about doing more of these drawings, possibly long panels of them.  This one was done on carton paper, 7 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Tutu - oiginal oil pastel figurative painting

I had the pleasure of sitting and watching some young ballerinas - a real drawing opportunity.  This one kept fiddling with her new tutu - I think she just loved touching it and feeling like a real ballerina.  The painting is done on 7 x 5" carton from Judson's Art Outfitters - can also be purchased from Amazon.  I love the cardboard color, since I'm a fan of drawing on cardboard - even though that's a no-no in the conservation department.  The carton is archival and good for oil, acrylic and soft pastel, as well.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Lexie Sleeping - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I started this sketch with watercolor, but after about three strokes, I knew it wouldn't work out, (as most of my attempts with watercolor do).  So, onward with my trusty oil pastels.  The support is 9 x 12" 140 pound cold press watercolor paper which worked out well - it's really a lot like Sennelier oil pastel paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Livy on a Sofa - original oil pastel figurative painting

A bit of fun on 8 x 10" Pastelbord - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Stock Market Jive - original ink and oil pastel figurative drawing

More goofiness, but fun for me.  Always loved this idea of painting on treated newspaper and am interested in working on different backgrounds, such as incorporating dry point backgrounds in my drawings.  This one is about 5 x 9 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of a Little Moment - original oil pastel figurative sketch

The resort where I spent Thanksgiving provided a wealth of subjects for drawing and here are two that I observed in a private moment.  Although they were wrapped up in each other, they were really in the middle of everything, so I felt it was okay to draw them. They held this "pose" long enough for me to get the bones of the sketch done, then filled in from memory, striving to keep the sketchiness that I intended without overworking.  I had just bought a new set of Caran d'Ache Neopastels, which are perfect for use on Judson's Guerilla Painter carton board.  Neopastels are a less oily form of oil pastel and not my usual go to brand, which is Sennelier, but Neopastels are great, too, and many oil pastelists prefer them.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" carton paper, but it's cropped here to about 11 x 7" - not really physically cropped, but just for blog posting.  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Torch Singer III - original oil pastel figurative drawing

One of my favorite subjects - the torch singer.  I'm not even sure why it appeals to me - the loneliness, the lament, the smoky (formerly) night club - but an interesting scenario, to me, anyway.  This is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

The Cocktail Waitress - original oil pastel figurative painting

I know.  Maybe not the usual subject, but I did observe this young woman working very hard - dealing with many different types of customers, taking multiple drink orders, working quickly and efficiently and all with perfect aplomb.  I don't think I could do it, especially in that tiny uniform!  Just another of my bar observations.  It's 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Thanks for stopping by! Sold

"Cozy" - original ACEO oil pastel figurative painting

This tiny (3.5 x 2.5") piece is on Art Spectrum Colourfix ATC (Artist Trading Card) paper, the smallest version of their wonderful pastel paper.  It's wonderful for oil pastels, too.  I have this orange chair - my all time favorite - and it's so snug on a cold evening, plus perfect for models, as well - even when they didn't realize they were going to be models.  Working this small without sharpening my oil pastels forces me to be loose, which I hope will carry over to larger works.  Thanks so much for stopping by!