Warm-Up - original oil pastel figurative drawing

These young girls - the three at the barre anyway - are warming up for their lesson.  I think the older girl was rehearsing in the adjacent studio.  This oil pastel is on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

On The Platform - original mixed media figurative drawing

This was a scene on the subway platform - don't know what it means - just something I saw.  I used oil paint, charcoal and oil pastel on 8 x 10" panel.  Thanks for looking!

The Dancer's Nap - oil pastel figurative

I bought some of the 6 x 12" landscape Pastelbord panels and have used a few for just that purpose,  but I just couldn't resist this pose from an earlier drawing.  Plus, she looked like a torch singer, and for some reason, I have such a soft spot for these ladies.   I left many of the lines, because I'm always looking for a way to keep from covering all the lines with paint - or, in this case, oil pastel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketch for Sunday - Man in Boat - charcoal figurative drawing from life

On Saturdays, I like to get out and do sketches of whatever I can find  - and I found this guy.  I had just a moment to capture him and the essence of the scene, which could end up being a little painting.  With maybe a little more detail, of course.  It was fun and I think sketching from life always helps my drawing immensely.  Thanks for stopping by!

Playing Guitar - oil pastel figurative drawing

Hey, Houston, Corpus Christi, Victoria and all of y'all down that way coping with this disaster - hope you're safe!

Although I'm not totally finished with this piece, I just decided to go ahead and post - will finish it tomorrow.  I used Sennelier oil pastels on Sennelier oil pastel paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

Red Flamenco - original acrylic figurative

Hung up on flamenco at the moment - today I listened to Spanish gypsy music.  Lots of wailing and emotion, just like real flamenco.  Kind of a different grip on the fan, but she really did it, then deftly flipped it around without a hitch - if they only knew how difficult it is to portray - oh well, it's good practice!  My Able Assistant seems to approve - I've started showing him all my work - not just some of it.  When he looks confused, I figure the piece needs more work - but no confusion today.  Just the wagging of his little stub of a tail (cocker spaniel) - always a good sign!  On 10 x 10" canvas.  Thanks for looking!

Blue Flamenco #3 - original ink and watercolor figurative

I could have done a bit more, or even a lot more, but I just decided to stop here.  Will paint more of these, I'm sure, but the landscape course that I'm taking sort of demands my time and thought a lot more than I thought it would.  When I get a few more things finished in that genre, maybe I'll post a few, but for now, they're in hiding.  This piece is about 12 x 7".  Thanks for stopping by!

Tango Romance - original acrylic figurative painting

Here's a 7 x 5" tango painting on panel, done with acrylic - my new replacement for oil.  Just makes life easier.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - original pastel pencil figurative in progress

Here it is in the wee hours and I'm just now getting to posting.  This drawing is being done from a black and white sketch from some time ago.  At this point, I don't know if it will be "finished" - well, probably not at this point.  Don't know if other artists leave things for awhile the way I do.  This is on Colourfix board, but my usual problem is cropping up - pastel dust.  Thought it wouldn't be bad with the pencils and while it's not as bad as with the sticks, it's still a problem.  Maybe I'll start working with them outside.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by!  PS.  That's a book on her lap (will definitely make that more finished)!

A Nude on Wednesday - original watermedia nude

This painting is mostly water media with a few touches of oil pastel.  It's on mixed media paper, which, if you haven't tried it yet, is wonderful - stands up to all kinds of torture.  It's about 9 x 11".  Thanks for stopping by!

Young Ballerina Sketch - original charcoal and oil pastel figurative drawing

I couldn't resist this drawing - they were so busy getting everything in order. Of course, there was a lot of moving around, so I had to change some of the poses a bit, plus do a little memorizing of poses I especially liked.  I love having access to ballet dancers and they are so much more accessible than tango dancers. Tango is generally at night and far from my house.  Western dancers are easy to find in this part of the country, as well as some of the jive dancers - and I'm easy to find, too - always around with my sketchbook!
  This sketch is on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper - 9 x 12" - thanks for looking!

Studio Nude - original acrylic painting of a nude model

I was trying out my new Golden Open Acrylics and painted this piece from a drawing that I did some time ago.  The Opens are great - they really do stay wet longer.  I love them - easy to work with and, I think, easier blending for edges.  The painting is 10 x 8" on multimedia paper - thanks for looking!

Sketchbook Nude - original mixed media drawing

This drawing comes from a life drawing I did several months ago, so, early this morning, I just decided to give it another interpretation.  I had planned to do it completely in watercolor, then restate the figure in ink, but it took a slightly different path - just had to get more line in there!  Here and there are touches of acrylic, as well.  I didn't realize that the Prismacolor ink marker I was using is water-soluble, so that was a surprise - and a good one. too!  Then I turned my attention to an oil pastel for my oil pastel blog and got it mostly finished.  Working in the morning - which we night owls don't often do - seems to be a good thing! Plus, I listened to early morning radio - I always have the radio on, just not usually as early as I did this morning.   This piece is on 8.5 x 5.5" mixed media paper - thanks for stopping by!

More Little Jivers - original figurative oil painting

These little dancers are dancing on 6 x 6" Gessobord and having the time of their lives!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - original oil pastel figurative in progress

This is a 9 x 12" oil pastel I worked on today - many, many refinements before I could possibly consider it finished - if it ever does get finished.  Once again, on this marvelous Colourfix paper that I'm loving to work on.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Ballerina - original oil pastel drawing

This drawing is on Colourfix paper - the new smoother kind.  I thought I wouldn't like it, just bought it by accident, but I ended up loving it!  This drawing is about 9 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

Really Red Tango - original oil figurative painting

Here's one I think I forgot - discovered it today.  It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Two Charcoal Nudes - original charcoal drawing of nudes

Two quick charcoal drawings on Strathmore drawing paper,  about 16 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Black and White Rodeo - original charcoal figurative drawing

I am sometimes astonished by the power and emotion of charcoal drawings.  It's my all-time favorite medium.  This drawing is on Canson drawing paper.  Although the tear line runs through the top of the cowboy's hat, I was so happy with the way it was going, that I just went with it and will simply bond it to museum board.  It's about 7 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

The Folksinger - original charcoal figurative drawing

Nothing like a musician to get the charcoal working.  Really good performance by this guy and I feel I really captured him.  This drawing is on mixed media paper, about 10 x 7".  Thanks for looking!