Sweet Jive - original oil pastel figurative

I love the looseness I can get with oil pastel and fairly gritty surfaces (in this case Ampersand Pastelbord).  Lines, scribbles and emotion always make me feel like I've done something with my day!  I used Holbein oil pastel on this 7 x 5" piece.  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!

Nude with Turquoise Background - original oil pastel nude

This nude is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Nothing better than juicy Sennelier oil pastels on Pastelbord for a quick life drawing.  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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Sketch of Shari - original oil pastel portrait sketch

The model was tired, I was getting a bit weary myself, and I think the feeling is reflected in this quick drawing.  I used dark green Mi-Teintes board, which seems to give a looser feel to oil pastel drawings.  It's about 10 1/2 x 12"  - thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - seated model oil figurative work in progress

I started the painting of my previous charcoal drawing on 14 x 11" Fredrix paint board - one of my very favorite surfaces.  My accompaniment today was the soundtrack, or at least, the music that was 'inspired by' - as they put it - Call the Midwife.  So many sweet songs are included - mostly from the late 50s, and maybe early 60s.  Will finish this tomorrow, working on my grays - they really need some oomph!  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Woman on a Sofa ACEO - original oil pastel figurative ACEO

I had been working on a charcoal dancer drawing and was going to show the drawing's progress on my blog, but I got distracted somehow.  And the next thing I knew, I was working on this 2.5 x 3.5" piece.  These are so much fun to do - no pressure - simply cut loose and see what happens.  This little painting is done on illustration board.  Thanks for stopping by!

Red Bikini - original oil figure painting

In the spirit of the theme for August on Daily Painters Gallery, A Beautiful Earth, the human body is the most beautiful to me - each one is a masterpiece.

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Favorite Chair - oil pastel figure painting

My favorite kind of painting - done quickly without much detail. It's oil pastel - 5 x 7" on Ampersand Pastelbord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Promises - original oil painting by Connie Chadwell

They only had eyes for each other. The painting is 6 x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Sinthy - oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Sinthy - I love that name - held the pose for about an hour, but I stopped before the hour was up because I didn't want to "kill" the painting. Plus, my board is only 6 x 6", so I didn't need much time. I just made lots of strokes while mainly looking for values. I am happiest when working quickly and then moving to another spot in the room to do a charcoal figure drawing from the same pose at another angle.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Three Gals - original oil figure painting

Whew! Dealing with three women, even if they are at the business end of a paintbrush, is not easy - especially if they refuse to be controlled by yet another woman (me).

Of course, I didn't know what was in the photo they were studying, but there was much comment and giggling. This was one time I was glad to have my sketchbook with me, so that I didn't have to draw in the back of my checkbook or on a scrap of paper.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord and is 6 x 6". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Orange Comb - original oil painting

I did this without cadmium orange, which I had intended to use in the beginning, but I was pleased with the range of orange in the painting anyway. I did a painting much like this a few years ago, but this one is a quicker and fresher way of painting that I've come to use and I like it better. SOLD

This one is 8 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks for dropping by!

Heather Again - nude painting in oil

Here's another rendition of Heather. This one's in oil on 9 x 12" Gessobord. I started out with a very limited palette - titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt sienna and cobalt blue (which is kind of cheating in a truly limited palette, since gray next to red reads as a blue, but, oh well). After it was done, I decided that it needed a little more color, so I added a little cadmium red and yellow.

This time, not working from life, but from a drawing from life, the likeness isn't there as well as it was, but I am pleased with the painting because it's not really intended to be a portrait. And she still has that proud elegance to her, which is the most important element to me. If the gesture is right, then I'm happy. SOLD

Tango Spice II - original oil figure painting

This painting is 7 x 5" and is on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Apres Tango - original oil figure painting

Tango is not just a dance, but a passionate embrace set to music. As much tango as I've watched, I'm still a bit surprised when the dancing couple simply parts and walks back to his and her respective chairs, as if they had merely passed each other on the street. As you can see, this couple isn't just parting and walking back to separate corners. This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

Thanks for stopping by!

Treasure Hunt

Little children can find the tiniest of treasures. Maybe this little girl's delight was a pretty pebble to give to her mom. This oil painting is 6x6" on gessoed board. Thanks for visiting my blog!