Della - original charcoal and pastel portrait

This drawing is one that I think will end up as a painting.  Her solemn demeanor appealed to me so much  - didn't have enough time to add more details and maybe that's a good thing since her face and hair seem to be the most important.  But we'll see. Sometimes when I turn things into a painting, there's a totally different result - probably happens to y'all sometimes too - right?  I did this on Strathmore 12 x 9" toned blue paper, using General Pencil Co Peel and Sketch charcoal, plus their compressed pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Path to the Dune - original landscape oil painting

Something totally different which I do from time to time.  I painted this landscape on Gessobord, 6 x 8", with professional oil paints, using a limited palette.  Just about all my work is done with a limited palette, not always just my favorite four colors - titanium white, ivory black, Indian red and yellow ochre, but still many fewer than most artists.  And often I try out a guest color which is lots of fun for me.  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Julie - original pastel portrait drawing

Every now and then I get the urge to get out my pastel pencils and do some drawing.  I love them, especially my Caran d'Ache pencils, used in this case on the smooth side of Mi-Teintes.  Framing something so delicate is a problem for me, since I always do it myself.  I usually make a gutter for the loose pastel to fall into with acid-free foam core or use spacers that attach to the glass.  Either method stresses me no end, which is probably why I don't do soft pastel any more than I do, because I really really love to work in this incredible medium. And then the requirement in so many shows that plexiglass must be used.  I've heard that the anti-static spray works great for awhile, but must be reapplied.  How does one do that without unframing the artwork?  Bound to be solutions but I haven't come across any yet.😟 Thanks for stopping by and I would love to know if you have any answers!

 

Reluctant Vera - original oil portrait sketch

Here's one from a drawing group where the model didn't show, and in those cases, everybody takes a turn as the model - or most everybody, since I think I avoided it that time - so I call this one 'Reluctant Vera', because she wasn't thrilled to be the model, but she was a good one, nevertheless.  Drawing group attendees who have to replace the model soon find out how really tough it is to be a model - staying completely still for 20 minutes at a time, then trying to get back into the same exact position after the break.  Models earn every bit of their pay! 

I used mostly Gamblin and Blue Ridge paints and a couple of Grumbachers on this piece.  I shouldn't use a lot of colors, because as one of my painting teachers told me, I always turn everything into a basic limited palette which I did on this one except for the blue, so I think I'll just save the money and go back to the four or five colors.  😀 Thanks for stopping by!

Ready for Night - original pastel pencil portrait drawing

 

Here's a pastel pencil drawing that I did some time ago, using a very limited palette of Caran d'Ache pencils.  At that time, I only had a few of this brand that I was trying out and since they - unlike most pastels, even in pencil form - didn't make me sneeze, get in my eyes and just generally make me feel itchy, I've acquired a nice collection of Caran d'Ache.  Most likely, how I use pastels is the problem, but since I'm mainly an oil pastelist, problem solved!  This was a pretty quick drawing - don't remember how long - but I was mainly interested in the satiny strap over her shoulder.  It's on toned paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for visiting!

On My Easel - Portrait of a Scholar WIP - oil pastel

Definitely a work in progress with much more to do, but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's too "warm" for me, so am doing a bit of cooling off - blue in the background and possibly more to come.  This is one I'll leave alone for a few days and see how it looks then.  I have lots more to do re drawings and paintings.  Will post again when it's finished - 16 x 12" on gritty paper.  Thanks for looking!
To see more about the oil pastels I'm using in painting this portrait, click here to visit my oil pastel blog.

Another Crazy Drummer - original acrylic figurative drawing

The hairdo got me.  Lots of hair.  A good and pretty wild drummer, but he could really play those things!  I thought of making it have more movement by adding strokes after I was finished, but decided to leave it as I drew it and just added a bit of watercolor.  This drawing is on 12 x 12" Strathmore acrylic paper, which is 246 pounds - cannot go wrong with that weight, just good for so many applications.  I used #2 bright and #4 filbert brushes with the black acrylic, painting from a drawing I did years ago.  Could do more 'finishing', but I'm not.  More fun that way!

Seated on a Stool - figurative oil painting of a woman

I thought this was an interesting setup and fun to paint.  I used a limited palette which I love doing.  Actually, though, that's probably the only choice.  It's 14 x 11".  Thanks for visiting!

Trying out some chalks - drawing of woman looking into light

I did this one on grey toned paper - Strathmore -working with some General's compressed pastels - black, white, sanguine, sepia - that I found while going through my supplies. (Oh, the stuff I haven't even uncovered yet!)   I really enjoyed sketching with them.  They will work beautifully on a more finished drawing, too, but I love leaving things a little raw.  Thanks for looking!

Three Nudes on Turquoise - original acrylic paintings of nudes

I started out thinking this would be easy.  But I just felt so rushed - which I actually love and makes one move the paintbrush around very quickly - so why am I complaining?  Must just be a bad habit I've fallen into.  It was a challenge, but a fun challenge!  I love some of the passages, which is always so rewarding for us artists.  Was involved in a conversation yesterday about passages we love when we paint and the very accomplished artist I was speaking with said that's why she keeps on painting.  I can identify with that!  The panel is 8 x 10".  Thanks for looking!

Formal #2 - original oil figurative sketch

This sketch is based on an earlier charcoal drawing of mine and I'm just fooling around with it here; playing with the idea that working on a pose over and over helps to understand it better, resulting in a  more successful painting in the end - we'll see.  Today's sketch is done on 8 x 8" canvas and it is SO absolutely not finished.   Another stream of consciousness thing.  Thanks for looking!
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Strumming - original oil figurative sketch

This sketch was done on Arches oil paper, using a limited palette (black, white, yellow ochre and Indian red) and is about 11 x 11".   It's really great to paint on this surface - very freeing - no pressure to create a 'masterpiece' - not saying I ever do, of course.  Thanks for looking!

Brenda - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I wish I'd had more time for this drawing, but  anyway, I loved working on this gray-blue Strathmore 403 oil pastel paper. I know - it looks tan, but that is just my pathetic photography.  My palette was very limited. It's about 9 x 9".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Maggie - work in progress - original oil portrait painting

More to do, especially with some of the values.  Anyway, here's today's offering - 14 x 11 - thanks so much for stopping by!

Flowered Shawl - original oil painting of a nude

Much fun with this painting - it's really the way I like to use oil paint, since covering the canvas completely, and covering up  my lines isn't something I particularly enjoy.  This model was a delight to draw/paint - these were quick poses, so there wasn't much time to noodle and I adore that way of working.  The support here is 14 x 11" stretched canvas from Hobby Lobby - one of my faves!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Backward Glance - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting was sort of a difficult pose to paint, I think, but I'm pleased with the outcome.  It's from a line drawing that I did and for the life of me, I can't remember who or where the model was.  Scary!

This painting is 8 x 10" on linen.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Portrait Practice - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's something I did on Saturday afternoon. The drawing was done from life and using the drawing as a model, I painted this very quickly, with a limited palette, as a practice piece.

As much as I like value changes, this one doesn't have a wide range of values - kind of soft. It's probably good to do something different for a change. It's 5 x 5" on Gessobord.

Thanks so much for visiting!

More Flamenco - original oil figurative painting

This oil on panel is 8 x 8". Thanks for looking! SOLD

Wallflower - original oil figure painting

One day she'll be a swan, but getting through the awkward stage is the challenge for now. I find young people at this sort of gawky time of life to be so charming and just wonderful to draw. This painting is 6 x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord and was painted from drawings that I did from life.SOLD

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

A Little Nap - original oil figure painting

Sometimes the festivities get to be too much for a girl - even a young one.

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