On My Easel - A Modern Tango - original oil figurative painting

I probably should say 'original oil figurative experiment' - but that seems to be my approach to my artwork.    One of my painting teachers told me not to fiddle with the work - just start another painting.  Must remember that, must remember that.
This tango position is one that I see a lot now, but I don't think it has much in common with the original Argentine tango - a lovelier dance there never was - but it is definitely dramatic!  Sorry it's so shiny, but I wanted to get it posted and in a couple of days, I will post a bit drier version.  This one is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  If you get a chance, please check out my oil pastel blog.

Tango Moment Again - original oil figurative painting

 

The second of my series of three 14 x 11"  tango paintings that I've done recently.  They will be available at Artworks in Austin, Texas.   No matter what else I may paint, I always come back to tango - just the beautiful way the dancers move in unison.  The steps are gorgeous in themselves:  He knows his part and she knows hers and they work beautifully together.  

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

The Mandolin Player - original figurative oil painting

 

Although I'm not really finished with this painting, I just decided to go ahead and post it tonight.  It's on a 12 x 16" archival canvas board.   I'm going to make some changes, but I just don't know what they'll be, yet.  Sometimes, if I just forget about a painting, then weeks later, I'll pass by it and think 'oh yeah, I know just what it needs'.  The back burner is the place to put things when I need to figure out what should be done.  We'll see if it works this time.  Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Dancers at the Winery - original oil figurative paintings

Here are some of my dancers on the wall at Junction Rivers Winery in Junction, Texas.  It's a not-to-be-missed place for wine (of course), bistro food, gifts, and conversation in my hometown on the Llano River. 
I hope everyone's having an enchanting Christmas Eve and looking forward to a joyful Christmas Day!  Thanks so much for stopping by - and Merry Christmas!

Tres Bailoras Again - original oil figurative painting of flamenco dancers

 

Here are more of my flamenco dancers - well, maybe not "my" dancers, since they seem to have their own ways of doing things.  They appear, then disappear - returning to my easel when they feel like it.  I'm always happy to see them again, though.  This time, they're on 16 x 20" Fredrix paintbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by - always glad to see you here!

Another Saturday Night at the Dance Hall - original oil figurative western dance painting

Here's a painting I had sort of forgotten - just kept passing it by and not really finishing it, so in my current studio cleanathon and general rearranging, these two steppers have been rediscovered.   The painting is 16 x 20" on Fredrix paintboard.   I love the surface of the new Paintboards!  Fredrix seems to emphasize the mulimedia uses for this product, but it's also great for oils.  Thanks for looking!  See what's going on at my oil pastel blog!  Sold

Jive Madness - original figurative oil painting

This was fun to paint - no noodling, no fixing - just fast painting.  It's 5 x 7" on Gessobord.  Thanks for visiting my blog! Sold

Together on Friday Evening - original oil figurative painting

  

This painting is on 9 x 12" gessoed panel - Gessobord, I think.  The table in the background had a shorter tablecloth, but I just like the look of longer ones, so I just took artistic license.  We artists get to do that, you know.  I had an fellow life drawing enthusiast tell me once, when I was fretting over something crazy I had done, 'that's okay, Connie, you're an artist'.  It really brought me up short.  I had never considered such a thing.  But I liked it.  I really did and I still do.  Use it all the time.

Have a great weekend everyone - and thanks for visiting my blog! 

PS. to make it more "bar like", I just glazed it with warmth.

Lookin' for Eight - original oil figurative rodeo painting

We had a rodeo here in Junction last weekend.   It was a ranch rodeo - my favorite - but I must not have gotten there early enough to see bronc riders.  So, I dug through old drawings from other rodeos and came up with the drawing from which I did this painting.  I changed his hat from black to white and in the drawing, the horse was darker, but essentially, it's the same.  This painting is 9 x 12" on gessoed panel.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

On My Easel - Girl with a Fan oil figurative Work In Progress

This is one of those "I just don't know about this one" paintings, of which I have many.  I had a model for a very short session, and as usual, I think the drawing that I did this painting from is better than the painting.   I envy those who can draw and paint beautifully from a photo, which would really be helpful for me, since I live in a little town and finding a model could become more time-consuming that the actual art.  Oh well, one does what one can.  And I'm open to suggestions.  Thanks for dropping by and letting me rant.

More Western Swing - original oil figurative painting

Here's another in my ongoing western dancers series.  This painting is oil on 10 x 8" stretched canvas.  I really do have more to say, but my internet connection is suddenly really slow, so maybe it's going to go out in a minute - better hurry and get this posted.  Thanks so much for looking!

Promise Me - original figurative oil painting

This couple was very intense - or at least she was.  He seemed to be resisting a little.  I made them "my" people, but the setting - and the gaze - is the same.  The painting is on 12 x 16" Fredrix archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Waiting Again - original oil figurative painting

You can probably tell that this is quickly done, and although I did it with brushes rather than paint sticks, it's pretty juicy.  Painted while listening to a mystery - love mysteries, love painting - an altogether great day - I hope your day was a good one, too!  It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord.  Check out my oil pastel blog.

Bailora - original oil figurative painting of Flamenco dancer

Merry Christmas y'all!  No matter the weather outside, may you be cozy and warm and surrounded by family and friends on this special day.  Thank you for dropping by my blog.  PS.  this painting is oil on 18 x 12" stretched canvas.

More Hot Tango - original figurative painting of dancers

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord. 
Have you ever seen the movie Shall We Dance  - I mean the Japanese version, which is so charming!   It's on Netflix, too.  If you haven't seen it, yet, I hope you will.  You'll love it, I'll bet, and I'd love to hear your impression of the movie.
Please check out my latest artwork on my oil pastel blog. 
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Salsa Night - original oil figurative painting

Here, for a little change, is a salsa.  It's painted on 10 x 10" stretched canvas.  I'm late posting, but was watching the game and -Yippee!  the Rangers won!  It was pretty unnerving to watch after last night's total disaster, but it turned out great!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Tango Sizzle - original oil figurative painting

This couple was so passionate and I loved watching them. I saw them dance in San Antonio; I made a tiny little sketch that would probably look crazy to anyone else, but it's my own personal art shorthand. From that sketch, I did this painting. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord - I had such a good time painting this one! Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!  Sold

Tango Moment Once More - original oil figurative painting of dancers

Well, I just have to get the weather thing over with - it's 88 at 11:43 p.m. and there is no sign of the heat letting up.   
Now on to painting.  This is one of the little moments when the woman brings her leg up against her partner's leg for but a moment - then they continue on with the dance - just a little embellishment.  She's turned her head away from the man and I always think this is to show a little independence of movement.  I just adore painting dancers and while I enjoy other subjects, this is my all-time favorite thing to do.  It's the energy and the passion that dancers exhibit that I love so much.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm a teensy bit envious.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  And please send us some rain.  Sold

Tango Smooch - original oil figurative dancer painting

There were probably some things I could have changed about this painting and when I'm being kind of uptight, I do make some changes.  But this time I just let it go and let it be loose and I'm happy.  Looseness is probably more accurate for portrayals of dancers, anyway.  They can sometimes be a blur because they're moving and viewers often just get an impression of movement, energy and grace.  This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold
 

More Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

More of my tango painting - I do get on these kicks.  This one is looser and I didn't worry too much with it.  It does have foreshortening with her left leg, which I love to do.  Always fun and challenging.  Painting these small dancers has been so instructive for me.  I can be more loose - now to try and translate that to larger paintings.  Thanks so much for stopping by - and I hope you'll check out my oil pastel blog.  Oh, and it's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Sold