"Two Things I'm Working on Now" - One of these pieces is oil pastel and the other is in oil.

                                     Oil Pastel                                                          Oil

 Here are two TOTALLY unfinished 7 x 5" dancer paintings on panel thatI've been working on the last couple of days.  It's just amazing to me how much work it takes to do anything this small!  In relation to the one on the right, which is being painted in oil, here's a column from the Wall Street Journal on country style dancing - https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/american-honky-tonk-line-dance-bars-new-york-city-nashville-chicago-54758256 - So much to think about and do in finishing these pieces, but I'm having a good time.  I'm hoping everyone is off to a good start on 2026 and I really appreciate y'all stopping by!

"Mavis in Sunlight" - original oil pastel portrait

It's pretty difficult to get anyone - even a friend - to hold a pose in light like it was that day, so that's where lots of time spent drawing fast comes in.  I did this one on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord (great stuff) using Sennelier oil pastels (more great stuff).  It's loose because I like things kind of raw and of course didn't have much time.  Was so happy with how it turned out, especially the hand.  It's sometimes the little things that can make one happy!😊 Thanks for stopping by!
 

"More Country Music" - original oil pastel portrait

This 5 x 7" oil pastel is one of two of this "pose".  The other is an oil on stretched canvas that's still in progress.  I really do love country music and am painting some of the views I've had while at rodeo dances.  Matter of fact, I also love rodeos and this past summer got some good sketches while at the rodeo in Junction, Texas.  Most of the work I did was of barrel racers, but also got some bronc rider sketches, as well.

This drawing is really kind of left "raw" and not as finished as it could be.  This approach is what I love about oil pastels.  It's such an immediate type of media and I love capturing "moments" with it and just going with my reaction to the model (whether posed or not). And when I'm through drawing, I have a piece that's loose and not overworked.  Overworking is something I tend to do.

"Country Music 2" was done on Ampersand Pastelbord with mostly Sennelier oil pastels, plus a few Neopastels and CrayPas Specialists providing assistance here and there. 

 I'm experimenting with framing these small oil pastels painted on Pastelbord using Econospace plastic spacers and deep rabbet frames.  (That's "rabbet" not "rabbit", 😄which refers to the depth of the frame.)  Finding a deep enough rabbet is difficult unless resorting to frames for canvas works, so that's what I'm doing

If you've never used Econospace, it's easy to use and I really like it, especially for smaller paintings and drawings.  Click here  to visit FrameTek to see Econospace.  The company also produces Framespace, which I think is good for larger pieces.

And thanks for stopping by!

 

"Sleep" - original oil pastel portrait

Models often go to sleep on the job.  Just imagine how boring modeling can be.  A bit surprising, though, when it happens during a short pose.  This model was wearing a hugely fluffy garment and maybe got a bit warm.  Anyway, she snoozed a little.  I totally don't mind if a model takes a little nap when posing - I might well do the same if I were the model and completely still for 20 minutes with really quiet surroundings. This piece is done on Strathmore mixed media paper that I painted over with gray acrylic, then used oil pastels for the drawing.  It's about 5 x 4".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

"Fooling Around with Radishes" - original acrylic, wax pastel, colored pencil, graphite and oil pastel panting

Some of my radishes from earlier in the summer made it as subjects for an 8 x 8" painting on Gessobord.  I thought they were pretty and just arranged them first this way and that.  I then drew them loosely with graphite, then painted with acrylic and topped the whole thing off with wax pastels, colored pencils, and oil pastels. The kitchen sink, you might say.  

This exercise in using mainly drawing tools convinced me that I'm basically a drawer - okay, draftsman, sketcher - not so much a painter - and am always trying to figure out ways to use oil paint in my drawings on board because they won't need to be framed under glass.  My latest idea is to cut oil sticks (not oil pastels, but actual oil sticks) into smaller pieces to make them easier to work with for drawings.  The main reason I seldom use oil sticks is their size.  Years ago, Winsor & Newton had 'slim' oil sticks, I think they were called, and they were great, but then they were discontinued, which was such a disappointment.  I find it really difficult to use these bigger sticks.  They're just too fat!  So now I'm going to try and draw with smaller pieces of this medium.  My oil stick 'collection' includes R&F, which is just wonderful,  Sennelier,  Winsor & Newton, and Shiva.  Surely I can find a way to make this plan of mine work!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

"Fiddling Around" - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I loved doing this very loose 7 x 5" oil pastel on Pastelbord - maybe because her activity (or lack thereof) is one of my favorites. 😊  This little piece is very raw - I didn't smooth anything and it's very much like the quickly done original pencil drawing I did while watching a girl at a table with her friends.  She was in her own world while the other girls chatted noisily.  I used lipsticky Sennelier oil pastels - what a joy they are to work with!  I guess I spent a teeny bit more time on her face and hair and allowed - particularly her left side - to just sort of 'happen'.  If you spend even a small amount of time on my blog, you know that's my favorite way to work.  Thanks so much for stopping by my studio!
 

"Green Bikini" - mixed media figurative

I bought some cold press 8 x 8"watercolor paper at Hobby Lobby and was just trying it to see how it would work for oil pastel, but ended up doing mostly watercolor on it.  And you know, I'm no watercolorist!  I think it would be really good for tight watercolor work - meaning the watercolor didn't spread much - at least,  that's how I plan to use it.  (I don't really know watercolor terms, but it was easier to control on this paper.) I love Hobby Lobby and while I used to be able to find sheets of very "different" drawing papers, like one with inclusions or interesting surfaces, haven't found them lately.   Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but I'm a paper addict.  You should see my studio.  Paper!  All kinds!  Everywhere!  I'm trying to organize, but what a task!  

I did this loose drawing with Derwent Line Maker 0.3.  This ink isn't water soluble, so I could do some  watercolor over it, and worked a tiny touch of oil pastel over the inside of her hair.  Worked well for OP by the way.  She actually began life as a nude, but I gave her a green bikini.  I love green - it may be my favorite color.  And I love Line Maker.

Alas, due to my not being much of a photographer, this piece looks warmer that it really is.😟

Thanks so much for stopping by - great to see y'all here! And I love your emails!💚

Sketch of Janie - original oil pastel portrait drawing

 This loose drawing is one I copied from a more serious piece that I did in a life drawing group.  I was getting ready to send the first one to File 13, but gave it another life here.  I allowed myself maybe 10 minutes and went crazy.  Done on sanded pastel paper with mostly Sennelier and some Caran d'Ache and CrayPas Specialist oil pastels, it's about 7 x 10".  I never stop loving my oil pastels - more artists should try them - whether drawing or painting, they're up for anything!  Thanks for stopping by!

"Maiko #5 "- original oil pastel portrait

I did this painting with Caran d'Ache and Sennelier oil pastels on black mixed media 7 x 5" paper.  A maiko is a very young woman who is training to become a geisha. These young women have so much to learn of which every bit is fascinating to me.  I do get to draw from life a few Japanese models dressed as geishas and it is such a thrill!  I so enjoyed doing this one - thanks for stopping by!
 

"Salsa!" - original oil pastel figurative

Salsa dancers are figures I don't draw much, but now and then, I do see a pose that appeals to me and here's one.   Some of my dancers go on to become larger oil paintings and this may be one of those that "graduates".   I painted it on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord with mostly Sennelier and some Caran d'Ache oil pastels as well. Thanks for stopping by - and Happy New Year!

 

Although I absolutely prefer working from life, this piece was done from my photo of this model.  It's on 10 x 8" Ampersand Pastelbord with mostly Sennelier oil pastels from their portrait collection as well as some Caran d'Ache oil pastels.  Thanks for looking - and Happy Thanksgiving!

"Lainie" - ACEO original oil pastel portrait

I love to do these tiny art pieces (3.5 in x 2.5 in) - and although they are so small, they really do take a good amount of work.  Lainie was a model at one of the life drawing groups and was so good at holding a pose.  Being a model is tough work - I know this because when the model doesn't show up, the attendees are usually pressed into service!

For this one, I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels plus some Caran d'Ache Neopastels on Strathmore illustration board - all completely archival.   Thank you for visiting my blog!

Clara's Hat - original oil pastel portrait

I used a rather casual approach to this little piece which always seems to be my best option. Loose and inexact makes me so happy - not just in what I do but in most all artwork.  Her pose was perfect as a design, I thought, so I kept her over on the side.   My tools were Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord.  Much fun.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Silva's Attitude - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This young woman displayed lots of confidence and it was fun to try and get that attitude down on paper.  Good model - easy and pleasant to work with.  This was a quick drawing, with no "amendments" and although I did a larger one later, I felt this drawing captured her perfectly.  Drew
this on a Canson 6 x 8" mix media pad, which I love to carry around with me.  Fits in my purse - even a couple of my crossbody ones - and I can pull it out and draw anyplace, even with some water-soluble pencils, because it's pretty heavy paper.   Thanks for looking!
 

Drawing of a Young Girl - original oil pastel portrait

I did this on Judson's Guerilla Carton Board.  Carton needs an accent mark, but I will have to wait till later - it's late and I'm sleepy and don't remember how to do it on my laptop.  This surface is wonderful for oil pastel - it's really a love affair between the two.  If you use oil paint, it's good to apply Gamblin GAC before painting on it.   I usually bond the carton to painting panel or mat board.  I don't know if artists appreciate this lightweight board/paper, but it's wonderful!  It's archival and so lightweight - plus I just swoon over how wonderfully it works with oil pastel!  This drawing is on 10 x 8" carton.  Try this surface - it's really great! Thanks so much for stopping by!
 

Flamenco #17 - original oil pastel drawing

Here's a quick drawing that I loved doing on 12 x 9" Strathmore mixed media toned blue paper, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Nothing like the movements of dancers and the fun of my attempts to capture them!  Of course there's a lot of memory drawing whether dancers or bull riders or athletes because the "pose" is quickly and constantly changing.  I'm such a believer in life drawing whether it's long poses or gestures  and I do it every chance I get.  

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

  

Coral Kimono - original oil pastel portrait of a maiko

 I (obviously) love painting maiko (apprentice geisha) and geisha.   Their culture and training fascinates me and I hope they don't fade away.  This painting is on Strathmore recycled paper bonded to museum board.  When I have the chance to draw a model in geisha costume, I make as many sketches as I can in the time allowed.  Thanks so much for looking!

Lissy on Red - acrylic and oil pastel portrait

Something so much fun to paint - started with acrylic and finished with oil pastel.  These two media work so well together.  It's done on acrylic paper by Strathmore, which has a great surface and is very easy to work with.  I could have made it more realistic but it was so enjoyable to just roll with it - and Lis thinks it looks like her, so who am I to fret?  

Hope you're all having a great Labor Day - thanks for stopping by!
 

Sketch of the Model Zette - original oil pastel portrait sketch

 This quick portrait drawing is done with Caran d'Ache oil pastel over a dash of ochre acrylic - I especially liked Zette's expression and she was able to keep that slight smile, which isn't easy - have tried it myself.  I did several sketches of her but picked this one to post.  Instead of working on one drawing the whole time, I sometimes do several using different media and often moving around the room to get a different view.  On Canson Mix Media, 8.5 x 5.5" - thanks for looking!

Red Hat - original oil pastel portrait

Here's one that I did on 12 x 9" grey Pastelbord.  Great model - didn't get to finish it, though, before the time was up, but I am happy with it.  Thanks for looking!