Nude on Black Paper - original oil pastel nude

Ever since my college days where I first encountered life drawing classes, drawing nudes has been my very favorite art thing - could do this all day long and when I have the chance, that's just what I do.  The figure is my true love!  I also adore the mystery of back views.  Anyway, here I drew the outline very lightly, then did a gestural drawing of the model, working over the whole painting very loosely with my Sennelier oil pastels and butting the colors of the figure up against the colors in the background. (Edge battles are even present in oil pastel.)  I really do recommend working on a black support - it's definitely a 

pleasure to use. This piece is about 6 x 8" on black Mixed Media paper by Strathmore.  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Floating Nude - original oil pastel nude

I loved the pose and painted it on 5 x 7" Pastelbord using Sennelier oil pastels.  This brand of oil pastels is like painting/drawing with a luscious lipstick, plus by not sharpening to a point, I feel it keeps my work from being too tight.  It seems that when I touch the surface with the blunt, unsharpened oil pastel, it's anybody's guess where it will land 😀 and that often works out well, I think!
When I looked at this piece later in the day, I realized I hadn't fully covered the bottom with the red rug and decided it looked like she was floating - sooo "Floating Nude" it was.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - oil pastel nude in progress

Somehow I always get the back view - most people would compare it to always getting in the wrong line - so I guess it's a good thing I like back views.  More to do on this one, but will put it away for a few days to see where to go from here.  Never a great idea to work after the model's gone, but I can't help myself.  This one is on 10 x 8" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Blue Green - original oil pastel drawing of a nude model

More of my ongoing fascination here with this aqua-ish color and of course, my favorite subject - the nude.  I did this one on 6 x 8" mixed media paper, using Sennelier oil pastels.  They're yummy to work with!  Thank you for stopping by!
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Nude Looking Down - original oil pastel nude

I did this one over an oil painting that just didn't make me happy - which is why this one is on Gessobord, instead of Pastelbord.  Done quickly - on autopilot - it's 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

Nude with a Flowered Screen - original oil pastel nude painting

This nude is painted on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  This was a tough pose to hold - the model never actually sat on the floor, so she didn't hold it for long and we just did quick gesture drawings and the gesture drawing was what I worked from on this piece.   I'm such a fan of blue and green - love to paint with these colors and love to wear them.  I've been watching "Hinterland" which has so much blue and some green, as well.  I adore it - yes, the story is good and the acting, as well, but the blue - ahhhh! 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!

Standing Nude with Blue Background - original charcoal and oil pastel drawing of a nude

I love all colors, but the combination of blue with whites and grey and black are an obsession - at least that's my obsession at the present.  Am thinking of ways to do it - with backgrounds of blue drawings - then the main drawing over it in black - sometimes all I can think about.  When I arrived back in town today and worked in my yard, I was focusing on the combination of black, grey, white and blue.  Are all artists obsessed with one art thing or another?  Maybe.  Hope I'm not the only one.  Then I'm going to start worrying.

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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Nude on Blues - original oil pastel nude painting

Today's offering is a nude that I did with creamy Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Love doing these quick exercises!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Nude on Blues - original oil pastel nude drawing

Here is a nude - I love back views - on gessoed carton paper.  It's really a pleasure to work on this paper which I get from Judson's - actually a site for plein air painters - but I buy from them and am always telling myself that any day now, I'll go out and paint the great outdoors.  This paper can be purchased from Amazon, as well.  Oil pastel just sings on it.  This drawing is 12 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

Seated Pose - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

I did this oil pastel drawing on 12 x 9" carton paper coated with clear gesso. The clear gesso on the carton provides such a perfect surface for the oil pastel - kind of gritty.  I could finish this a bit more, but after the model leaves, it just doesn't work very well.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Modest Nude - original oil pastel painting of a nude

I came across an old life drawing and did a 7 x 5" painting on Pastelbord from it.  I'm always saying that I'm going to get rid of all those old drawings, but they do come in handy.  I'm not a hoarder by any means, but I do have a stack of them.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Nude Study - original oil pastel painting of a nude

Here's a quick drawing of a nude - never totally finished - that I did back in October.  It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper about 11 x 9". This paper is white, 160 lb. and pebbly - I love it.  Thanks so much for looking!

Nude on a Red Tuffet - original oil pastel painting of a nude

Trying to get this done before my internet connection completely stops - 7 x 5" on Pastelbord.    Whew - done!  Thanks for visiting! Sold

Nude in a Yellow Chair - original oil pastel nude painting

This oil pastel is painted on 12 x 9" Guerilla carton board.  Wonderful stuff.  I just ordered some Caran d'Ache oil pastels because I think they will work really well on this surface.  I was going to do something with the background, but didn't have time, and didn't really get much of a finish on the model, either, but maybe next time.  Thanks for looking!

Thursday's Model - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

 

Using carton board, I started this drawing with Crayolas, but decided I needed a little more 'oomph', so went for my wonderful Sennelier oil pastels.  They never disappoint.  It's on 12 x 9" carton, but I cropped it - in the photo only - to about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of a Seated Nude - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

Hi All - I'm back from my trip to Italy and ready to get back into my drawing/painting groove - not a rut, mind you, but a groove!  Happy New Year to all of my friends out there in the Blogosphere!  This drawing is done on Strathmore 12 x 9" oil pastel 403 paper (now marketed as Pastel pad) which I absolutely adore - it's my go to surface.  It's been around for years - mentioned in Kenneth Leslie's book on oil pastel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Nude on Green - original oil pastel nude painting

Another favorite art pastime - nudes drawn quickly and without much thinking and analyzing.  I LOVE painting this way - it just makes my heart sing!  A dab of color here, a line there - it probably sounds haphazard and, of course, not everything turns out the way I'd like - but

it's still a real joy.  This painting is on 5 x 7" grey Pastelbord.   Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

The Nude Model - original oil pastel painting of a nude

This nude painting is done on 7 x 5" on Pastelbord - that marvelous surface for oil pastel - and was done quickly without lots of attention to detail.  That's my favorite thing, you know.

I love this time of year, sitting here listening to Christmas music - right now, Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is playing.  Beautiful!  

I hope all is well with you and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold