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!

Dreamer - original oil pastel/watercolor pencil portrait

I had drawn this watercolor pencil piece and let it hang around for a few days, not paying much attention.  Then I got the idea to use a little oil pastel, wondering how it would work over the watercolor pencil on the Yupo surface.  I am happy to report that it worked great - I love the finish and may try this again.  Thanks for looking!

Close Dancing - original oil pastel figurative painting

Every bit as much fun as close dancing was drawing this 7 x 5" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

A Winter Stroll - original oil pastel figurative painting

A little fun thing on 5 x 7" Guerilla carton board - a support that I love.  It can be found at Judson's Art Outfitters and has the look of the cardboard paintings by turn of the 20th century painters, but is archival. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Devie - original oil pastel portrait painting

Here's another portrait on the orangey Mi-Teintes paper, 9 x 12".  This young woman was such a pleasure to paint.  As I'm sure I've said before, the textured side of this paper is wonderful for helping me keep the piece from getting too tight.   Although I really layer the oil pastel on her face, the rest is fairly loose.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Message - original oil pastel portrait sketch

Here's another sketch on the Mi-Teintes paper - this time it's done on a warm shade that inspired me to use plenty of blues in her skin to cool it down.  I'm a big fan of cools anyway, so I was glad to have an excuse.  This sketch is about 8 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Waiting at the Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's another bar scene, although it's a little lighter than the bar was in real life - I think because I was using this beautiful grey Holbein oil pastel stick and just couldn't get enough of it.  She sat and waited until her fellow showed up - must've been awkward, but she was loaded with poise.  While I usually use Sennelier, this painting was done with Holbein oil pastels.  They are so gorgeous, and with their square shape, very useful in turning on their sides for big strokes, or using the corners of the sticks for details.  I'm a confirmed Sennelier user, with their lipsticky gooeyness, but it's great to try other brands on occasion.  The painting is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of Lexie Sleeping - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I started this sketch with watercolor, but after about three strokes, I knew it wouldn't work out, (as most of my attempts with watercolor do).  So, onward with my trusty oil pastels.  The support is 9 x 12" 140 pound cold press watercolor paper which worked out well - it's really a lot like Sennelier oil pastel paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Tango Portrait - original oil pastel portraits in progress

I started work on this one today and will let it dry for a few days, then come back and see where this little couple takes me.  When I look at it, I see all the things I should fix and some things that I can't fix without completely redoing it.  Arghhh - I tear my hair!  Well, not actually, but I feel like it.  This is done on 9 x 12" Pastelbord.  One of the nice things about Ampersand Pastelbord is that oil pastel gets pretty dry on it, so when I really load the support with oil pastel, it works to dry the pastel a little, so that I can work on it again.  I really appreciate your stopping by my blog - thanks so much!

A Solitary Evening - original oil pastel figurative painting

This 7 x 5" painting is on Pastelbord.  I'm just waiting for the sprinkler system to wind down - but if my calculations are correct, it will be another couple of hours before I can go to bed.  Next time I'll start it a lot earlier!  We had some rain here in central Texas last week, but it's really, really hot, so I'm back to watering.  Have been busy rearranging my studio and throwing away tons of stuff.  I want to start using my little press again and I have to put it in a more prominent place, so I'm reminded it's there.  Of course, what started out as something simple - with just one objective - has now mushroomed and there are many objectives.  When it's completed, though, I think I'll love it.  Will post pictures, but don't hold your breath - this is definitely going to take some time!  Thanks for stopping by!

Livy on a Sofa - original oil pastel figurative painting

A bit of fun on 8 x 10" Pastelbord - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

"Cozy" - original ACEO oil pastel figurative painting

This tiny (3.5 x 2.5") piece is on Art Spectrum Colourfix ATC (Artist Trading Card) paper, the smallest version of their wonderful pastel paper.  It's wonderful for oil pastels, too.  I have this orange chair - my all time favorite - and it's so snug on a cold evening, plus perfect for models, as well - even when they didn't realize they were going to be models.  Working this small without sharpening my oil pastels forces me to be loose, which I hope will carry over to larger works.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

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!

Looking Down - original oil pastel portrait painting

This oil pastel is one that I had on my oil pastel blog some time back and I just decided to post it on this blog, because what I had intended to put here is now in the garbage.  And deservedly so.  This is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for dropping by!

Geisha with Flower - original oil pastel figurative painting

This is a really quick one - not because I was in a hurry - but it's just better for me so I don't kill it.  Did this on Pastelbord - just the right grittiness - and loved every touch of the oil pastel on the surface.  Yum!  It's 7 x 5" - thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - original oil figurative in progress

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and lots of turkey and dressing (plus cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, pies of all kinds - Thanksgiving's my all time favorite meal)!  Nothing like being with family to celebrate our good fortune - my wish for all of you!
Here's something I've scraped down twice, but now maybe it's on its way - on 8 x 10" Pastelbord.  Much more work to be done, though.  Thanks for looking!

A Bit of Holly - original oil pastel portrait drawing/painting

Here's a little Christmasy piece - the hat is boiled wool, I think, and the model pinned the little holly sprig to it.  This is another quick drawing - not fussed over at all.  It's done on Sennelier 12 x 9" oil pastel paper and the actual drawing is about 9 x 7".  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Another Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's something that I posted on The Oil Pastel Review, which is my oil pastel only blog, a few posts back and now I think it's finished - more or less. Nothing is ever finished, really, but things do sometimes come close. It's on 16 x 20" Pastelbord and is one in my ongoing series of bar scenes.

By the way, do check out the nude sketch I did on OPR using Sennelier Nature oil pastels.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio - it's always great seeing you here!

Tango Memories - original oil pastel figurative painting

This quickly done - my favorite way, lest I "kill" it - tango painting is on 12 x 9" black Colourfix pastel paper.  Yum!  One of my favorite supports!  Thanks for looking!

The Embroidered Blouse - original oil pastel portrait painting

This oil pastel painting is on 9 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!