Lou as Cleopatra - original oil pastel portrait

It's great when models dress up in historical garb and sometimes they even take on the personality of their character.  Lou is this kind of model - she was very regal while she sat for us.  Well, Cleopatra, after all.  I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels, with a few Caran d'Ache on Colourfix 12 x 9" smooth pastel paper in Fresh Grey.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Glenda - oil pastel portrait in progress

There's a little left to do on this portrait, but decided to go ahead and post it.  This is Sennelier oil pastels on 12 x 9" Strathmore 403 paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Lee's Daughter - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This study of a young woman who posed ever so briefly was done on 7 x 5" carton board from Judson Art Outfitters or Amazon.  I love working on this stuff - give it a try.  Thanks for stopping by!

At the Soirée - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This drawing happened quickly - I had been thinking about this tilt of the head, so I just experimented.  There wasn't a model in sight, so I simply had to make do.  And I just let it be the way it is - pretty loose, my favorite thing, actually.  For the support, I used multi-media artboard that I purchased from Jerry's and I love it!  I think it'll take lots of abuse and the surface is wonderful - accepts everything I've tried.  I'm SO thankful to be living when there are many art products available - no grinding colors myself - ugh!  The artboard is 10 x 8" and I left a little border around it, so maybe it's about 9 x 7".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Moira - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I've drawn and painted this model before and it was great to have her as the model again. She holds the pose so well - I'm not at all sure I could do that.  This drawing was done on 14 x 11" Art Spectrum Colourfix paper,  using gloriously gooey Senneliers.  Colourfix is thought of and advertised as a surface for soft pastel, but it is absolutely perfect for oil pastel - its surface allows the application of multiple layers.  If you like working with oil pastel, do give this paper a try.  Thanks so much for stopping by!