Shelley's Blue Ribbons - original oil pastel portrait painting

I think this model has such a sweet face - a pleasure to paint.  I drew
very quickly, then moved to another location in the room for a different view.   I generally do that in a long pose, so I have a few different sketches/drawings/paintings instead of just the one pose for three hours, plus with three hours on the same pose, I tend to overwork it.   This is another piece using Sennelier oil pastels on sand colored 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Woman in Purple - original oil portrait painting

Another one of those I wish I'd had more time on.  The model had such a classic, old-fashioned - maybe even a medieval sort of look - I think it would have been great to have her dress up in period clothing.  Oh well.  This painting is 10 x 10" on gessoed panel.  This afternoon, I was spending time drawing while listening to a dark mystery where the main character was trapped in a locked room - it was chilling - and at that moment, a friend knocked on the door of my studio - nearly scared me senseless!  Took a little time to get over it, too.
That'll teach me - music while I paint tomorrow!  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!

Snuggle - original oil pastel figurative painting

This one's been around for awhile, but I just never thought to post it.  I used Sennelier oil pastels on Colourfix paper and the painting is about 8 x 8 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

WIP - Lexie's Reflection - original oil pastel figurative painting

I have some changes to make to this painting.  It's on 12 x 9" Art Spectrum Colourfix paper in aubergine.  Not sure about the mirror frame - may just do away with it since it's so close to the edge of the painting.  I seldom paint reflections, but couldn't resist giving it a try.  Thanks for looking!

Polka Dot Bow - ACEO original oil pastel portrait painting

I could spend every minute doing ACEOs.  They're so much fun and it's easy to just let go and be expressive. This one makes me happy because of her expression.  It's painted on illustration board and for some reason, the oil pastel seems to dry - as dry as oil pastel ever gets - very quickly on this surface.  It's 3.5 x 2.5", of course (being sort of obsessive, I just had to go and say it!) - thanks so much for stopping by!

Lady in a Hat - original oil pastel Artist Trading Card

I love doing these tiny "just a taste" cards.  This one is done on Art Spectrum Colourfix - my favorite surface for these little 3.5 x 2.5" pieces.  I used unsharpened Sennelier oil pastels - makes it looser and no way can I get it too tight.  Thanks for looking!

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!

On My Easel - Sketch for The Cellist - original oil pastel portrait

Cellos are such beautiful instruments - both in appearance and sound.  So many people think they're just for accompaniment, but they are gorgeous for solos.  This sketch will definitely become an oil painting - not because I don't value oil pastel, because if you read my blog, you know how much I adore oil pastel, but oil is requested for this one.  I have many cello drawings and some will make appearances here.  This piece is drawn with Sennelier oil pastels on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of Satine - original oil pastel portrait sketch

A few Caran d'Ache oil pastels were all I had with me when this sketch opportunity came up, so I just did the best I could on this quick little drawing.  It's about 9 x 9" on Strathmore 403 pastel paper.  Thanks for looking!

Tiny Lia - original oil pastel portrait painting (ATC)

I am on an ACEO/ATC kick at the moment and have been using Caran d'Ache Neopastels instead of my usual Senneliers.  They are not as soft as the Senneliers and are easier to work with in such a small area without sharpening them.  See my post on my oil pastel blog.  I used a 3 1/2 x 2 1/2" piece of illustration board for this one - owing to my photography skills, it's a little warmer than in real life - will try tomorrow to get a photo in better light.  Thanks for looking!

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!

Jerri - original oil pastel portrait drawing

The past few days, I've been doing sort of stream of consciousness drawings and this is one of them.  It's probably not really a stream of consciousness drawing, but it is one that's not been analyzed to death.  Just drawn and done. On Strathmore 403 paper, it's about 8 x 9 1/2".  While I have a number of oil paintings in the works, I'm going to do more oil pastels and start using turps with some of my backgrounds, a practice from years ago that I've decided to revive.  My resolve may only last through one painting, but it's worth a try. My fingers get really tired from rubbing the backgrounds, especially on sanded surfaces, so I need a little help.  This could only work on board or oil paper, of course.
Jerri is such a good model and I have more drawings of her that may actually turn into paintings.  I'm always saying that and nothing comes of it.  And I don't think a drawing is made legitimate by becoming a painting - it's just that sometimes, things look good in oil paint.  I am especially interested in doing paintings that are also drawings for a good portion of the piece.  Too many times, I've covered up lines that I loved and then missed them.  Am going to try not to do that again.  Anyway, that's what I'm up to here at Hackberry Street Studio.  Glad you stopped by - thanks for listening!  Sold

Brenda - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I wish I'd had more time for this drawing, but  anyway, I loved working on this gray-blue Strathmore 403 oil pastel paper. I know - it looks tan, but that is just my pathetic photography.  My palette was very limited. It's about 9 x 9".  Thanks so much 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!

On My Easel - Looking Back - original oil pastel portrait in progress

This is an interesting pose to paint and definitely requires a model - no memory painting here.  It's a long way from being finished, but I look forward to working on it and seeing how it ends up.  Using Strathmore Mixed Media paper - my first experience with this heavy paper and I like it. Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel- Portrait of Cynthia - original oil pastel portrait painting

Here's what I was working on today - not really through with it, though.  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord - will finish it sometime this week.  Thanks for looking!

The Girl in the Red Coat - original oil pastel portrait painting

Finally back from vacation - hope everyone had a great New Year's - and ate their blackeyed peas!  At least, that's what we eat in the South on the first day of the year and I wouldn't dare do otherwise.  Who knows what could happen!  This painting is really a memory painting of a young woman leaving a café where I was in late December and she seemed in a reflective mood.  Maybe she was thinking of her resolutions for the new year.  Or maybe nothing that dramatic, but I did love the scene and couldn't wait to record it when I got back to my studio.  It's on dark green Pastelbord, 5 x 7".  Thanks for stopping by - Happy New Year!

A Little Glitz - original oil pastel portait painting

It was the hair.  And the earrings.  She was ready for the Christmas party.  I used dark green 5 x 7" Pastelbord and then my usual palette of mostly cool colors in Caran d'Ache oil pastels.  I apologize for the fuzziness of the photo - the painting is sharper in person. 
Roger and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas - and thank you for stopping by!

ACEO - Over Her Shoulder - original oil pastel portrait painting

I love to do these little ACEOs - they're only 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches, but they can contain a lot of information and emotion.  This one is on Art Spectrum Colourfix in light blue.  The Colourfix has a white (unsanded) border all around, which I think gives a nice framed effect.  Thanks so much for stopping by!