Model Watching the Clock - original oil pastel over acrylic

The model has a great face and is well able to hold a pose, but toward the end of the session, she obviously was counting the minutes and the clock on the wall was just irresistible.  I have this urge to add to the drawing, but because I can remember scads of drawings and paintings I've ruined by trying to work on them after I'm back in my studio, she stays the way she is and I'll move on to another drawing.  Acrylic paint over acrylic paper with the drawing done with Sennelier oil pastels, this piece is 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Bobbie Looking Up - oil pastel portrait

Another oil pastel portrait - love this model - on MultiMedia pastel panel,  10 x 8".  Thanks so much for looking!

Mary - original oil pastel portrait painting

On this portrait of Mary, (who looks a little sad, but I think it's just boredom) I used acrylic paint on Strathmore acrylic paper, then drew over it with oil pastel.  I try to have some of these acrylic painted sheets on hand, just in case.  If you haven't tried the paper, it's really great - 246 lb. and with a canvas-like texture, it works for lots of painting and drawing materials.  This piece is 12 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

A Model in Profile - oil pastel drawing

Just one of those faces that was so interesting to me that I just had to draw her.  You know how it is - some things you just must do for no particular reason.  This piece is done on 9 1/2 x 6 1/2" Sennelier oil pastel pad, using Sennelier oil pastels, except for the CrayPas Specialist grey that I used in the background.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Rita's Black Dress - original oil pastel portrait

Sennelier oil pastels are so wonderfully gooey and rewarding to work with - plus the model was a pleasure to draw.  Can't ask for more than that!  I feel, though, that I worked it over more than usual and maybe should have left it alone.  The drawing really looks like her, though, so I can be pleased with that - and I am really delighted with the dress.  This piece is 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

Portrait of Rosa - oil pastel portrait painting

I could paint this model all day and sure am hoping she shows up again!  Very expressive, plus she holds a pose so well - just can't ask for more than that in a model.  Behind her was a figurative panel - I always like using these designs in the background.  This piece was done on 8 x 8" Multimedia pastel panel, using luscious Sennelier oil pastels - like working with lipstick.  Thanks for looking!

                                                               HAPPY NEW YEAR!       

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait drawing in progress

I have so many things that I'm working on and nothing is anywhere near being finished, so here's one of the works in progress.  Lots of stuff to do to reach a stopping point, but am thinking I'll leave the negative space as is.  It's about 14 x 12" on Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of a Native American Girl - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I started this drawing on 12 x 9" paper, using Sennelier oil pastels, and have decided to leave it as a sketch, rather than "finishing" it.  Thanks for visiting!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait painting in progress

While I will probably do another painting of this pose, working out things I want to emphasize - maybe in oil - I just loved doing this one.  My ambition is to keep my enthusiasm while doing the second one, because I always seem to lose the motivation.  Am going to try very hard!  Actually, maybe trying hard isn't the best option - just relax I tell myself.  This is on Strathmore pastel paper - formerly for oil pastel and is about 9 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

A Few Minutes with Steffi - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This quick drawing of Steffi was fun to do - of course, I always wish for more time.   It seems to work better, though, when I have to scramble to get the drawing done in a few minutes.  I did this on 9 x 12" oil pastel paper with Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Girl with Tablet - original oil pastel portrait

I just colored over the notan I did in the previous post and realized, too, that I had not included some shadows in the original.  Oh well, a learning process and a really great guide for further work.  Years ago, I took a portrait class in pastel in which we did something similar - the underpainting wasn't black and white, but color values instead.  This coming week, I'll be concentrating on that way of working.  Thanks for stopping by!

Special Moment - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I used Sennelier oil pastels on 10 x 8" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

On My Easel - Rita - oil pastel portrait painting in progress

This one started from life, but now I'm at the photo stage and trying to finish it.  Great model - sultry, but dignified - hope she poses again.  I was interested in the negative space, as well.  On 14 x 11" Pastelbord - thanks so much for looking!

Winter - original oil pastel portrait

As a lover of line, I'm always trying to keep the drawing from being covered by the paint.  This is the method in my madness here on this 7 x 5" oil pastel on Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Geisha with a Parasol - original oil pastel portrait painting

This is just so totally outside of what I usually do that once I started, I just couldn't stop - like forbidden territory.  The geisha life has always been fascinating to me - beautiful, but a little sad - and sometimes I simply have to dress a model as much like a geisha as I can.  This painting is on 12 x 12" Pastelbord, using lots of juicy Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Three Quick Faces - original oil pastel portrait sketches

                                                       

 Just goofing around with oil pastel and multi media art board.  I did this quickly while watching TV -  great practice - plus I almost cannot sit in front of the TV without drawing.  This drawing is on black 8 x 10"art board paper.  Thanks for stopping by!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

ACEO - Tiny Lida - original oil pastel portrait

This little portrait is on an Art Spectrum Colourfix ATC card.  There is a white border around the  surface - all the Colourfix paper has this border - very helpful when you frame your piece.   Such a wonderful surface to work on - Colourfix is great for oil pastel because it has just enough grit and accepts many layers.  It's quite a challenge to get a picture on such a small surface when using unsharpened oil pastels, but this practice keeps me from being so tight and helps me focus on the essentials of the drawing.  It's 3.5 x 2.5 inches - thanks for stopping by!

Ponytail - original oil pastel portrait painting

Had a chance to do this one - would have liked more detail, but didn't have much time - it's on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Reading Catalogs - original oil pastel portrait painting

Reading catalogs is one of my favorite pastimes, especially this time of year.  All those beautiful things to buy!  This painting is done with Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Clara's Pnk Sweater - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I love horizontal portrait paintings - in this one, the model was sitting with her arm along the back of the sofa with an oscillating fan blowing on her (hence the hair flying out behind her) - just got started working and it was so satisfying to scribble madly with the lipsticky Sennelier oil pastels on Pastelbord, seldom stopping to add a lot of detail.  Thanks for stopping by!