On My Easel - Portrait of a Scholar WIP - oil pastel

Definitely a work in progress with much more to do, but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's too "warm" for me, so am doing a bit of cooling off - blue in the background and possibly more to come.  This is one I'll leave alone for a few days and see how it looks then.  I have lots more to do re drawings and paintings.  Will post again when it's finished - 16 x 12" on gritty paper.  Thanks for looking!
To see more about the oil pastels I'm using in painting this portrait, click here to visit my oil pastel blog.

3 Lisas - oil pastel portrait sketch of model in 3 views

I could probably just as well call this 'Just Foolin' Around' since that's what I was doing - searching for a way to do different views of the same model.  One sketch I used to love doing was the model in different values.  Maybe tomorrow.  Just wanted to share this 11 x 14" oil pastel portrait on Canson black drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait sketch of a ballet dancer looking over her shoulder

Inspired by the ballet I saw last night, "The Firebird" by Ballet Austin, I sketched a ballerina looking back - and of course, I now have more ballet sketches from which to paint.  The ballet was lovely - I've seen lots of beautiful ballets over the years but never "The Firebird", so am really

thrilled!  Above is a picture of The Long Center where Ballet Austin performs.  The drawing is 8 x 6" on Pastel Premier board.  Thanks for looking!

Ballerina Conversation - original oil pastel figurative sketch

A just for fun sketch that I loved doing - me and my gesture drawings - my favorite thing is to try and capture little moments, then work on them later back in my studio!  I would like to have known what these girls were talking about - maybe a tough practice?  I used 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

"Nude with Earrings" - original oil pastel painting of a nude

I've always loved back views because they are mysterious and actually very challenging.  I worked here to get the values correct.  And just to be completely true to myself, I didn't add color to her left leg.  Drawing - my true love!  Using Sennelier oil pastels, I painted this piece on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks so much for looking!

"Black Dress" - oil pastel drawing of the model

I loved drawing this model - there's nothing like drawing from life!  I used a sketchy scribbling with my oil pastel to (I hope) capture her pose and, yes, could have "finished" it more, but then it wouldn't have been as much fun.  About 9 x 9" on Colourfix paper.  Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

On My Easel - original oil pastel profile in progress

Much to do on this piece, and since I love drawing profiles, it'll be a pleasure,  It's on Colourfix paper, 16 x 20".  Thanks for looking!

Profile - oil pastel portrait

Another of the oil pastel over acrylic paper drawings- what a pleasant combo to work with.  This one is 12 x 12".  Thanks for looking!

Looking Around - mixed media figurative

I slathered acrylic paint on paper pretty thickly, then drew with a General's Peel & Sketch charcoal pencil, and worked over that with oil pastel.  Kind of a quick, frantic piece done from one of my old black and white drawings.  Oil pastel works so great over acrylic - really just glides over the surface.  On 9 x 12" Strathmore acrylic paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Cowboy - oil pastel figurative work in progress

Hoping to get this finished tomorrow, it's 6 x 12" on Ampersand Pastelbord, which is so great.  I love dogs and love seeing cowboys and their dogs - the best.  Much to do, but such a pleasure to work on  this subject and on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Playing Guitar - oil pastel figurative drawing

Hey, Houston, Corpus Christi, Victoria and all of y'all down that way coping with this disaster - hope you're safe!

Although I'm not totally finished with this piece, I just decided to go ahead and post - will finish it tomorrow.  I used Sennelier oil pastels on Sennelier oil pastel paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

Gwen - original oil pastel nude painting

This fairly quick drawing is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 9 x 12".  Didn't have time to smooth things out, so it's still a little raw - the way I like it.  Thanks so much for looking!

A Few Drawings - charcoal and mixed figurative drawings

Some of the little drawings I did before the holidays.   I hope everyone has a wonderful 2017!

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!

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!

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!

Livy Reading - original oil pastel figurative painting

There's nothing like a good book - right now, I'm reading (or listening through audible.com, I should say) The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark, about the events that led
to WWI.  Have read many books on this subject and am also reading the Maisie Dobbs mystery series which is set in the years immediately after the war.  Good to mix mystery and history - my two favorite subjects.  I'm wondering if other artists out there listen to books while painting.  Anyway, I'm not sure what Livy's reading, but she does seem engrossed in her book.  I painted Livy on 10 x 8" Ampersand Pastelbord, using mostly Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!