The Student - original charcoal portrait drawing

Here's a 14 x 11" drawing of a young woman done on Strathmore toned paper, using General Pencil Company's EuroBlend charcoal pencils and vine charcoal. Hope y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Ginny's Hat - original oil portrait painting

I put a ton of oil paint on this 8 x 8" gessoed wood panel, mainly on her face.  I seldom do that, but it was an interesting experiment.  I had applied extra gesso and was trying to overcome the texture of the brushstrokes since I didn't sand the board.  Now I'll see how long it takes to dry!  Thanks for stopping by!

Still Working - portrait painting work in progress

Every time I look, I see things that need correcting.  Didn't spend much time on it today - was busy outside - actually haven't spent much time at all on this little painting, but it's been fun to do.  Even though there really is a lot of cool blue in her hair, will remove some of it. Mostly, I just smoothed things and will probably leave it alone, except for something here and there.  Always so afraid of murdering my poor paintings. I hope this isn't too boring - thanks for stopping by - and I am totally open to critiques, ideas, tips, or anything else!

Keeley's Self Confidence - oil pastel portrait sketch

I first laid down lots of yellow ochre acrylic paint, then drew and scribbled with oil pastel till I "found" Keeley.  This one is on about 10 x 9" acrylic paper.  Thanks for looking!

What I'm Working On - figurative oil portrait

Fortunately, this model was able to hold the pose because she really can play the guitar.  Ah, but the guitar, what a nightmare to do!  Whether to make it just so-so or to put the whole thing in - will decide on this tomorrow - but that's it for today. It's on 12 x 12" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Woman with a Cell Phone - oil pastel figurative

This one is really from memory - a young woman I saw checking her phone.  Maybe it will end up as an oil painting, but somehow when I do that, I just don't have the same passion for the second version.
I drew it on Sennelier oil pastel paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Love that stuff!  Thanks for looking,

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!       

Portrait of the Wednesday Model - original oil pastel portrait

This model was so pretty, with such a gentle face.  Such a pleasure to draw.  I used cold press watercolor paper again, which makes more white bits.  It's just such a good, tough paper, that I like to use it sometimes for oil pastels because it can take lots of punishment.  The size for this one is 9 x 12" - for some reason, I love portraits done in a horizontal format.  Thanks for stopping by!

Joanie - original charcoal portrait drawing

I was going to do this in oil paint, but when I realized I just wouldn't have time, it was charcoal to the rescue.  Could probably do a painting from this drawing, but am happy with the charcoal version.  I used vine charcoal and General's Peel n Sketch (I think I've called it Peel n Draw before) on Strathmore 400 Mixed Media paper.  This paper is really versatile - it's 140 lb. and has just the right amount of tooth, although maybe not as easy to erase as I'd like.  But then I'm pretty hard on paper and work and work it 'til it's worn out, so really, there's no paper for me - I should probably work on my technique!
I kind of dreaded doing the hands, especially when there's not much time, but think they worked out okay.  This drawing is about 11 x 8".  I hope to be able to do a painting of Joanie - maybe we can have her as a model again soon.  One can hope.
Thanks for stopping by!

Agnes - original oil portrait painting

I loved this quick little glance by the model, so I sketched the look in her eyes before it changed.  She was looking at something that was going on in the corner of the room.  I could do more - like the background - but I'm going to leave this a little more unfinished - I was just after her expression, anyway.  This painting is on 10 x 8"  linen.  Glad you stopped by!

Curly - original charcoal portrait drawing

I loved drawing her hair, which is a remarkable feature.  She isn't a regular model, so I didn't have much time - there I go again - anyway, much fun to draw.  This drawing is on mixed media 10 x 8" paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - The Hippie - original oil pastel portrait painting in progress

This oil pastel was begun after I had completed the charcoal sketch from life, but there just wasn't enough time to complete this one from the model, so am now working from a photo and my initial charcoal drawing.  Lots to do before I finish it, but I love working on Art Spectrum Colourfix - it's wonderful for oil pastel - 12 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

The Model in a Red Coat - original oil pastel portrait

This painting is 7 x 5" on Ampersand Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Mademoisellle - original acrylic portrait sketch

This young woman looked so French to me.  I've never given any thought to what a French person looks like, but something just made me think of her as a French girl.  I worked quickly on this little portrait (8 x 6") on Strathmore Mixed Media paper, basically scumbling over the surface with lots of acrylic paint on my brush.  Fun.  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!

Searching for the Right Word - original oil pastel figurative

I was trying to make a composition with variety in the background - but don't know if I succeeded.  And tried not to make the model too abstract, nor too realistic.  I sound like Jackie Mason.  But you get what I mean about the painting, right?  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  I love that stuff - could kiss it.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!