"Mavis in Sunlight" - original oil pastel portrait

It's pretty difficult to get anyone - even a friend - to hold a pose in light like it was that day, so that's where lots of time spent drawing fast comes in.  I did this one on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord (great stuff) using Sennelier oil pastels (more great stuff).  It's loose because I like things kind of raw and of course didn't have much time.  Was so happy with how it turned out, especially the hand.  It's sometimes the little things that can make one happy!😊 Thanks for stopping by!
 

"A Quick Painting from a Life Sketch" - Life Sketch and Painting

 I did this quick little painting from the charcoal sketch of the model.  Initially I was going to do the whole thing which would include the chair the model was sitting in etc etc, but I ran out of interest and became involved in doing ink drawings of cowboys playing cards.  And possibly leading to trouble. 👀  

The painting is on 6 x 8" Canson mixed media paper.  Am anxious, though, to use my acrylics on Gessobord because I think I'll be more pleased with the brushstrokes.  This was interesting to do - next time I'll make color notes about skin, eye and hair color.  As always. so grateful to the models.   Thanks for stopping by my blog.

"Motherhood" - small acrylic portrait

Well, a couple of days late for my watercolor piece, but this is sort of watercolor since it's acrylic.  Excuses, excuses. 😏 I have a few really small 4 x 4" Ampersand Gessobords and used one for this painting.  Reminds me of many nights with my little ones when they just couldn't get to sleep.  It's tough to paint any detail - for me, at least - on such a small surface, but I see artists who seem to do this very easily.  I actually had a good time with it but won't attempt it again for a few weeks, I think.  I'll probably be doing more two steppers, since I have a number of requests for those pieces. Thank you for stopping by my blog - have a great Saturday!
 

"Sketch of Marilee"

Here's a 7 x 5" Pastelbord sketch of the model Marilee that I did using Caran d'Ache pastel pencils.  I do love this medium  - the only problem for me with soft pastels is the framing.  And I really really love to work with the pencil version!  We didn't have as much time as I would have liked, but that's always my complaint and I think "not having enough time" pushes us to work faster, which is good practice.  Anyway, it was fun drawing her and I appreciate your stopping by my blog!
 

"Loree" - original graphite portrait drawing of a woman

Although I love to draw with charcoal, occasionally I will use a graphite pencil to do a portrait.  I used HB and 2B on this one -  the support was Canson mixed media paper.  The paper is white although with my great photography, you wouldn't know it😞.  I also trimmed it to 8 x 4 3/8".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Portrait of Laura - original charcoal portrait

 I was so lucky to see the exhibition "Degas at the Opera" when it was in Paris and while my model perused the catalog from that fabulous exhibition, I did a sketch of her.  This drawing was done using vine charcoal on Canson Mix Media 12 x 9" paper, 138 lb, so a good weight.  Would liked to have had more time for this drawing but was glad to have even this much - thank you for stopping by!  

Clara's Hat - original oil pastel portrait

I used a rather casual approach to this little piece which always seems to be my best option. Loose and inexact makes me so happy - not just in what I do but in most all artwork.  Her pose was perfect as a design, I thought, so I kept her over on the side.   My tools were Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Ampersand Pastelbord.  Much fun.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Silva's Attitude - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This young woman displayed lots of confidence and it was fun to try and get that attitude down on paper.  Good model - easy and pleasant to work with.  This was a quick drawing, with no "amendments" and although I did a larger one later, I felt this drawing captured her perfectly.  Drew
this on a Canson 6 x 8" mix media pad, which I love to carry around with me.  Fits in my purse - even a couple of my crossbody ones - and I can pull it out and draw anyplace, even with some water-soluble pencils, because it's pretty heavy paper.   Thanks for looking!
 

The Model Napping - original oil pastel portrait drawing

 Such a relaxing pose for the model - she couldn't help nodding off - especially since there had been a couple of hard poses before this one.  This drawing helps me to blend my love of line with a painted part of the piece - there's always a dilemma regarding exactly how much to describe with paint vs. line drawing  and I could have crossed the line (pun) 😀with painting more of the hair.  If I'd done any more, I might have needed to go ahead and paint the whole piece.  Just one of those things you never know until you've actually done it - so I stopped - maybe 'quitting while I'm ahead'?  I don't know, just did.  This one is on Canson pastel paper on the rough side, which I didn't realize - just had that urge to grab the paper and get started.  Actually, though, it's done with Caran d'Ache Neocolor 1- which I love - and then a bit of "touching" with Caran d'Ache oil pastel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lissy on Red - acrylic and oil pastel portrait

Something so much fun to paint - started with acrylic and finished with oil pastel.  These two media work so well together.  It's done on acrylic paper by Strathmore, which has a great surface and is very easy to work with.  I could have made it more realistic but it was so enjoyable to just roll with it - and Lis thinks it looks like her, so who am I to fret?  

Hope you're all having a great Labor Day - thanks for stopping by!
 

Bedtime Braid - original oil pastel portrait

 This 12 x 9" oil pastel was done on Strathmore black mixed media paper, which is great for oil pastel.  I liked the casual - kind of messy - way she wove the ribbons into her hair.  This started with a live pose, but like so many, ended up with a photo.  Oh well, one does what one can😕 Thanks for stopping by!

Barrie - original oil portrait painting

Texas is probably just about done digging itself out of the ice and snow of this past week.  Our family fared pretty well, but sad to say, lots of folks didn't.  We're just not prepared for this kind of weather - 3 degrees - and I'm hoping this really was a once in a century thing.  And if I didn't already love summer, I do now!

This piece, lurking in my studio, is painted on 8 x 10" stretched canvas, beginning from life, then on to photos.  I like it for her sweet expression.  Thanks for stopping by!
 

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!

Sketch of the Model Cinda - original portrait sketch

I had plans to put in a vase of flowers in back of Cinda, but, alas, didn't have enough time.  Always the story.  Did this with Caran d'Ache pastel pencils.  They are heavenly!  Not too powdery and really good for drawing.  It's on Art Spectrum smooth, which is delightful to work with.  I love Art Spectrum's lightly toothed paper for oil pastels because it really grabs the oil pastels, but this smoother one is perfect for pastel pencils and doesn't grind down the points.  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!

Woman Reading - original pastel pencil figurative drawing

This pastel pencil drawing is actually on bluish Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, but for some reason, it looks kind of beige here.  Otherwise, the colors are correct.  I love having a model for even a short time, so didn't work on the chair at all - just concentrated on the model, because all models do tire after awhile.  And sure enough, she finally had enough and that was that.  It was great while it lasted, though.  Years ago, I used some CarbOthello pastel pencils in art class and I loved them, but haven't used this medium since.  Got to thinking about them and just hauled off and treated myself to a whole set of CarbOthellos.   They are delicious, plus I think changing one's medium from time to time is good for the soul!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Sandra - original oil pastel portrait painting

This little oil pastel is 7 x 5" on panel.  Once again, I fooled around with it afterward, but it still looks like her - such a pleasant expression throughout.  Memo to me:  Leave it alone after you get home!  Thanks for looking!

Seated in a Red Chair - original oil figurative painting

I love it when the model is on a break and takes a "pose" that's natural for her.  Then we can ask her to hold it while we paint - works out great for all of us!  This painting is on 8 x 8" canvas.  Thanks for looking!
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Formal #2 - original oil figurative sketch

This sketch is based on an earlier charcoal drawing of mine and I'm just fooling around with it here; playing with the idea that working on a pose over and over helps to understand it better, resulting in a  more successful painting in the end - we'll see.  Today's sketch is done on 8 x 8" canvas and it is SO absolutely not finished.   Another stream of consciousness thing.  Thanks for looking!
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The Godmother - original oil pastel figurative painting

We hear a lot about godfathers, but not so much about godmothers, of whom I am one.  It's an awesome responsibility.  I loved the tender way this woman held her little godson as they were waiting to go into the church.  You can tell it was early in the spring, because not even a tiny baby would need a blanket in the triple digits we've been having this summer.
I was looking today at the forecast for the next couple of weeks.  It looks like it might cool down to 93,  which is pretty good when you're used to 102 degrees! 
This piece is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!