Seated Pose - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

I did this oil pastel drawing on 12 x 9" carton paper coated with clear gesso. The clear gesso on the carton provides such a perfect surface for the oil pastel - kind of gritty.  I could finish this a bit more, but after the model leaves, it just doesn't work very well.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - Jive Practice - original oil figurative painting in progress

Much to do on this painting, but I sort of like this stage - not finished and sort of raw.  Maybe there should be shows for unfinished works - could be called "Beginnings".  My fear is that this painting will be killed, so I'll set my timer and do nothing to it after the buzzer goes off.  Absolutely nothing.  I promise myself.  The surface here is 12 x 12" stretched canvas.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tango Snuggle - original charcoal figurative drawing

I told myself at the first of the year that I was going to post three or four times a week and look how long it's been!  Well, family things came up and for me, it's family first, but maybe next week, I'll be better at getting things onto my blog.  I'm in Austin at the moment and ahhh - the art supplies!  You can't tell how I'm enjoying the art goodies since I've posted another charcoal drawing, but as y'all know, it's just wonderful to wander through the aisles of paints, papers, art implements of all kinds, and dream of all the masterpieces to come.  I naively think - and deep inside I know it's not true - that if I just had a new something or other, I could do great things.  Oh well, it's pleasant to think on, anyway.  This drawing, which I scribbled madly just because I didn't want it too exact and even thought about doing a sort of abstract drawing, is on 17 x 14" Borden and Riley Bristol (vellum).  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

On My Easel - Sketch for Flamenco - original oil figurative sketch

I should probably call this 'can you figure out what this is?' - a sort of shorthand, I guess.  I know how it should end, and I'm very hopeful, but the best intentions don't always turn out as one would like.  So I'm fully prepared, knowing it may join lots of others I've thrown in the garbage this week.  I find it hard to get rid of things that I once liked or maybe even just liked one passage in the painting, and keep them well past their prime.  Gotta be tough, I keep telling myself.  Thanks for stopping by and listening to my little rant or maybe it was a pep talk to myself.

Whispers at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

It seems like months since I've posted.  I've been away, then much wonderful company for the week of spring break.  So now I'm back with another result of my spying at the bar.  This is about 9 x 9" on gessoed panel.  Although I didn't post for awhile, I was actually doing art - just not sharing, I guess.  This painting was originally 9 x 12", but I didn't like part of it, so just sawed it off.  I've done things like that before.  One time I was in an art show where I had originally planned to submit a complete figure, but I decided I only really liked the top part of the figure, so I just tore everything off from the arms down.  It worked - looked lots better than if I had included everything.  Plus, much cheaper to frame! This one, you can probably tell, I did in a hurry.  And meant to, so I couldn't kill it with my overworking thing.  I just sort have to force myself to let it go.  Sigh.  Art is hard sometimes.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Woman at a Table - original ink and watersoluble crayon figurative drawing

I am thinking of painting a woman seated at a table and did this little preparatory sketch.  I really do love interiors and cozy rooms, so this little 6 x 4" on a cold press watercolor paper postcard may eventually lead to a painting.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Modest Nude - original oil pastel painting of a nude

I came across an old life drawing and did a 7 x 5" painting on Pastelbord from it.  I'm always saying that I'm going to get rid of all those old drawings, but they do come in handy.  I'm not a hoarder by any means, but I do have a stack of them.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Jive Kids - orginal ink and oil pastel drawing

Just scribbling in front of the TV, added some color and here is an 11 x 14" drawing on Strathmore's Mixed Media paper.  I haven't been posting for awhile, because I'm working on lots of things, but not one of them is fit to be seen, yet.  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Her Blue Boots - original oil figurative painting

I just finished watching the Olympic ice dancing - SO gorgeous and they make it look so easy, which, as someone who can barely get around the rink, I know it can't possibly be!  Now back to art - this 5 x 5" painting is done on Gessobord.  I've seen some really beautiful turquoise blue boots lately - luscious, really - and just couldn't resist putting them in my painting.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

Two-Steppin' Romance - original oil figurative painting

 



Here are a couple of sweethearts on the dance floor. I had such a great time painting this - I guess it was feeling free with the brushwork or maybe the turquoise boots - I don't know exactly. Sometimes it just happens. Check out my oil pastel blog, too, if you have a minute, and thanks so much for stepping - uh, stopping - by!

Nude Study - original oil pastel painting of a nude

Here's a quick drawing of a nude - never totally finished - that I did back in October.  It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper about 11 x 9". This paper is white, 160 lb. and pebbly - I love it.  Thanks so much for looking!

Sketch of a Little Moment - original oil pastel figurative sketch

The resort where I spent Thanksgiving provided a wealth of subjects for drawing and here are two that I observed in a private moment.  Although they were wrapped up in each other, they were really in the middle of everything, so I felt it was okay to draw them. They held this "pose" long enough for me to get the bones of the sketch done, then filled in from memory, striving to keep the sketchiness that I intended without overworking.  I had just bought a new set of Caran d'Ache Neopastels, which are perfect for use on Judson's Guerilla Painter carton board.  Neopastels are a less oily form of oil pastel and not my usual go to brand, which is Sennelier, but Neopastels are great, too, and many oil pastelists prefer them.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" carton paper, but it's cropped here to about 11 x 7" - not really physically cropped, but just for blog posting.  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Flamenco Practice - original mixed media figurative painting

I vacillate between 'this is interesting' and 'this is crazy'.  Right now, 'this is interesting' has the upper hand.    I was fooling around with a piece of Yupo and some watercolor crayons, watercolor, ink, graphite, and finally, some oil pastel.  It's about 10 x 7".  Thanks 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!

Nude in Greys - original watersoluble pencil drawing with touches of ink

Copying from a charcoal life drawing that I did several months ago, I compared my Derwent Inktense pencil to my go-to Stabilo Aquarellable.   They came out fairly even - at least on the Yupo that I used here.  Couldn't resist using a little ink, though.  I love the pens that are permanent ink, but until they dry, a little water can make some nice values.  This drawing was done on 12 x 9" Yupo.  If you have a minute, please check out my oil pastel blog.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Winter Evening - original oil figurative painting

I guess I painted this in reaction to the cold weather we've been having - even here in Texas, although I know it doesn't compare to the north and east of the country! 
Usually, I don't use so many warm colors, but again, I guess it was the need to feel warm and cozy.  Here's hoping we've seen the end of the cold.  This painting is 8 x 10" on archival canvas panel.  Thanks for stopping by!

Playing Bach - original oil figurative painting

I painted this 8 x 8" on Gessobord while listening to the Audible.com presentation of Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan; just finished listening to Europe's Last Summer by David Fromkin.  Kind of on a World War I kick here.  Both are really good and I recommend them.  Plus, as I listened, I ate Luden's cherry cough drops, a carryover from childhood that is as wonderful as I remembered.  It's almost worth it to have a cough.
What do y'all listen to when you're painting?  Or maybe you find it distracting.  I do occasionally have to run it back if I lose track, but for the the most part, I can now hardly paint without listening to music or a book.
The photo is shiny, as the painting is still soaking wet, but I wanted to get something ready to post.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Torch Singer III - original oil pastel figurative drawing

One of my favorite subjects - the torch singer.  I'm not even sure why it appeals to me - the loneliness, the lament, the smoky (formerly) night club - but an interesting scenario, to me, anyway.  This is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  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!

The Cocktail Waitress - original oil pastel figurative painting

I know.  Maybe not the usual subject, but I did observe this young woman working very hard - dealing with many different types of customers, taking multiple drink orders, working quickly and efficiently and all with perfect aplomb.  I don't think I could do it, especially in that tiny uniform!  Just another of my bar observations.  It's 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Nude on a Red Tuffet - original oil pastel painting of a nude

Trying to get this done before my internet connection completely stops - 7 x 5" on Pastelbord.    Whew - done!  Thanks for visiting! Sold

Black and White Flourish - original charcoal figurative tango drawing

I drew my latest tango dancers with vine charcoal, extra soft, on 12 x 9" plate Bristol.  I love the way charcoal sort of sits on top of the smooth Bristol - can't explain it, but charcoal just has a different look and feel on this paper.  Another joy for someone who LOVES to draw!  Thanks for visiting my blog! Sold

"Cozy" - original ACEO oil pastel figurative painting

This tiny (3.5 x 2.5") piece is on Art Spectrum Colourfix ATC (Artist Trading Card) paper, the smallest version of their wonderful pastel paper.  It's wonderful for oil pastels, too.  I have this orange chair - my all time favorite - and it's so snug on a cold evening, plus perfect for models, as well - even when they didn't realize they were going to be models.  Working this small without sharpening my oil pastels forces me to be loose, which I hope will carry over to larger works.  Thanks so much 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!

Recital - original oil pastel figurative painting

This is painted on Stonehenge black printmaking/drawing paper and is about 7 1/2 x 5 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

Orange Robe - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's more fooling around on the carton board.  One of my teachers - many, many years ago - read a survey to the class in which one of the findings was that orange was the most disliked color in a painting.  I am always disregarding that, because I love orange - can't wear it, but can use it in paintings like crazy.  So sometimes, when the model wears red, I just take it into the orange range.  The size is 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

More of Those Crazy Jivers - original ink and oil pastel figurative drawing

The first time I saw this jitterbug/jive/lindy step, I was dumbstruck.  Maybe the second and third times, too.  The guy - usually lower to the ground than this jiver - sort of scoots or hops along while the girl holds on tight to his hand to give him balance.  Anyway, it's unbelievable and I just can't help but wonder about his knees.  A fun thing, though, and I love it, because I adore what the jivers do as they jitterbug through life.  This started as an ink drawing and I was really happy with it.  Then, I thought about a little color - that's where the trouble usually starts for me, because my lines end up covered and ruined.  But I added just a smidgen here and there, so the lines wouldn't be obscured, and it seems to work???  It's on Bristol board paper, about 9 x 7 1/2".  Thanks so much for stopping by!Sold

Nude in a Yellow Chair - original oil pastel nude painting

This oil pastel is painted on 12 x 9" Guerilla carton board.  Wonderful stuff.  I just ordered some Caran d'Ache oil pastels because I think they will work really well on this surface.  I was going to do something with the background, but didn't have time, and didn't really get much of a finish on the model, either, but maybe next time.  Thanks for looking!