Roger with Santa - Merry Christmas to All

The local pound had a fundraiser which allowed pets to be photographed with Santa for a contribution and I put a ribbon around my wonderful dog, Roger's, neck for the occasion. By the time we arrived at the pound, the ribbon was off, but I tied it back for the photo.

Roger was rescued from the pound and it was one of the best things I've done. I recommend it for everyone who wants a pet.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone and THANK YOU to all who have purchased my artwork in 2007 ! Have a wonderful 2008!

Sunbather II - oil figure painting

This painting is still so wet, but I posted it anyway. I did it with a limited palette and I was experimenting with mixing greys, as well as working on foreshortening. It's 6x6" on gessoed hardboard. Thanks for looking.

SOLD

Sort of Santa Claus - alla prima portrait

This is a portrait that I did a long time ago on the first day of a workshop for the instructor to ascertain how advanced the participants were. Can't even remember who the teacher was, but maybe it will come to me. I'm happy that I can at least remember where it was held. I did this on canvas mounted on board - it's 18x12". Thanks for looking! SOLD

Tango Dip - original oil figures

This painting is still wet, but I decided to post it anyway. It's oil on gessoed hardboard, 5x7". Thanks for looking!

SOLD

Cindy's Back

I love this pebbly paper, even though it's probably an odd choice for drawing skin. Still, I enjoyed using it - different papers keep my interest; sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. I think this works.

It's 12x9", charcoal. Thanks for looking!

Tessa's Pose

How I love oil pastel! In this case, it's Sennelier - a luscious stick of color that responds to my every wish. Oil pastel is so versatile. It can be used with turps and brush - not my favorite technique, but useful at times. It's great for sgrafitto, but for me, it's so satisfying to just pile it on as I did here.

This painting is 7"x5" on gessoed board. Thanks for looking!

More Tango Lovers - original oil figure painting

I just can't get this couple out of my head. They were so smooth and elegant, yet emotional - a real delight to watch and draw! This is 7" x 5", oil on gessoed hardboard. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Tango Ballroom - original oil figure painting

Something a little different for me - a larger (12" x 9") painting. This is oil on gessoed hardboard. Thanks for stopping by. SOLD

Elegant Tango - original oil painting figures

These two had a graceful, dignified style, maybe more like the original tango. I used a more solid background, which is new for me. It's a green-grey as a complement to the red dress. The painting is 7" x 5" and is oil on gessoed hardboard. Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Tango Fiesta - oil pastel figure

I went a little wild with the oil pastel on this one - but I loved doing it! The curly strings reminded me of celebrations - hence, "Fiesta" in the name. It's oil pastel on black Stonehenge paper, which is a gorgeous, smooth, sturdy American-made paper. It accepts oil pastel in such a delicious way that, although I'm always trying other papers, I always come back to this beauty.

This painting is available at Artworks in Austin, Texas. SOLD

Another Tango Lovers - original oil figure

Oil on gessoed board, this painting is 7" x 5". SOLD

Lady in Red II - oil pastel figure

This is a companion painting to Lady in Red. It was tough to get the pose the way I wanted it. Sometimes my figure drawings seem to have their own minds and want their arms, legs, other body parts to do what they want and it's pretty difficult to convince them to do it my way.

It's 12" x 10" on sturdy, rag Stonehenge paper. Thanks for visiting my blog! SOLD

Lady in Red - oil pastel figure

Just for a change, I painted a couple of flamenco dancers. This is the first of the two and is oil pastel on smooth and sturdy black Stonehenge paper. It's about 12" x 9". I love flamenco, but it's harder to find performances of this dance, so I don't get to do as much of it as I would like.

Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

LIfe Drawing, November 13th - charcoal nude

On this 15 minute drawing, I seemed to concentrate on the face more than on the figure. It's 19" x 10" on wonderfully smooth, sturdy Stonehenge paper.

Everything else that I'm working on is too wet for a photo or not yet completed, so I'll just post some nudes 'til they're ready.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pensive Moment - charcoal portrait/figure

This is one of my charcoal drawings from the drawing group on Tuesday. It's a pose that just charmed me and I'm pleased with the result. It's 13" x 8". Thanks for stopping by!

Violinist - oil pastel figure study

This 6" x 7" oil pastel is done on very sturdy Sennelier D340 paper. I lightly coated the paper with raw umber and ultramarine acrylic and let it dry for a day before I began my painting. This is a very loose interpretation of a memory drawing I did last year from a recital that I attended. Like dancers, musicians get lost in their art and it's wonderful to see. Thanks for dropping by!

Charlee's Back - female nude charcoal drawing

I love back poses, especially with just a little view of the face, as in this pose Although I am doing more interiors with the figure lately, I will never lose my passion for life drawing.

This drawing is 15" x 16". Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Male Nude No.2 - figure drawing

Drawings of male nudes are more rare than those of females. Here's another male to help even the score. It's about 15" x 10" and done with charcoal.

A Good Read - oil pastel figure

Now that it's getting cooler, my thoughts turn to cozy evenings and a good book. This 6 x 8 painting is oil pastel on Sennelier D340 paper.

SOLD

Red Door - oil pastel nude

This is a quick oil pastel study of a wonderful model. I left it kind of raw, because that's my favorite way to paint. While I admire the great painters who do work to more of a "finish", I am happiest when I leave things unsaid. This painting is on Gessobord (quality gessoed hardboard) and is 7 x 5.

I appreciate your stopping by my blog!

Tango Practice - oil figure painting

I actually did a salsa painting today, but I don't think I'll ever give up painting the beautiful, expressive, soulful tango. Capturing its quality is elusive, but I keep trying. This painting is 7 x 5, oil on quality gessoed hardboard. Thanks for stopping by!SOLD

Be sure to see the new North Light book, "Strokes of Genius, The Best of Drawing". One of my drawings from life is included, I'm thrilled to say!

Tango Lovers - oil painting of dancers

Another one of my paintings in my Tango series. It is 7 x 5 on gessosed hardboard. Thanks for stopping by. SOLD

Nude in a Green Room - interior and figure oil painting

This little painting is oil on gessoed board. It measures 7" x 5".

Thanks for stopping by.

SOLD

A Little Tango - figure painting Latin dance

This painting is oil on gessoed hardboard and is another in my continuing series on tango dancers.

SOLD

Tango Passion II - oil figurative Latin dance

Another in my series of tango dancers, this painting is 7" x 5" on gessoed hardboard.

Thanks for looking!

SOLD

Geisha - oil pastel figure

This painting is another version of an earlier one that I posted and is more "finished". I covered much of the painting with iridescent oil pastel, especially the kimono and the gold panels. Thanks for stopping by.

SOLD

Male Nude - charcoal drawing

And now for something completely different - a male nude. I did this from life with a charcoal pencil on Strathmore paper.

The Day's Last Pose - portrait in charcoal

This was the last pose of the day at the new short pose drawing group I helped organize in Kerrville, TX (about an hour from where I live). It's the result of turning the charcoal on its side and moving it around quickly on the paper, adding a few lines and picking out the lights. This method requires a semi-conscious state, which is easy when I've been drawing for three hours.

The Day's First Pose - portrait in oil pastel

This was the first pose at the new drawing group. We're just interested in relatively short poses - no more than 20 minutes. This is oil pastel on Strathmore 403. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Linda Sleeping - figure drawing

Oil pastel, Strathmore 403 - one of my favorite combinations - about 7" x 12".