Al - original charcoal portrait drawing from life by Connie Chadwell

This twenty-minute drawing of Al is an example of my all-time favorite art method - drawing from life with a stick of vine charcoal. I have a box of different thicknesses of charcoal that is very messy and disorganized; at the end of the session, there is as much charcoal on me as on the paper. In the heat of battle, I just grab a stick and go to work.

I don't really look - just reach. If that stick works, great; if not, I grab another.

Timed drawings from life are such great training - you don't have time to focus on each mark and can put your drawing know-how to work without really thinking about it.

This piece is 24 x 18" on Strathmore 400 drawing paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hopeful - original oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

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I loved doing this on Pastelbord. By now, you may have realized that I have lots of "favorites". I guess I just love the one I'm with.

The great thing about oil pastel on Pastelbord is that in most cases, it can be framed like an oil painting. Really, the oil pastel gets dry on this surface and then can be fixed and varnished. Wonderful!

Today I learned what I guess just about everybody else knows - how to link to individual pages in my blog (is that deep linking? -guess I'd better go back and study the lesson). I'm taking the blog improvement class from Alyson Stanfield and Cynthia Morris and having a great time!

This piece is on 10 x 8" Pastelbord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

3 A.M. - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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This is my post for Daily Painters Gallery's first Wednesday theme day - Celebrating Mom.

Babies are so sweet - even in the wee hours. I can say that, of course, because my kids are a long way from being babies! The only problem with them is that they don't stay babies for long. Before you know it, they're all grown up!

This quick little painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Waiting - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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After I finished painting her, I wasn't sure whether she was a torch singer or a woman waiting to be asked to dance. I decided she wanted to dance. I have a little influence with my characters - but only a little.

She is my second painting of a wallflower. Not a flattering term, but since I've been one at times, I qualify to use it.

When I was about 13, my mother signed me up for ballroom dance class. I was gangly and awkward and a couple of years younger than the other students. At that age even a year makes a difference. Nobody - and I mean nobody - chose me as a partner. My teacher had some of the boys dance with me so I could at least learn the steps.

Oh the humiliation! It rates a smile from me now, but back then it was a major trauma! Maybe experiences like that make me especially sympathetic to the lonely and unappreciated. Other than dancers, they are my favorite subjects.

This painting - still so wet, it was tough to photograph, hence all the shiny areas - is oil on Gessobord, 12 x 12". Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

The Soloist - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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I did this painting today at the Thursday Painters group, of which I'm a member. Even though I have a studio where I can listen to absolutely any music I want, on Thursdays, I usually drive to Ingram, Texas, to draw or paint with other artists in an art studio at The Point. We meet at the Hill Country Arts Foundation (a regional visual and performing arts center). Thursday Painters is such a congenial and talented group and I'm happy to be part of it.

Believe it or not, there's very little chatter. We work hard and only break for lunch. While I do love my studio and plan to post pictures as I begin getting it in better shape, it's inspiring to work with other artists occasionally!

This painting is on Pastelbord and the oil pastel is really thick, especially on her face, blouse and arms. I used mainly Holbein oil pastels and plan to use them more. Their square shape enables me to use them on their sides for a variety of strokes and the shape is also great for detail work. Then I finished off with some Caran d'Ache and Sennelier.

These three brands are the ones I use the most - as well as Craypas Specialist neon colors - but I would really like to know if anyone has used any of the other brands and what you thought about them.

The painting is 10 x 8". Thanks so much for dropping by!

Portrait of Lee - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

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This painting is based on a drawing I did in a life drawing group. I loved the model's pose, but I concentrated on her face, rather than the whole figure. Upturned faces are such a challenge!

I just love green, especially in skin colors. And with green, ya gotta have red. So I did Lee's skin in a little exaggeration of green with some red.

It's on 6 x 6" Gessobord.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait sketch

I don't have a completed painting, but I must post my assignment for the blog improvement class I'm taking, "Maintaining A Healthy Artist Blog" taught by Alyson Stanfield and Cynthia Morris, so here's a work in progress.

The first assignment is to describe on our blog posts what type of blog visitors we would like to attract. (I think a lot of our homework will be posted on our blogs.)

My blog readers are a delightful cross-section of art lovers - artists, collectors, gallery owners, dancers, art students and many others. I love having them all visit and comment on my blog or send comments to me via email. I hope to revitalize my blog and keep them interested in stopping by Hackberry Street Studio .

The blog goals I'm pursuing are those of increasing the number of my viewers, as well as making my blog a more interesting one.

This drawing, which I will complete early next week, is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9". Maybe I'll post it when it's finished. This young girl wanted to wear her cap, but I felt it shaded her face too much, so I had her turn it a little. I don't know if this will work. At this stage, though, things can be changed.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Flamenco Rhythm II - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

It's hard to focus on painting these days with all the things to do in the garden - I'm really torn. Soon, though, it will be so hot in Texas that I won't be interested in going outside!

This painting is similar to a larger one that I did a couple of years ago, but this one is much more expressive, I think, and I really loved painting it. Just sort of went wild.

It's 10 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Martha - original oil pastel portrait sketch by Connie Chadwell

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This is a sketch that I did of a young woman whose portrait I painted in oil. Sometimes I do extra drawings if the subject is willing to pose - I do them quickly so the sitter doesn't get too tired. It's really hard to pose, which I've found out by having to fill in if the model for a drawing session doesn't show. Then we all take turns. It's tough!

After I finished the drawing, or at least after the model had left, I used some oil pastel medium on the piece to give it a smoother look. That's rare for me to do, but I was just experimenting.

On Colourfix paper, this drawing is 12 x 9". Thanks for stopping by!

Another Lady with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting is from another of the drawings that I did of the dancers in San Antonio. It's 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Even though I do occasionally use my oil pastel sharpener, it's a challenge to work on small paintings with an unsharpened oil pastel. It forces me to work loose.

The weather is so wonderful here in Texas - at least for now - that it's hard to do anything but stay outdoors. My flower beds received most of my attention today and although I have lots of paintings in various stages, the roses kept calling me. Maybe tomorrow I'll do some more painting. And again, maybe not.

Thanks for stopping by!

Music Lovers - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I've had this painting in my head for awhile and today I finally got it done - or 'got 'er done' - as they say in these parts. I'm happy because I think it expresses the emotion I was seeking.

It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Attitude - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting was done on a stretched canvas - 12 x 18" - that I think would normally be used for a landscape and I did plan to do that. But there was a model I wanted to paint, so the landscape will have to wait. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

Lady with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I was in San Antonio last week and struck the artist's version of gold when I saw some dancers before they began their performance. I was able to do lots of gesture drawings that I will be turning into oil and oil pastel paintings. And then there was the dancing that followed - absolutely gorgeous - so I'm well supplied with drawings!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Pastelbord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Secret Smile - original oil portrait by Connie Chadwell

I love profiles because they seem to capture the model in a private, reflective moment.

This painting is 6 x 6" on gessoed panel.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torchsinger II - original oil pastel figurative painting

I was in an oil pastel mood today and am always fascinated by the emotion of the "torch singers" of years past - hence today's painting. Although I will probably do another - probably larger - painting of this in oil, I loved doing the oil pastel.

On Colourfix paper, it's about 12 x 9".

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Folk Dancer - original charcoal figurative drawing

I was watching a group of dancers from Central America and this enthusiastic young lady was in front of me - she put her soul into her dancing and it was wonderful to watch.  I did a quick gesture drawing and continued with this drawing even though she only held this position briefly.  I was forced to remember the pose even though the model had moved on - a great drawing exercise.  And not too bad for helping my memory, either.   It's 8 x 6" on charcoal paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Flamenco Rhythm - original oil figurative painting

Flamenco - another Latin dance I love - really wonderful when the stomping is fast (I think it's called 'buleria'). Anyway, it's exciting to see and hear. This painting is 10 x 8" on linen panel. Thanks for visiting my blog!

A Little Melody - original oil figurative painting

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Today's painting was done on a new support that I've found to be so delicious - single primed linen on panel. I love the way the brush drags across the surface, much like charcoal on toothy paper. Anything that feels like drawing appeals to me.

I did 'A Little Melody' from my drawing, although I also tried to take a photo of the model. It was too dark - couldn't make out anything. (I must be the worst photographer ever!) That's my piano, where I learned to play as a child, or tried, anyway.

The painting is 10 x 8". Thank you for visiting my blog.

Tango Fever - original oil figurative painting

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Ah, tango - the passion, the elegance - I never tire of it. I keep working to truly capture on board or canvas what I feel about this dance.

This painting is 8 x 6" - canvas on panel. Thank you for stopping by.

Girl with Chair - original oil figurative painting

In this study, I was searching for a pose for the child to take and she just slung her arm over the back of the chair. Maybe I'll use this for the larger painting that I will be doing. Most of the time, I find that children - and adults, too - will take a pose that's natural for them and is perfect for their portrait. This one is 7 x 5" on panel. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

"Tango Lovers Again" - original oil figurative painting

My favorite subject - the romance of tango. This painting is 7 x 5" on gessoed panel. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

"Beginnings" - original oil figurative painting

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She was all business as she began what was to be her sand construction. Nothing distracted her - may she always have that quality!

This painting is one that I did from a quick drawing, plus, as is almost always the case with children, a photo.

Oil on panel, it's 7 x 5".

Thanks for stopping by!

My apologies to subscribers, as I changed some of the foreshortening a little - hope you didn't get multiple emails!

Mrs. Grayson's Tea - original oil portrait painting

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This painting is 16 x 12" on canvas on board. It's the one that won a second in oil in the exhibit that I mentioned a couple of postings ago.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Letting Go - original oil figurative painting

This little girl spent more time watching her balloon than she did playing with the other children at the party. I was really surprised when she let it go. She stood transfixed as she saw it drift over the treetops and off into the distance. I watched it, too.

Oil on panel, this painting is 7 x 5". Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Japanese Screens - original oil pastel figurative painting

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

My drawing of "The Artisan"
a previous post on this blog, was awarded Best of Show at the Kerrville Art Club juried show in Kerrville, Texas! So, if you're passing through the area, drop by the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center to see the show. It was juried by Linda Hammond and I'm very flattered that such an accomplished artist chose my works for prizes.

I also won second place in oil painting and the oil pastel pictured here won a third prize in pastel.

Since I've been recuperating from surgery the past several days, these awards are especially sweet!

This painting is 9 x 12" on Colourfix paper. Thanks for stopping by!

Hot Tango - original oil figurative painting

I've hesitated to post this painting because it is similar to another one I did recently, just smaller. But I really love this little painting - it's looser and more juicy than I usually do. Note to me - don't strive for precision, or what passes for precision with me, just let go. It's 7 x 5" on gessoed board.

Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Another Tango Ballroom - original oil figurative painting

This painting is 8 x 8" on board. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Valentines - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel on Pastelbord is 7 x 5". I loved doing this one and am very happy you stopped by! SOLD

Cafe Sketch - original oil pastel drawing

This drawing is one of several cafe scenes that I will probably use in a painting. People watching is such fun! On black Stonehenge, this one is about 7 x 6". Thanks for looking.

More Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

And now back to tango.

For some reason - I think because I took the picture early this morning with available light, (I usually take pictures under lights) it doesn't appear as gold in the background as it really is. Anyway, this painting is 7 x 5", oil on board. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD