The Ranch Hand - original oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

This was a very interesting guy and great model - hope we see him again at another portrait session.

I drew this on 20 x 16" Canson Mi-Teintes mat board - not the paper, but the board - and I love the patterned surface. It seems to help keep my drawing loose - not that that's really a problem for me (maybe just the opposite), but it does give a casual, less studied look.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

A Little Tango Fancy - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This 7 x 5" is one of the last from my current tango painting collection. The lady was adding a little flourish to a crossover step, which is her prerogative.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - stay cool!

A Little Tango Dip - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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Here's another one of the tango paintings that I finished a week or so ago.

This is a really, really difficult step to paint. As in all dance paintings, the "poses" aren't held for long, so memory is crucial when doing gestures. The gestures are only half or maybe even a third finished when the dancers move on to another step. Actually, I think the gestures themselves are pretty interesting. Maybe I'll post some of those - my gestures are mostly squiggly lines, but they are a road map or framework for the eventual finished drawing or painting.

Gesture drawings are like fingerprints, I think, because no artist does them exactly the same as another artist.

Today I spent time getting submissions ready for the annual Oil Pastel Society show.

Tomorrow I plan to begin fairly early (for me, anyway) to work on a small restaurant scene, and a nude painting - both of which just need to be finished.

The weather is horrible here in Texas. The heat just steals ambition right out of the body, so maybe getting to work while it's still cool will be the key.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and I hope you're staying cool!

Ooops! I forgot to say that this painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

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A Little Tango Kick - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I'm back to my blog after a few days' absence, with lots of drawings that I will be turning into paintings - nudes, and bar and restaurant scenes.

Here is one of the tango paintings that I did several days ago. I loved the way the woman of this couple seemed so languid in this pose, but offered the little kick - or patada - I think it's called. The painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Backstep - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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I painted a few tango scenes in a couple of afternoons, and here is one of them. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Ana, Standing - original charcoal nude drawing by Connie Chadwell

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I love, love, love standing poses! They're always a little mysterious to me. Add a profile to the standing pose - a little more mystery, a little more emotion - ahhhh!

Today was spent waiting for the cable guy, so I didn't get to my studio until late afternoon and then worked on some tango paintings and a larger painting, but only for awhile. My sweet dog, Roger, has a bad infection resulting from a face full of porcupine quills - such a dreadful experience - so I had to get home to give him another dose of his medicine. He's really sick, poor little thing, so I didn't do much art today.

This drawing is one that I did the same day I did the previous drawings of "Ana" - it's 14 x 11" on Strathmore drawing paper. I thought there were more of the 'Ana' drawings, but maybe this is the last one - at least until she models for the drawing group again.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - I'm always delighted to have you stop by!

Ana Again - original charcoal nude drawing by Connie Chadwell

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Here's another view of Ana - 11 x 14" on charcoal paper. Thanks so much for stopping by!

By Herself - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Ooops! Sorry to my Subscribers! I deleted this posting by accident, so here it is again.

This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Rita's Letter - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I spent the afternoon working on oil paintings that aren't quite finished, so here's a 7 x 5" oil pastel on Pastelbord for today's posting. Maybe it's a little heavy on the green, but I love green and like to have it in all my pieces - even just a touch, but there, nevertheless.

Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Tango Swing - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Today was total fun for me - another tango painting. This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Ana, Seated - original charcoal nude drawing by Connie Chadwell

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I've been working on nudes the last few days - first the drawings that I do from life, and then the paintings. I'll probably post the painting of "Ana, Seated" in the next day or two.

This was a ten-minute pose and it has more finish than my usual ten-minute life drawings because I used 14 x 11" paper, so I didn't have to work fast.

Thanks for stopping by!

PS. I originally said five-minute pose, but it was a ten-minute one.

A Little Pout - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

The model was wonderful and I loved her pout. She wasn't angry at all - she just had this great expression on her face.

I painted this from a drawing that I did in a life drawing group. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's easy to get hung up on one area when not drawing from life and then end up killing the painting, so I tried to go quickly. Hope I didn't overwork it!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for dropping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Do-Si-Do - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I was missing my dancers, so here they are again. This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Four One-Minutes - original charcoal life drawing by Connie Chadwell

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Hi everybody! I was away for a few days and haven't posted in awhile, but am currently working on more paintings.

This drawing is from a series of one-minute gestures that I did in a life drawing session I attended last week.

There is nothing like drawing from life! I draw people every day, but usually it's just someone who's going about his or her daily routine, so it's always a pleasure to have a professional model in front of me.

These quick charcoal gestures are on 18 x 24" Strathmore drawing paper.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Late Supper - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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This oil painting is 6 x 6 " on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

Chaotic Cowboy - original acrylic figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Before you decide that I've 'lost it', this post is in keeping with the Daily Painters Gallery theme day for June, "All Cracked Up".

I did this acrylic painting on an acid-free foam board that I gessoed and made into a box that is 26 x 14 x 3". This endeavor resulted from a course I took at Texas Tech University's Junction campus as part of the Masters in Art Education program.

Although I enjoy cubism, I've done very little of it; while this piece may not totally qualify as a cubist work, I really had such fun with this painting.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Morning - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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This was much more of a challenge than I would have thought. It was so difficult to keep it soft.

This painting is 8 x 10" on Pastelbord. Thanks for stopping by!

(Apologies to followers and subscribers, but I just had to change the chair!)

The Hotel Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

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One of my favorite places - a bar; people, atmosphere, people, atmosphere - I could go on and on, but I'll let the artwork do the talking. The evening's fleeting dramas played out against the backdrop of a large landscape painting hanging behind the bar. As I sketched, I wondered about my 'people' - the ones in my sketchbook, that is. Were they happy or sad, hopeful or without much to look forward to? I don't know, but I wish the best for them.

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

Woman with Shamisen - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

In my travels around Texas this past week, I attended a drawing group that had a model in a kimono. This 7 x 5" on Pastelbord was one of the paintings from that session. Thanks for stopping by!

Note: The model was left-handed and held the shamisen backwards, but I went ahead and put the two tuning keys toward her - a mirror image, really. I could have changed it, but loved the face the way it was. Okay, I know an artist shouldn't fall in love with a piece and should always be ready to wipe it off and start over, but..... I think I will paint it - with more background and facing the right way - in oil at my Thursday Painters group tomorrow. A square format, maybe, I don't know. SOLD

A Glimpse of Kathy - original oil/oil pastel portrait by Connie Chadwell

This little portrait began as an oil painting. After it was dry, I painted over it with oil pastel. It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

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!