The Menu - original oil pastel figurative sketch by Connie Chadwell

The couple studied the menu for quite awhile. Very intent on getting just the right dish, I think. This 9 x 12" painting is on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper in black. It has this wonderfully gritty finish that is difficult to cover completely, so I don't try too hard to get it smooth. I really like the black bits peeking through, as well as the way the colors show up on the deep black surface. This sketch/painting is not very "finished", but I decided to leave it alone.

We're having such wonderful weather here in the Texas Hill Country now, that it's hard to stay inside and do art. I keep saying that I'll do some landscapes since the weather is so nice, but driven as I am to draw people, just never get around to it - so, off to the places where people hang out. Something to do, I guess, with my obsession with figures and faces.

Back in my studio to work some more on the piece, I listen to George Jones. Yeah, I know, I should be listening to Mozart, but I just love the "soul" in country music.

Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

The Daily Specials - original oil pastel figurative sketch by Connie Chadwell

I had such a good time doing this one, from life, in a small neighborhood restaurant, where they write the specials of the day on the blackboard. The initial parts of the sketch were done on-site and then filled in back at Hackberry Street Studio. The wonderful thing about oil pastel, for me anyway, is that it's very freeing. I just scribble away really fast (especially when working from life since people move around so much) and end up with a lot of oil pastel on the support; but since it's on Pastelbord, it will dry fairly quickly.

Maybe I'll paint a larger version in oil of this sketch and then again, this may be the only one, but I loved doing it. Painting is more enjoyable when it's done from actual models, I think. The waiter was a problem because he moved so quickly in and out of my vision, so he is less exact. Well, nobody in the painting is "exact", but he is definitely less so. It's 5 x 7". Thanks for looking!

Leslie - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

It's been awhile since I posted because I've been working on my new blog to promote oil pastel, The Oil Pastel Review. And now it's done, so I can concentrate on work here at Hackberry Street Studio. I hope you will visit the new blog - the guest artist is David Berridge and I know you will enjoy his work and his story.

The model in today's posting, Leslie, is so elegant and so leggy. I kept measuring and the proportions were accurate. Well okay, maybe I did make the legs a little long, but it just looks like her, so I went with it. It's 18 x 22" on canvas.

Just looking at the posted picture I thought I needed to put up a close-up of her, because the photo of the whole painting doesn't show her pretty face very well. So here's another view.

Thank you for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

The Russian Girl - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

The young woman in this painting was originally from Russia and she had such a sweet, yet melancholy expression, I thought. During the entire session, I attempted to get up the nerve to try some of my college Russian on her, but sanity prevailed and I never did. If I had blurted out the few words and phrases I remember, she would have had a look of utter confusion - an expression much more difficult to paint, I think.

I used oil paints on oil primed linen on board. Love that stuff. Thanks for looking. Oh, and it's 10 x 8".

Lookin' for Trouble - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Here is my trouble-making cowboy again. He's been at the bar too long and he's getting ready stir up something bad. The figures are from actual drawings from life - done at different times. For instance, the troublesome cowboy was drawn from a more modern guy as he chatted with someone at a bar - I just made him into a mischief-minded cowpoke. The painting is on Fredrix archival canvas panel (as opposed to the practice kind) - and is 12 x 16". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Another Ana - original oil painting of a nude by Connie Chadwell

I've started this one over and over - just couldn't seem to get it to suit me. Does anyone else have this problem? Paint and scrape, paint and scrape. Anyway, it finally pleases me - lots more color in the skin than I usually do. I'm thrilled that I have so many things on my easel that are exciting to me and tomorrow I'll be working on those - maybe even finish a few!

This Ana is 14 x 11" on Gessobord - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio.

Tango Nights - original oil pastel figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I'm in an oil pastel mood right now, since I will soon launch a blog devoted to oil pastels and oil pastel artists. My first interviewee will be

David Berridge, who is an absolutely fabulous oil pastelist. Please watch for the announcement, which I will post on Hackberry Street Studio.

"Tango Nights" is on Art Spectrum paper and is about 12 x 9". Thanks for visiting my blog.

Irish - original oil pastel portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Since I've been away for a week and don't have anything completed yet, here's a painting that I did a few months ago and posted on Brushspace, but for some reason, never posted here. It's on Pastelbord and is 14 x 11".

Thanks for looking!

Portrait Practice - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's something I did on Saturday afternoon. The drawing was done from life and using the drawing as a model, I painted this very quickly, with a limited palette, as a practice piece.

As much as I like value changes, this one doesn't have a wide range of values - kind of soft. It's probably good to do something different for a change. It's 5 x 5" on Gessobord.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Nude on Green II - original oil nude sketch by Connie Chadwell

I just love to draw and paint from the figure, especially when I don't have a lot of time to overwork the painting. This is sort of an unusual pose, but it stems from my theory that I should try to make a decent drawing from wherever in the room I'm standing. Or maybe I'm just too lazy to move to another spot. Anyway, this painting is 12 x 9" on stretched canvas. Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! SOLD

Sidewalk Art - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's a small 6 x 6" painting from a photo and drawing from summer. Had to have the snapshot because kids are always on the move. Ah, for their energy! This is on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

More Little Jivedoodles - original ink figurative drawing by Connie Chadwell

Here's another of the little jitterbug drawings that I love to do. This was done on a Strathmore sketch pad, 5 x 12" and it's done in ink! Very daring, since it can't be erased and so what you see is what you get. I think drawing with ink is one of the best drawing improvers ever, because if you make a mistake, you're stuck with it, so you're motivated to improve. Also, I used a calligraphy pen on this one, which is fun!
Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Girl at the Bar II - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This painting is on 12 x 12" Gessobord. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! SOLD

The Tuba - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I saw this young fellow marching in a band this past summer. He seemed so small to carry this big tuba, plus, play it as he marched, but he succeeded. I just had a good time with the colors. Okay, maybe I overdid the size a little, but it was fun and, really, tubas are huge!

I actually have a CD of tuba music and it is beautiful! They are truly an underappreciated instrument.

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

Western Swing - original oil western dancer figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

This is another painting done on 8 x 10" single primed linen board and I'm amazed at how little paint is required. It's really a thin application with a soft appearance - a very different experience for me. No worrying about softening edges here. Loved doing this one. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - I really appreciate it!

More Thai Food - original oil figurative/interior painting by Connie Chadwell

Yum! Vietnamese and Thai food is just about my favorite cuisine! There was a little Vietnamese restaurant in our neighborhood in Washington, D.C. and later, a Thai place, as well. When I first put the sauce (I didn't know then it was called fish sauce) on the first spring roll I ever tasted, I was hooked. I went home and experimented endlessly trying to figure out what the missing ingredient was. Lemon juice? No. Vinegar? No. I marched myself over to the Vietnamese grocery store and they told me it was fish sauce. Mostly fermented anchovies, to be exact. That gave me pause, I can tell you, but not for long. Fish sauce, or nuoc mam, is addictive!

As a sixth-generation Texan, I'm not likely to ever give up cornbread or tortillas, but I'm really glad Central Market in San Antonio carries all the ingredients I need to make Vietnamese and Thai food!

As for the painting I'm posting, I never miss an opportunity to sample the offerings at Asian restaurants wherever we go and this scene is from a drawing I did in a Vietnamese restaurant in San Antonio. Actually, this painting is pretty wet, so maybe I'll post it again when it's dried a little.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Evening at the Cafe - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I just got back into town and thought I should get busy posting something, so here is a restaurant painting - 11 x 14" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Another Girl at the Bar - original oil portrait by Connie Chadwell

This is a quick portrait where I actually set my stop watch, so that with any luck, I wouldn't kill the painting. I used a single primed linen board. There's just something about that surface that I love - it absolutely screams for looseness.

The painting is 10 x 8" - thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

More Tango Fever - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

More tango - this one is oil on Gessobord, 12 x 9", which like the last post, is a little bigger than I usually do for tango dancers. I was especially happy with the foreshortening of the leg. I did this painting from the recent charcoal drawing, "Tango Sketch". They're not exactly alike, because I decided to add a little flourish, but definitely similar.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I didn't really intend for this couple to look as if they were going to kiss - I just wanted them to dance. They paid no attention to me, however, so here they are on canvas, 12 x 9". Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Runaway - original oil western painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's the final (I think) version one of the paintings I posted on the 13th. It's 11 x 14" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

More Jive - original charcoal figurative drawing by Connie Chadwell

This doodle was so much fun for me. I did it in one of Strathmore's 400 series sketch pads size 5.5 x 12". I love these pads in the new sizes!

Benny Goodman music kept running through my head as I drew, especially one of the tunes that featured a lot of Gene Krupa, the fabulous drummer. I even have a Gene Krupa t-shirt. I have a lot of CDs of music from that era and may buy a DVD so I can actually see them at work.

I posted this drawing for fun - it may not be on the Daily Painters Gallery tomorrow. It all depends on what I accomplish today at the Thursday Painters group - I'm working on interiors with figures, cowboys, and of course, tango dancers. Maybe I'll be able to post one tonight.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - works in progress by Connie Chadwell

Here are some things I'm working on - and these are just a few paintings in progress at my studio. Thanks for looking!

Sorry subscribers - I removed the nude since it probably doesn't belong in this group - hope you didn't get an extra email.

Lizza with a Fan - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

I like these settings for the model and what a wonderful model Lizza is! She can hold a pose - which is so tough - and look relaxed through the whole thing. This painting is 8 x 10" on Gessobord.

We're having rain - Yipee - and some fairly cool temps. But Texas is famous for wild weather, so we lurch from one extreme situation to another. Tomorrow we may have some flooding. Ah, well. My flower beds finally look as if someone loves them.

Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Jodi's Back - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day holiday!

This painting was done from a drawing that I did from life. Jodi has beautiful curves and I'm all for painting different types of models - from thin and angular to curvy and full-figured. Let's hear it for real women! On Gessobord, the painting is 7 x 5".

Do take a look at the Oil Pastel Society show where one of my paintings won Second Prize! The society is currently an online group (although there are several regional affiliates around the country) to further the awareness of oil pastel as a fine art medium. It's a young and growing organization with a bright future and I'm delighted to be part of it!

Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Carrie - original oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

This young ballerina was so nice to pose for me so I could do a quick sketch and make lots of color notes. The painting is 10 x 8" on linen. Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Tango Sketch - original charcoal figurative drawing by Connie Chadwell

Here's a quick charcoal dancer sketch that didn't stray too far from its gestural beginnings. It's about 12 x 9" on plate bristol. Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

By the Window - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I am delighted to have some of my work included in the Tango Show at Evergreen Fine Art in Evergreen, Colorado. This beautiful show runs through September 20th.

This painting is on 11 x 14" Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by. SOLD

Delia - original oil nude painting by Connie Chadwell

This is an oil painting that I did in oil pastel a couple of years ago. Although I sold the oil pastel version, I still have the life drawing and since I love the pose, I redid it in oil.

This model took great poses. She did have a little attitude, which I always find interesting, and I tried very hard to capture it.

I hope the painting has plenty of life - I always start out with loose strokes, but sometimes overwork the painting. There is such a delicate balance between loose and lively and tight and overworked. I find it hard not to step over the line.

It's 10 x 8" on board. Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Hula Hoop - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

I can't believe I haven't posted in such a long time! I'm bad - but back with lots of sketches and a couple of photos to work from - here's an example of summertime fun. The hula hoop was so easy for me back when - now I have to really work to keep it going.

It looks a little wobbly here, but this girl got it back on track.

The painting is 6 x 6" on board. Thanks for dropping by!