Jivin' All Over Again - original oil figurative painting

Been busy for awhile, but am turning my attention back to art. Here is today's 6 x 6" painting on Gessobord of my jivers. I was listening to a little of Matthew Pearl's The Last Dickens while I did this one - I love his work! Hope you're all having a nice early spring - thanks so much for stopping by! PS. This painting is based on my drawing from a few posts ago, Jivemania Again.

A Little Mystery - original oil pastel portrait painting

This loose, sort of scribbly oil pastel was done on black 12 x 9" Colourfix paper. Some of the black bits of paper show through here and there and I like the way that look accentuates the looseness of the work.
This afternoon - between my dandelion pulling efforts - I took my oil pastels outside and did some color studies. I have been reading Hensche on Painting by John Robichaux (a Dover publication) and decided to do experiments just with white - white in shade and then in sunlight. I then tried to duplicate the colors. Normally, I would use oil paint for these studies, but the oil pastel worked just great because it blends easily! It was a worthwhile exercise in learning to see better and it was so lovely being in the back yard with Roger while it's still cool and springlike.
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Lost in the Rhythm - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This is a quick study of the drummer in a band that I saw recently. Musicians can't possibly "hold the pose", which is what makes drawing people in motion so exciting to me and, since they are constantly moving, a lot of what I do in these cases is done from memory. This drawing is on 12 x 9" Pastelbord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Bar - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's something that I posted on The Oil Pastel Review, which is my oil pastel only blog, a few posts back and now I think it's finished - more or less. Nothing is ever finished, really, but things do sometimes come close. It's on 16 x 20" Pastelbord and is one in my ongoing series of bar scenes.

By the way, do check out the nude sketch I did on OPR using Sennelier Nature oil pastels.

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio - it's always great seeing you here!

Lisa's Robe - original oil portrait painting

This 14 x 11" painting is on Gessobord. I think it's finished - but you never know. Thanks for looking!

Cezannesque - original figurative oil painting

I saw this artwork - which was probably a Cezanne poster since I did see a little printing on it - in a coffee shop. I loved it and was able to sketch the scene with some Caran d'Ache wax crayons - that are wonderful, by the way. Then I painted from my sketch back in my studio. It was pretty involved to get an accurate drawing of this artwork. My painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

More Tango Swing - original oil figurative painting

I spent so much time outside in the gorgeous day today that I didn't do any painting, but here's one from yesterday. It's on 6 x 6" Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lisa Sleeping - original oil figurative painting

I loved painting this one, but initially I wanted to be less "above" the model. It worked out though, and it was a quick little "brushy"painting, too. It's always rewarding when you just go with it and don't think too much. Thinking

can be a killer. This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord - thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Jivemania Again - original charcoal figurative drawing

I just did a lot of scribbling to come up with this drawing. I sort of let my hand go to see what would happen. The figure on the far right is how these things begin - well, the bottom half of her, anyway. And, as always, I really worked the paper over.

This weekend I saw a small but wonderful drawing show at the McNay in San Antonio. I never tire of looking at drawings and as I've probably said over and over, drawings are - to me - a look into the soul of an artist.
This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore Bristol vellum and is about 8 x 12". Thank you for stopping by!

Tango Doodle - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I just wanted to do a drawing - lots of black lines and scribbled color and done quickly without a lot of thought. It's just so satisfying! This oil pastel is on 12 x 9" Pastelbord sand (color) which is a dark taupey shade. Really beautiful and a delight to work on. Thanks so much for stopping by - have a great weekend!

Letha - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I've sort of been away from my blog - wasting time doing paintings that didn't really succeed. But you have to try, right? Today it was so cold - okay, I know you folks up north think we're a bunch of sissies, but 15 degrees? That's cold for this part of the country! After I went to my Zumba class this morning, I came back home and then started to my studio, but it was still absolutely freezing. I just did a U-turn and walked right back to the house. So no oil paintings today. This oil pastel is from a drawing group in November. I loved the model's hair - it was expressive, if hair can be expressive. Although it wasn't a particularly remarkable pose, she was a good model and I really loved doing this drawing. I drew it on Sennelier Carte d'Art paper and is about 8 x 8".

Check out my blog at The Oil Pastel Review for an oil pastel painting that I'm working on - without a lot of success, I might add. Thanks for stopping by - stay warm!

Rockin' to the Beat - original charcoal figurative drawing

It seems like forever since I posted anything, but I've been really, really busy! That should slow down now and at this point, I'm loving to draw my little charcoal dancers. They rock the night (and probably the day) away. I just can't keep an eye on them all the time, so who knows what they get up to!

If you are near the Kerrville, Texas, area, drop in at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center to see our Kerrville Art Club show. It will open on Thursday, with the reception on Saturday. The show will be up for a month. It was judged by Steven DaLuz, a San Antonio based artist, and is really beautiful!

This drawing was done with vine charcoal on 9 x 12" vellum Bristol. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Feelin' the Beat - original charcoal figurative drawing

Drawing these figures is so much fun for me and I never really know how they'll turn out. Sometimes they lead to a painting, but I'm such a fan of drawings and think they stand on their own as works of art. This drawing is on Strathmore Bristol paper, 6 x 6". Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

Here is the painted version of the drawing from a few posts ago - "Another Black and White Tango". This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Bailora with a Fan - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 10 x 8" linen panel. Thanks so much for stopping by - have a happy weekend!

Her Gaze - original oil portrait painting

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

If you would like to email me, just click the "Contact Me" button.

More Black and White Tango - original charcoal figurative sketch

This sketch will be the underlayer for a painting. I've not used this approach very much, but I know artists who do this - spray fixative on it and then paint over the drawing. Using this method should make the painting practically paint itself. This pose with the outside leg extending back is really a difficult one, because it's not very easy to make obvious which leg is in back, which is in front. While I'm pretty pleased with this one, I still may make changes in the painting as I work. This sketch is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.

Thanks so much for stopping by - check out my post on The Oil Pastel Review. If you'd like to email, just click on the "contact me" button on the right side of my blog.

New Year's Eve at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

If  you're anywhere near San Antonio, Texas, be sure and visit the McNay.  It's wonderful anytime, but until January 16th, the exhibition, Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism is there and what a show it is!  Absolutely wonderful and inspiring.  I attended briefly the other day, but intend to go back and take my time.
This painting is 8 x 10" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by and for visiting Hackberry Street Studio during 2010!   I hope 2011 will be the greatest year yet for you!                                  

                                                  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Another Bailora in Red - original oil figurative painting



To all my collectors, followers and visitors to Hackberry Street Studio, I wish you the Merriest Christmas ever!

This painting is on 14 x 11" canvas.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

The Girl on My Easel - original oil portrait in progress

Here's what I'm working on today - not really finished, yet.  I think I'll set it aside and come back to it in a week or so.  It's on 10 x 8" canvas.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Another Black and White Tango - original charcoal figurative dancer sketch

Here's a little loose gestural sketch of a painting to do tomorrow.  It's charcoal on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper.  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Lonely Girl - original oil portrait painting

I just think her sort of Gibson girl hair-do appealed to me.  This was a quick, loose study, as you can tell, and fun to do.  It's painted on 10 x 8" Gessobord.  Love that Gessobord! Thanks so much for looking - if you would like to email me, just click on the 'contact me' button to the right of my posts. 
Oh, I almost forgot - tonight I saw a car with a big, lighted Christmas tree on it being driven around town.  I was leaving my studio as the car passed by and I just stood there - with my mouth open, I'm sure - and watched.  I loved it - so unique, expressive and happy!

Bailora in Red - original oil figurative flamenco painting

More flamenco on a 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  To send me an email, just click on the "contact me" button on the right of my posts.  SOLD

"Tango Luv" - original oil figurative painting

This oil painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  To send me a private message, just click the "contact me" button to the right of my posts. SOLD

Another Coffee Break - original oil figurative painting

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

Sketch of a Couple - original figurative charcoal sketch

Here's a sketch of a couple I was able to observe today - I was sitting some distance away and without my glasses, but I think I got the jist of the thing.  I know what I think was going on, but will leave it open to interpretation.  This will be a painting soon.
Yesterday, at the National Gallery here in London, I found a Vuillard painting I had not known about - The Earthenware Pot - and I love it!  Can't get it out of my mind. 
This drawing is on sketch paper, about 7 x 9", using General's Primo charcoal pencils.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of a Girl Studying a Painting - original charcoal figurative drawing

Okay.  I know it's not colorful and the lines aren't in the right places and I just left original lines, rather than erase them.  But, the curve of her back was irresistible and I had to get it down right then and there.  This will become a painting in the coming weeks.  The girl was completely absorbed in what she was seeing - 17th century paintings, I think.  You know how it is when there's something before you that speaks to your soul.  This little drawing is charcoal pencil on 6 x 6" Bristol board.  Thanks for dropping by!

The Art Student - original charcoal portrait sketch

Today I attended a lecture where I was able to sketch this young art student as she listened intently to the speaker.  Her concentration was amazing.  She wasn't aware I was sketching her, but when I showed it to her, she absolutely loved it.  I'm always pleased - no, actually, thrilled - when the subject thinks it looks like them!  This drawing was done on 6 x 6" Strathmore smooth Bristol board paper with General's Primo charcoal pencils.  Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!
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Girl in a Big Hat - original oil pastel figurative miniature painting

This little tiny thing was fun and challenging to paint, especially since it is only 3.5 x 2.5" and I did it with unsharpened oil pastels.  I purposely didn't sharpen them, as I think it makes the painting looser.  I once had an art professor who said that he had a student in the class who was very tight and one who was very loose.  I was the loose one and I still am.  Sometimes, I think it's because I like to leave a lot unsaid - even in life.  My husband might disagree.  I really do think that's the basis for looseness.  Mine, anyway.  You've probably heard of artist trading cards - that's what this is.  It's done on Colourfix paper.  I've been doing bunches of these.  The pose pleased me so much that I think I'll redo it in a larger size.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Two Step Lovers - original oil figurative painting

I love the skirts with a little lace peeking out underneath.  This painting, 7 x 5" on Gessobord, has lots more brushwork than I usually do and I am pretty happy with it.  It was just a delight to do - I've seen this "hold" that they have on each other a few times and I think it's, well, "sweet". 
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!