Tango Smooch - original oil figurative dancer painting

There were probably some things I could have changed about this painting and when I'm being kind of uptight, I do make some changes.  But this time I just let it go and let it be loose and I'm happy.  Looseness is probably more accurate for portrayals of dancers, anyway.  They can sometimes be a blur because they're moving and viewers often just get an impression of movement, energy and grace.  This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold
 

Rodeo - original oil pastel figurative painting

This weekend in Junction, Texas, there's going to be our annual summer rodeo!  It's a ranch rodeo - my favorite - and there's much excitement in the air here in our little town on the Llano River!  We have a parade on Saturday morning, and dances after the rodeo both nights.  Everyone has a wonderful time.  It's small town America at its best, so if you're anywhere near Junction on the 12th and 13th of August, come on and join us!
The painting is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9". 

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Lexie's Embroidered Blouse - original oil pastel portrait painting

This is a repost from my oil pastel blog, The Oil Pastel Review.  It's 14 x 11" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by.

Beach Madonna - original oil figurative painting

Here's one of the ladies I observed at the beach in California a few weeks ago.  I debated changing the color of the umbrella - too much blue, maybe - but I love that turquoisey aqua that I use a lot, so I just had another excuse to use it.  This painting is on 10 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Beach Momma - original oil figurative painting

This young woman was busy tending to her children - sunblock, safety warnings, towels - and was in constant motion.  Maybe that's how she keeps in such good shape.  The painting is 10 x 8" on Fredrix archival panel.

As I write this, I'm sort of watching The Seven Year Itch and marveling at Tom Ewell's acting - he was such a great actor, but taken for granted, I fear, like most character actors.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  Above is a closeup of the painting.

Jive Sketch - original charcoal figurative sketch

This sketch is one that I did to include in a painting of jive dancers.  At first, I had his left leg straight, then kind of bent, as it is here.  I was looking for a more dominant position for the guy and either leg position will do.  I was pleased with his presence here and you may have noticed that he is now sporting a jacket. 
The drawing is on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gold Kimono - original oil pastel figurative painting

This post is coming to you from the inferno that Texas is at this moment.  At almost midnight, it's 88 degrees.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have no more wildfires.
I saw this "pose" at a restaurant; one of those moments that stick with you.  Or me, in this case.  I love to see women in a kimono, which is such a graceful costume and I never tire of drawing them.  This oil pastel will probably turn into an oil painting, soon.  It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper and is about 8 x 5".  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

More Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

More of my tango painting - I do get on these kicks.  This one is looser and I didn't worry too much with it.  It does have foreshortening with her left leg, which I love to do.  Always fun and challenging.  Painting these small dancers has been so instructive for me.  I can be more loose - now to try and translate that to larger paintings.  Thanks so much for stopping by - and I hope you'll check out my oil pastel blog.  Oh, and it's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Sold

Three Palm Trees - original landscape oil painting

This painting is SO out of my comfort zone - not a human in sight!  These are some trees I saw in California and I painted them on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Whew!  Tomorrow - people painting!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Another Standing Pose - original charcoal nude drawing

Standing poses are my favorite, especially back poses.  There's a little mystery when her face isn't showing.  This drawing is one I did a few weeks ago, but it's posted today, because I'm working on lots of beach paintings.  This past week I was in La Jolla, CA, where I went to the beach and drew people.  It was heaven for a people-watcher like me!   This drawing is 15 x 8".  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

Here they are again - these happy tango dancers - and although it seems a less emotional, more fun swingy step, I notice that they're looking into each other's eyes.  I think I may actually convince my husband to sign up for tango lessons in the fall.  Or maybe he's just feigning interest - we'll see how this turns out.  In my earlier life, when I took dancing lessons, tango didn't have the meaning for me that it has today.  It was just another dance.  But now, I realize its beauty and it has captured me totally.  This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog and I hope you'll drop in on my oil pastel blog, too! Sold

Another Evening at the Bistro - original oil figurative painting

I hope everyone had a great Fourth!  Most places in this part of the world nixed the fireworks display because of the wildfire danger, but we had one here in Junction.  I watched from my back porch - it was actually down at the city park on the Llano River - but still a good view and the show was really fine!
This painting is on 8 x 10" archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

WIP Portrait of Sue - original oil portrait in progress

This isn't finished, obviously, but it's off to a pretty good start and will be completed in the next day or so.  When somebody comes to my house for a visit, I'm always so thrilled when they're willing to pose for me!  Thanks for looking!

More Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting

Here's my favorite reason for putting paint on board - my tango dancing couple who never tire of this wonderful dance.  Check out this site for dancing info and how-to.  The painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting - I'm signing off now from the hot, dry inferno that is Texas these days.  Stay cool!  Sold

Lindy Lines - original watermedia figurative drawing

This evening, I drew many pages of dancers in my Borden and Riley pad of paper for pens.  I used Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons, but didn't add water.  The crayons have such a soft, almost gooey feel when they meet the paper and I love them.  I've been painting lots of oil pastel pieces and a few oils - will probably post them soon.  But I love to draw my dancers - they're my absolute favorites.  I love their energy!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - stay cool!

The Mechanic as the Model - original watermedia portrait drawing/painting

This painting is one of those fun things that is quickly drawn with watercolor crayons (Caran d'Ache) and then with a very wet brush, just go a little crazy.  It's always great to have a live model, especially when you find a regular guy who can hold a pose.  The painting is done on Rapidograph paper for pens - which I think I've mentioned before is practically an antique - and it will wrinkle a little, since it doesn't like to get this wet, but after being weighted down for a day or so, it's perfectly fine.  Oh, and it's 12 x 9".  Thanks for dropping by.

Seaside - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 5 x 7" Gessobord. Sold

The last few days have been ones of experimentation for me.  I spent (wasted?) lots of time today working with oil sticks - not oil pastels - but it was just so messy.  I don't think I've even gotten close to figuring it out, but I'll keep at it.  Here's the result below, although it's not finished and probably never will be.  Do any of you use oil sticks and have some tips for me?  I'd love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by!

They're Really Jivin'! - original charcoal figurative sketch

This drawing is one of those 'draw it and don't look back' things.  Fun and fast - vine charcoal, with some white pastel on grey mat board - the image is about 8 x 8".  I love it when I can hear their feet hit the floor and I did with this one.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Drawing Exercises - original charcoal portrait sketches

On these hot, steamy summer nights (91 degrees at 10:30 p.m.), I plunk myself down in front of the TV and draw whatever's in front of me.  These old library book cards were around because I had thought of doing something with them - maybe not drawing - but they're a portable size, so they were pressed into service.  Since the actors are moving around, the resulting sketch uses a lot of memory drawing, which is good training, I think.  Sometmes, the sketches end up with different eyes or noses or mouths from the "models" onscreen.  I just "borrow" the next person's feature and plug it into my drawing.  So, they're not anybody, but a combination of several faces.  I have dozens of these practice pieces - here are a few. 

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Waiting at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

She kept glancing toward the door.  As I was leaving, I passed the guy she was waiting for and - nosy me - when I looked back, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were fixed on him.  I'm always happy when these little stories end well.  This painting is on 10 x 8" archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Seated Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

Here's a sketch on warm grey pastel paper, using charcoal and touches of black, grey and white pastel.  It's on 12 x 9" paper, with the image about 9 x 6".
While I love drawing from the posed model, I had a good time this evening doing little sketches from the TV, where, because the people move constantly, my drawing will always have one person's mouth, another's eyes, etc. - it's a great drawing exercise, I think.  Does anyone else do this?  I'm sure I'm not the only one.  Maybe I'll post some of them tomorrow.  The latest ones are on vintage library book cards.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

The Dance Hall - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 11 x 14" Fredrix archival canvas board.   I was going to describe

my summer self-education in drawing and my new adventures in oil sticks (not oil pastels), but

trying to post on Blogger tonight is difficult and is driving me so crazy, I just want to get out of here - maybe

tomorrow's posting will be easier!  Hope all is going well for all of you - thanks for stopping by!

A Kiss At The Bar - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio.  I have to hurry to get this post finished so it will be ready for picking up by Daily Painters.  Please check my latest posting on my oil pastel blog.  Thanks again! Sold

The Print Shirt - original pencil portrait drawing

This 13 x 10" drawing began life as a pose taken by the little girl, but then I realized the futility of having a youngster try and hold a pose for a long time, so I took a picture of her and mostly drew from that.  Drawing from life has its limits when dealing with children.  Actually, I don't think I could hold a pose for any length of time.  I cringe when the model doesn't show and we have to take turns posing.  Just like waiting to give a book report in middle school, I always hope the session will end before I must take my turn.  This is on wonderful Stonehenge white paper and instead of using charcoal, as I usually do, it's done with a graphite pencil.  Pencil just has a sort of softness that I like for children.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

A Sketch Begins - original oil pastel figurative drawing

The model got tired and got up, so, of course, I had to stop.   Every single time that I've tried to finish something after the model left, the drawing lost its life and emotion.  Even if the model returned, I wouldn't work on this drawing any longer because I had the "feeling" while I was working on this quick sketch and I just don't think it's coming back.  Sometimes "unfinished" works better, anyway. 
I used 9 x 12"Sennelier Carte d'Art which has a rough finish that helps me stay loose. Check out my blog for oil pastel to see my work there.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - I'm always glad to see you here!

Reclining Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

I loved the wistful look on the model's face, as if she had a pleasant scene that she was turning over in her mind as she posed.  As in the last post, I used Strathmore 403 9 x 12" taupe paper.  I'm a paper fiend - I love it and have way-y-y-y too much of it.  There's just something that happens when I stand before a blank piece of paper with charcoal in hand.  Sometimes a good drawing is the result and sometimes not.  But I still love the moment - filled with possibility - just before the drawing begins!

Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Nude with Arms Raised - original pastel nude drawing

This was a beautiful pose, but not a long one, so I just drew part of the model.  As you can imagine, this one was hard to hold even for a little while.  No matter what else I do, I always return to my first love, black and white nude drawings.  This drawing is about 10 x 7" on Strathmore 403 paper, which is actually oil pastel paper.  It's just an all-around great surface.  Also, I used General's black and white pastels.  There are also a couple of greys in the set, as well - but this time, I just used black and white on the taupe paper.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Straw Hat - original oil pastel portrait sketch

This was a really strange straw hat that the model was wearing - sort of flat all over.  I would love to go back to the days of wearing hats.  They're such a great finish to an outfit and are SO romantic - like all the women in hats at the recent royal wedding. 
This sketch is on 12 x 9" Colourfix black paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Solitaire - original oil figurative painting

I play solitaire pretty often so maybe that's why painting someone playing the game appeals to me.  It's a no win - or seldom win - game.  In fact, I read the other day that a player only wins one out of 31 times.  Terrible odds, but I keep at it.  I even have a book on the different types of solitaire.  I play Klondike, which is the kind my grandmother taught me and from what I can tell, it's the one most people play.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Preparations II - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking - hope everyone's having a great weekend!