After Hours - original oil pastel figurative painting of a bar scene

One of the most interesting places ever - a bar.  I just have a Coke when I'm there, but oh my, the atmosphere.  I love to be wherever people are just being themselves and bars are up there with the best of them.  This painting is done on 8 x 10" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for looking!  To email me about any of the artwork on my blog, just click the Contact Me to the right of this post. Sold

Sketch for Josie on the Sofa - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This is another life drawing from my stash of nudes - Josie was the model for this one, which is drawn with vine charcoal on 11 x 14" Strathmore drawing paper.  I plan to do a painting based on the drawing.
While I was working today, I listened (via audible.com) to another Chet and Bernie mystery, To Fetch A Thief.  This series is 'written' by Chet, the dog, and it's so delightful.  There were times when I laughed out loud.  If you're a dog lover, try this series about private detective Bernie Little and his dog Chet.  Can't wait for tomorrow's 'installment'.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Drawing of a Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

Here's a nude that I pulled out of my stash of life drawings.  This one is on 14 x 11" Strathmore 400 Drawing paper and is done with soft vine charcoal - there is nothing so sensitive and forgiving as vine charcoal.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Little Jivers - original figurative ink drawing

Here's an example of what I did while waiting (for what seemed like an hour) for an appointment.  I could see it would be a lengthy wait and, fortunately, I had a couple of pens - one regular ballpoint and the other, a marker with a thin tip.  Also lucky for me, I had a 6 x 6 pad of Bristol board paper, so I did lots of pages of these little people.  I worked on designing the page, as well as scribbling my little creations - always good practice, I think.  Thanks so much for dropping by! Sold

Rough Ride - original oil rodeo painting of a bullrider

This 10 x 8" oil painting - available at Artworks in Austin, Texas - is done on Fredrix archival canvas board.  I love this surface for rodeo/western work!  It has the canvas texture, but no "give" when my brush touches it - the way stretched canvas does.  I suppose I like a solid feel to my painting surface because of my many years of drawing on paper attached to a drawing board. 
It's a beautiful day here in the Texas Hill Country - hope it's nice, too, where you are.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jitterbugs All Over Again - original oil pastel figurative painting of dancers

Those crazy jitterbugs are at it again on 12 x 16" Pastelbord.   I danced with them while I drew and I'm worn out - it's off to bed for me.  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Bullrider - original oil figurative rodeo painting

I drew this bullrider when he was close to falling off, but he rectified the situation by getting his feet in a better position - up closer to the bull's head - and staying on for the eight seconds that must seem like an eternity at the least.  This oil painting is available at Artworks in Austin, Texas.  Thanks for stopping by!

Lexie's Summer - original charcoal portrait drawing

This was drawn about midsummer, when the boredom sets in.  Remember when summer went on forever?  I loved it - even if I didn't have anything to do sometimes.  Now time flies by, but Lexie hasn't gotten to the age where it just zooms along. 
I began drawing this from life - she is a wonderful model and can hold a pose amazingly well for a young girl - then finished from some quick sketches, plus a photo.  I kept it kind of loose and sketchy, but I'm pleased with the likeness.  This drawing is about 20 x 16" on Stonehenge paper.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  See what's new on my oil pastel blog!

Another Nude on Green - original oil pastel nude painting

Another favorite art pastime - nudes drawn quickly and without much thinking and analyzing.  I LOVE painting this way - it just makes my heart sing!  A dab of color here, a line there - it probably sounds haphazard and, of course, not everything turns out the way I'd like - but

it's still a real joy.  This painting is on 5 x 7" grey Pastelbord.   Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Bronc Rider - original figurative oil painting

Here's one of my rodeo paintings - 10 x 8" on archival canvas panel, which is a favorite surface of mine for country/western artworks.   This piece is available at Artworks in Austin, Texas.  Thanks so much for stopping by and please check out my oil pastel blog, The Oil Pastel Review.

Waiting Again - original oil figurative painting

You can probably tell that this is quickly done, and although I did it with brushes rather than paint sticks, it's pretty juicy.  Painted while listening to a mystery - love mysteries, love painting - an altogether great day - I hope your day was a good one, too!  It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord.  Check out my oil pastel blog.

Crazy Little Boogie Woogie - original oil figurative painting

 

Here's a version of last night's charcoal drawing, done with oil sticks  - not oil pastels.  They're  unavailable in oil pastel sizes, so it's really difficult to be exact unless you sharpen them.  R&F sticks are soft, so that would be difficult.  They're not only soft - they're luscious beyond belief and a real pleasure to use.  I also use Winsor & Newton and Sennelier, but my faves are the R&F; I've been meaning to try Shiva, too, but just haven't gotten around to it.  Oil sticks harden just like oil paint because they really are oil paint in stick form.
Since the sticks are pretty big (and these are the small sizes) I simply aimed for the general vicinity of the place I wanted to make a mark and let whatever happened, just happen.   If, like me, you love to draw, give the oil sticks a try.  I am such a drawing enthusiast that I try to use all kinds of different drawing media and right now, I'm big on oil sticks!
The painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Boogie Woogie Sketch - original charcoal drawing of dancers

This one - even though it's only about 8 x 8" - took me so much time to get to the point of hearing their feet as they drummed on the floor.  I played boogie woogie music 'til I could get his left leg the way I wanted.  Drawing dancers is something I could do all day long.  And, heck, some days that's just what I do.  Love it!  This sketch is on Strathmore Bristol board paper.  Thanks so much for looking!

Tango in Charcoal - original charcoal figurative drawing

It seems like years since I've posted - much has been going on, such as trying to get a new website up and running.  It's really, really hard when you have absolutely no talent for that kind of thing.  Even the drag and drop is a challenge for me.  Don't laugh.  It's true. 
This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore 400 drawing paper and is about 10 x 6 1/2".  I've drawn several somewhat similar to this, but trying to "explain" the woman's leg position is tricky and I'm really pleased with this one.   My love affair with charcoal continues - so sensitive, so responsive.  Truly a dream medium.  Thanks so much for dropping by!  Now, it's back to the website.  Or maybe not.
To contact me about a drawing or painting, just click on the contact button to the right. Sold

Three Figures Dancing - original charcoal drawing of nudes

Here's a quickly drawn group of nudes with lots of restating.  I'm a big fan of that and when I teach figure drawing classes, I have students put away their erasers.  Kind of messy, but I find it instructive, although I do make a few passes with a kneaded eraser.  This is drawn with vine charcoal on Strathmore 400 Drawing paper, 11 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Backward Bend - original oil figurative painting

I hadn't posted this 6 x 6" on Gessobord that recently sold at Artworks in Austin, Texas, but here's an example of a difficult pose, both for the dancers (I imagine) and the painter.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

More Tiny Jive - original oil figurative painting

It's been awhile, but I'm back and am hoping all of you are having a wonderful start to the New Year!   This painting is on 5 x 5" Gessobord.  I could say that I've found a fabulous cosmic satisfaction in painting even smaller, but the truth of the matter is that I found some great sale prices on 4 x 4" and 5 x 5" Gessobord at Herweck's in San Antonio, Texas, not long ago, and I'm loving these very small supports.  They're fun!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Sold

Bailora - original oil figurative painting of Flamenco dancer

Merry Christmas y'all!  No matter the weather outside, may you be cozy and warm and surrounded by family and friends on this special day.  Thank you for dropping by my blog.  PS.  this painting is oil on 18 x 12" stretched canvas.

A Bit of Holly - original oil pastel portrait drawing/painting

Here's a little Christmasy piece - the hat is boiled wool, I think, and the model pinned the little holly sprig to it.  This is another quick drawing - not fussed over at all.  It's done on Sennelier 12 x 9" oil pastel paper and the actual drawing is about 9 x 7".  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Waiting - original oil pastel portrait painting

This painting is oil pastel on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tiny Jive - original figurative small format oil painting

Here's a little 4 x 4" painting on Gessobord.  Much fun to paint.  Thanks for looking! Sold

Three Evening Nudes - original ink drawings of nudes

Three more nudes, from two different sessions, on 9 x 12" Bristol board paper.  Thanks for looking! Sold

Evening Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

This nude, which I drew in a 20 minute pose over a failed drawing and which I chose not to really "finish" was done in an evening life drawing group.  Those groups are getting harder to find, so I'm thrilled when I can drop in at one of them.  As for working over a drawing that didn't make the cut, I think that it sometimes lends a certain charm to an artwork.  I had a painting teacher once who said that you should leave a little of your previous stroke when you make a change to your work - just to show what you had been thinking earlier.  Maybe this isn't exactly what she had in mind (a new drawing over the erasure of an old one) but close, I think.  It's done on 14 x 11" Strathmore 400 drawing paper, using vine charcoal and General's charcoal pencils.  If you would like to contact me about this drawing, please click the "Contact Me" button to the right of this post.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Nude Model - original oil pastel painting of a nude

This nude painting is done on 7 x 5" on Pastelbord - that marvelous surface for oil pastel - and was done quickly without lots of attention to detail.  That's my favorite thing, you know.

I love this time of year, sitting here listening to Christmas music - right now, Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is playing.  Beautiful!  

I hope all is well with you and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Another Barrel Racer - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's another rodeo drawing/painting done from one of my squiggly drawings.  It's on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  I love rodeos where the women get a chance to show their skill at barrel racing.  Those cowgirls and their horses are really something. Thanks for stopping by!

Almost There - original oil figurative rodeo painting of barrel racer

This 7 x 5" painting on Gessobord was done from a sketch that I did at a rodeo.  The drawing is mostly squiggles that only I can understand - my own little shorthand - and is so much easier for me to work from than a photo.  Every time I've tried to take an "action" shot, it's the second after the main event.  Not much of a photographer am I.  Hence, my drawings are my favorites to provide the basis for my paintings.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Reading the Menu - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel painting is 5 x 7" on Pastelbord.  I went a little crazy with the orange.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketch of the Model with a Fan - original oil pastel figurative drawing

Here's a quick sketch of the model on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  I love these little Pastelbords for sketching with my oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by - have a great week!

More Hot Tango - original figurative painting of dancers

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord. 
Have you ever seen the movie Shall We Dance  - I mean the Japanese version, which is so charming!   It's on Netflix, too.  If you haven't seen it, yet, I hope you will.  You'll love it, I'll bet, and I'd love to hear your impression of the movie.
Please check out my latest artwork on my oil pastel blog. 
Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Scootin' - original oil figurative painting of country dancers

This cowboy is taking a really long step, but he aims to get himself and his little lady across the floor pronto. 
Many of my youthful hours were spent in this kind of entertainment.  Back then, it was not very mainstream, but now country dancing has become quite popular. 
I loved going to the dance hall on Saturday nights - not only because I wasn't supposed to, which made it so tempting - but because I could soak up the surroundings, the people, the atmosphere, and the music.  It's all burned into my brain and I often paint these experiences. There are a couple of larger country dancers paintings that need to be finished and I hope to get that done in December.
Scootin' is painted on 7 x 5" Ampersand Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!