A Little Flourish - original oil pastel figurative painting

This oil pastel is done on Pastelbord, 12 x 9", and I put layers and layers of oil pastel on it.  That's one of the best things - among many, many great things - about Pastelbord.  It can take whatever I dish out.  Another thing about oil pastel - it's hot here, I mean really, really hot and I somehow left a newish oil pastel painting in the back seat of the car and it didn't melt or get "slick" or even get soft.  I would think that in this crazily hot place, something bad would have happened, but the painting was fine. 
Re the weather here, everything's relative - it's going to be in the 90s for a few days and I am deliriously happy.   So much better than 107 degrees.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Portrait of Marcella - original oil portrait painting

Marcella was an interesting model.  She has such an old-fashioned look to her, but her hair was really different and not old-fashioned at all.  It was short and sort of spiky on the top and long in the back.  I did ask her to tie it back and she was very amenable to doing whatever was needed.  The model comes first is my motto and if she had felt uncomfortable, I wouldn't have pressed it.  But, thankfully, she was so easy to work with and the session was great - hope to see her again!  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

 

Embroidering - original oil figurative painting

I still have the first embroidery I ever did - and I think it may have also been my last.  I'm always thinking I'll get started in a serious way with this beautiful craft, but something always comes up.  One of these days, though!   This painting is on gessoed panel.  Thanks so much for looking!

Together on Friday Evening - original oil figurative painting

  

This painting is on 9 x 12" gessoed panel - Gessobord, I think.  The table in the background had a shorter tablecloth, but I just like the look of longer ones, so I just took artistic license.  We artists get to do that, you know.  I had an fellow life drawing enthusiast tell me once, when I was fretting over something crazy I had done, 'that's okay, Connie, you're an artist'.  It really brought me up short.  I had never considered such a thing.  But I liked it.  I really did and I still do.  Use it all the time.

Have a great weekend everyone - and thanks for visiting my blog! 

PS. to make it more "bar like", I just glazed it with warmth.

Sketch for Dancers - original ink, charcoal and graphite figurative drawing

Just fooling around with line - first one thing (a Sharpie), then another (a little charcoal) and finally, a bit of graphite.   It's about 11 x 10" on white drawing paper.   Actually, I think I used the back side of some smooth paper, and even though it was unintentional, I was happy with the surface.  Quickly done, more fun!   Don't worry, you're safe - that's the extent of my poetry "talent".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lookin' for Eight - original oil figurative rodeo painting

We had a rodeo here in Junction last weekend.   It was a ranch rodeo - my favorite - but I must not have gotten there early enough to see bronc riders.  So, I dug through old drawings from other rodeos and came up with the drawing from which I did this painting.  I changed his hat from black to white and in the drawing, the horse was darker, but essentially, it's the same.  This painting is 9 x 12" on gessoed panel.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Woman on a Sofa ACEO - original oil pastel figurative ACEO

I had been working on a charcoal dancer drawing and was going to show the drawing's progress on my blog, but I got distracted somehow.  And the next thing I knew, I was working on this 2.5 x 3.5" piece.  These are so much fun to do - no pressure - simply cut loose and see what happens.  This little painting is done on illustration board.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tango Zing - original oil figurative painting

This is one I did at the end of the afternoon.  It was watering day at my studio (we are on watering restrictions here) and I was sort of distracted.  But this one came together in a hurry and it was fun, since I'd been fretting over some other pieces that I'm working on.  It's great to end on a high note - I got every tree watered and my little piece for my blog worked out great. 

It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

A Good Listener - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This was a fun drawing - I was watching this scene, and although I wasn't in a position to draw it "on-site", I totally remembered it when I was back in my studio.  She nodded her head, sympathetically, to his every sentence.  It was sweet.  This oil pastel is on 8 x 10" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Ink Jive - original ink and crayon figurative drawing

Here's another version of my jivin' characters in a larger format than usual, 9 x 12", on Bristol board paper.  Roger, my able assistant, is sitting in the chair with me and it's really crowded, but he insisted - I just hope he doesn't press 'publish' before I'm ready!  I used an ink marker with a thin point, then scribbled the colors onto the figures.  There's a little bit of charcoal here and there, too.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

On My Easel - Girl with a Fan oil figurative Work In Progress

This is one of those "I just don't know about this one" paintings, of which I have many.  I had a model for a very short session, and as usual, I think the drawing that I did this painting from is better than the painting.   I envy those who can draw and paint beautifully from a photo, which would really be helpful for me, since I live in a little town and finding a model could become more time-consuming that the actual art.  Oh well, one does what one can.  And I'm open to suggestions.  Thanks for dropping by and letting me rant.

Two-Step Lovers Again - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here is one of my favorite couples again - all cuddled up and dancing the two-step.  This drawing is vine charcoal on 17 x 14" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog!

Frenzy - original mixed media figurative drawing

Some jive music, paper, my drawing markers,  oil crayon and oil pastels, (and a tiny bit of charcoal) and I'm all set for a great evening.  My crazy little jivers are back with a vengeance - well, they never really leave me - and they're jumpin' to the music on this 5 x 17" Bristol board paper.  There are two of these - this is the first one to be posted.
I love the way people move - frantic, like in this drawing - or more controlled as in baseball, which is something I've been sketching lately.  I sit in front of the TV watching and attempting to catch the pitcher at the moment he releases the ball.  Very challenging, but I'll keep trying.  I love baseball, so it's a fun thing to do.  I saw the Orioles play fairly often when living in the D.C. area, but alas, no team nearby, so I make do with TV.
Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Tres Bailoras - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is done with vine charcoal on 14 x 16" Strathmore drawing paper.  These are pretty quick poses, which is why they have a sort of unfinished look.  I keep thinking that I'll tighten them up, but I know I won't - maybe it's a touch of laziness on my part, but also the drawing might end up being a bit too tight.  I figure a little inexactness is more me, anyway.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Late Afternoon - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing just begs to be a painting and I'm sure it will be, but I also am happy with it as a drawing.  The light in the late afternoon was so soft and to get the figure down in a hurry, I pulled out my vine charcoal and got to work.  I'll probably used a very limited palette - I painted for years with only white, black, red and ochre.  And really, that's enough for me.  I do love blue, though.  This drawing is 12 x 11" on Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for looking.

On My Easel - Stick Oil Paint Nude

This painting, which I'm doing with oil sticks; yes, those really juicy - but tough to get details with - oil sticks (but they certainly encourage painting in a loose manner). I am really enjoying working on this painting and will probably pull out the painting knives.  I've used mostly R&F Pigment Sticks, which I think are the kings of the oil stick world.   My drawing Sketch for Josie on the Sofa is the inspiration for this one. 
If you have a chance, stop by my oil pastel blog  to see what's going on there.  Thank you so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

The Model in Mixed Media - original nude mixed media painting

This drawing is done with graphite, watercolor and Daniel Smith watercolor sticks.  The pose was a quick one and instead of "correcting" anything on the piece, I just let it alone.  It's 12 x 9" on Yupo paper.  Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Orange Bikini - original oil pastel figurative drawing

This is what I'd like to be doing right now - going swimming  (but definitely in a one-piece).  We had 107 degrees today.  I usually like summer, but this is horrid.  My poor tomatoes. 
This fun little drawing is one that I posted a while back on my oil pastel blog, which is what I do sometimes, when I'm working on an oil pastel and just sort of thinking about it.  This drawing is on grey Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, nice and gritty, 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Another Tango in Black and White - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's another in my collection of black and white drawings.  I think what attracted me to this pose was the sort of sinuous quality of his legs, as well as her right hip as it drops down while she's reaching back with her foot.  It's not dramatic in the usual way that tango is dramatic, but I think it's a drama, nevertheless.  It's done on 14 x 11" Strathmore 400 drawing paper, using vine charcoal.  Thanks for stopping by!  Sold

Another Little Tango - original oil figurative painting

This little painting was done on 5 x 5" Gessobord, while I was listening to a Victorian mystery.  There's nothing Victorian about tango - for sure!  For this post, I unearthed a sketch that I did years ago at a tango demonstration and did a really, really quick rendition of the drawing with oil paint.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  And please check out my oil pastel blog.  Sold

3 x 3 - Three Three-Minute Original Charcoal Nude Drawings

I haven't posted in awhile - busy with company and then a short trip, but I'm back.  Here's a drawing of three three-minute poses that I did tonight at a life drawing group.  It's about 18 x 24" on Strathmore drawing paper, using vine charcoal, General's Primo charcoal pencils and also their regular charcoal pencils.  It was such a fast drawing that I just grabbed whatever was handy.  Plus, my trusty kneaded eraser. 
I think this is such good drawing practice - even though the drawing doesn't end up just perfect - it's good to try and get things down in a hurry.  By the time I get through with these three-minute drawings, five and ten minute poses seem like I have forever to work!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lexie, Reading - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I did this drawing from life and it took a little less than 20 minutes - kind of a gesture portrait.   It's just wonderful to have models right here in River City and get to practice my all time favorite drawing exercise - short pose.   I used 9 x 12" Colourfix paper in a light grey blue. Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please visit my oil pastel blog

The Model, Standing - original charcoal nude drawing

I just love back poses, especially standing ones.   This drawing is on Strathmore 400 drawing paper and is about 10 1/2 x 5 1/2".   Thank you for stopping by! Sold

A Chat at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

This painting is derived from a drawing I did at a restaurant in San Antonio.  The young woman stopped for a minute to chat with the bartender, then she moved on.  I only got a glimpse, but it was enough for a quick sketch.  The painting is on 9 x 12" gessoed panel.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tango Hug - original oil figurative painting

For this 7 x 5" painting on Gessobord, I used oil sticks, which are oil paint in stick form.  They are soft - at least the R&F, which I love - and not sharpened at all, so the result is a sort of "messy" painting.  It's much more relaxed than most of my work and I just decided to leave it that way - gotta let go sometime, right?  R&F is famous for its encaustics, but their pigment sticks are luscious and are fun to use with a palette knife, too.  Give them a try!
This time of year, my attention has to be shared with my yard and the seemingly hundreds of plants that need to be planted.  And then there are the dandelions - well no ranting, I promise, but I could, for sure!  So, because of my garden, I'm posting during the wee hours of Wednesday.  So, off to bed, now - thanks so much for stopping by!

Three Models - original charcoal nude drawing

In addition to the three different models, the interpretation of each is a little different, as well - only the tiniest bit, but still. . . .   I really think the artist always responds to each individual model and this shows in the finished drawing.  This drawing is on 9 x 12" Britol board paper and I used vine charcoal - always so forgiving!  Thanks so much for stopping by - always great to see you here!

More Western Swing - original oil figurative painting

Here's another in my ongoing western dancers series.  This painting is oil on 10 x 8" stretched canvas.  I really do have more to say, but my internet connection is suddenly really slow, so maybe it's going to go out in a minute - better hurry and get this posted.  Thanks so much for looking!

Crazy Little Jivers - original mixed media figurative drawing

  Here they are again, no sign of wearing down, much less stopping their antics!  Where there's music with that boogie beat, you'll find them dancing the night away!  I used ink - probably the Prismacolor pen - I just reach for them and don't really notice which one I have while in the heat of battle - and Caran d'Ache wax crayons.  These crayons, Neocolor I, are a delight to work with, as are all the Caran d'Ache products that I've tried.  Plus, there's a tiny bit of charcoal here and there.  The paper is Strathmore sequential Bristol board paper 5 x 15". 

It seems like weeks since I posted anything, but have been busy trying watercolors - I do this every now and again just to prove to myself that I'm way too obsessively meddlesome to do watercolor.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Sketch of 'Chele - original charcoal portrait drawing

This quick drawing - on 14 x 11" Strathmore drawing paper - is just one of those satisfying things because when you don't have much time to draw and the result looks like the person - well, that's where the satisfying part comes in.  Of course, I could change this or that, but I think it's more valuable when you can see the hand of the artist and see what was going on at the time artist did his or her work.  Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Wistful - original oil pastel portrait painting/drawing

This is one of my favorite poses and it's difficult to get it just right, but I'm happy with it this time around.  It's not totally finished, I guess, but I like that slightly raw, unfinished look.  It's not for everybody, but I do love to leave a few lines showing.  The drawing is on 12 x 9" gray Pastelbord. 

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