Sparring in My Sketchbook - original ink figurative drawing with touches of white pencil

I am always interested in drawings on different supports.  Here, I used yellow ochre acrylic brushed on my sketchbook page.  Watercolor would be more traditional - or thinned ink - but was just working with what I had.  It's about 7 1/2 x 7 1/2" - the page seems to be a hot press watercolor paper, which I love to use - it can take lots of abuse!  Thanks for stopping by.

Scenes from a Tango - original charcoal figurative

Just a little fun with my tango dancers.  This charcoal drawing is 10 1/2 x 14" on drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait in progress

Wonderful model, but of course, now she's gone and I have to improvise.  On this one, I used 16 x 12" Art Spectrum Colourfix board💗 - so wonderful!  Will finish on the weekend - thanks for stopping by!

Sketchbook Ink Nudes - ink drawings of nudes

Here are some pages from one of my sketchbooks in which I was practicing some mapping and crosshatching.  l really think I need some more practice, plus it's a lot of fun to do!

On My Easel - original pastel pencil figurative in progress

Here it is in the wee hours and I'm just now getting to posting.  This drawing is being done from a black and white sketch from some time ago.  At this point, I don't know if it will be "finished" - well, probably not at this point.  Don't know if other artists leave things for awhile the way I do.  This is on Colourfix board, but my usual problem is cropping up - pastel dust.  Thought it wouldn't be bad with the pencils and while it's not as bad as with the sticks, it's still a problem.  Maybe I'll start working with them outside.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by!  PS.  That's a book on her lap (will definitely make that more finished)!

Seated Back Pose - original oil pastel nude

I did this nude on 12 x 9" mixed media paper and matted it to about 9 1/2 x 7 1/2".  There's just nothing - to me, anyway - like the blues and greens in skin tones.  I just find them irresistible.  This piece is a little "raw", just the way I like them - not quite "finished".  I took a portrait course in which the portrait I painted is so exact and finished (although I didn't attend the last lesson) and everyone who sees it says 'wow, you did this?" and while I like it and am proud of my accomplishment, it's not my natural way of doing things.  Just my personality, I guess.  I love it that each artist's personality always shows up in his/her work.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Three Gals on Green - original acrylic figurative

Just a fun thing I did while cleaning my palette - it's on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  I love greens  - cool greens mixed with warm greens and I really love those made with black and golds and yellows.  The greens on this piece, though, are straight from the tube.  They're nice to work with, too.  Thanks so much for looking!

On My Easel - original acrylic portrait in progress

I'm working on this piece with acrylic paints.  Like most everything I'm doing right now, it needs a bit of time to get it finished, which I hope to do tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Tea For One - original oil pastel in progress

All I have that I could post are lots of unfinished pieces, so I just closed my eyes and picked one, and the winner is. . . . .  Sooo much to do on this, but it's going to be finished tomorrow, I hope, so I can get busy with my other stuff that's in limbo.  This is on 14 x 11" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Nude on Wednesday - original watermedia nude

This painting is mostly water media with a few touches of oil pastel.  It's on mixed media paper, which, if you haven't tried it yet, is wonderful - stands up to all kinds of torture.  It's about 9 x 11".  Thanks for stopping by!

Early Spring - original pastel pencil drawing

This drawing is of one of my Dutch irises, which I didn't expect to bloom 'til later - my backyard has been absolutely full of roses for weeks, which is earlier than usual.  I used my Carbothello pastel pencils on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper for this one.
 

Easy Listening - original pastel pencil portrait drawing

I'M SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT 'EASY LISTENING' HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE BOOK 'STROKES OF GENIUS' 10!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                          After a long day - nothing like some 'easy listening' music - at least that's what I hear.  For me, though, it has to be something with a beat.  Right now I'm listening to salsa music, mixed with a little jive - of course, I had a really good day with no problems, so maybe I wouldn't want the zippy stuff if I were really tired.  This woman is being rejuvenated by the soothing music, which is perfect for both of us.  She is very still and, therefore, a good model.  She's happy - I'm happy.
This drawing is on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper - fresh grey color.  The problem with drawings that aren't "finished" is where do I stop?  I'm tempted to work on the chair, but won't because I think I've covered all the bases without doing that.  And if I do "finish" it and then decide I shouldn't have done it,  it's too late - can't be undone.  Same with her other leg.  Decisions, decisions.  Thanks for looking!

Thicket - original charcoal landscape drawing

I've been finding lots of enjoyment in drawing thickets.  Doesn't sound too exciting, but the line making is so satisfying.  I'm basically a "drawer", so putting pencil to paper and making marks is what I love best.  I have many more of these, plus I've been working on pen and ink nudes, mapping the shadows and then practicing my hatching.  Will post some of those tomorrow. Drawing is my fave!  This one is on 8 x 10" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!😊

Jumpin' Jivers - original acrylic figurative painting

Yes, I really saw it - I think youth is the first prerequisite for a jump like this one! And tons of practice, because he didn't seem to give it a second thought - all in a day's work!  He probably didn't think of it as work, though, just lots of fun.  I used Golden Open acrylic paint on an 8 x 8" panel.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Livy's Naptime - original acrylic figurative in progress

Notice I said "in progress" - lots to do here, but only going to fool with it a little more and then get going on something else.  I had to get the model to move down so I could get her where I wanted her on the bed and she actually did take a little nap.  Used acrylics on a cradled panel, 12 x 12".  Will  post it here when I do get it finished.  Thanks for looking!

Morning - original graphite portrait drawing

I started this drawing from life, but as often happens, I eventually had to rely on a photograph, which isn't as good, but I was grateful for at least a little time with a model.  Not usually a fan of drawing with graphite, I loved doing this one with a set of General's woodless graphite pencils in HB, 2B, 4B and 6B - also comes with a sharpener - I just love kits!  This drawing is about 11 x 12" on Strathmore mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Jana in Trois Crayons - original figurative drawing

Fooling around with trots crayons today - basing this drawing on a charcoal one where I sort of pestered someone to pose for me (sigh) I can be so tiresome.  So while listening to The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo - yummy for us English history buffs - I did a quick sketch using the big three.  Maybe not the best example, but something that's not my usual.  It's on bluish Colourfix paper - thanks so much for stopping by!

Young Ballerina Sketch - original charcoal and oil pastel figurative drawing

I couldn't resist this drawing - they were so busy getting everything in order. Of course, there was a lot of moving around, so I had to change some of the poses a bit, plus do a little memorizing of poses I especially liked.  I love having access to ballet dancers and they are so much more accessible than tango dancers. Tango is generally at night and far from my house.  Western dancers are easy to find in this part of the country, as well as some of the jive dancers - and I'm easy to find, too - always around with my sketchbook!
  This sketch is on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper - 9 x 12" - thanks for looking!

All Out Jive - original acrylic figurative painting

I know - it's a little crazy looking - but I love the abandon and just went with it.  I like how this fella dances and the girl has just returned to the floor after a jump.  Didn't have room on the panel for both of them to be airborne.  Was listening to my workout music while painting and it is definitely jive - the only problem is that I should use it more, rather than just listening as I paint!  This piece is on gessoed panel, 7 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Woman Reading - original pastel pencil figurative drawing

This pastel pencil drawing is actually on bluish Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, but for some reason, it looks kind of beige here.  Otherwise, the colors are correct.  I love having a model for even a short time, so didn't work on the chair at all - just concentrated on the model, because all models do tire after awhile.  And sure enough, she finally had enough and that was that.  It was great while it lasted, though.  Years ago, I used some CarbOthello pastel pencils in art class and I loved them, but haven't used this medium since.  Got to thinking about them and just hauled off and treated myself to a whole set of CarbOthellos.   They are delicious, plus I think changing one's medium from time to time is good for the soul!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - Warming Up - original oil pastel figurative work in progress

Maybe I will do something with this sketch - or maybe not, but it was fun to draw.  I do love ballet dancers, just like I love all dancers!  I drew this on Art Spectrum Colourfix - the grittier kind.  Thanks for looking!

Studio Nude - original acrylic painting of a nude model

I was trying out my new Golden Open Acrylics and painted this piece from a drawing that I did some time ago.  The Opens are great - they really do stay wet longer.  I love them - easy to work with and, I think, easier blending for edges.  The painting is 10 x 8" on multimedia paper - thanks for looking!

Dancers In Lines - original ink marker figurative drawing

Just about my all time fave thing to do - line squiggles that form people.  Used an Itoya Doubleheader calligraphy pen for this one.  Great drawing instrument, btw - gives such variety of line.  This one is about 8 x 11 1/2"  - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Sketchbook Landscape - original mixed media drawing.

This type of drawing is not really my thing, but was working on my sketchbook, which is the subject of this post.  I was at the craft store in the next town and came across a Bee sketchbook for markers which I snapped up.  I love it so much!  The pages lie completely flat and it has a stiff black pebbled cover - such a delight to work in.  I used pastel pencils, water soluble pencils, marker, and charcoal.  I used Bee papers years ago, then later could never seem to find this brand, but am really glad I have this cute sketchbook.  This product comes in other sizes besides this 8 x 8" and with vellum paper, as well.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel Sketch of Gemma - original charcoal portrait sketch in progress

Here's a little 12 x 9" sketch of Gemma - not finished, but one that I'm enjoying working on.  It's on Strathmore toned paper, which is fun to draw on, especially when using a little white in addition to the charcoal.  As I progress, I'll use some white - just not there, yet.  Thanks for looking!

Sketchbook Nude - original mixed media drawing

This drawing comes from a life drawing I did several months ago, so, early this morning, I just decided to give it another interpretation.  I had planned to do it completely in watercolor, then restate the figure in ink, but it took a slightly different path - just had to get more line in there!  Here and there are touches of acrylic, as well.  I didn't realize that the Prismacolor ink marker I was using is water-soluble, so that was a surprise - and a good one. too!  Then I turned my attention to an oil pastel for my oil pastel blog and got it mostly finished.  Working in the morning - which we night owls don't often do - seems to be a good thing! Plus, I listened to early morning radio - I always have the radio on, just not usually as early as I did this morning.   This piece is on 8.5 x 5.5" mixed media paper - thanks for stopping by!

A Nude for Tuesday - original charcoal drawing

This nude drawing is done on Strathmore drawing paper, 14 x 11".  I also added touches of white hard pastel.  Thanks for looking!

iPhone Guitarist - original iPhone sketch

Here's the result of a goofing around Saturday - probably could refine it some, but it is a loose little sketch, after all, and one must be grateful when there is a model of sorts around.  What's wonderful about using my phone is the phone doesn't get the nervous looks that pulling out the sketchbook - no matter how small - does.  Plus much of this piece is just drawing without looking and looking at the performer, instead.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

On My Easel - Two Geishas - original oil pastel figurative in progress

Here's a little of what I was working on today.  The support looks like canvas, but isn't.  I applied gesso to panel with a bristle brush that one would use to paint woodwork.  With the first layer going up and down, and the next one side to side, the effect is more like canvas.  I only needed two layers because the panel was already gessoed.  It's really fun and instructive to paint a 7 x 5" because it's so intimate and also easier to work out problems or go in a different direction.  For instance, I'm now more interested in the geisha in the back and want to explore that a little more, possibly in a larger piece.  I think it's the values that are appealing in the back geisha.  For me, it's always the values!  Will probably finish this on Tuesday.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - charcoal portrait in progress

I just started this one this evening - having to work with mainly a photograph, although I will finish it with the actual girl.  So much to do, but it's great to work in charcoal - so soft and forgiving.  This one is 17 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by.