How I Start a Drawing - ink volleyball gestures

Here are a few gestures from a volleyball game at which I was a spectator.  These kinds of drawings always remind me of wire sculptures - an art form that I really enjoy.  I did these in a little notebook that I often carry - one of the drawings has my notes in Gregg shorthand - another art form, as well as a communication device.  I still use shorthand most days and am thinking of ways to incorporate it into my artwork.  Several years ago, I saw that done in a painting - it was more of an assemblage that featured a key on a cord that was draped in front of the shorthand.  Really unique and beautiful.  Anyway, back to the present - I realize that these drawings don't appear to be very substantial, but for me, all the art I do starts this way.  Thanks for looking.

 

Country Music - original charcoal figurative

This drawing started out as a gesture sketch from life at a dance, then I just filled it in with vine charcoal and the occasional swipe of my kneaded eraser.  Really, it is like the silhouette drawing exercise, which I think is so effective for showing each part of the figure in relation to everything else.  Charcoal on pastel paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Bobbie Looking Up - oil pastel portrait

Another oil pastel portrait - love this model - on MultiMedia pastel panel,  10 x 8".  Thanks so much for looking!

Looking Around - mixed media figurative

I slathered acrylic paint on paper pretty thickly, then drew with a General's Peel & Sketch charcoal pencil, and worked over that with oil pastel.  Kind of a quick, frantic piece done from one of my old black and white drawings.  Oil pastel works so great over acrylic - really just glides over the surface.  On 9 x 12" Strathmore acrylic paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Drawing of a Nude - charcoal life drawing

This charcoal life drawing was quick and needs some "fixing", but I know every time I do that, I just mess it up, so just leaving it alone.  It's on 9 x 12" paper.  Thanks for looking!

Mary - original oil pastel portrait painting

On this portrait of Mary, (who looks a little sad, but I think it's just boredom) I used acrylic paint on Strathmore acrylic paper, then drew over it with oil pastel.  I try to have some of these acrylic painted sheets on hand, just in case.  If you haven't tried the paper, it's really great - 246 lb. and with a canvas-like texture, it works for lots of painting and drawing materials.  This piece is 12 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

A Model in Profile - oil pastel drawing

Just one of those faces that was so interesting to me that I just had to draw her.  You know how it is - some things you just must do for no particular reason.  This piece is done on 9 1/2 x 6 1/2" Sennelier oil pastel pad, using Sennelier oil pastels, except for the CrayPas Specialist grey that I used in the background.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

What I'm Working On - figurative oil portrait

Fortunately, this model was able to hold the pose because she really can play the guitar.  Ah, but the guitar, what a nightmare to do!  Whether to make it just so-so or to put the whole thing in - will decide on this tomorrow - but that's it for today. It's on 12 x 12" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Woman with a Cell Phone - oil pastel figurative

This one is really from memory - a young woman I saw checking her phone.  Maybe it will end up as an oil painting, but somehow when I do that, I just don't have the same passion for the second version.
I drew it on Sennelier oil pastel paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Love that stuff!  Thanks for looking,

Guitarist Doodle - mixed media cowboy drawing

I had a chance and took advantage of it to quickly sketch this cowboy playing his guitar.  I drew it with a black Sharpie, and occasional outlines with a Tombow pen and a little bit of water, then I added colored pencil.  This sketch is done on 8 x 6" mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Cowhands - oil pastel figurative

I've been fooling with this oil pastel on Pastelbord, 6 x 12".  Don't really know where it's headed and I may just paint a similar one in oil - yeah, the more I think about it....with much more work to do, especially on the cattle.  Thanks for stopping by!

Dancer Portrait - oil pastel portrait

This model has such huge black eyes and adding the flower in her hair was a great touch.  Just beautiful, I thought, and a "must draw".  Once again I used Sennelier oil pastels on MultiMedia pastel panel, 7 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Rita's Black Dress - original oil pastel portrait

Sennelier oil pastels are so wonderfully gooey and rewarding to work with - plus the model was a pleasure to draw.  Can't ask for more than that!  I feel, though, that I worked it over more than usual and maybe should have left it alone.  The drawing really looks like her, though, so I can be pleased with that - and I am really delighted with the dress.  This piece is 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

A Colorful Little Nude - watercolor nude

This quickly done little nude was painted with Inktense sticks that I washed over with a water brush        

pen, just perfect for life drawing groups - no messy water containers to worry with.  And of course, I see all the things I could have labored over, but didn't have the time - a blessing for me, really, since I tend to kill drawings with overworking.  This piece is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Bullrider - figurative oil rodeo painting

This is the painted version of my earlier Bullrider Sketch - maybe not exactly the same, but close.  Can you imagine actually doing this - riding a bull, I mean.  Those huge, ferocious animals - it's frightening enough even to watch!  There are so many exciting events at rodeos and there are also ranch rodeos, which demonstrate the skills of the American cowboy - click here to learn more.  This painting was done with a fairly wide bright bristle brush on 8 x 8" panel - thanks for stopping by!

A Little Strumming - oil pastel figurative drawing

No subject more rewarding to draw - for me at least - is a musician at practice.  Done quickly with oil pastels on 8 x 8" Multimedia pastel panel, I worked feverishly to capture the moment.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

On My Easel - oil pastel figurative work in progress

I was just having fun with this one that's done from a scene I saw recently - I enjoyed the happy colors.  I will work on it some more - not kidding myself about the major things I need to develop - but will love every moment; it's simply a delight to work on!  This is painted with Sennelier oil pastels on 8 x 10" Multi Media pastel panel.  Hope you enjoy - thanks for stopping by!

Country Evening Two-Steppers - oil pastel figurative painting

This is from a scene at the dance after the rodeo here last summer - I drew and photographed many rodeo action and western dance scenes during those two days, which means lots of oil and oil pastel bull riders, bronc riders, barrel racers and two-steppers coming up.   I did this one on 8 x 8" Multimedia Artboard pastel panel, which holds many layers of oil pastel - click here to visit their website.  Thanks for stopping by!
PS.  to see how this one began, click here to see my January 18th post of the drawing on my oil pastel blog. C

Portrait of Rosa - oil pastel portrait painting

I could paint this model all day and sure am hoping she shows up again!  Very expressive, plus she holds a pose so well - just can't ask for more than that in a model.  Behind her was a figurative panel - I always like using these designs in the background.  This piece was done on 8 x 8" Multimedia pastel panel, using luscious Sennelier oil pastels - like working with lipstick.  Thanks for looking!

                                                               HAPPY NEW YEAR!       

Cloud Study - landscape oil sketch

This 10 x 8" cloud study is one I did before it got so cold - can't imagine doing this now with these temps!

Model in a Green and Red Robe - figurative oil painting of a model

Well, I guess this is kind of Christmasy in color, anyway - green robe with red.  Anyway, I did love painting this piece  - it's on Fredrix Paint Board - a surface I really like.  Thanks for stopping by!

              My wonderful Able Assistant left us today for Doggy Heaven.  RIP precious Roger!

Autumn Evening - landscape nocturne oil painting

This is a painting that I did in my backyard in October when the moon was so beautiful and there was a turquoise tint surrounding it.  I painted the piece on 12 x 9" canvas.  Thanks for looking!

Green Chapeau - original oil pastel portrait

I loved the 40's hat the model wore and the way it looked with her red hair.  I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels on 10 x 8" multi media board.  Thanks for looking!

Bullrider Sketch - ink and water-soluble pencil rodeo drawing

This drawing is one that I did at a rodeo(albeit a total shorthand version that only I could decipher) and then worked over it loosely with ink and water-soluble pencil.  I thought this bull rider was about to bite the dust, but then he righted himself and lasted for eight.  I love this "pose" and am definitely going to do a larger painting in color and am hoping to maintain the looseness.  It's so easy for me to lose the casual look of an action painting and totally kill it.  Alas.  This is on 6 x 6" Bristol paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

More Looking for Eight - oil pastel figurative rodeo

On this piece, I used Multimedia Art Board, which is a new discovery for me.  I received a gift certificate from the company as part of my prize at an art show and I absolutely love this new to me support!  I drew this one from one of my many rodeo drawings - 6 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

Jivin Once Again - oil pastel figurative

I never tire of my jivers.  These happy dancers are painted in oil pastel on 6 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Portrait of the Wednesday Model - original oil pastel portrait

This model was so pretty, with such a gentle face.  Such a pleasure to draw.  I used cold press watercolor paper again, which makes more white bits.  It's just such a good, tough paper, that I like to use it sometimes for oil pastels because it can take lots of punishment.  The size for this one is 9 x 12" - for some reason, I love portraits done in a horizontal format.  Thanks for stopping by!

ACEO Tiny Landscape - original oil pastel landscape

I absolutely love these little (3.5 x 2.5") Colourfix trading cards - in addition to the nicely gritty texture that is fabulous for oil pastels, there is a white edge that surrounds the painting.  Really lovely!  I used Sennelier oil pastels from the Nature collection, then added the turquoisy color at the top.   So much fun and another good-for-the-soul activity.  Thanks for looking!

Lindy, Looking - original oil pastel portrait

Sticking with my model, Lindy,  I used oil pastel for this little portrait because I feel it makes the most marvelous skin tones - soft and smooth, almost like real skin.  Alas, I had to deal with ambient light, but it worked out okay, I think.  Also, it's on 9 x 12" cold press watercolor paper, which is the reason for the bits of white peeking through.  Thanks for stopping by!

Lindy Seated - original ink figurative drawing

This ink and stick drawing was done from a pose while sitting outside a sandwich shop on West 6th Street in Austin, Texas.  I used an extremely thin balsa wood stick with India ink - one of my favorite ways to draw - and just let the ink kind of do its own thing.  This is a wonderfully freeing type of art and just good for the soul - or my soul, anyway.  I did this drawing on - I think it's Yupo, about 8 x 5".  Thanks for looking!