Promises - original oil painting by Connie Chadwell

They only had eyes for each other. The painting is 6 x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Sinthy - oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

Sinthy - I love that name - held the pose for about an hour, but I stopped before the hour was up because I didn't want to "kill" the painting. Plus, my board is only 6 x 6", so I didn't need much time. I just made lots of strokes while mainly looking for values. I am happiest when working quickly and then moving to another spot in the room to do a charcoal figure drawing from the same pose at another angle.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Taking a Break - original oil figure painting

This painting is 8 x 8" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

More Tea - oil pastel figure painting

This was painted from a little drawing I did at my favorite Thai restaurant (now closed, unfortunately). It's 16 x 20" on Ampersand Pastelbord. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Three Gals - original oil figure painting

Whew! Dealing with three women, even if they are at the business end of a paintbrush, is not easy - especially if they refuse to be controlled by yet another woman (me).

Of course, I didn't know what was in the photo they were studying, but there was much comment and giggling. This was one time I was glad to have my sketchbook with me, so that I didn't have to draw in the back of my checkbook or on a scrap of paper.

This painting is on Ampersand Gessobord and is 6 x 6". Thanks for looking!SOLD

A Little Nap - original oil figure painting

Sometimes the festivities get to be too much for a girl - even a young one.

This painting is 6 x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Orange Comb - original oil painting

I did this without cadmium orange, which I had intended to use in the beginning, but I was pleased with the range of orange in the painting anyway. I did a painting much like this a few years ago, but this one is a quicker and fresher way of painting that I've come to use and I like it better. SOLD

This one is 8 x 8" on Gessobord. Thanks for dropping by!

Heather Again - nude painting in oil

Here's another rendition of Heather. This one's in oil on 9 x 12" Gessobord. I started out with a very limited palette - titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt sienna and cobalt blue (which is kind of cheating in a truly limited palette, since gray next to red reads as a blue, but, oh well). After it was done, I decided that it needed a little more color, so I added a little cadmium red and yellow.

This time, not working from life, but from a drawing from life, the likeness isn't there as well as it was, but I am pleased with the painting because it's not really intended to be a portrait. And she still has that proud elegance to her, which is the most important element to me. If the gesture is right, then I'm happy. SOLD

Heather - drawing of a nude model

I loved drawing Heather, who takes beautiful, graceful poses and is able to hold them so well. I hope to do a painting from the drawing - tomorrow if everything works out okay. I like to work quickly and loosely. Some of my artist friends have said to me "Connie, you're just a loose woman". Maybe. But only in art.

This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper about 10 x 14". Thanks for dropping by! SOLD

Alone at the Bar - original oil figure painting

I guess this is sort of a series - bar paintings. Taverns, bars and such are a perfect place to observe people, because they really let their hair down there. However, it's a strange place for a teetotaler like me to be found, but since most people I know are not teetotalers, I seem to be in these interesting places on occasion and I make the most of it.

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for visiting my blog!SOLD

Reclining Nude - charcoal figure drawing

Today my painting experience was something like Murphy's Law. When the face was right, the hands weren't and vice versa. The day continued in this vein until I finally just gave up and decided to post this nude that I did a few days ago. It's 11 x 14" on Strathmore drawing paper. Thanks for visiting my blog!

SOLD

Tango Twist - original oil figure painting

I was searching through an old box of oil paints the other day and discovered my long lost tube of cadmium orange. I'm able to mix a wide range of colors - including a really vibrant orange - because for many years I painted with only titanium white, ivory black, venetian red and yellow ochre. But I just love cadmium orange. I used some in this piece - hope I didn't overdo it. Ahhh - it can be so dramatic. Welcome back, old friend!

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking! SOLD

The Letter - original oil figure painting

Gone are the days when a letter was the only means of communication across long distances, which is a good thing, but still, someone reading a letter is one of my favorite subjects to paint. I always wonder, was the news good or bad, was there tragedy within its lines, or did news from home just make them lonely? SOLD

This painting is 8 x 8" - a little larger than I usually do - on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!

Little Jivedoodles - charcoal drawings of figures

This is another, smaller version of the larger Jivedoodles that I posted some time ago. I am endlessly fascinated by the contortions of jive dancers, and I LOVE the energy they exhibit.

These are poses that are stuck in my mind from shows and dances that I attended - great memory drawing practice!

It's drawn on Strathmore drawing paper and is 11 x 14". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Leigh - oil pastel portrait

This portrait is done in my favorite medium - oil pastel. It's on Gessobord, rather than Pastelbord and being oil pastel, it works perfectly. This was done from life and although I didn't get to spend as much time as I would like, I'm pleased with the result. Since the painting is 6 x 6", I was able to capture her likeness more quickly than if it had been a larger support.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Jivemania - oil figure painting

This is a quick little gesture that I painted today. I mainly used blues and oranges, but I am never totally happy unless there's a little green somewhere, so there are a few dots of viridian. It's 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Tango Dip II - original oil figure painting

I kept this painting softer and less distinct. The couple displayed strength and grace in performing this dramatic and beautiful dip. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Threshold - original oil painting

This painting is on gessoed hardboard and is 20 x 16". Thanks for looking!

Tango Sketchbook - charcoal figure drawing

Here's a look at one of my sketches of tango dancers. When I have a chance to watch dancers, they stay in my mind for a long, long time and then I can work out the poses I saw. Sometimes I even take the pose myself - not something you'd want to witness - so I can get the feel of it, which is really important in figure drawing. Actually, many years ago, I did some tango dancing - took lessons, etc., but I'm not a tango dancer by any stretch of the imagination. I could tell from the first step, though, that this dance was one I would always love. I have many of these little drawings and will post them. This one is on 11 x 14" Strathmore drawing paper and it's done with vine charcoal.

Thanks for looking! I LOVE hearing from you. Thanks so much for your emails!

Afternoon Stroll - original oil figure painting

Taking a little break from the tango paintings (although I have two on my easel) I decided to just observe what else is going on.

This young couple was unhurried in their stroll down the sidewalk. They came from the matinee that had just ended. Maybe they were discussing the movie or where to stop in for dinner.

This painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord. Thanks for visiting my blog! SOLD

Liza, Leaning - charcoal drawing of a nude

I didn't have much to post today, except this nude drawing of a lovely model named Liza. I spent most of the allotted time on her face. It's 14 x 11" on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thai Food - original oil painting

My all-time favorite food - Thai or Vietnamese. This 6 x 6" oil painting on Gessobord was done from a tiny sketch I did at a Thai restaurant that I used to frequent. It's closed now, so I'm looking for another good one. I'm desperate for some massaman curry!

Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Pardners - original oil painting

I love the way cowboy, horse and dogs work as a team. Reminds me of the Dan Seals recording of 'God Must Be a Cowboy'. Well, the dogs aren't mentioned in the song, but I like them to be along, anyway.

It's 8 x 10" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Tango Promise - original oil figure painting

Another one of my tango paintings, this one is 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking. SOLD

Explaining Art - original oil figure painting

I was in a museum the other day and observed a docent as she was leading a tour for a group of art lovers. Not being one of the group, I didn't want to intrude, but just couldn't resist hanging around for a few minutes to listen to her fascinating lecture. I sat on one of the benches just long enough to do a little sketch. This 7 x 5" painting is based on that drawing. SOLD

Thanks for looking!

Jivedoodles - charcoal gesture drawings

This was a fun exercise in quick drawing - the kind that uses memory, because of course, these figures were moving really fast. I love gestures and think that if you get the gesture, you're successful, even if you don't "finish" the piece. It's worth practicing to get drawings done very quickly. I don't think I'm even thinking when I do this, but instead, just reacting to what I see. Try it - it's fun! SOLD

These little figures were done on Strathmore 18 x 24" paper with vine charcoal. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tango Spice II - original oil figure painting

This painting is 7 x 5" and is on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

Apres Tango - original oil figure painting

Tango is not just a dance, but a passionate embrace set to music. As much tango as I've watched, I'm still a bit surprised when the dancing couple simply parts and walks back to his and her respective chairs, as if they had merely passed each other on the street. As you can see, this couple isn't just parting and walking back to separate corners. This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.

Thanks for stopping by!

Claire in an Orange Bikini - figure in oil pastel

This is kind of a raw painting, but I'm happiest when I leave my artwork in a fairly unfinished state. There's something so satisfying to me about not "finishing" my drawings and paintings. When I completely cover the canvas or board, I don't feel that I've revealed the underpinning of my work - the drawing - or my impressions of the subject. I always love to see drawing in any artist's work. Any time I am lucky enough to see an exhibit by a master painter, I always find myself in front of their drawings or prints.

I didn't spend the entire time allotted to this pose, which can be tough to do, and maybe I could have put in more detail here and there, but I decided to leave it alone.

It's 8 x 8", oil on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

Lucy II - charcoal portrait drawing

I am thrilled that I actually did get a chance to finish the drawing of Lucy (see posting of 2/28). SOLD

Princess - charcoal nude drawing

This woman is one of my favorite models. She has such poise and holds such beautiful poses. Charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper, this drawing is 18 x 24". Thanks for stopping by!

SOLD

Lookin' for Trouble II - original oil figure painting

This is another version of my cowboy at the bar with nothing on his mind. Just maybe a little trouble. It's 11 x 14" on stretched canvas. Thanks for stopping by. SOLD

The Girl at the Bar - oil figure painting

She seemed to be waiting for someone, but that person never showed. This painting is 7 x 5", on Gessobord. Thanks for looking. SOLD

Quiet Moment - oil pastel figure

This 10 x 8" oil pastel painting is on Gessobord. It was an experiment in painting a backlighted figure. Thanks for looking. SOLD

A Little Salsa - original oil by Connie Chadwell

Here's a quick little painting - not tango this time, but salsa. It's oil on Gessobord, 7 x 5". Thanks for looking! SOLD

Jive - oil figure painting

Kind of wild, but hey - jive IS wild - 6 x 6" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking! SOLD

Another Standing Nude - charcoal drawing

I seem to be doing lots of nude drawings lately, but the rest of the story is that I'm actually doing a number of paintings that will probably be submitted to shows and I just haven't had time to do the little daily paintings. This nude is charcoal with touches of white pastel on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. The image is about 12 x 5". Thanks for looking!

Another Seated Nude - charcoal drawing

I loved this pose - the model was so at ease with herself. It's charcoal on Strathmore 400 drawing paper and is about 11 x 10". Thanks for visiting my blog! SOLD

Treasure Hunt

Little children can find the tiniest of treasures. Maybe this little girl's delight was a pretty pebble to give to her mom. This oil painting is 6x6" on gessoed board. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Celeste - charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing was done with my General charcoal pencils on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. It's about 11 x 5". Thanks for stopping by.

More Tango Romance - original oil figure painting

This painting is a little larger than I usually post - it's 12 x 9" on Gessobord. This pose conveys a lot of what tango means to me - the man in control and the grace of the woman as she executes a difficult step. And the way they look at each other. I love tango! Love it! Thanks for looking.