Sketch for Tango Fantasy - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is one I did to work out a tango position for a painting.  Although I will make some adjustments to it, I am mostly pleased.   The painting won't be exactly the same as the drawing, though.  No matter how I try, these characters have minds of their own and won't let me do just anything I want.  I did learn how to transfer a drawing to canvas or board for painting years ago in art class, but I never use it because I like the unpredictability of doing it my way.   
I went to the art store on Saturday to get only one thing and walked out with much, much more.  One of my new acquisitions was a General's pencil set #15, which is what I used on this drawing.  I drew this piece on Strathmore Bristol board, also new.  Don't you just love new art supplies?  They're so fresh and untouched - and then the madness begins and they're never the same. 

On a totally different topic, I've included some photos of a couple of my blooming Cenizo bushes.  They're reputed to predict rain, and I'm hoping that's true.  It worked the last time they bloomed - we got over three inches!  The bees are just going crazy with so many blooms - I can hear the low hum of their buzzing as soon as I walk out onto the porch.  Cenizos have lots of names - purple sage, Texas rain sage, and Texas silverleaf are a few.   Whatever the name, here's hoping they're accurate in their weather forecasting this time around!
Thanks for stopping by! Sold

More Tango Passion - original oil figurative painting

How is this possible?  I have actually seen this and I think it's the position - not to mention strength - of the man's leg, mainly the one that is bearing most of their weight, that allows this pose to work.  Fortunately for them, it only lasts a beautiful, dramatic second or two.   I LOVE this hold and enjoyed making every stroke.  For this one, I set my timer.  The timer has a magnetic back on it, so it stays on the little refrigerator in my studio and I don't have to go hunting all over for it.  Such an improvement over the one I'm still looking for.  Anyway, this was a quickly done painting, which is the best approach for me and I must say I'm pretty happy with it - 6 x 6" on Gessobord. 
Goodnight from my pretty little town on the banks of the beautiful Llano River and thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Salsa Night - original oil figurative painting

Here, for a little change, is a salsa.  It's painted on 10 x 10" stretched canvas.  I'm late posting, but was watching the game and -Yippee!  the Rangers won!  It was pretty unnerving to watch after last night's total disaster, but it turned out great!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jive Lovers - original oil figurative painting

This painting is 6 x 6" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio.  Have a great weekend!

Dance With Me - WIP oil figurative sketch

I've been away for several days and am only now getting back to painting.  However, when I got to my studio today, I realized that I had left my oil paints behind so I resorted to using oil sticks - not oil pastels - but oil paint in a stick.  I didn't finish this sketch, and I don't know that I will do anything more to it.  It's just a painting of the moment and it's okay with me to leave it this way - really I do like things sort of unfinished.  Tomorrow, back to tube paints and brushes.  I drew/painted this on 10 x 8" archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Geisha with Her Mirror - original figurative oil painting

IT RAINED in Junction today!!!  As I painted, I listened to one of my audible.com books - Barbara Tuchman's The Proud Tower -  and although it's a great book, when the rain began, I just had to turn it off so I could listen!  It was such a thrill - even the thunder was beautiful!
Thank you so much for stopping by - I'm always a delighted to see you here!  Oh, and the painting is 14 x 11".  Sold

The Model Looking Up - original oil portrait painting

For this one, I perched on a stool, looked down at the model as she sat on floor pillows, and painted fairly quickly, which is why - from the chin down - it's pretty sketchy.  It was a difficult pose for the model to hold and I was trying to make it as easy as possible for her.  This painting is on 10 x 8" linen on board.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Tango Sizzle - original oil figurative painting

This couple was so passionate and I loved watching them. I saw them dance in San Antonio; I made a tiny little sketch that would probably look crazy to anyone else, but it's my own personal art shorthand. From that sketch, I did this painting. It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord - I had such a good time painting this one! Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!  Sold

Nude with a Flowered Screen - original oil painting of a nude

In one of my painting classes from many years ago, I was kidded about loving and paying attention to backgrounds.  Well, I still love backgrounds, and screens and old wallpaper are among my favorites.  Backgrounds, plus a model - does life get any better?  At least, art life.  I initially drew the pose with vine charcoal and then came back to my studio to paint in oil, using the drawing as my guide. 

This one was done rather quickly (I timed myself to fight my overworking tendencies) on 10 x 8" stretched canvas.  I don't usually like to work on canvas when doing nudes, but this worked well, for some reason.  Maybe it's that I have more paint on the surface. 

While painting, I was listening to The Poisoner's Handbook.  It's not what you might think  when you hear the title, but about the development of forensic science in New York City by a few dedicated chemists.  This book carried me through a number of paintings and, today, I'll begin another juicy one. Thanks so much for stopping by! 

 

Orange Shawl - original oil pastel figurative painting

Since I've been extra busy and also traveling a lot, I've concentrated on oil pastels, since there's little clean-up and not a lot of supplies to tote around.  After this weekend, all that should change, at least for a little while. 
The end of summer - also the end of a time I was privileged to spend a bit more (but never enough) time with my grandchildren.  So, it's with a little sadness that I say goodbye to another summer.   
Now back to painting.  This one was done on 12 x 9" deep black Colourfix paper.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Dressing Table- original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's a 9 x 12" on Colourfix paper work in progress - one of my experiments based on a charcoal drawing from about three months ago.   Thanks for looking!

Lila With a Cap - original oil pastel portrait painting

I love Lila's attitude when she poses.  She's been one of my favorite models for years.  This was a fairly quick pose - no noodling time at all, so some things are left undone.  It's oil pastel on taupe Strathmore  403 paper, which was mentioned in Kenneth Leslie's book as a barrier paper, meaning that no oil would get through the paper.  There seems to be this fear that somehow the oil in oil pastels will destroy the support, but a different oil is used in oil pastels from that in oil paint.  In my experience, there's never been a problem with the oil seeping through, but I also don't use as much pressure on a lighter paper as I would on say, Sennelier's oil pastel paper, Colourfix, Mi-Teintes BOARD (not paper) or Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Emily - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I haven't posted in ages, because of internet problems - finally, though, it seems everything's cleared up (but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!). 
This oil pastel is on deep black Art Spectrum Colourfix paper (12 x 9" - but the image is about 9 1/2 x 8" and because I was obsessed with her curly hair, I put it a little farther down on the page than usual to make sure I could draw all those curls.   
For some reason, I'm doing lots of oil pastels these days and trying different supports for them.   Love these experiments - you just never know when one of them is going to be successful and it does happen now and then.
It's a little bit cooler here in Texas, but just as dry and we're thinking a lot about the folks around Bastrop and all they're going through with the fires there.  We had some fires in the last week here in Kimble County, but because of all the hard work done by our dedicated firefighters, we seem to be doing okay at the moment.  Thanks guys!
Thanks so much for stopping by - great seeing you here!  PS - to see more of my oil pastels, please visit my oil pastel blog.

Mother and Child II - original oil portrait painting

This is a redo of an earlier Mother and Child and is 10 x 8" on gessoed board.  Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Bringing Tea - original oil figurative painting

 This painting is 14 x 11" on Fredrix archival canvas board.  An experiment, really, but aren't they all - at least for me!  I was in a restaurant where the servers were dressed in kimonos and the kimonos and the doors caught my eye.  I made some tiny sketches and am just doing some paintings from them.  This young woman was serving a huge gathering of people and at times, she seemed overwhelmed and a little unsure of herself.  A couple of times she paused for a second as she came through the door.  We were seated in a raised area, which provided a different perspective.

Thanks so much for dropping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Tango Moment Once More - original oil figurative painting of dancers

Well, I just have to get the weather thing over with - it's 88 at 11:43 p.m. and there is no sign of the heat letting up.   
Now on to painting.  This is one of the little moments when the woman brings her leg up against her partner's leg for but a moment - then they continue on with the dance - just a little embellishment.  She's turned her head away from the man and I always think this is to show a little independence of movement.  I just adore painting dancers and while I enjoy other subjects, this is my all-time favorite thing to do.  It's the energy and the passion that dancers exhibit that I love so much.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm a teensy bit envious.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  And please send us some rain.  Sold

Tango Smooch - original oil figurative dancer painting

There were probably some things I could have changed about this painting and when I'm being kind of uptight, I do make some changes.  But this time I just let it go and let it be loose and I'm happy.  Looseness is probably more accurate for portrayals of dancers, anyway.  They can sometimes be a blur because they're moving and viewers often just get an impression of movement, energy and grace.  This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold
 

Rodeo - original oil pastel figurative painting

This weekend in Junction, Texas, there's going to be our annual summer rodeo!  It's a ranch rodeo - my favorite - and there's much excitement in the air here in our little town on the Llano River!  We have a parade on Saturday morning, and dances after the rodeo both nights.  Everyone has a wonderful time.  It's small town America at its best, so if you're anywhere near Junction on the 12th and 13th of August, come on and join us!
The painting is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9". 

Check out my oil pastel blog

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Lexie's Embroidered Blouse - original oil pastel portrait painting

This is a repost from my oil pastel blog, The Oil Pastel Review.  It's 14 x 11" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by.

Beach Madonna - original oil figurative painting

Here's one of the ladies I observed at the beach in California a few weeks ago.  I debated changing the color of the umbrella - too much blue, maybe - but I love that turquoisey aqua that I use a lot, so I just had another excuse to use it.  This painting is on 10 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for looking! Sold

Beach Momma - original oil figurative painting

This young woman was busy tending to her children - sunblock, safety warnings, towels - and was in constant motion.  Maybe that's how she keeps in such good shape.  The painting is 10 x 8" on Fredrix archival panel.

As I write this, I'm sort of watching The Seven Year Itch and marveling at Tom Ewell's acting - he was such a great actor, but taken for granted, I fear, like most character actors.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog.  Above is a closeup of the painting.

Jive Sketch - original charcoal figurative sketch

This sketch is one that I did to include in a painting of jive dancers.  At first, I had his left leg straight, then kind of bent, as it is here.  I was looking for a more dominant position for the guy and either leg position will do.  I was pleased with his presence here and you may have noticed that he is now sporting a jacket. 
The drawing is on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gold Kimono - original oil pastel figurative painting

This post is coming to you from the inferno that Texas is at this moment.  At almost midnight, it's 88 degrees.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we have no more wildfires.
I saw this "pose" at a restaurant; one of those moments that stick with you.  Or me, in this case.  I love to see women in a kimono, which is such a graceful costume and I never tire of drawing them.  This oil pastel will probably turn into an oil painting, soon.  It's on Sennelier oil pastel paper and is about 8 x 5".  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

More Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

More of my tango painting - I do get on these kicks.  This one is looser and I didn't worry too much with it.  It does have foreshortening with her left leg, which I love to do.  Always fun and challenging.  Painting these small dancers has been so instructive for me.  I can be more loose - now to try and translate that to larger paintings.  Thanks so much for stopping by - and I hope you'll check out my oil pastel blog.  Oh, and it's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Sold

Three Palm Trees - original landscape oil painting

This painting is SO out of my comfort zone - not a human in sight!  These are some trees I saw in California and I painted them on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Whew!  Tomorrow - people painting!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Another Standing Pose - original charcoal nude drawing

Standing poses are my favorite, especially back poses.  There's a little mystery when her face isn't showing.  This drawing is one I did a few weeks ago, but it's posted today, because I'm working on lots of beach paintings.  This past week I was in La Jolla, CA, where I went to the beach and drew people.  It was heaven for a people-watcher like me!   This drawing is 15 x 8".  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Tango Joy - original oil figurative painting

Here they are again - these happy tango dancers - and although it seems a less emotional, more fun swingy step, I notice that they're looking into each other's eyes.  I think I may actually convince my husband to sign up for tango lessons in the fall.  Or maybe he's just feigning interest - we'll see how this turns out.  In my earlier life, when I took dancing lessons, tango didn't have the meaning for me that it has today.  It was just another dance.  But now, I realize its beauty and it has captured me totally.  This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog and I hope you'll drop in on my oil pastel blog, too! Sold

Another Evening at the Bistro - original oil figurative painting

I hope everyone had a great Fourth!  Most places in this part of the world nixed the fireworks display because of the wildfire danger, but we had one here in Junction.  I watched from my back porch - it was actually down at the city park on the Llano River - but still a good view and the show was really fine!
This painting is on 8 x 10" archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

WIP Portrait of Sue - original oil portrait in progress

This isn't finished, obviously, but it's off to a pretty good start and will be completed in the next day or so.  When somebody comes to my house for a visit, I'm always so thrilled when they're willing to pose for me!  Thanks for looking!

More Tango Sweethearts - original oil figurative painting

Here's my favorite reason for putting paint on board - my tango dancing couple who never tire of this wonderful dance.  Check out this site for dancing info and how-to.  The painting is 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting - I'm signing off now from the hot, dry inferno that is Texas these days.  Stay cool!  Sold

Lindy Lines - original watermedia figurative drawing

This evening, I drew many pages of dancers in my Borden and Riley pad of paper for pens.  I used Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons, but didn't add water.  The crayons have such a soft, almost gooey feel when they meet the paper and I love them.  I've been painting lots of oil pastel pieces and a few oils - will probably post them soon.  But I love to draw my dancers - they're my absolute favorites.  I love their energy!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - stay cool!

The Mechanic as the Model - original watermedia portrait drawing/painting

This painting is one of those fun things that is quickly drawn with watercolor crayons (Caran d'Ache) and then with a very wet brush, just go a little crazy.  It's always great to have a live model, especially when you find a regular guy who can hold a pose.  The painting is done on Rapidograph paper for pens - which I think I've mentioned before is practically an antique - and it will wrinkle a little, since it doesn't like to get this wet, but after being weighted down for a day or so, it's perfectly fine.  Oh, and it's 12 x 9".  Thanks for dropping by.

Seaside - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 5 x 7" Gessobord. Sold

The last few days have been ones of experimentation for me.  I spent (wasted?) lots of time today working with oil sticks - not oil pastels - but it was just so messy.  I don't think I've even gotten close to figuring it out, but I'll keep at it.  Here's the result below, although it's not finished and probably never will be.  Do any of you use oil sticks and have some tips for me?  I'd love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by!

They're Really Jivin'! - original charcoal figurative sketch

This drawing is one of those 'draw it and don't look back' things.  Fun and fast - vine charcoal, with some white pastel on grey mat board - the image is about 8 x 8".  I love it when I can hear their feet hit the floor and I did with this one.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

More Drawing Exercises - original charcoal portrait sketches

On these hot, steamy summer nights (91 degrees at 10:30 p.m.), I plunk myself down in front of the TV and draw whatever's in front of me.  These old library book cards were around because I had thought of doing something with them - maybe not drawing - but they're a portable size, so they were pressed into service.  Since the actors are moving around, the resulting sketch uses a lot of memory drawing, which is good training, I think.  Sometmes, the sketches end up with different eyes or noses or mouths from the "models" onscreen.  I just "borrow" the next person's feature and plug it into my drawing.  So, they're not anybody, but a combination of several faces.  I have dozens of these practice pieces - here are a few. 

Thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Waiting at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

She kept glancing toward the door.  As I was leaving, I passed the guy she was waiting for and - nosy me - when I looked back, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were fixed on him.  I'm always happy when these little stories end well.  This painting is on 10 x 8" archival canvas board.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Seated Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

Here's a sketch on warm grey pastel paper, using charcoal and touches of black, grey and white pastel.  It's on 12 x 9" paper, with the image about 9 x 6".
While I love drawing from the posed model, I had a good time this evening doing little sketches from the TV, where, because the people move constantly, my drawing will always have one person's mouth, another's eyes, etc. - it's a great drawing exercise, I think.  Does anyone else do this?  I'm sure I'm not the only one.  Maybe I'll post some of them tomorrow.  The latest ones are on vintage library book cards.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

The Dance Hall - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 11 x 14" Fredrix archival canvas board.   I was going to describe

my summer self-education in drawing and my new adventures in oil sticks (not oil pastels), but

trying to post on Blogger tonight is difficult and is driving me so crazy, I just want to get out of here - maybe

tomorrow's posting will be easier!  Hope all is going well for all of you - thanks for stopping by!

A Kiss At The Bar - original oil figurative painting

This painting is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio.  I have to hurry to get this post finished so it will be ready for picking up by Daily Painters.  Please check my latest posting on my oil pastel blog.  Thanks again! Sold

The Print Shirt - original pencil portrait drawing

This 13 x 10" drawing began life as a pose taken by the little girl, but then I realized the futility of having a youngster try and hold a pose for a long time, so I took a picture of her and mostly drew from that.  Drawing from life has its limits when dealing with children.  Actually, I don't think I could hold a pose for any length of time.  I cringe when the model doesn't show and we have to take turns posing.  Just like waiting to give a book report in middle school, I always hope the session will end before I must take my turn.  This is on wonderful Stonehenge white paper and instead of using charcoal, as I usually do, it's done with a graphite pencil.  Pencil just has a sort of softness that I like for children.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Sold

A Sketch Begins - original oil pastel figurative drawing

The model got tired and got up, so, of course, I had to stop.   Every single time that I've tried to finish something after the model left, the drawing lost its life and emotion.  Even if the model returned, I wouldn't work on this drawing any longer because I had the "feeling" while I was working on this quick sketch and I just don't think it's coming back.  Sometimes "unfinished" works better, anyway. 
I used 9 x 12"Sennelier Carte d'Art which has a rough finish that helps me stay loose. Check out my blog for oil pastel to see my work there.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio - I'm always glad to see you here!

Reclining Nude IV - original charcoal/pastel drawing

I loved the wistful look on the model's face, as if she had a pleasant scene that she was turning over in her mind as she posed.  As in the last post, I used Strathmore 403 9 x 12" taupe paper.  I'm a paper fiend - I love it and have way-y-y-y too much of it.  There's just something that happens when I stand before a blank piece of paper with charcoal in hand.  Sometimes a good drawing is the result and sometimes not.  But I still love the moment - filled with possibility - just before the drawing begins!

Thank you so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio! Sold

Nude with Arms Raised - original pastel nude drawing

This was a beautiful pose, but not a long one, so I just drew part of the model.  As you can imagine, this one was hard to hold even for a little while.  No matter what else I do, I always return to my first love, black and white nude drawings.  This drawing is about 10 x 7" on Strathmore 403 paper, which is actually oil pastel paper.  It's just an all-around great surface.  Also, I used General's black and white pastels.  There are also a couple of greys in the set, as well - but this time, I just used black and white on the taupe paper.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Straw Hat - original oil pastel portrait sketch

This was a really strange straw hat that the model was wearing - sort of flat all over.  I would love to go back to the days of wearing hats.  They're such a great finish to an outfit and are SO romantic - like all the women in hats at the recent royal wedding. 
This sketch is on 12 x 9" Colourfix black paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Solitaire - original oil figurative painting

I play solitaire pretty often so maybe that's why painting someone playing the game appeals to me.  It's a no win - or seldom win - game.  In fact, I read the other day that a player only wins one out of 31 times.  Terrible odds, but I keep at it.  I even have a book on the different types of solitaire.  I play Klondike, which is the kind my grandmother taught me and from what I can tell, it's the one most people play.
This painting is on 7 x 5" Gessobord.  Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!