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.

Wild Jive - original figurative oil painting

This painting is what listening to oldies will do for you - what a way to spend a couple of hours on Friday afternoon.  The music is from my workout playlist, so it's all pretty lively.  On 8 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

iPhone sketch of Shayna - original black and white iPhone drawing

I love drawing with my finger on my 6 plus screen - talk about living dangerously when drawing!  It's a complete toss-up as to how it will turn out, but really satisfying for me.  If you haven't tried this, do it! Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

More Little Jivers - original figurative oil painting

These little dancers are dancing on 6 x 6" Gessobord and having the time of their lives!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Fixing Her Hair - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I always just love it when the model takes one of the fixing hair poses!  This one is done on Art Spectrum Colourfix - the original, which I adore, in the sand color.  Maybe not finished - I didn't have a whole lot of time because I kept dropping my crayon and/or it kept breaking.  But in the happiness department, it was a win-win.  It's 9 x 12" - thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - original oil pastel figurative in progress

This is a 9 x 12" oil pastel I worked on today - many, many refinements before I could possibly consider it finished - if it ever does get finished.  Once again, on this marvelous Colourfix paper that I'm loving to work on.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Ballerina - original oil pastel drawing

This drawing is on Colourfix paper - the new smoother kind.  I thought I wouldn't like it, just bought it by accident, but I ended up loving it!  This drawing is about 9 x 9" - thanks for stopping by!

Nude on Grey - original charcoal drawing of a nude model

A charcoal drawing on grey paper - actually it's Strathmore 403 - is the latest from Hackberry Street Studio.   This one is about 9 1/2 x 4 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Sandi - original oil pastel portrait

Since I've been away so much and haven't posted, I just decided to go ahead and publish something in progress.  Even though I didn't post for such a long time doesn't mean I haven't been doing art.  Actually, I took a portrait painting course and also have been drawing or painting every single day.  So much to do on this one, yet, but just needed to get back to posting.  This is Colourfix paper - the smoother one, which has just a bit of tooth.  I used Sennelier with a few Holbein oil pastels.  It's about 9 x 9".  Maybe I'll post it again when I'm finished. Thanks for stopping by!

Two Step Passion - original oil figurative painting

This couple was so into each other and the music - they were a pleasure to watch.  It was kind of a fast number - I don't remember the tune - but they glided by with purpose and emotion.  This painting is on 8 x 8" Gessobord.  Thanks so much for looking!
PS. My Able Assistant, Roger, seems to be much better!  I love my Assistant!💓

Really Red Tango - original oil figurative painting

Here's one I think I forgot - discovered it today.  It's 7 x 5" on Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!

Blue Cape - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I'm not sure I will "finish" this 5 x 7" piece on panel since it feels as if I've accomplished what I've set out to do.  I like the openness on the left side and maybe if I completely cover it, I might regret it.  Isn't it fun to read my rant?  Sorry.  Although I could actually go on and on.
So sad and worried at the moment - my wonderful and beloved Able Assistant, Roger, seems to be ill.   It's terrible to watch - will probably stay downstairs with him tonight and we'll sleep in my recliner, all bundled up together.  Only hope he can recover - he's such a part of my life.

Two Charcoal Nudes - original charcoal drawing of nudes

Two quick charcoal drawings on Strathmore drawing paper,  about 16 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Sandra - original oil pastel portrait painting

This little oil pastel is 7 x 5" on panel.  Once again, I fooled around with it afterward, but it still looks like her - such a pleasant expression throughout.  Memo to me:  Leave it alone after you get home!  Thanks for looking!

A Few Drawings - charcoal and mixed figurative drawings

Some of the little drawings I did before the holidays.   I hope everyone has a wonderful 2017!

Black and White Rodeo - original charcoal figurative drawing

I am sometimes astonished by the power and emotion of charcoal drawings.  It's my all-time favorite medium.  This drawing is on Canson drawing paper.  Although the tear line runs through the top of the cowboy's hat, I was so happy with the way it was going, that I just went with it and will simply bond it to museum board.  It's about 7 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

The Folksinger - original charcoal figurative drawing

Nothing like a musician to get the charcoal working.  Really good performance by this guy and I feel I really captured him.  This drawing is on mixed media paper, about 10 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Rockabilly - original figurative water-soluble pencil drawing

Looking out the window of the restaurant, I saw this fellow as he listened to a friend.  I was ready with my sketchbook, water-soluble pencil and a brush with the water reservoir.  It's so quickly done, but I loved the gesture and his concentration.  This one is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for visiting!

A Little Experiment - original mixed media portrait

I was experimenting with this new - to me - thing.  Heavily gessoed a piece of canvas, then covered a rectangle with a thick layer of watercolor.  Drew her face with colored pencils.None of this is expertly done, you may have noticed, but it was such fun that I'll do it again.  I need to figure out how to make some things more solid looking, but then again, maybe not.  I'm also trying for a sort of imperfect, unfinished and worn look - sort of wabi sabi.  It's about 5 1/2 x 7 1/2" - thanks for stopping by!

Standing Nude - original colored pencil nude drawing

I used grey colored pencils on this drawing and I find them pleasant to use.  They're not as easy to work with as charcoals, but that's probably just because I'm not used to them.  It seems to take a long time to build up values and since I had the time (and no model), I worked from an old drawing that was not in the best shape any longer - this is the updated version.  This piece is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Carrie - original oil portrait painting

This 7 x 5" on panel was done when I was sort of cleaning my palette.  That's always the most fun for me.  The model is almost through and just waiting for her time to be up - I'm not concentrating, just goofing off and thinking of nothing much.  Best time of the session, I think.  Thanks for dropping by!

Sketch for A Little Waltz - original charcoal figurative drawing

I had models (my wonderful family) over Thanksgiving, and am planning to paint from some of the drawings.  This piece is one that I'm hoping (fingers and toes crossed) to make into a painting that's less detailed than usual.  It's on 12 x 9" mixed media paper, and drawn with vine charcoal.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - oil pastel nude in progress

Somehow I always get the back view - most people would compare it to always getting in the wrong line - so I guess it's a good thing I like back views.  More to do on this one, but will put it away for a few days to see where to go from here.  Never a great idea to work after the model's gone, but I can't help myself.  This one is on 10 x 8" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Jivin' In Black and White - original figurative ink drawing

Meant to post this last night, but I got bogged down on Ancestry.com.  A never-ending mystery - at least my family is!
I did this on 6 x 6" Bristol board paper using a black ink drawing pen.  It's one of those with a narrow tip at one end and the other end is wider - in this case, a Prismacolor. This kind of pen is great for drawing - just so expressive.  Why, that pen helped this little couple dance to Jerry Lee Lewis, so I know they agree with me!
Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Cowboy Saturday Night figurative oil painting

My current project is this country dance hall - needs more work and glazing - especially glazing on the band, I think, then I'll be finished with this one.  Somehow, I seem to have a lot of country dance scenes that I'm working on at the moment.  This one is 12 x 9" - thanks for visiting!

Jivebabies - original figurative oil painting

This little painting on 6 x 6" Gessobord was done from my post from last night - the dancers in the lower left of the picture.  It's done a little looser than usual and it was so much fun to do.  And easy, too, with the drawing already done.  I find that takes off a lot of time, although drawing with my brush is great, as well - now that I think about it, I don't know which works the best. Setting my timer is a great help - no noodling when that thing ticks away!  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Four Futures - original charcoal figurative sketches

Hope you can make out these quick charcoal sketches on 6 x 6" Gessobord that I will begin to paint tomorrow.  The top two are tango dancers and the bottom two are already jiving away.  Can hardly wait to bring them to life and I think just for fun, maybe they'll be a little more abstract than usual.  But that remains to be seen.  These little dancers usually get their way. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Portrait Sketch of a Young Woman - oil pastel portrait drawing

This was not the model, but a participant in the drawing group.  Sometimes the other people there make for some of the best drawings!  She was listening intently to her drawing neighbor, so I had a few minutes for the sketch.  It's on 12 x 9" Strathmore 403 paper, which, despite their claims, is no longer a paper for oil pastel.  I have a lot of it, though, so I'm using it.
It seems I've been spending SO much time preparing panels for painting!  I thought this would be a money-saver, but I don't think so, plus the time involved is crazy!  I hear a lot of artists talk about applying gesso, etc, on panels and I thought it would be such a good idea.  First there's the stuff that blocks support induced color changes, two coats, and then the gesso - three or so coats.  Any thoughts out there on this?  I'll probably just go back to buying panels that are already prepared for painting.  Oh my poor arm!  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude on a Kilim Rug - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

I just decided to leave the rug as a drawing (obviously) and probably won't "finish" it.  Artist's choice, you know.  This is drawn with Sennelier oil pastels on multi-media paper, about 9 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of a Native American Girl - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I started this drawing on 12 x 9" paper, using Sennelier oil pastels, and have decided to leave it as a sketch, rather than "finishing" it.  Thanks for visiting!

Another Nude Facing Away - original oil pastel drawing of a nude model

I did this nude study on a piece of 7 x 5" hardboard that I gessoed with a bristle brush and never did sand it to make it smoother.  And I had fun with it - it's almost a canvas-looking surface.  There's just something that is so appealing - to me, at least, of a nude who is looking away from the viewer.  I guess that's why I do so many of them, but maybe this is the biggest reason:  Where I'm sitting in the room always seems to be sort of behind the model.  Works pretty well for me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gina At The Bar - original graphite portrait drawing

I got busy with a graphite pencil, which I seldom do - I guess because charcoal is more forgiving - and drew from an old sketch on tan toned paper.  It's about 8 x 5 1/2".  The white accents are General's Primo white charcoal pencil.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sitting at the Table - original acrylic portrait painting

I was sort of looking down on the model as she sat at a table. Working as quickly as I could - since acrylics dry so fast - maybe I was a bit intimidated by this quality and was furiously brushing the background while the paint was still workable.  I did add a little water to the piles of paint, which helped a lot.  Acrylic is a medium I really want to get comfortable with and will keep working with it.  The support is 6 x 6" Strathmore acrylic paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait painting in progress

While I will probably do another painting of this pose, working out things I want to emphasize - maybe in oil - I just loved doing this one.  My ambition is to keep my enthusiasm while doing the second one, because I always seem to lose the motivation.  Am going to try very hard!  Actually, maybe trying hard isn't the best option - just relax I tell myself.  This is on Strathmore pastel paper - formerly for oil pastel and is about 9 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Shelley - original charcoal portrait drawing

I did this little sketch on 10 x 8" Strathmore 403 paper.  I'll consider it finished, especially since the model loved it and will probably buy it.  Although this was mostly vine charcoal, I had forgotten how nice it is to have nice sharp charcoal pencils - in this case General's Primo and the Ritmo brand pencil I used many years ago.  I wasn't able to find Ritmo for such a long time, but it's back and as good as ever.  But I think my favorite now is the Primo - really deep blacks and a smooth application - very nice charcoal pencil.  Thanks so much for visiting!

On My Easel - Glenda - oil pastel portrait in progress

There's a little left to do on this portrait, but decided to go ahead and post it.  This is Sennelier oil pastels on 12 x 9" Strathmore 403 paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Newspaper Scribbles - original figurative ink and charcoal drawings

Here are a few of tonight's doodles I did while sitting in front of the TV.  When I find one that I want to keep, I just spray it with Make-It-Acid-Free, mount it to museum board and apply fixative.  What I like about doing these drawings, is that it just feels like practice - I can try things out, zoom around the paper and be very loose.  There are probably 15 out of about 40 that I found worth keeping tonight and I promise I didn't watch all that long - really just through one movie.  Not much of a TV watcher, really, but it does come in handy when looking for people to draw very quickly.  These were done with ink and charcoal.  The ink was the medium for the actual drawings, then I added charcoal for value.  Thanks for looking!

Another Woman with a Fan - original oil portrait painting

Here's another version of an earlier drawing that I did in charcoal - made some changes, but maybe I'm not through, I don't know.  The model looks sort of tired, maybe she's sick of being fussed over, so I'll just let her rest for awhile and see what I think in several days. In the drawing, I used a slightly different pose that I did quickly when she was resting her eyes while the monitor was talking.  But this was her actual pose.  It's 16 x 20".  Thanks for stopping by!

Cowboy Love - original figurative oil painting

I love doing this one because of the gesture - it's just the way I saw it.  If you get the gesture, you have the drawing.  Everything builds from that.  Well, I'm obviously counting my chicks - time will tell how it actually turns out.  Don't mean to sound so pessimistic, but I am always getting to this stage and then killing it.  Will see tomorrow or probably the next whether this turns out the way I want it to.  Thanks so much for stopping by!
Update:  Finished!