Volleyball Shorthand - original ink figurative drawing

I took my sketchbook to a volleyball game and made several gesture drawings - of course, some are a little easier to decipher than others.  I will post a few of them over a few weeks time.  Gesture drawings are made to capture the energy and movement of the figure - they're not intended to be complete or finished, but they can provide so much information that more finished works can be drawn or painted from the gesture.

This drawing is on a Strathmore sketchbook page.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Trish - original charcoal nude drawing

This charcoal nude is on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper using vine charcoal - drawing is about 9 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Leaning Nude - original charcoal nude drawing

This nude drawing is a bit of a departure for me because I left a lot of dark lines - sort of more deliberate than usual.  Also didn't have time to finish the leg - the model needed a break (this was a tough pose to hold) and we just never returned to this one.  Back to the "unfinished" leg, which I kind of like - this technique holds promise for the future.  Well, I've actually left parts unfinished before - I completely forget about it and when I do it again, I wake up in a whole new world.  Kind of like finding something in the back of the shed that I'd forgotten about and then it's like a new toy.  I guess drawing techniques work the same way.  I used vine charcoal on Strathmore 12 x 9" drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Weeknight Two-Step - original figurative oil painting

What a monster this site is tonight.  I keep posting and when I check the post, there are three or four copies of the painting.  I'm not quite that prolific a painter.  Anyway, this oil painting is done on 6 x 6" Gessobord panel.  Thanks for looking!

Jivin' Crazy - original soluble graphite figurative drawing

Gotta get this posted  - soluble graphite on Yupo, 9 x 12" - thanks for looking!

Tango Shorthand - original ink figurative drawing

I came across this 7 x 5" ink drawing today - I think it's on watercolor paper - and don't even remember making it.  I know I have used this pose - if you can tell there's a pose here (haha) - in paintings, but being such a fan of squiggly line drawings, this little piece just makes me smile.  Thanks for stopping by!

ACEO - Tiny Lida - original oil pastel portrait

This little portrait is on an Art Spectrum Colourfix ATC card.  There is a white border around the  surface - all the Colourfix paper has this border - very helpful when you frame your piece.   Such a wonderful surface to work on - Colourfix is great for oil pastel because it has just enough grit and accepts many layers.  It's quite a challenge to get a picture on such a small surface when using unsharpened oil pastels, but this practice keeps me from being so tight and helps me focus on the essentials of the drawing.  It's 3.5 x 2.5 inches - thanks for stopping by!

A Girl at Our Table - original charcoal figurative drawing

I, with my little sketchbook, am such a pest, but it's worth it to get drawings of people.  I just told her to go ahead and talk and visit and pay no attention to me.  Every time she turned my way, my charcoal suddenly became very busy.  Since she was with friends of mine, it worked out well.  It's from my 8 x 6" sketchbook.  Thanks for looking!

Another Charcoal Nude - original charcoal drawing of a nude

This drawing is from my 8 x 6" sketchbook - thanks for looking!

Sketchbook Drawing of a Couple Dancing - original charcoal figurative sketch

Here's a charcoal sketch from my sketchbook - I love it when I actually get to draw people dancing.  It always ends up being a memory drawing, though, because they always move on very quickly - which is the exciting thing about dancing!  I have so many sketchbooks, but my favorite is a spiral-bound one - not pretty with a charming cover as so many are - but I love it and just bought more.  If they're not fun to draw in, what's the point?  Thanks for stopping by!

Basket of Flowers - original oil pastel figurative painting

This painting is done on 7 x 5" Pastelbord, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Thank you for visiting my blog!

A Bit of Eve - original figurative ink drawing

Very quick drawing - a favorite method of mine.  This was done in my sketchbook with a fountain pen.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Landscape Pencil Drawing in Progress

This sketchbook work in progress is one that I started while out in the country.  I ran out of time so took a photo in order to complete it when I got home, but just haven't gotten around to it.  Am working on some figure drawings that aren't even finished enough to post.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

More Two-Step Sweet Talk - original figurative oil painting

I was just cruising around the internet, checking on Texas dancehalls, with nothing much in mind, and found several articles and ratings on these great places.  Click here to read about ten of them.
This painting is on 6x6" Gessobord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Piano Practice - original oil pastel figurative painting

This is painted on 8 x 10" Pastelbord, using Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch of a Girl Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

The paper is really a little whiter than the photo shows, but anyway, here's a drawing I did of a young girl who just couldn't stay awake any longer.  It's on 14 x 17" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

ACEO - Marcy - original acrylic portrait painting

Continuing with the acrylic paint, I did some ACEOs today.  These tiny (3.5 x 2.5") things are so much fun to do and actually are kind of relaxing.  Done on illustration board that I gessoed on both sides - didn't have to be gessoed, but I like the finish it gives to the paper.  Thanks for looking!

I Think Her Name is Janice - original acrylic portrait painting

 I've been using acrylic paint (again) and found it to be so great to use.  Best of all is the drying time - and for me, a looseness that doesn't happen when I use oil.  As for the model, I didn't write her name on the back of the panel as I usually do, but it was Janice, I'm pretty sure.  And warm colors - I almost never paint anything with such warm colors - don't really know what came over me - I don't think the background was particularly warm, but such a departure from my usual work.  It's painted on 8 x 10" gessoed panel.  Thanks for looking!

Joanna - original charcoal drawing of a nude

Another nude - this one in charcoal - about 16 x 12" on Strathmore drawing paper; thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Nude with Background - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

This drawing may remain unfinished - I'm loving the background which has just been sort of abstracted and it's fun that she took kind of a glamour pose.  So maybe it's actually off my easel.  This was done with Sennelier oil pastels on a mixed media board, 10 x 8".  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - figurative oil sketch

Here's a sketch that I wish I'd had more time on, but that's always my lament.  Hope I get another chance with this pose.  It's 9 x 12" on Gessobord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of a Guitarist - original charcoal/watersoluble pencil figurative drawing

This drawing is on paper for pens, but I think it makes a nice surface for other media, too.  Will probably use this drawing for a flamenco painting.  Lately, I seem to be as interested in the musicians as the dancers  The paper is 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Ponytail - original oil pastel portrait painting

Had a chance to do this one - would have liked more detail, but didn't have much time - it's on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Monday's Nude - original charcoal life drawing

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Here's a nude I did a couple of months ago - it's on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

Reading Catalogs - original oil pastel portrait painting

Reading catalogs is one of my favorite pastimes, especially this time of year.  All those beautiful things to buy!  This painting is done with Sennelier oil pastels on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Line Jive - original ink and Crayola figurative drawing

Just fooling around with ink and Crayola  - these are regular Crayolas - the ones to die for are the construction paper ones.  Couldn't find mine, so I just used the usual in robin's egg blue.  This drawing is about 8 1/2 x 7 1/2" on Borden and Riley Paris paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Searching for the Right Word - original oil pastel figurative

I was trying to make a composition with variety in the background - but don't know if I succeeded.  And tried not to make the model too abstract, nor too realistic.  I sound like Jackie Mason.  But you get what I mean about the painting, right?  It's on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  I love that stuff - could kiss it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Flamenco Sketch - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's a sketch of a flamenco dancer done in charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper.  This drawing is about 8 x 14".  Have been watching "Great Artists of the Italian Renaissance" from The Great Courses.  It's just wonderful and the instructor makes what could just bore one to death, very interesting.  I've listened to and watched many of their offerings and recommend them highly.  Thank you for stopping by  (Originally, my drawing was cropped in the photo to 8 x 8", but I like it this size a lot more.  Always a fan of portraits and figures in a horizontal format.)

On My Easel - Steps to a Nude - original oil pastel nude in progress

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Here are steps I'm taking in developing a nude painting.  It began as a charcoal drawing (bottom photo) which I used as a "pattern" to do my 7 x 5" oil pastel on sand Pastelbord.  In step 2,  I covered my Pastelbord drawing with a light blue Sennelier oil pastel, then, in step 3, covered most of the blue with ochres and added bits of red.  I like the more raw version of step 3 and have to try hard not to overwork it - just add a little here and there and then call it 'finished'.  Just about done, I think. The feet were a real challenge because of the way they're tucked under her - so I may have to work on those a little.   Also, the original charcoal drawing of the face was too fussy, and looked as if I didn't even look at the woman who was posing, so in doing the oil pastel, I left the face pretty much alone.  Thanks for stopping by!

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On My Easel - The Midnight Oil - original charcoal portrait drawing in progress

I've been taking a course that works with design webbing and tried to do this drawing according to what I've been learning.  I don't know if I totally succeeded and when I do the painting, will probably bring her up on the page a little bit.  Or maybe I'll just darken the bottom of the painting.  Hmmm - much to think about - so I'd better get this finished before I worry about doing a painting.  This is done on Strathmore drawing paper, 14 x 17".  Thanks for visiting my blog!