Model on a Sofa in Black and White - acrylic drawing of the model

A quick, kind of unconsidered drawing of the model - was looking for something I could use for a painting and think I've found it in this pose.  For this one, I used black acrylic on 9 x 12" cold press watercolor paper. (I had a couple of requests from readers to explain art terms, so cold press is kind of bumpy paper, not at all smooth.  Then there is hot press which is very smooth.  I love it, myself, but it's thought to be less forgiving.  And also there's a rough watercolor paper, which, you guessed it, is rough!)  Black lines on white paper.  Ahhhhh.  Thanks for looking!

Still Working - portrait painting work in progress

Every time I look, I see things that need correcting.  Didn't spend much time on it today - was busy outside - actually haven't spent much time at all on this little painting, but it's been fun to do.  Even though there really is a lot of cool blue in her hair, will remove some of it. Mostly, I just smoothed things and will probably leave it alone, except for something here and there.  Always so afraid of murdering my poor paintings. I hope this isn't too boring - thanks for stopping by - and I am totally open to critiques, ideas, tips, or anything else!

What I'm Working On - portrait painting in oil Work in Progress

Maybe a couple of days or so on this, possibly warming up the background and several other touches - I'm hoping to bring it to a grand closure (oh the pomposity) without killing it.  Maybe tomorrow I'll work on something else - don't know about y'all, but sometimes it just seems better to let it sit around for a day and then go back to work on it.  Hope you're not burning up where you are - it's in the 100s every day here, well, today was maybe 97 to 99, so not so bad.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

"Nude with Earrings" - original oil pastel painting of a nude

I've always loved back views because they are mysterious and actually very challenging.  I worked here to get the values correct.  And just to be completely true to myself, I didn't add color to her left leg.  Drawing - my true love!  Using Sennelier oil pastels, I painted this piece on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks so much for looking!

"Black Dress" - oil pastel drawing of the model

I loved drawing this model - there's nothing like drawing from life!  I used a sketchy scribbling with my oil pastel to (I hope) capture her pose and, yes, could have "finished" it more, but then it wouldn't have been as much fun.  About 9 x 9" on Colourfix paper.  Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

"Eggplant Aloft" - original still life oil painting

Here's more from my painting workshop.  I was afraid the arrangement wouldn't be acceptable to our instructor,  Scott Conary, but it passed muster and I was on my way.  This workshop has opened up new painting ideas for me.  This one is on canvas board, 8 x 10".  Thanks for looking!

"Shelly's Red Locket" - watercolor portrait sketch

Another watercolor experiment.  This time I kept thinking 'what's wrong with this paper?'  The color would hardly stay on the paper and was about to drive me crazy.  Also, I was using a pan watercolor set made by Yarka.  I bought it probably 10 or so years ago, never used it, and I decided that either Strathmore, the paper maker, or Yarka paints must be defective.  Then I took a really close look at the paper.  I had, at some point, coated it with gesso to make it easier to lift the paint and totally forgotten.  So I was the culprit.  Anyway, I've since found my Yupo and I don't really need to gesso the paper.  This little portrait is 12 x 9".  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

"Left Behind" - original still life oil painting

Here's another of the still life paintings from the class.  Probably sounds silly, but I tried to imagine that the pears have emotions (and who knows?) and they're being pretty mean, excluding the poor green pear.  So I arranged them accordingly.  Fun to paint - I'm learning to love painting fruit and vegetables - something I never dreamed would happen.  This painting is 8 x 10".  Thanks for looking!

The Fortune Teller - original oil pastel portrait painting

Here is the mostly finished piece from an earlier post, click here to see the beginning.  Will do a bit more on this drawing/painting (never exactly sure what to call my things).  I love profiles!  Thanks for looking!

Quick Drawing of a Seated Woman - oil pastel portrait drawing

I got lucky with this one - not too many folks will sit still for a few minutes so I can attempt to capture them on my paper.  Got lucky here! Spent the most time on her face and was sketchy with everything else   Good practice.  12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Poblano Pepper - still life painting

Something completely different for me - still life!  I just finished taking an amazing workshop with Scott Conary at Atelier Dojo in Austin.  It sort of opened up a new art world for me.  This painting is on canvas board, 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

The Believer - original oil pastel portrait

This piece is on gritty pastel paper, using Sennelier oil pastels and is 10 x 8".  May use this pose further - don't know yet.  Thanks so much for looking!

Fixing Her Shoe - figurative drawing of a ballerina/ballet dancer

Getting ready to dance, this young ballet dancer readies her shoes - charcoal and oil pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Keeley's Self Confidence - oil pastel portrait sketch

I first laid down lots of yellow ochre acrylic paint, then drew and scribbled with oil pastel till I "found" Keeley.  This one is on about 10 x 9" acrylic paper.  Thanks for looking!

Trying out some chalks - drawing of woman looking into light

I did this one on grey toned paper - Strathmore -working with some General's compressed pastels - black, white, sanguine, sepia - that I found while going through my supplies. (Oh, the stuff I haven't even uncovered yet!)   I really enjoyed sketching with them.  They will work beautifully on a more finished drawing, too, but I love leaving things a little raw.  Thanks for looking!

Braids - charcoal portrait drawing of the model

The braids were a real challenge, but in the end, I was pleased.  I used vine charcoal on some really old Grumbacher drawing paper that I found in the back of the closet.  Grumbacher hasn't made drawing paper in years, so this paper is definitely vintage, but because it's acid-free, still wonderful to work on.  17 x 14".  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - original oil pastel profile in progress

Much to do on this piece, and since I love drawing profiles, it'll be a pleasure,  It's on Colourfix paper, 16 x 20".  Thanks for looking!

Her Suspicious Look - original oil pastel portrait drawing

The same shirt on this model as "Profile" from two posts ago, but with entirely different results.  I didn't know if her look was boredom or suspicion, so I went with suspicion.  This piece is oil pastel over acrylic paint on Strathmore acrylic paper, 12 x 12".  Thanks for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

Jive Scribbles #5 - charcoal figurative drawings

I left the far right dancers totally unfinished - or maybe just barely begun.  The drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore Windpower recycled drawing paper, 11 x 14".  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Profile - oil pastel portrait

Another of the oil pastel over acrylic paper drawings- what a pleasant combo to work with.  This one is 12 x 12".  Thanks for looking!

A Quick Life Drawing - original charcoal life drawing

I came across this drawing today from several months ago - it illustrates my favorite art thing to do which is drawing quickly without thinking - just reacting to the model.  This kind of approach often produces something unexpected, but always interesting and full of life.  In this drawing, I'm most pleased with her hair and the tilt of her head because it's done with economy plus it has a bit of an Oriental feel to it.  And I was also happy that I didn't overwork her hand.  Charcoal on paper.  Thanks for looking!

Model Watching the Clock - original oil pastel over acrylic

The model has a great face and is well able to hold a pose, but toward the end of the session, she obviously was counting the minutes and the clock on the wall was just irresistible.  I have this urge to add to the drawing, but because I can remember scads of drawings and paintings I've ruined by trying to work on them after I'm back in my studio, she stays the way she is and I'll move on to another drawing.  Acrylic paint over acrylic paper with the drawing done with Sennelier oil pastels, this piece is 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Drawing of a Young Woman - charcoal portrait drawing

 I didn't have my laptop for over a week and was just helpless when it came to posting my art - it's pretty pathetic when one is so dependent on a machine, but there it is.   This 8 x 6" drawing is one I really loved doing - I began it with a tiny charcoal piece held on its side and scribbled as quickly as I could.  And when the shapes were in, I worked on her features, using vine charcoal and a kneaded eraser on mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude on Lavender-Grey - oil pastel drawing of a nude

I had planned to do this nude sort of coming out of a lavender-grey mist, but my love of line got the best of me.  To paraphrase Alex Powers, one is either a line person or a shape person and I confess I'm of the line persuasion.  Anyway, as with just about all nudes, this one was fun and satisfying to draw.  I love figurative work, especially nudes - the human body is such a wonder and always beautiful to me, no matter the size or shape.  This one is 10 x 8" - thanks for stopping by!

The Window - figurative oil painting

Just fooling around with a bit of a landscape and a girl in a black dress.  I'll no doubt do more to it - things to do - but I've enjoyed painting this one. Have been straightening my studio - what a mess!  When I get busy drawing or painting, I don't seem to notice the jumble of stuff, but when I'm through and take a look around, I'm pretty disgusted.  So for the next few days, I will just combine cleaning with my drawing endeavors and maybe someday, I'll adopt a "clean as I go" approach.  This painting is on 10 x 10" panel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Nude on Blue-Grey Paper - charcoal life drawing with touches of white charcoal

For this nude drawing, I used vine and willow charcoal with bits of General's white charcoal - my fave - on some blue-grey Canson paper.  This one is about 9 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by.

Drawing of Small Trees - sienna landscape drawing

This drawing of some small trees is one that I did with General's sienna compressed pastel.  These pastels are just great to work with and are a good value.  I have fallen in love with drawing trees - can't get enough of it.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" pastel paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Watercolor Portrait - w/c practice

Okay, here's another watercolor portrait - gotta get in there and try, ya know.  Although I do have some fairly successful w/c landscapes, this medium mostly eludes me in portrait work, even after studying with a fabulous w/c portrait painter, it's still a struggle - maybe because I do it so seldom. One should approach these challenges more than, say, once a year.  This one is 12 x 9" on cold press paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!