Ginny's Hat - original oil portrait painting

I put a ton of oil paint on this 8 x 8" gessoed wood panel, mainly on her face.  I seldom do that, but it was an interesting experiment.  I had applied extra gesso and was trying to overcome the texture of the brushstrokes since I didn't sand the board.  Now I'll see how long it takes to dry!  Thanks for stopping by!

Line Jive - ink figurative drawing of dancers

This ink drawing is really the inspiration for the previous post, although I did make some changes when I did the painting. Just letting your pen go a little crazy is a good thing and results in the most interesting outcomes.  I used two pens  -  Sharpie and Itoya.  While I like using these kinds of pens, I also love dip pens - they don't give the same results, but their line quality is often fascinating.  This drawing is on Strathmore Bristol, about 5 x 5 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

More Jive - original figurative oil painting of dancers

It was fun working on this 8 x 8 x 1 1/2" canvas and although I already knew I'd love it, I did apply more gesso, which gave it a slight texture that made the surface even more exciting for paint application.  And with this depth of canvas, there's no need for a frame.  Those jivers - my BFFs!  Thanks for looking!

Workingman - original ink/acrylic figurative drawing

I couldn't seem to find this drawing on my blog and it's one of my favorites.  Did the piece a few - or maybe more - years ago.  This young man's wife was scheduled to pose for a drawing group I attended, but she couldn't make it, so he came in her place.  He was a great model, although I could tell he wouldn't be repeating the experience.  He was dressed for his job, and as soon as his stint was over, he made a beeline for work.  We were all very grateful that he spent a couple of hours with us.  I used a brush with ink and acrylic on greyish-white paper and loved drawing the plaid flannel shirt and the work boots.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Woman at Table WIP

From a drawing I did a few months ago, I worked on this one today.  Lots of work to do, though, which I'll enjoy while I listen to a book by Charles Todd. one of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries, set after the First World War or Great War.  Do other artists like to paint in silence?  I did that for awhile today and it was really pleasant, but after a couple of hours decided I needed a change.  Should have made all my changes and finishing up tomorrow, so will maybe post my final painting - thanks for stopping by!

Kitty's White Sundress - charcoal and white pencil figurative drawing

I'm loving this 12 x 9" Strathmore blue toned paper.  It's heavy and beautiful - a dream to work on.  Also, I used General Pencil Company's Primo euroblend charcoal pencil set - three charcoal pencils and a white one.  They are smooth as silk - my favorites - and if you like to draw, you will love them, too.  This company makes the best pencils IMHO - there are the regular charcoal pencils, as well as the handy Peel 'n' Sketch.  All winners!  Thanks for stopping by!

Seated on a Stool - figurative oil painting of a woman

I thought this was an interesting setup and fun to paint.  I used a limited palette which I love doing.  Actually, though, that's probably the only choice.  It's 14 x 11".  Thanks for visiting!

Tango Flourish - figurative painting of tango dancers

I was watching from a chair and got lots of good views, looking a little bit up at the dancers on that evening.  Such a beautiful dance - tango - and I never tire of watching (and painting).  This is on 12 x 9" panel.  Delighted you stopped by!

Figure Study - original oil pastel nude sketch

Here's a 6 x 8" oil pastel study on Strathmore toned paper, using the sides of Sennelier oil pastels - I left out a ton of details, because I just wanted to capture the essence of the pose.   Thanks for looking!

In the Dark - portrait sketch of the model with white pencil on black paper

It's been so long since I did this kind of drawing that I was kind of lost, but maybe I'll get the hang of it again.  I used a white pencil on black drawing paper.  Many years ago, I did drawings of Greek statues using this method and loved it, but then got distracted by some other medium and never went back, but now am thinking it could be fun!  This sketch is about 11 x 11" - thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - pen and ink portrait/figurative Work In Progress

Ink is one of the best drawing improvers - and one of the most frightening.  No way to make it right if you mess up -  or at least I haven't found it yet!  I look at this and think 'should I create more texture'?  Or just leave it at this stage?   Will think this over and am definitely open to suggestions.  For this one I used Micron and Sharpie pens on Canson drawing paper.  It's about 9 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch of Delia - original charcoal portrait sketch

Here is another piece on my new paper love - Strathmore toned blue mixed media - 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

The Drummer - oil pastel figurative drawing of a man playing drums

Loving this new (to me, at least) Strathmore toned blue mixed media paper.  It comes in a pad, it's heavy, and has a wonderful surface.  Great stuff! I really loved doing this drummer - I played drums in my youth and have a soft spot for them to this day.  After all, they're the backbone of the band and in the right hands are just beautiful!  Thanks for looking!

3 Lisas - oil pastel portrait sketch of model in 3 views

I could probably just as well call this 'Just Foolin' Around' since that's what I was doing - searching for a way to do different views of the same model.  One sketch I used to love doing was the model in different values.  Maybe tomorrow.  Just wanted to share this 11 x 14" oil pastel portrait on Canson black drawing paper.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait sketch of a ballet dancer looking over her shoulder

Inspired by the ballet I saw last night, "The Firebird" by Ballet Austin, I sketched a ballerina looking back - and of course, I now have more ballet sketches from which to paint.  The ballet was lovely - I've seen lots of beautiful ballets over the years but never "The Firebird", so am really

thrilled!  Above is a picture of The Long Center where Ballet Austin performs.  The drawing is 8 x 6" on Pastel Premier board.  Thanks for looking!

Dancers 3 - loose black and white charcoal figurative drawing of dancers

I came across this one the other day - it's from about four months ago.  These dancers will show up again somewhere in other drawings - really happy with loose unfinished pieces.  It's about 9 x 12".  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - A Start on a Figurative Painting and A Charcoal Drawing of a Woman

Here are a couple of things I worked on today - the top, an 8 x 10" painting from my memory of a couple having a conversation in a restaurant.  Although I can't explain why, I was so excited about how the paint flowed from my brush - one of those moments when I feel truly connected to what's going on with the piece.  When I lost the feeling, I stopped and went on to something else.

Another of today's pieces - the drawing of the woman looking at the ball - maybe I should make it more dramatic than just a ball? - is really a sketch I did some time ago, but I added a few touches here and there.  Much fun - all in all a wonderful art day.  Also worked on a big charcoal drawing, which, when it's farther along, I will post.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Did y'all have a good art day? I hope so!😃

Salsa Gal in Black and White - original charcoal figurative Latin dancer

I drew this from another earlier drawing and plan to make a painting from it, but of course, need to add a guy, so have been looking through all my drawings of male dancers.  It's kind of a trip down memory lane to see all these old drawings - many of which I did years and years ago.

Although it's a pretty loose, I did concentrate on her hands and head, which will help me when I do the painting because that won't be so loose.  My challenge with the painting will be the placement of the male dancer.  What fun I'll have with this one!

Am listening to Don Winslow's Dawn Patrol while I work on drawings yesterday and today.  I used to hear about multi-tasking being good for you, but now am reading that it's bad for one's brain.  What?!!  It's always something!  Thanks for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio.

Charcoal Portrait of a Young Woman - original black and white artwork

I am always SO happy to have someone to draw, especially when I can use charcoal.  It's wonderfully forgiving and oh the values that can be achieved!  But I do caution that it should be sprayed with fixative upon completion.  True story:  I had drawn a figure and a portrait in charcoal at the life drawing group a few weeks ago and I was really pleased with the outcome.  As I was putting them in the trunk of my car (not sprayed with fixative, yet), I dropped them both in the street and they were so smeared when I picked them up, they were just essentially not there any longer.  My fault, entirely, but this could have been avoided if I had just sprayed them before I put them in the car.

Repeat after me:  Never ever wait to spray your charcoal drawings!  Always do it ASAP!

And back to this drawing - well I've only sprayed it with workable fixative, which is certainly better than nothing.  It's about 10 x 8".  Thanks for stopping by!

I Love Barrel Racing! - western figurative oil painting of horse and rider barrel racing

Here's a finished - and I hope - an improved version of the earlier post.   (Thank you Hilda!)  Barrel racing is a cross between grace and athleticism and - wow - the relationship between horse and rider is beautiful to behold!  There aren't ever enough participants at the rodeo, but I probably feel that way  because I could watch endlessly!  There will be more western paintings because I have sketches and photos from the rodeo and dances here (Junction, Texas) in August.  I painted this piece on 12 x 9" panel.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - figurative rodeo barrel racer painting in progress

Here's what I worked on this evening.  I love rodeos and barrel racing is right up there with my favorite events.  Could watch for hours!  A good bit of work to finish this one, but just posting to share my efforts and if I finish tomorrow, I will post it - any suggestions would be welcome - thanks for looking!

How I Rescued a Failure - original figurative pencil and oil pastel drawing

I bought the neatest daVinci set of pan watercolors and splurged on a new watercolor brush and some new watercolor instruction books - and have produced nothing but failures.  Arghhh - (rending of garments) - drives me crazy having to be so busy with the medium that I can't accomplish what I want.  So, I covered the part I didn't like with oil pastel and am well pleased with the result!  The rest of the piece is drawn with graphite pencil.  The conclusion here, I guess, is that things that don't work out can often be rescued and oil pastel is great at saving artworks gone wrong - I love it!  But I will still continue my journey into watercolor and maybe, just maybe, I'll find success.  This one is 12 x 9" on cold press watercolor paper.  Thanks for stopping by!
PS -  I really think I like this better with oil pastel anyway.  Maybe I'm just not choosing the right subjects to paint in watercolor.  Actually I did a couple of dancers in watercolor that really pleased me.  So I guess all isn't lost - but still watercolor is kind of tough.  If y'all have any suggestions, I would love to hear!!!

Cool Jive - original ink and crayon figurative drawing of jive dancers

I know, it looks kind of crazy, but sometimes my Itoya Doubleheader and my Sharpie get the best of me - and throw in a Crayola and who knows what can happen!  Well, here's the result - could have made it red, but thought that would have been too too, hence the "cool" in the title - lavender - one of my favorite cool colors instead.  Drawn on 5 x 17" Bristol.  Thanks for stopping by!

Jivin' Up a Storm - original figurative oil painting of jive dancers

The little jivers are back and still at it - they keep coming back to show me what they can do and I love it!  This one is painted on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  I was a little looser this time, especially with the background and had a lot of fun with it.  We're gearing up for the rodeo here - the yearly event where I get lots of sketches and photos that I use in my artwork.  And this time, it's not supposed to be so terribly hot and may actually rain (well, I'll believe it when I see it) which doesn't happen too much around here.  Thanks for looking!

PS.  Click here to check out my oil pastel blog,

More Strumming - original oil portrait sketch

I just love doing these quick little - in this case 12 x 9" on panel - studies.  Once I was attending a graduate class at Texas Tech and the professor said to me after we had completed some quick paintings from life that he would love to see what I could do with a week on the same pose.  I thought to myself 'I would completely kill the piece'.  Nothing like spending a little time on something and then moving on.  That's why I love drawing groups that feature short poses, but they're not easy to find.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

What I'm Working on Today - bar scene figurative oil painting

Working from a bar scene I saw a few evenings ago, this 9 x 12" painting is coming along fairly well.  I have so many sketches from that evening, though, that I may just do a tiny bit more on this and begin another one.  Much more fun that way, so maybe that's a plan.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Model in a Green Flowered Dress - original watercolor portrait painting

Every now and then I come across my Yupo and decide to fool around with watercolor.  I didn't do this one from life, but from a photo I took at a drawing group.  I really think I'm going to get brave enough to take my w/c stuff to the next group and see what I come up with - haven't done that in ages.  Actually, the background is a little bit whiter than the photo shows - done on 9 x 12" Yupo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ballerina Conversation - original oil pastel figurative sketch

A just for fun sketch that I loved doing - me and my gesture drawings - my favorite thing is to try and capture little moments, then work on them later back in my studio!  I would like to have known what these girls were talking about - maybe a tough practice?  I used 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel Dancer Portrait - oil pastel portrait in progress

At first, I thought the model looked like a woman who wanted to be asked to dance - the tango, maybe.  Then I let myself be led by the drawing process to where I am now.  Not really sure where that is, but maybe she'll be a bit more assertive in the end - anyway, lots of work to do.   I'm working on 16 x 12" Colourfix paper in umber.   Thanks so much for looking!

Happy in a Green Dress - figurative oil painting

Made some changes to my previous sketch - "borrowed" a young friend to hold the pose for a few minutes and it became a
somewhat different thing because she lent her interpretation to the scene.  Went a little crazy with the viridian and manganese, but artist's prerogative, right?  I loved doing this painting and really appreciate seeing you here!