"We Demand to be 'Just' a Drawing!" - ink and charcoal figurative line drawing

 Here's a drawing that I love but simply cannot paint.  Painting from this piece just eludes me.  This happens a lot - I guess because when I do the drawing, so often I'm actually looking at the dancers (in the dark, I just move the pencil or pen on the paper without looking) and the drawing actually captures what I'm seeing. Painting it later just doesn't seem to do it justice sometimes.  Too stiff, maybe?  You can see a few lines I drew later to see where to place on canvas.  Anyway, I love this couple because they're determined to be what they are and I support them in being a drawing and never feeling they must be represented in paint.  All of this said by a Lover of Drawings!!!!! It's about 10 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

"Loree" - original graphite portrait drawing of a woman

Although I love to draw with charcoal, occasionally I will use a graphite pencil to do a portrait.  I used HB and 2B on this one -  the support was Canson mixed media paper.  The paper is white although with my great photography, you wouldn't know it😞.  I also trimmed it to 8 x 4 3/8".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

A Nude from Summer - original ink drawing

Here is a nude drawing done this summer - can't believe it's been so long since I posted!  I used a very thin dowel - so thin that it kept breaking until finally I was left with a piece about four inches long.  Must have been using a bit too much pressure - and then brushed with water.  It's loose without much thought and that's the way I like it, so I consider this one a success.  The paper is Canson Mixed Media, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Charcoal Portrait of Doris - original charcoal portrait drawing

This drawing is about 7 x 6", using vine charcoal on mixed media paper.  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!

Flamenco in Charcoal - original charcoal figurative drawing

I adore working in charcoal and I love flamenco, thus, this drawing.  It's 12 x 8" on plate Bristol paper.  Thanks for looking!

Nude with Her Cell - original charcoal drawing of a nude

It's always so great to have a model, that if they need to talk on their cell - or whatever - it's okay.  Good models are hard to find - or maybe I should say - models are hard to find, whether good or bad.  This one was good, I'm happy to say.  Vine charcoal on drawing paper, it's about 13 x 6".  Thanks for looking.  Steaming in Texas tonight - after 11 o'clock right now and it's 86 degrees!

 

Tango in Shades of Gray - original charcoal figurative drawing

I was trying out the new toned gray paper from Strathmore and here's what I came up with.  I really like the paper, but for me, it takes some getting used to.  I keep trying to erase with my kneaded eraser and get the white back, but there's only gray.  But that's just fine, because I have my trusty white charcoal and it's beautiful to run the white charcoal across the black to make lovely grays. Any other ideas for using this paper?  I like to hear them!  This drawing is 12 x 9".   Thanks for stopping by!

Nita Sleeping - original charcoal figurative drawing

I love to do sleeping poses, especially when the model actually goes to sleep.  This pose didn't last nearly long enough to suit me, but I guess I accomplished the general idea.  It's done with vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper and is about 10 x 10".  Has anyone out there used carbon paper for drawing, lately - or ever?  Not long ago, I visited a drawing show where one of the pieces was done using carbon paper.  I guess it actually works like a monotype, but much less messy.  Anyway, I'm about to find out and am really excited.  I love to make monotypes by putting the paper over the inked plate and drawing.  Now that I think about it, I guess the carbon paper won't be exactly like that, but close enough and should be fun.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Participant - original quick portrait sketch from life

This young woman was a participant in a life drawing group I attended recently and I did this little sketch while the model was getting into the next pose.   My subject would have made a fantastic model!  She had a beautiful face that reminded me of a Renaissance painting and it would have been great to sketch her when she turned her head my way, but she seldom did, so I have to rely on memory.  That's one of the things I love about life drawing groups, it's always so relaxed, and between poses, there are people sketching the other attendees, the room, the easels, you name it!  It's a life drawer's fantasy.  I drew her with vine charcoal on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

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!

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

Sketch of a Couple - original figurative charcoal sketch

Here's a sketch of a couple I was able to observe today - I was sitting some distance away and without my glasses, but I think I got the jist of the thing.  I know what I think was going on, but will leave it open to interpretation.  This will be a painting soon.
Yesterday, at the National Gallery here in London, I found a Vuillard painting I had not known about - The Earthenware Pot - and I love it!  Can't get it out of my mind. 
This drawing is on sketch paper, about 7 x 9", using General's Primo charcoal pencils.  Thanks for looking!

Black and White Tango - original figurative charcoal drawing

This drawing is charcoal on 5 x 5" bristol board. I love the way vine charcoal just sits on top of bristol board. The drawing was done quickly and I will probably use it as a model for a tango painting. Thanks for looking.

Heather - drawing of a nude model

I loved drawing Heather, who takes beautiful, graceful poses and is able to hold them so well. I hope to do a painting from the drawing - tomorrow if everything works out okay. I like to work quickly and loosely. Some of my artist friends have said to me "Connie, you're just a loose woman". Maybe. But only in art.

This drawing is vine charcoal on Strathmore drawing paper about 10 x 14". Thanks for dropping by! SOLD

Reclining Nude - charcoal figure drawing

Today my painting experience was something like Murphy's Law. When the face was right, the hands weren't and vice versa. The day continued in this vein until I finally just gave up and decided to post this nude that I did a few days ago. It's 11 x 14" on Strathmore drawing paper. Thanks for visiting my blog!

SOLD

Little Jivedoodles - charcoal drawings of figures

This is another, smaller version of the larger Jivedoodles that I posted some time ago. I am endlessly fascinated by the contortions of jive dancers, and I LOVE the energy they exhibit.

These are poses that are stuck in my mind from shows and dances that I attended - great memory drawing practice!

It's drawn on Strathmore drawing paper and is 11 x 14". Thanks for looking!SOLD

Liza, Leaning - charcoal drawing of a nude

I didn't have much to post today, except this nude drawing of a lovely model named Liza. I spent most of the allotted time on her face. It's 14 x 11" on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jivedoodles - charcoal gesture drawings

This was a fun exercise in quick drawing - the kind that uses memory, because of course, these figures were moving really fast. I love gestures and think that if you get the gesture, you're successful, even if you don't "finish" the piece. It's worth practicing to get drawings done very quickly. I don't think I'm even thinking when I do this, but instead, just reacting to what I see. Try it - it's fun! SOLD

These little figures were done on Strathmore 18 x 24" paper with vine charcoal. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Another Standing Nude - charcoal drawing

I seem to be doing lots of nude drawings lately, but the rest of the story is that I'm actually doing a number of paintings that will probably be submitted to shows and I just haven't had time to do the little daily paintings. This nude is charcoal with touches of white pastel on Strathmore 400 drawing paper. The image is about 12 x 5". Thanks for looking!