Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Orange Robe - original oil pastel figurative painting



Here's more fooling around on the carton board.  One of my teachers - many, many years ago - read a survey to the class in which one of the findings was that orange was the most disliked color in a painting.  I am always disregarding that, because I love orange - can't wear it, but can use it in paintings like crazy.  So sometimes, when the model wears red, I just take it into the orange range.  The size is 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

More of Those Crazy Jivers - original ink and oil pastel figurative drawing

The first time I saw this jitterbug/jive/lindy step, I was dumbstruck.  Maybe the second and third times, too.  The guy - usually lower to the ground than this jiver - sort of scoots or hops along while the girl holds on tight to his hand to give him balance.  Anyway, it's unbelievable and I just can't help but wonder about his knees.  A fun thing, though, and I love it, because I adore what the jivers do as they jitterbug through life.  This started as an ink drawing and I was really happy with it.  Then, I thought about a little color - that's where the trouble usually starts for me, because my lines end up covered and ruined.  But I added just a smidgen here and there, so the lines wouldn't be obscured, and it seems to work???  It's on Bristol board paper, about 9 x 7 1/2".  Thanks so much for stopping by!Sold

Monday, November 18, 2013

Nude in a Yellow Chair - original oil pastel nude painting


This oil pastel is painted on 12 x 9" Guerilla carton board.  Wonderful stuff.  I just ordered some Caran d'Ache oil pastels because I think they will work really well on this surface.  I was going to do something with the background, but didn't have time, and didn't really get much of a finish on the model, either, but maybe next time.  Thanks for looking!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Sketch of Kristi - original oil pastel portrait sketch

This sketch was done from a sketch from life - so, a sketch from a sketch, I guess.  My joy in doing this was that I used carton paper (about 12 x 9") from Judson's Guerilla Painter - so wonderful and so like that used by the impressionists.  I have always loved that look - as if it were done on cardboard, but I could never find anything like they used, without actually having to resort to cardboard.  Which I would love to do, but I know it's a no-no. 
Check out my oil pastel blog to see my latest flamenco dancer.  I usually like to post oil paintings or drawings on Hackberry Street Studio and use most of my oil pastels for my oil pastel blog, but
I am currently going crazy trying to get some oil paintings finished and some of them just won't cooperate.  Oh well.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Saturday, November 09, 2013

Looking Down - original oil pastel portrait painting

This oil pastel is one that I had on my oil pastel blog some time back and I just decided to post it on this blog, because what I had intended to put here is now in the garbage.  And deservedly so.  This is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  Thanks for dropping by!

Saturday, November 02, 2013

On My Easel - Jive Start - original charcoal figurative sketch

Here's how it looks when I have absolutely no models.  Tons of lines trying to find the right positions for my little couple.  I just know - even though it's raggedy right now - that I can make a pretty good drawing and then a painting out of this.  Really.  I do. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Friday, November 01, 2013

Flounce - original charcoal figurative drawing

Here's a drawing I did a couple of years ago after watching a live flamenco show.   First, there was the gritty, gypsy flamenco that I adore, then a more modern version, I guess you'd say, with such swirling of skirts.  Lots of ruffles and grace, yet the dancers retained much of the original flamenco and it was just beautiful.  I drew this, I think, with a charcoal pencil.  Looks like it, anyway, and it was originally on 12 x 9" Strathmore drawing paper, but I trimmed it to about 8 x 7" or so.  It seemed to me that everything after the first few flounces was superfluous.  I guess I didn't think so at the time, but do now.  Thanks so much for looking!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Dancer in a Blue Dress - original watermedia figurative painting

These little watermedia dancers are so much fun.  I always like to do stuff that isn't too finished. This painting was done with watercolor sticks and some watercolor.  I guess I could just say it was done with watercolor, since the sticks are considered the same as watercolor.  It's on Yupo.  Love that paper!  Also, it's about 10 x 7" - thanks for looking!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Tiny Backward Bend - original acrylic figurative painting

This little 4 x 4" acrylic on Gessobord may be part of the show at the Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, Texas, opening next weekend.  Usually I paint in oil, but acrylic proved just perfect for the occasion, since I was in a rush.  The drying time is fantastic!  There basically isn't any.  I may try this again.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Friday, October 18, 2013

Bullrider Sketch - original charcoal figurative rodeo sketch

You're whispering "what's wrong with her - posting something like that".  No need to whisper - it's okay.  This is a sketch that I did from life at the local rodeo this past summer.  The back end of the bull doesn't really show well, but it's there.  Just thought I'd show one of the things that I work from.  Probably only I can understand this shorthand scribble, but it will become a painting one of these days.  I always think I can 'feel' the subject better if I draw it, than if I take a photo, even though I did take a bunch of photos that night.  Thanks for looking and do check out my oil pastel blog.

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Watercolor Jivers - original watercolor and graphite figurative painting

Okay, it looks like I was just totally goofing off, but my jivers like to show up in any medium, so this time they danced on Yupo for the unbridled fun of it.  This little painting is about 4 1/2 x 10".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

A Bow in Her Hair - original graphite pencil portrait drawing

This drawing began from life, but, alas, what young person wants to sit for a portrait - not many.  And I tried letting her watch a movie while I drew, but the pose kept changing, so - thank goodness for cameras!  You know, of course, that I'm not much of a photographer, but I did the best I could, and here we are - 11 x 14" on Borden and Riley Paris paper for pens.  I love that slick surface for drawing.  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, September 30, 2013

On My Easel - Ballet Dancer - original oil figurative painting in progress

So much work to do here, and in the end, I may just toss it.  But even if it doesn't survive, I will have learned a lot.  This is from a drawing - really a gesture drawing, but maybe that'll be all I'll need.  The background in the sketch was just an indication of what was in the studio where we were drawing.  I may lose the pink in the background or really really tone it down.   On 12 x 9" panel.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Thursday's Model - original oil pastel drawing of a nude

 
Using carton board, I started this drawing with Crayolas, but decided I needed a little more 'oomph', so went for my wonderful Sennelier oil pastels.  They never disappoint.  It's on 12 x 9" carton, but I cropped it - in the photo only - to about 11 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Over a Glass of Wine - original oil pastel figurative painting

For a teetotaler, I sure do like the bar scenes.  I just cannot resist the interaction between people, especially between men and women.  This was a quick sketch and there are things that could be changed (corrected?) but I just don't want to lose the "in the moment" feel that I think it has.  It's painted on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  Thank you so much for dropping by!  Also, if you have time, please check out my oil pastel blog.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Sweet Thing - original charcoal portrait drawing w/touches of sanguine

Just got some new drawing papers - I'm a paper fiend - I love all kinds of paper!  And this is one of the pieces - it's Stonehenge, one of my very favorite manufacturers.  This kraft color is new for me.  I also got light blue - drool - plus some of my usual colors.  This drawing is about 14 x 10".  Thanks so much for stopping by and please visit my oil pastel blog.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Geisha with a Fan II - original oil figurative painting


This painting is 10 x 8" on archival canvas panel and is much more abstract and softer than I usually like to do, but I didn't have anything else to post, so here's today's effort.  Since it was done quickly, I left the background, and, hey, some of the foreground, kind of unfinished.  I like 'unfinished', usually, but when I started this one - which I did from a drawing from life - I had a different intention.  It was supposed to be more detailed, but you know how it is, sometimes the painting sort of tells you it's time to stop.  Although, more often, it doesn't tell me anything and I end up killing the painting.  Sigh.  Will I ever get it just right?  I sure hope so!  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Lexie Sleeping - original oil figurative painting

Sleeping poses are some of my favorites.  The model often does go to sleep, which makes it perfect for both of us.  The model dreams sweet dreams while I paint happily.   This painting is 10 x 8" on Gessobord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Last Dance - original oil figurative painting

I hope this painting captures the last dance of the evening - made no corrections and just let the brush do its own thing.  It's on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks for looking!  Sold

Friday, September 06, 2013

Sweet Jive - original charcoal figurative drawing of dancers


This drawing is set to become a painting (oil on canvas or panel).  I don't always do this, but the painting usually goes a little quicker when I have a plan of sorts.  Plus, I just love using my vine charcoal - this time, it's Coates brand - to squiggle my dancers into being.  (They're always there, of course, but I give them a little nudge.)   Drawn on Strathmore Drawing paper, it's about 10 1/2 x 8 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Woman in a Blue Dress - original watermedia figurative painting

This quick little painting is one of those fooling around things that often seem to go right.  So much nicer than working on something for hours, then having to throw it away, like I did the day before yesterday!  I listened to Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder while I did a bunch of these smallish watercolor sticks/watercolor on Yupo paintings.  So much fun to listen to music I love, while doing pieces that I totally enjoy. This one is 9 x 6".  Thanks for stopping by my blog! Sold

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Jivin' Their Way - original oil figurative painting

I really loved doing this one - well, of course, I have fun with every single one of my jivers, but this one, especially.  Maybe it's because I sense their joy. The painting's not dry yet, so is a little fuzzy-looking in the photo.  "Jivin' Their Way" is on 8 x 8" archival canvas panel.  Thanks so much for stopping by! SOLD

Friday, August 30, 2013

Those Crazy Jivers - original oil figurative painting

Those crazy jivers are at it again - oh well, it's a holiday weekend.  Thanks for stopping by - have a good Labor Day!  Oh, almost forgot - it's on 7 x 5" Gessobord.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

WIP Hearing the Rumors - original oil pastel portrait painting

I've been wanting to do a painting of a woman who hears the whispers of the people behind her (and the whispers are about her).  This is a little sketch for something larger.  At 12 x 9", there's not enough room to include the gossips in back of the model, so I was just forming an idea for a bigger work.  Maybe.  Sometimes when I do a small, sort of preparatory thing, that's the end of it - but the ideas of gossip and rumor are of interest to me - not in a good way, but because of the insecurity and worry they cause.  
I began this months ago and pretty much forgot about it.   It was just a mass of lines in greens and red and black and, being a line person, part of me wishes I had kept it, but it was my shorthand and meant nothing to anyone but me.  So I got busy and made it meatier.  On Colourfix Spectrum paper.  Thanks for looking!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Saturday Jive - original oil pastel figurative painting

A fun little thing that I loved doing - it's about 11 1/2 x 19" on Art Spectrum Colourfix paper - a delicious concoction and perfectly gritty for oil pastels.  Saturdays were always fun when I was young and this is a little tribute to Saturday nights.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Sold

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tango Practice - original charcoal figurative drawing

I've been away on a late summer visit and have missed blogging, but am back at Hackberry Street Studio and drawing and painting like mad!  Here's a 16 x 20" charcoal drawing with touches of white - kind of a doodle while exploring different tango poses and steps.  Although, owing to my great - not!!! - skills as a photographer, it looks like a gray background, it's really a light green - one of the Canson Mi-Teintes boards that are just wonderful.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Sold

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Another Torch Singer - original oil pastel figurative painting


I have a thing for torch singers and am trying out poses for them.  This drawing/painting is done with mostly Senneliers on 15 x 16" Canson Mi-Teintes board, which seems to keep the drawing loose.
My wonderful assistant, Roger, was sprayed by a skunk an hour or so ago.  Ugh!  I've been outside trying to get the peroxide/baking soda/dish detergent to work a miracle.  But time always seems to work the best, unfortunately.  So, even though he's locked up on the porch, the whole house smells like skunk - not the sort of far-off skunk smell, but the in-your-face skunk smell, which is pretty nasty. 
I guess Roger won't be assisting me for awhile.  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, July 26, 2013

Chatting at the Bar - original oil figurative painting

I was mainly obsessed with the woman's red hair and the way she was looking up at the man.  Snoopy me, watching and sketching.  I'm always wondering whether to abstract the bottles or make them more distinct - this time, I didn't abstract them so much, but may do it, yet.  This painting is on 12 x 9" panel - thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

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!