A Little Portrait of Lena - original water-soluble pencil drawing

This little drawing - done with water-soluble pencil - has been around awhile, but I've always liked it and just decided to show it at Hackberry Street Studio.  The support is Yupo, which can be tricky, but it's become a real favorite of mine!  The unpredictability of paint on Yupo is what I love about using it - with Yupo the paint can be lifted and you can fiddle with it, which is usually death to watercolor paintings. This drawing is about 5 1/4" x 5 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by! Sold

Nelda in watercolor - original watercolor portrait sketch

Here's a little fooling around sketch done with watercolor on Yupo.  I may finish it later - or maybe not, and just move on to something else.  Am currently working on a watercolor nude and having lots of fun with that.  This sketch is about 10 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Jivin' Night - original oil figurative painting in progress

Have you ever listened to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters?   Wow!  What a great song - I played it many times while painting this piece, along with more of my jive and rock 'n' roll goodies.  There's a good bit of work to do on this - work on the figures plus take out some of the little tiny brushstrokes in the background - and the music will just make it fun!  These dancers are on 9 x 12" stretched canvas.  Thanks for stopping by!

WIP - Day's End - original oil pastel figurative painting in progress

This painting is sort of in limbo at the moment.  Will finish it in the next couple of days, I guess.  Things to do include toning down the acid green, carrying the pattern over the back and much better  (I hope) defining of the figure.  May include a pair of stilettos on the floor.  That can exhaust anybody - wearing them, I mean.  On 16 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jerri - original oil pastel portrait drawing

The past few days, I've been doing sort of stream of consciousness drawings and this is one of them.  It's probably not really a stream of consciousness drawing, but it is one that's not been analyzed to death.  Just drawn and done. On Strathmore 403 paper, it's about 8 x 9 1/2".  While I have a number of oil paintings in the works, I'm going to do more oil pastels and start using turps with some of my backgrounds, a practice from years ago that I've decided to revive.  My resolve may only last through one painting, but it's worth a try. My fingers get really tired from rubbing the backgrounds, especially on sanded surfaces, so I need a little help.  This could only work on board or oil paper, of course.
Jerri is such a good model and I have more drawings of her that may actually turn into paintings.  I'm always saying that and nothing comes of it.  And I don't think a drawing is made legitimate by becoming a painting - it's just that sometimes, things look good in oil paint.  I am especially interested in doing paintings that are also drawings for a good portion of the piece.  Too many times, I've covered up lines that I loved and then missed them.  Am going to try not to do that again.  Anyway, that's what I'm up to here at Hackberry Street Studio.  Glad you stopped by - thanks for listening!  Sold

On My Easel - Jivers Again - original oil figurative painting in progress

More work to do on this, but should finish tomorrow and will just replace this with the final version.
Love those jivers - they always get me going - it's 9 x 12" on canvas - thanks for looking!

Sketch of Boxers - original oil pastel figurative drawing

As a little kid, I watched the 'fights' on TV with my father - a brutal sport, I know, but I admire the superb conditioning of the contestants.   I'm thinking about doing more of these drawings, possibly long panels of them.  This one was done on carton paper, 7 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Tutu - oiginal oil pastel figurative painting

I had the pleasure of sitting and watching some young ballerinas - a real drawing opportunity.  This one kept fiddling with her new tutu - I think she just loved touching it and feeling like a real ballerina.  The painting is done on 7 x 5" carton from Judson's Art Outfitters - can also be purchased from Amazon.  I love the cardboard color, since I'm a fan of drawing on cardboard - even though that's a no-no in the conservation department.  The carton is archival and good for oil, acrylic and soft pastel, as well.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ink Dance - original ink figurative drawing

I had planned to use oil pastel on this drawing, but was happy with just the lines - I really have a crush on line drawings, right now.  Drawn on Paris paper for pens, it's 12 x 9".   Thanks for visiting!

Seated Dancer - original ink figurative drawing

Line is my favorite drawing method and I had a really good time with this little drawing - squiggle, squiggle.  It's done with an Itoya Doubleheader and touches from my Niji Waterbrush on Borden & Riley Paris paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Woman at a Restaurant - original ink figurative drawing

Another line drawing - just fooling around with ink, 12 x 9" on Borden and Riley Paris paper for pens.  Today I participated in a photogravure printmaking class sponsored by the McNay Art Museum in conjunction with their photogravure exhibit.  We went to Hare and Hound Press for instruction - I will never master the intricacies of printmaking, but today was interesting and fun. 

Here's my print - maybe a little over wiped, but not too bad, I think.

Thanks for stopping by!

Matisse Attempt - original ink drawing after Matisse

Today I went to the Matisse exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art and it was just so interesting.  Here is a (pathetic, I know) attempt at that kind of art.  Now that I look at it, I realize how far from Matisse it is.  His work is more difficult than one would think - MUCH more - but it's kind of fun to try.  I bought an exhibition catalogue (of course) and a print of Embroidered Dark Blouse, plus a few tiny prints, two French song CDs, and I was waiting to look at some other prints being unpacked, but I thought 'I have to get out of here before I spend any more money!' - I love shopping at museums - so many delicious things.  My husband would probably say that I love shopping anywhere.  I drew this on 140lb cold press watercolor paper - thanks for stopping by!

Brenda - original oil pastel portrait drawing

I wish I'd had more time for this drawing, but  anyway, I loved working on this gray-blue Strathmore 403 oil pastel paper. I know - it looks tan, but that is just my pathetic photography.  My palette was very limited. It's about 9 x 9".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - Songstress - original figurative oil painting in progress

Here's a beginning - will see where it goes, if it does - am working on so many things at the moment.  I just never know which will turn out well.  It's 10 x 10" on gessoed panel.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Tea - original oil portrait painting

Ahhh - sweet tea - the elixir of the South.  Has to be just right - no harshness - never ever boiled even for a second.  But it does have to have a real "tea" taste and be sweet - but not too sweet.  Sounds crazy, I know, but it has to taste just right and you know when it does.  Reminds me of that Jackie Mason routine.  This piece is part life and part photo - sometimes you gotta use photos - 10 x 10" on gessoed panel.  Thanks for looking!

Cinda's Necklace - original oil pastel portrait drawing

The necklace that the model, Cinda, was wearing interested me.  I wanted to describe it, but not let it take over the drawing.  So, I just left everything understated - 7 x 5" on Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nude Sketch - original charcoal sketch of a nude

It seems I got a little caught up in the model's face and never really "fleshed" it out.  She had such a lovely face and I was trying to do it justice.  Anyway, maybe I'll get another chance with this model - she said she'd be back.  Also, not totally pleased with how I took the photo; maybe I'll retake it tomorrow.  I'm such a nitpicker! Vine charcoal on warm white - with a peach tint - Strathmore 403, it's 12 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for looking!

Black and White Jive - original charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is on Strathmore 403 paper, which is really formulated for oil pastels, although it's being touted as good for soft pastels, as well.  They should definitely mention that it's also a great and forgiving paper for charcoals.  I enjoyed drawing this one so much, not just because of the paper, but I had fun with my kneaded eraser.  I like to turn a drawing upside down to see if I like the marks and this one pleased me.  It's on 9 x 12" Strathmore 403 - thanks for looking! 

Sketch of Lexie Sleeping - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I started this sketch with watercolor, but after about three strokes, I knew it wouldn't work out, (as most of my attempts with watercolor do).  So, onward with my trusty oil pastels.  The support is 9 x 12" 140 pound cold press watercolor paper which worked out well - it's really a lot like Sennelier oil pastel paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Little Snooze - original soft pastel figurative drawing

This is drawn on black Stonehenge paper using soft - not oil pastel.  Much fun to do - thanks for looking!

Two Nudes - original charcoal nude drawing

Here are two more nudes from the latest drawing session.  Done on Strathmore drawing paper, about 14 x 9".  I drew while listening to "music" that sounded like pots and pans banging around.  I am not kidding - but it was a mostly youngish group and since I was the newcomer, I couldn't say anything.  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - Tango Portrait - original oil pastel portraits in progress

I started work on this one today and will let it dry for a few days, then come back and see where this little couple takes me.  When I look at it, I see all the things I should fix and some things that I can't fix without completely redoing it.  Arghhh - I tear my hair!  Well, not actually, but I feel like it.  This is done on 9 x 12" Pastelbord.  One of the nice things about Ampersand Pastelbord is that oil pastel gets pretty dry on it, so when I really load the support with oil pastel, it works to dry the pastel a little, so that I can work on it again.  I really appreciate your stopping by my blog - thanks so much!

Sketch for Cowboy Painting - original charcoal figurative sketch

I've done and redone and redone this one again and again - my painting teacher used to say 'just start another one', but since it's charcoal and easily erased on this canvas with hardboard backing, I just ignored the little voice in my head and went ahead with it.  I'll spray it well - have never done this before, but I hear it works - and paint over it, making changes as I go.  Anyway, it was fun and instructive, which I guess is another way of saying that I was learning from my mistakes.  It's 16 x 20" - thanks for stopping by!

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!

 

JiveHappy - original ink figurative drawing

My little jivers are back with a vengeance - well, actually, they are never far away.  I think all my little characters know I love them!  I've been doing lots of sketches that may or may not end up as paintings.  I'm a firm believer in drawing just for the sake of drawing - so whether they become paintings doesn't really matter to me.  This one is ink on 6 x 6" Bristol board.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

A Solitary Evening - original oil pastel figurative painting

This 7 x 5" painting is on Pastelbord.  I'm just waiting for the sprinkler system to wind down - but if my calculations are correct, it will be another couple of hours before I can go to bed.  Next time I'll start it a lot earlier!  We had some rain here in central Texas last week, but it's really, really hot, so I'm back to watering.  Have been busy rearranging my studio and throwing away tons of stuff.  I want to start using my little press again and I have to put it in a more prominent place, so I'm reminded it's there.  Of course, what started out as something simple - with just one objective - has now mushroomed and there are many objectives.  When it's completed, though, I think I'll love it.  Will post pictures, but don't hold your breath - this is definitely going to take some time!  Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Reader - original oil pastel figurative sketch

Here's a little sketch I did of a girl engrossed in her book - not the required reading during school terms.  The joy of summer - I remember it well!  This is oil pastel on 9 x 12" Strathmore 403 paper.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Livy on a Sofa - original oil pastel figurative painting

A bit of fun on 8 x 10" Pastelbord - thanks so much for stopping by Hackberry Street Studio!

Tender Tango - original oil figurative painting

One of my favorite tango poses - she really trusts him!  This is on 6 x 6" Gessobord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Bareback Rider - original charcoal figurative drawing

This little charcoal drawing is one that I did in front of the TV last night while I was watching a rodeo. Working really fast is artistically invigorating for me and it's such good practice.  Also very challenging is that the format is only 6 x 6".  On Bristol board.  Thanks for stopping by!