Monday, January 01, 2018

Portrait of Rosa - oil pastel portrait painting

I could paint this model all day and sure am hoping she shows up again!  Very expressive, plus she holds a pose so well - just can't ask for more than that in a model.  Behind her was a figurative panel - I always like using these designs in the background.  This piece was done on 8 x 8" Multimedia pastel panel, using luscious Sennelier oil pastels - like working with lipstick.  Thanks for looking!

                                                               HAPPY NEW YEAR!       

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Cloud Study - landscape oil sketch

This 10 x 8" cloud study is one I did before it got so cold - can't imagine doing this now with these temps!

Friday, December 22, 2017

Model in a Green and Red Robe - figurative oil painting of a model

Well, I guess this is kind of Christmasy in color, anyway - green robe with red.  Anyway, I did love painting this piece  - it's on Fredrix Paint Board - a surface I really like.  Thanks for stopping by!

              My wonderful Able Assistant left us today for Doggy Heaven.  RIP precious Roger!

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Autumn Evening - landscape nocturne oil painting

This is a painting that I did in my backyard in October when the moon was so beautiful and there was a turquoise tint surrounding it.  I painted the piece on 12 x 9" canvas.  Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Green Chapeau - original oil pastel portrait

I loved the 40's hat the model wore and the way it looked with her red hair.  I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels on 10 x 8" multi media board.  Thanks for looking!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Bullrider Sketch - ink and water-soluble pencil rodeo drawing

This drawing is one that I did at a rodeo(albeit a total shorthand version that only I could decipher) and then worked over it loosely with ink and water-soluble pencil.  I thought this bull rider was about to bite the dust, but then he righted himself and lasted for eight.  I love this "pose" and am definitely going to do a larger painting in color and am hoping to maintain the looseness.  It's so easy for me to lose the casual look of an action painting and totally kill it.  Alas.  This is on 6 x 6" Bristol paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

More Looking for Eight - oil pastel figurative rodeo

On this piece, I used Multimedia Art Board, which is a new discovery for me.  I received a gift certificate from the company as part of my prize at an art show and I absolutely love this new to me support!  I drew this one from one of my many rodeo drawings - 6 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

Friday, December 01, 2017

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Portrait of the Wednesday Model - original oil pastel portrait

This model was so pretty, with such a gentle face.  Such a pleasure to draw.  I used cold press watercolor paper again, which makes more white bits.  It's just such a good, tough paper, that I like to use it sometimes for oil pastels because it can take lots of punishment.  The size for this one is 9 x 12" - for some reason, I love portraits done in a horizontal format.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

ACEO Tiny Landscape - original oil pastel landscape

I absolutely love these little (3.5 x 2.5") Colourfix trading cards - in addition to the nicely gritty texture that is fabulous for oil pastels, there is a white edge that surrounds the painting.  Really lovely!  I used Sennelier oil pastels from the Nature collection, then added the turquoisy color at the top.   So much fun and another good-for-the-soul activity.  Thanks for looking!

Monday, November 27, 2017

Lindy, Looking - original oil pastel portrait

Sticking with my model, Lindy,  I used oil pastel for this little portrait because I feel it makes the most marvelous skin tones - soft and smooth, almost like real skin.  Alas, I had to deal with ambient light, but it worked out okay, I think.  Also, it's on 9 x 12" cold press watercolor paper, which is the reason for the bits of white peeking through.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Lindy Seated - original ink figurative drawing

This ink and stick drawing was done from a pose while sitting outside a sandwich shop on West 6th Street in Austin, Texas.  I used an extremely thin balsa wood stick with India ink - one of my favorite ways to draw - and just let the ink kind of do its own thing.  This is a wonderfully freeing type of art and just good for the soul - or my soul, anyway.  I did this drawing on - I think it's Yupo, about 8 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Friday, November 10, 2017

Darling Roger - charcoal sketchbook drawing of my dog

My precious boy - and Able Assistant - is napping and therefore, a good subject.  He's getting old - maybe 14 or 15 - just an estimate since we got him from the pound, which I heartily recommend, but is in fairly good health with a few glitches here and there.  My husband and I spoil him a bit, and he deserves every bit of spoiling he gets!  This drawing is from my sketchbook, about 5 x 8" - maybe I got his spots and ears a little dark, but it still looks like my sweet fellow.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Male Nude - original charcoal drawing

I guess it's obvious that I've been to life drawing groups lately.  This one is from my little sketchbook - about 8 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

A Nude Drawing - original pastel pencil drawing

Pastel pencils are so versatile and such fun to work with.  I tried to keep this drawing free of too many details.  It's on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper.  Thanks for looking!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

My Neighbor's Cat - charcoal drawing of a cat

We have several cats in the neighborhood and they often visit our backyard - not when my Able Assistant (Roger) is on patrol, however - and often bask on the wall that separates our yard from our next door neighbor.  They're pretty friendly and make good models, so I take advantage when I can.  In this case, I was getting into my car when I noticed this sweet fellow and did a quick sketch that I finished later using vine charcoal on 9 x 12" drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

And I just learned that today is National Cat Day - Yay!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Violet and Chartreuse - original oil pastel figurative

I used to spend hours at the National Gallery of Art when I lived in Washington D.C., especially in the room that housed the small French paintings.  I always loved the way the colors in the paintings were combined; these masterpieces were often more about the colors and design than the accuracy of the subjects.  This piece was a fun experiment for me, and maybe I'll attempt some more in this vein.  Although it's probably not obvious, there are bits of all the colors everywhere in this painting.  On 12 x 9" Colourfix paper, I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

On My Easel - Woman in Red Dress - Torchsinger - acrylic figurative in progress

Much to work out here - I hope without doing too much modeling of the figure.  I love torch singers and am thinking that may be what she is, with her scarf/handkerchief in her hand (needing work).  I took the pose from Nude with a Fan, posted earlier on my blog.  First, I covered the 12 x 12" canvas with black gesso and started from there.  Don't know if I will keep the little picture on the wall, probably not.  And her arms, especially, need work - who am I kidding - it all needs work and that's the fun of it!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog - when I'm finished with this painting, I will post it.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Sketch of Heather - pastel pencil portrait drawing

One of my favorite poses - the model is looking over her shoulder, although it's a tough pose to hold.  Heather has the most beautiful coloring - always a pleasure to draw her.  I used my Caran d'Ache pastel pencils on 12 x 9" tinted pastel paper.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Tango Drama #5 - original figurative oil painting

How they do this and then keep on dancing is beyond me!  I would be finished if I attempted this sort of thing, but the dancers are in such fabulous shape that it doesn't seem to bother them a bit!  This piece is 12 x 12" - thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Maureen - original oil pastel portrait drawing

Always happy to work from the model, I tried not to make the drawing as scribbly as it usually is when I attend a group.  It's still pretty loose, though.  I used Sennelier oil pastels on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Monday, October 02, 2017

Favorite Thing - original oil figurative painting

This is the sort of thing I've painted many times - probably because I just love to settle in with a good book.  And I love painting on the square surface.  All around good fun for me.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Warm-Up - original oil pastel figurative drawing

These young girls - the three at the barre anyway - are warming up for their lesson.  I think the older girl was rehearsing in the adjacent studio.  This oil pastel is on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9".  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, September 18, 2017

Live Oak Twig - original graphite drawing

Here's a little drawing I did for a landscape class - a live oak twig from my front yard.  The thing that looks sort of like an acorn isn't - I think it's called a gall and is caused by an insect.  It definitely gives some more texture to the drawing.  About 8.5 x 5.5" - from my sketchbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

On The Platform - original mixed media figurative drawing

This was a scene on the subway platform - don't know what it means - just something I saw.  I used oil paint, charcoal and oil pastel on 8 x 10" panel.  Thanks for looking!

Friday, September 15, 2017

Red Lines Flamenco - original Sharpie sketch

A fun little thing (about 8.5 x 5.5").  The paper looks slightly green, but in real life, it's white - just my lackluster photography skills.  Thanks for looking!

Sunday, September 10, 2017

The Dancer's Nap - oil pastel figurative

I bought some of the 6 x 12" landscape Pastelbord panels and have used a few for just that purpose,  but I just couldn't resist this pose from an earlier drawing.  Plus, she looked like a torch singer, and for some reason, I have such a soft spot for these ladies.   I left many of the lines, because I'm always looking for a way to keep from covering all the lines with paint - or, in this case, oil pastel.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wednesday, September 06, 2017

Palo Duro - original oil pastel landscape

Okay, just posted a more correct photo.
Although there's a little cool pink in here - and a little blue, neither one is showing up.  But this piece is definitely done in mostly warm colors, which is unusual for me.   Gotta depart from the usual once in awhile.  Click here for the Palo Duro website.  I was there a couple of years ago and have lots of sketches and photos from my visit.  It's a beautiful place and well worth a visit!  This painting is on 6 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks so much for dropping by!

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

Akimbo - original charcoal figurative drawing

How I love to draw with charcoal!  And I was lucky to get this pose - it was kind of dark where we were, but still am pleased with the outcome, even though I didn't totally "finish" it.  I just love when I get almost to the bottom of a figurative drawing, just getting really loose and making it more about line.  A bit about charcoal - I used a vine charcoal here, so lovely and soft, but there are other forms of this fabulous medium:  Click here to read a little about it.  This drawing is about 14 x 8".  Thanks for looking!

Saturday, September 02, 2017

Sketch for Sunday - Man in Boat - charcoal figurative drawing from life

On Saturdays, I like to get out and do sketches of whatever I can find  - and I found this guy.  I had just a moment to capture him and the essence of the scene, which could end up being a little painting.  With maybe a little more detail, of course.  It was fun and I think sketching from life always helps my drawing immensely.  Thanks for stopping by!