Jivin Once Again - oil pastel figurative

I never tire of my jivers.  These happy dancers are painted in oil pastel on 6 x 12" Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

On My Easel - Cowboy - oil pastel figurative work in progress

Hoping to get this finished tomorrow, it's 6 x 12" on Ampersand Pastelbord, which is so great.  I love dogs and love seeing cowboys and their dogs - the best.  Much to do, but such a pleasure to work on  this subject and on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Playing Guitar - oil pastel figurative drawing

Hey, Houston, Corpus Christi, Victoria and all of y'all down that way coping with this disaster - hope you're safe!

Although I'm not totally finished with this piece, I just decided to go ahead and post - will finish it tomorrow.  I used Sennelier oil pastels on Sennelier oil pastel paper, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Sketchbook - black and white sketchbook drawings

This page is one I worked on today - mostly plants, for some odd reason, but that's what I was mainly seeing, I guess.  This is just one of three sketchbook pages I did.  It's about 8 1/2 by 11", well, probably a bit more with the spiral.  The tree is water-soluble pencil, and everything else is vine charcoal.  Thanks so much for looking!  

Moment of Truth - original charcoal figurative drawing

Did he see it through?  This drawing was done on Mi-Teintes paper, 12 x 9".  I used a stump along with my charcoal pencils (General's Primo, black and white).  Thanks for stopping by!

Sky Practice - oil landscape/sky painting

This is one of my practice pieces from the sky painting class that I'm taking.  Landscape has never been my thing, but I'm trying something new here.  And it's fun.  This is on canvas board, 6 x 8".  Thanks for stopping by.

Black and White Country Luv - original charcoal figurative drawing

After the rodeo dances here in Junction a couple of weekends ago, I have lots and lots of two stepper drawings and paintings.  Here's one of my faves.  It's about 11 x 8 " - it's actually on 12 x 9" paper, but I've matted it smaller.  This is on Bee Drawing paper and I'm really glad to see this brand around again - bought it at Michael's.  Love the paper, although it's not as forgiving as some others, it's still a pleasure to draw on.  With me, I make so many changes and erasures - I sort of like to mess up the surface a little -  I love paper and love to work it over.  Thanks for looking!

End of Day Little Portrait Sketch - original oil portrait sketch of a young girl

I was cleaning my palette and with the models that I'm blessed with this week, I did this quick little portrait.  It's on 8 x 6" canvas board, using only the soft colors that I've been using in the sky painting course I'm taking.  So not the usual oranges, etc that I usually use for people.  Thanks for looking!