On My Easel - Cowhands - oil pastel figurative

I've been fooling with this oil pastel on Pastelbord, 6 x 12".  Don't really know where it's headed and I may just paint a similar one in oil - yeah, the more I think about it....with much more work to do, especially on the cattle.  Thanks for stopping by!

Dancer Portrait - oil pastel portrait

This model has such huge black eyes and adding the flower in her hair was a great touch.  Just beautiful, I thought, and a "must draw".  Once again I used Sennelier oil pastels on MultiMedia pastel panel, 7 x 5".  Thanks for stopping by!

Rita's Black Dress - original oil pastel portrait

Sennelier oil pastels are so wonderfully gooey and rewarding to work with - plus the model was a pleasure to draw.  Can't ask for more than that!  I feel, though, that I worked it over more than usual and maybe should have left it alone.  The drawing really looks like her, though, so I can be pleased with that - and I am really delighted with the dress.  This piece is 7 x 5" - thanks for stopping by!

A Colorful Little Nude - watercolor nude

This quickly done little nude was painted with Inktense sticks that I washed over with a water brush        

pen, just perfect for life drawing groups - no messy water containers to worry with.  And of course, I see all the things I could have labored over, but didn't have the time - a blessing for me, really, since I tend to kill drawings with overworking.  This piece is about 11 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Bullrider - figurative oil rodeo painting

This is the painted version of my earlier Bullrider Sketch - maybe not exactly the same, but close.  Can you imagine actually doing this - riding a bull, I mean.  Those huge, ferocious animals - it's frightening enough even to watch!  There are so many exciting events at rodeos and there are also ranch rodeos, which demonstrate the skills of the American cowboy - click here to learn more.  This painting was done with a fairly wide bright bristle brush on 8 x 8" panel - thanks for stopping by!

A Little Strumming - oil pastel figurative drawing

No subject more rewarding to draw - for me at least - is a musician at practice.  Done quickly with oil pastels on 8 x 8" Multimedia pastel panel, I worked feverishly to capture the moment.  Thanks so much for visiting Hackberry Street Studio!

On My Easel - oil pastel figurative work in progress

I was just having fun with this one that's done from a scene I saw recently - I enjoyed the happy colors.  I will work on it some more - not kidding myself about the major things I need to develop - but will love every moment; it's simply a delight to work on!  This is painted with Sennelier oil pastels on 8 x 10" Multi Media pastel panel.  Hope you enjoy - thanks for stopping by!

Country Evening Two-Steppers - oil pastel figurative painting

This is from a scene at the dance after the rodeo here last summer - I drew and photographed many rodeo action and western dance scenes during those two days, which means lots of oil and oil pastel bull riders, bronc riders, barrel racers and two-steppers coming up.   I did this one on 8 x 8" Multimedia Artboard pastel panel, which holds many layers of oil pastel - click here to visit their website.  Thanks for stopping by!
PS.  to see how this one began, click here to see my January 18th post of the drawing on my oil pastel blog. C

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!       

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!