Friday, July 07, 2017

Baseball Doodles - figurative ink drawings

Okay, maybe not the most accurate or elegant thing ever, but I love the chance to catch a baseball game and especially love getting in a few quick sketches.  It's on Bristol paper, 9 x 12".  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Portrait of Sheila - watercolor portrait

It's always fun and unpredictable to paint on Yupo and this little portrait (about 10 x 8") was no exception!  Not really my thing, but watercolor is exciting to do every now and then.  My brush was actually a 'round' for oil or acrylic - kind of a no-no, I guess, but I had a good time.  I worked from an old drawing - one of my collection of thousands (okay, maybe just hundreds) - I spent a lot of time in my life attending drawing groups - hence my collection of drawings, which often have another life as a painting many years later.  I finally had to get rid of most of these drawings and just keep the photos of them on my computer.  How modern is that?!  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, June 23, 2017

Sketch for Flamenco - charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing is done on Colourfix board, which is a great product - the surface is already backed by the board, so when framing, you don't have to tape it to backing and it has a nice white surround that gives a neat, sort of matted appearance.  All one has to do is put it behind glass/plexi using Econospace or Framespace.  Done!   I'm planning to spray this to the nth degree with fixative and cover it with oil pastels in my all-time favorite palette - red, ochre, black and white and maybe a little blue.  Of course, theoretically, blue isn't necessary in this palette, but I like to include it anyway.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Saturday, June 17, 2017

What I'm Working On - original soft pastel figurative in progress

This piece is one I'm really enjoying.  Since soft pastel causes eye and throat irritation for me, I tried having a small fan blowing across the paper, then vacuumed up the dust.  Maybe that'll work.  The pleasure for me in this figurative, which is being done from a photo, is that there are many lines in it - unfortunately, some will have to be covered, but I'll cope.  Hoping to finish it this weekend.  The support is Pastelbord in sand , 11 x 14".  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, June 16, 2017

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait drawing in progress

I have so many things that I'm working on and nothing is anywhere near being finished, so here's one of the works in progress.  Lots of stuff to do to reach a stopping point, but am thinking I'll leave the negative space as is.  It's about 14 x 12" on Colourfix paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, June 05, 2017

On My Easel - Tina's Album - oil pastel figurative

Even though it's a million miles from finished, I'm posting so it doesn't seem that I've dropped off the face of the Earth.  Actually, we were in far west Texas - Alpine, Marfa and Ft. Davis.  It was so nice and cool - loved it!  I did do some sketches of plants there, plus people, of course.  Much fun! This piece is on Colourfix paper and I used almost all Sennelier oil pastels.  It's 12 x 9".  Thanks for looking!

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Gwen - original oil pastel nude painting

This fairly quick drawing is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 9 x 12".  Didn't have time to smooth things out, so it's still a little raw - the way I like it.  Thanks so much for looking!

Monday, May 22, 2017

Moody Blue - original pastel pencil drawing

Here's another Dutch iris from my garden - I have a whole yard full of subjects (if I can just keep them going through our hot, dry summer).  Botanical drawings have always interested me, like the prints I did years ago - I keep saying I'll go back to doing those things, so maybe I will just do it.  I don't know about y'all, but I can procrastinate like nobody's business!  The other day I was encouraging a friend to do something she has always wanted to do and telling her there's no time like the present etc. etc. - all the while knowing I am not a good example.

This drawing is done with pastel pencil on 12 x 9" Art Spectrum Colourfix paper.  The actual flower is really a deep royal purple and royal blue.  Every time I used the actual colors, the drawing looked, well, kind of cheap.  So, I grayed the color and put a reddish ochre behind it, kind of liking the idea of coming from the dark background at the top, into lighter shade at the bottom.  Now I wonder if just the grayed color without the ochre would work, but anyway, am just going with it as is and maybe do another version later.  Actually, the photo doesn't display - at least on my laptop - as blue as the drawing really is.  Maybe I can fool around with it later, although I only have iPhoto.  Also have Pixelmator, but even that is beyond me.  Plus it's well after midnight.

I used mostly Carbothello for this, but found a Caran d'Ache set on sale and it was finally delivered yesterday.  Heavenly stuff!  A few weeks ago I purchased a set of 12, and now I'm the proud owner of a set of 40 - would not have done it if it weren't on sale.  Expensive, but worth every penny.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Middleweights - original ink figurative drawing

Sometimes I watch boxing matches - reminds me of sitting with my father as we watched the fights.  Nice memories.   This drawing is on 9 x 12" Bristol board, which is such a good paper for drawing - I used the vellum type and two kinds of pens - Itoya and Penstix.
Just as with drawing dancers, it's important to use memory, which is what I did here.   I saw an online drawing course recently that included memory drawing.  I taught that concept in my figure drawing classes from years ago, and although I haven't seen it mentioned in classes very often, it's a really great drawing exercise.

Friday, May 19, 2017

On My Easel - acrylic portrait of Fran - work in progress


A good bit of work to do, yet, but I should finish it this weekend.  I won't have such a spotty background, for one thing, and will do more work on her face.  It's on 12 x 12" board.  She is really lovely - hope I can do her justice.  It's always so great to at least begin a painting or drawing with the actual person sitting in front of you, but if they're not models, no way can I expect them to stay as long as it takes.  There are exceptions, of course, and I am very grateful for those who are able to actually stick around.  Fran is so sweet and spent as much time as she could, but was on a tight schedule, so I was happy to have her sit for even a short while.  I love going to drawing groups, but since I'm not a regular attendee,  I often have to take whatever position in the room nobody else wants, which is probably why I have a lot of paintings of the model with her/his back to me.  I generally love back poses, but usually just of nudes, Come to think of it, I may need to seriously consider those paintings with clothed back view models that are languishing in the back of my studio - some of them are pretty good with good shapes, etc.  Hmmm - a fresh approach, maybe.    Thanks for visiting my blog!  Just talking to you helped me rethink things.

Monday, May 15, 2017

More Two Steppin' - original acrylic figurative painting

My two-steppers are back.  I suspect they never really go away, but just wait their turn to show up again at Hackberry Street Studio.  This painting, like most I've done lately, is acrylic.  Great stuff!  This one is on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  Thanks for looking!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Cowboy Fiddler - original pen and ink figurative sketch

He's not the only fiddler here.  I'm another one, but I was doing my fiddling with a dip pen and ink, which I haven't done in years.  I was kind of hesitant, since it's been a long time, but I remembered how much I used to like using this technique.  I drew with a 512EF bowl dip nib and then applied water.  I love the way these kinds of nibs make contact with the paper.  They don't run smoothly like ballpoints and they sort of 'catch' every now and then, which I think gives an interesting look.   Now I'm not saying the lines in this sketch are interesting, since I pretty much covered them up with water, but the nibs can and do provide these textures most of the time.  This sketch is on 12 x 9" mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

Friday, May 05, 2017

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Sparring in My Sketchbook - original ink figurative drawing with touches of white pencil

I am always interested in drawings on different supports.  Here, I used yellow ochre acrylic brushed on my sketchbook page.  Watercolor would be more traditional - or thinned ink - but was just working with what I had.  It's about 7 1/2 x 7 1/2" - the page seems to be a hot press watercolor paper, which I love to use - it can take lots of abuse!  Thanks for stopping by.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Thursday, April 27, 2017

On My Easel - oil pastel portrait in progress

Wonderful model, but of course, now she's gone and I have to improvise.  On this one, I used 16 x 12" Art Spectrum Colourfix board💗 - so wonderful!  Will finish on the weekend - thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Sketchbook Ink Nudes - ink drawings of nudes

Here are some pages from one of my sketchbooks in which I was practicing some mapping and crosshatching.  l really think I need some more practice, plus it's a lot of fun to do!

Sunday, April 23, 2017

On My Easel - original pastel pencil figurative in progress

Here it is in the wee hours and I'm just now getting to posting.  This drawing is being done from a black and white sketch from some time ago.  At this point, I don't know if it will be "finished" - well, probably not at this point.  Don't know if other artists leave things for awhile the way I do.  This is on Colourfix board, but my usual problem is cropping up - pastel dust.  Thought it wouldn't be bad with the pencils and while it's not as bad as with the sticks, it's still a problem.  Maybe I'll start working with them outside.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by!  PS.  That's a book on her lap (will definitely make that more finished)!

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Seated Back Pose - original oil pastel nude

I did this nude on 12 x 9" mixed media paper and matted it to about 9 1/2 x 7 1/2".  There's just nothing - to me, anyway - like the blues and greens in skin tones.  I just find them irresistible.  This piece is a little "raw", just the way I like them - not quite "finished".  I took a portrait course in which the portrait I painted is so exact and finished (although I didn't attend the last lesson) and everyone who sees it says 'wow, you did this?" and while I like it and am proud of my accomplishment, it's not my natural way of doing things.  Just my personality, I guess.  I love it that each artist's personality always shows up in his/her work.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Three Gals on Green - original acrylic figurative

Just a fun thing I did while cleaning my palette - it's on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  I love greens  - cool greens mixed with warm greens and I really love those made with black and golds and yellows.  The greens on this piece, though, are straight from the tube.  They're nice to work with, too.  Thanks so much for looking!

Monday, April 10, 2017

On My Easel - original acrylic portrait in progress

I'm working on this piece with acrylic paints.  Like most everything I'm doing right now, it needs a bit of time to get it finished, which I hope to do tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, April 08, 2017

On My Easel - Tea For One - original oil pastel in progress

All I have that I could post are lots of unfinished pieces, so I just closed my eyes and picked one, and the winner is. . . . .  Sooo much to do on this, but it's going to be finished tomorrow, I hope, so I can get busy with my other stuff that's in limbo.  This is on 14 x 11" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 04, 2017

A Nude on Wednesday - original watermedia nude

This painting is mostly water media with a few touches of oil pastel.  It's on mixed media paper, which, if you haven't tried it yet, is wonderful - stands up to all kinds of torture.  It's about 9 x 11".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, April 02, 2017

Early Spring - original pastel pencil drawing

This drawing is of one of my Dutch irises, which I didn't expect to bloom 'til later - my backyard has been absolutely full of roses for weeks, which is earlier than usual.  I used my Carbothello pastel pencils on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper for this one.
 

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Easy Listening - original pastel pencil portrait drawing

I'M SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT 'EASY LISTENING' HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE BOOK 'STROKES OF GENIUS' 10!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                          After a long day - nothing like some 'easy listening' music - at least that's what I hear.  For me, though, it has to be something with a beat.  Right now I'm listening to salsa music, mixed with a little jive - of course, I had a really good day with no problems, so maybe I wouldn't want the zippy stuff if I were really tired.  This woman is being rejuvenated by the soothing music, which is perfect for both of us.  She is very still and, therefore, a good model.  She's happy - I'm happy.
This drawing is on 12 x 9" Colourfix paper - fresh grey color.  The problem with drawings that aren't "finished" is where do I stop?  I'm tempted to work on the chair, but won't because I think I've covered all the bases without doing that.  And if I do "finish" it and then decide I shouldn't have done it,  it's too late - can't be undone.  Same with her other leg.  Decisions, decisions.  Thanks for looking!


Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Thicket - original charcoal landscape drawing

I've been finding lots of enjoyment in drawing thickets.  Doesn't sound too exciting, but the line making is so satisfying.  I'm basically a "drawer", so putting pencil to paper and making marks is what I love best.  I have many more of these, plus I've been working on pen and ink nudes, mapping the shadows and then practicing my hatching.  Will post some of those tomorrow. Drawing is my fave!  This one is on 8 x 10" Strathmore drawing paper.  Thanks for stopping by!😊

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Jumpin' Jivers - original acrylic figurative painting

Yes, I really saw it - I think youth is the first prerequisite for a jump like this one! And tons of practice, because he didn't seem to give it a second thought - all in a day's work!  He probably didn't think of it as work, though, just lots of fun.  I used Golden Open acrylic paint on an 8 x 8" panel.  Thanks for looking!

Thursday, March 23, 2017

On My Easel - Livy's Naptime - original acrylic figurative in progress

Notice I said "in progress" - lots to do here, but only going to fool with it a little more and then get going on something else.  I had to get the model to move down so I could get her where I wanted her on the bed and she actually did take a little nap.  Used acrylics on a cradled panel, 12 x 12".  Will  post it here when I do get it finished.  Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Morning - original graphite portrait drawing

I started this drawing from life, but as often happens, I eventually had to rely on a photograph, which isn't as good, but I was grateful for at least a little time with a model.  Not usually a fan of drawing with graphite, I loved doing this one with a set of General's woodless graphite pencils in HB, 2B, 4B and 6B - also comes with a sharpener - I just love kits!  This drawing is about 11 x 12" on Strathmore mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sketch of Jana in Trois Crayons - original figurative drawing

Fooling around with trots crayons today - basing this drawing on a charcoal one where I sort of pestered someone to pose for me (sigh) I can be so tiresome.  So while listening to The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo - yummy for us English history buffs - I did a quick sketch using the big three.  Maybe not the best example, but something that's not my usual.  It's on bluish Colourfix paper - thanks so much for stopping by!