Zelda - original oil pastel portrait

This drawing of Zelda is one of those quick things that I keep saying "Oh, I wish I'd done this" or "I wish I'd done that", but I can't, because the model is gone.  And maybe it's a good thing, because I've been known to completely kill pieces when there is even a little extra time.   Mostly Sennelier on greyish Colourfix paper, Zelda is 12 x 9".
I would love to hear how everyone's oil pastel experiments are going.   Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - beginnings of work on Caroline's Back

Okay, I know her ear is kind of big, but I'll get that fixed, along with most other things.  I just LOVE this pose - kind of secret, you know?  Anyway, that's how I see it.  It's one of those drawings that needs work, but shouldn't be overworked.  Ah, the plight of the artist - when to stop?!  The support is dark green Canson pastel board, which has only the textured side of the paper and which I love.  Something about that texture keeps me loose.  How's everybody doing with the oil pastels?  Let me know - I adore them and really like to hear how it's working for y'all.  Thanks for stopping by.  PS. If this drawing works out, I'll post it again when it's finished.

The Letter - original oil pastel portrait in progress

I'm working on this painting and I don't really know how it's going to turn out.  The background is one of my problems with this piece - I may use a blending stick on it, so it's more even.  Do y'all use blending sticks?  I do once in a while and I think this may be one of those times!  Also, I think I should work on her lashes - they look fake and the model didn't have on any extra lashes.  These things aren't ever obvious to me 'til I take a picture.
Thanks for stopping by - hope you're all off to a great start in the New Year!

Pensive Lila - original oil pastel portrait painting

I love the way Lila bends her fingers back when she laces them together.  This was done with Sennelier - juicy juicy - on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.
I bought another Sennelier Nature oil pastel set from Ebay for a little cheaper than Daniel Smith, which is the only other place I've found them.  They look so murky until you stroke them across the paper, then they seem jewel-like.  If you want a little splurge, get some of these beauties.
Today I was working on a drawing that has been half-finished for several weeks and every time I passed by, I was so pleased with the skin tones.  Well, today, I killed it.  I'm trying to resurrect the greenish skin tones, so maybe tomorow I'll be successful.  Have you ever done that?  Overworking is the bane of my art existence.  But one thing I noticed, is that it's a pleasure to work skin tones on Sennelier oil pastel paper.  I don't know why, exactly - maybe it's the texture.  Slightly rough, not gritty rough, but just bumpy rough and it holds the oil pastel beautifully and even seems to give it a slight glow.  
Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Red Robe - original oil pastel figurative drawing

There's just something mysterious about back poses. This little drawing is on 7 x 5" dark grey Pastelbord and it's all done with the Sennelier box of portrait oil pastels and not many of them, actually.  Pretty limited palette.  I added the lines after I finished the drawing.  I'm a line freak - I love them!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blue Purse - original oil pastel figurative drawing

I didn't realize how it's long been since I posted to this blog.  Shame on me!  I've just been really busy painting for other things - shows, galleries, etc. - and I've neglected one of my favorite endeavors, which is using and promoting oil pastels.
In this piece, I was trying to leave lines and not totally cover everything.  This one is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord and it was done with a Sennelier portrait set.  I could have "finished" it more completely, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it, because I was striving for looseness in this little piece.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Kind of Witchy - original oil pastel portrait sketch

I made this poor model look pretty ugly, but somehow, I got started and just couldn't stop.   If she sees this, I hope she can forgive me.  Models, though, are used to seeing things done to them that people who aren't professional models wouldn't appreciate.  I love models.  Without them, there wouldn't be very many figure drawings, portraits, etc., so I am one of their biggest fans!
This piece is about 9 x 7" on black Stonehenge - a wonderful surface.  It's seems smooth, but has enough tooth to grab the oil pastel.
For more of my oil pastels and other work, please visit my "other" blog, Hackberry Street Studio.  Thanks so much for visiting The Oil Pastel Review.