I Love Barrel Racing! - western figurative oil painting of horse and rider barrel racing

Here's a finished - and I hope - an improved version of the earlier post.   (Thank you Hilda!)  Barrel racing is a cross between grace and athleticism and - wow - the relationship between horse and rider is beautiful to behold!  There aren't ever enough participants at the rodeo, but I probably feel that way  because I could watch endlessly!  There will be more western paintings because I have sketches and photos from the rodeo and dances here (Junction, Texas) in August.  I painted this piece on 12 x 9" panel.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog at Hackberry Street Studio and here to visit my website

Country Music - charcoal figurative drawing

This drawing started out as a gesture sketch from life at a dance, then I just filled it in with vine charcoal and the occasional swipe of my kneaded eraser.  Really, it is like the silhouette drawing exercise, which I think is so effective for showing each part of the figure in relation to everything else.  Charcoal on pastel paper, 12 x 9".  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog at Hackberry Street Studio.

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.  To see more of my artwork, please visit my blog.

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.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog at my Hackberry Street Studio.

                                                               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! To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

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.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

           

Bullrider Sketch - ink and watersoluble 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.  This one is on 6 x 6" Bristol paper.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

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".  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

Do-Si-Do - acrylic figurative painting

I painted this one with regular heavy body acrylic paint, which dries really quickly, unlike the Golden Open that I love and most often use.  These figures are from a painting that I did last summer after observing the dancers following the August rodeo in Junction, Texas.  What a rich night for a figure painter that was!  I not only drew furiously, but snapped lots of pictures for later use in the studio.  This painting is 10 x 8" on panel and although I was taught that you should vary your brushes and brushstrokes in a painting, I used a #8 bright for the whole thing.  Just lazy, maybe.  Please click here to see more of my artwork at Hackberry Street Studio.

Dancers in Lines - original ink marker figurative drawing

Just about my all time fave thing to do - line squiggles that form people.  Used an Itoya Doubleheader calligraphy pen for this one.  Great drawing instrument, btw - gives such variety of line.  This drawing is about 8 x 11 1/2" - to see more of my artwork, click here to visit my Hackberry Street Studio.

Black and White Rodeo - original charcoal figurative drawing

I am sometimes astonished by the power and emotion of charcoal drawings.  It's my all-time favorite medium.  This drawing is on Canson drawing paper.  About 7 x 10".  To see more of my artwork, click here to visit my blog

Another Tango Kick - original figurative oil painting by Connie Chadwell

Another little tango painting - these tango dancers are never far away from me.  Lots of brushwork here - it's 7 x 5" on panel.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

Bronc Rider #2 - original figurative oil painting by Connie Chadwell

This rider did really well at the pro rodeo here in Junction, Texas, last weekend.  I don't know how on earth they stay on - well, they don't always - but they very often do.  Gorgeous horses and brave cowboys - a really great combination!  This painting is on 10 x 10" canvas.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

The Godmother - original oil pastel figurative painting

We hear a lot about godfathers, but not so much about godmothers, of whom I am one.  It's an awesome responsibility.  I loved the tender way this woman held her little godson as they were waiting to go into the church.  You can tell it was early in the spring, because not even a tiny baby would need a blanket in the triple digits we've been having this summer.
This piece is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

The Exit - original oil pastel figurative by Connie Chadwell

This oil pastel painting is on 7 x 5" Pastelbord.   To visit my blog, please click here.

Country Love - original oil figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Nothing like a little two-step romance on a Friday evening at the local dance hall.  I've had folks  from the Washington D.C. area, where I used to live, tell me how romantic the two-step looked to them.  Having grown up with that kind of dancing, I never thought much about it, just took it for granted, but now I realize it is pretty sweet.  Who'd have thought a bunch of Texas cowboys could be tamed by songs like "Crazy Arms" or "Faded Love", but the music and the two-step work their magic every time.  This painting is on 8 x 8" Gessobord.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.

Lilia on the Bed - original figurative oil painting by Connie Chadwell

 I love painting these little 6 x 6" panels and have a few on my easel to finish in the next few days.  Thanks for looking! 

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Summer - original miniature oil portrait painting by Connie Chadwell

I love doing these quick 4 x 4" paintings - and it's good that they're quick, because it's tough to get young people to hold a pose for long.  Sometimes, I have to rely on my memory a LOT!  Good training, though.  I did this one today, so it's still very wet and pretty shiny, but needed something to post.  Thanks so much for stopping by my Hackberry Street Studio!

A Few Minutes with Steffi - original oil pastel portrait drawing

This quick drawing of Steffi was fun to do - of course, I always wish for more time.   It seems to work better, though, when I have to scramble to get the drawing done in a few minutes.  I did this on 9 x 12" oil pastel paper with Sennelier oil pastels.  Thanks for stopping by!

Barrel Racer - original charcoal figurative drawing

I love barrel racing - here's another drawing from last summer's rodeo.  It's drawn on 12 x 9" multi media paper.  To see more of my artwork, please click here to visit my blog.