I’m getting back into oil pastels. I’ve only focused on oil pastels a little bit. This was at Kabore House.
I haven’t dabbled in them since. At least I think.
I might have added them to acrylics, like this one:
This was on January 10, 2023. My worker’s girlfriend bought it either in 2024 or 2025. This was one of my first sales. She is an art teacher and hangs it in her room. When one of the owners saw it, he said, “I wish I could sell your art, but I don’t know how.”
Well, I’m figuring that out. I am so blessed for all of my sales. Gratitude is important.
In 2022, I started drawing pictures of friends I asked to use from their social media. I think this one came into my Facebook messenger after I asked for models. This one was done on September 1, 2022. It’s of a woman named, Carly. She has eyes in two colors. We’ve talked about me drawing her again, this time in person.
This one? An abstract-ish drawing from August 27, 2022. It’s on the wall at my psychiatrist’s office
.Another abstract from August 4, 2022. It’s a bird woman. I dig it.
This one is from Aug 1, 2022. This is an angel I once knew named Kathie. She died when I was in treatment. I first did a Prismacolor drawing. I know I added oils, but I might have put some marker in there. It looked better as a colored pencil drawing. If you saw my voices posts, she is Kathie God or Gladys.
July 31, 2022. It’s a bat. There is a story. Not now.
July 30, 2020.
July 29, 2022. Kathie! My writing mentor. She taught me most of what I know about writing. Aspiring writer? Look into AllWriters.
July 28, 2022. Lynn! A mentor I met at the AllWriters’ retreat. She calls me Butterfly, so I had to put butterflies in the background.
July 28, 2022. I need to do more portraits. They have more of my story. These ones are good for you, though. You decide what you see. Leave a comment about what you see on some of these.
Jully 26, 2022. This is done from a photo taken of me while in treatment or anorexia. My fellow resident did my makeup. It was the first time I felt beautiful in a long time.
In the above, I revisited this image for my first gallery show. I feel I really found my footing on the second one. My own style. Neither looks exactly like the picture. I remember my worker’s reaction to this one. She was shocked. The most limiting thing an artist can do is put themselves in the cage of having to be exact.
July 27, 2022. This is my theatre friend, Ryan. It’s safe to say he’s been a muse to me over the years.
On July 26, 2022, I drew this. I’m almost positive that my group home roommate’s mom bought this. It’s oil pastel over acrylic.
A practice, on July 12, 2022.
I did this while in Trempealeau. I forgot what year. My friend gave me a photo of John Wayne before leaving. I drew it and gave it to my grandpa, who loved westerns. He kept it until he died in 2023. I think I have the year right. He was always telling me to sell my art. I think he’d be proud.
While in treatment, I also drew a friend a picture of Mr. Bean and gave it to a friend because I was being too hard on myself. I was in what I’m now calling the “Precision Cage.”
And now, I’m back at it again. It’s almost 2027.
This one is my first time back at it. The one I did as a practice before this one is going to be reworked or collaged. This one was done from a Pinterest photo, but it looks like somebody I know in real life. It’s a group home thing, so I will choose not to talk about it until I’m ready to tell certain parts of an almost 7-year journey.
I was at Donna Lexa Art Centers yesterday, and had to let my large painting dry. I was planning on starting a portrait, but it needed another squeegee drag. I decided to spend the visit experimenting with the pastels they had available. I don’t think I’ll ever jive with a pastel the way I feel about Mungyo (Sennelier sure will be loved someday, but you get what I mean). But the brands I tried at the studio are good for rough sketches or figure drawing. This one is Lady Gaga,. Since it’s a rough/experimental sketch, I didn’t give a shit if it looked like her. She did a lot for my best friend in high school. I idolized her, even dressing as her for Halloween. I think she’s a legend.
This is my best friend, Tina. I asked her if I could draw her after sleeping all day and hunting for my glasses for far too long. I just love this photo of her. I love how she had a steady, proud gaze. So sure in her Christianity, as the cross suggests. I wanted to draw way more today, but I guess I didn’t get around to it. I listened to instrumental music for this one. It’s for the best. I could focus better this time. I used a pencil instead of charcoal for this one, with wonderful results.
Want to read poems by Tina? Find her on Facebook by searching Tina Martinsek.
Tomorrow, I’m working on a painting, but I’m not going to let my Gallery pastels be strangers.