West Texas Farm, Too

I painted a new pastel as I mentioned in a recent post.  It was fun to do.  I put off painting this for sometime, but am pleased to share with you.

A painting that I painted several years ago and sold to a photographer friend was burned along with her home in the big fire of September, 2011, here in Bastrop.  I guarantee my work and offered to replace any of my paintings that were lost.

West Texas Farm

Acrylic on Panel, 11 x 14 inches

The first painting, above, which burned was a farm scene on the plains of west Texas.  I had made a sketch of the stormy sky as we drove back to Texas from New Mexico.  Later, I decided to turn it into a painting.  The skies are amazing when the big electrical storms are in full swing.

Last summer when we were driving back from New Mexico, I found a different sky near the same area.  The colors were different but still amazing.  I decided to use what I saw this time for the replacement painting.

West Texas Farm, Too

Pastel on Pastelbord, 6 x 18 inches

We will wait and see what Karol thinks of the new painting.  

If you lost a painting in the fire and I have not contacted you, please let me know, I will be happy to offer you a "do over".

Sketch #2 for Hunt 314

Sunday morning, I went out on the porch to read the paper (on my iPad) and ended up sketching.  I remembered there was a hanging basket on the list for Scavenger Hunt 314.  I love geraniums so decided to sketch instead of read.  I spent about 20 - 30 minutes on this with the Brushes program.  The plant has a Bewick's Wren nest in it.  I added the bird although I didn't see it at the time.  The wrens usually build nests near the ground or in secluded spots.  Hmmm.  The birds are cute and very noisy.

Number 2, hanging basket

Working out my funk, by sketching, as you can see.  Part of the other "work" that I did is go ahead and sign up for the pastel workshop in September.  I talked Lou, Bag Blog, into taking it, too.  Didn't take much persuading.  Our spouses get along well, so they can entertain each other while we paint and have fun.

I have posted a few times about the teacher, Tom Christopher.  I "chat" with him on wetcanvas.com and on our blogs.  Here is a link to his blog http://landscapesbychristopher.blogspot.com/,
a link to his website, http://tomchristopherartist.com/
and a link to my other posts about him  http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/search?q=tom+christopher

Esbozos Para 314 y Mas

Did that title get your attention?  Sketches for 314 and more.  Just working on getting the day going. Smile.

I sketched for Hunt 314 on the iPad out on the porch yesterday.  I did this on Brushes but played a bit with a new App, Adobe Ideas. I like the App, but didn't accomplish a drawing on it.  Thanks, Joanna for the notice.  It was free when Joanna notified me about it, I don't know about now.

Scavenger Hunt 314, Number 1 - medal, I substituted a Merit Award ribbon.

I sketched a couple of days ago for Hunt 313 and never got it posted here.  I used the App Brushes.  I fiddled with it and spent about 30 minutes on it.  Jeepers, what was I thinking?

Scavenger Hunt 313, Number 12, foliage - the top of the little oak tree I sketch once in a while.  My sketch looks more like a spruce.  Sigh....

We went to Round Rock to pick up my painting from the show, "Imagine".  I plan to take part next year, if I get juried in again.  It is an hour up there, but a beautiful setting in the Texas State University building.  Thanks to the Round Rock Arts Council.

We stopped in Elgin and had lunch at the new Maxine's Cafe.  Maxine's in Bastrop has been around a long time.  Great home cooking and relaxed atmosphere.  Gene likes their Chicken Fried Steak, lightly battered.  I had a hamburger steak without the gravy, of course.  I even had broccoli instead of fried potatoes.  Not quite the same, but better for me.

Maxine's from without and within.  Nice lunch, we missed the big crowd as we were there about 1 p.m.  They were still busy, though.

I took this donkey and horses with the continuous shot feature on my new camera.  Worked well.  This was the best of about six shots.  As long as you hold down the button, the camera keeps shooting.

Another shot of an old house and some hay bales.  I think I like my camera.

Why Am I Not Being Creative?

Romeo in His New Bed, photo by Jennie

Maybe I should be like Romeo and go back to bed and cover up instead of posting this.

"They" say the worst thing to do is complain on your art blog.  So true.  Don't pay attention to the complaining part.

I've been in an art funk for a couple of years. Nothing is calling out to "paint me!", even apples. You would think art  would be a refuge and I would be painting like mad.  It is the opposite.   I've read many blogs and articles about how to get re-energized.  

I'm trying!  I attended a plein air workshop in Montana, entered several juried shows, took part in our First Friday Art Walk, bought some on-line lessons, etc.  I sketch fairly regularly on the wetcanvas.com  Scavenger Hunts. I also take part in the Southwest forum.  

I have bought and been given new art supplies and books.  I have cleaned and rearranged my studio.  I tried new media and styles of painting.  I've painted, but only four paintings.

Gene and I traveled far and wide, visited old friends and made new friends.  We attended our UT Baseball games to root for the Longhorns! (They have been in a funk as well.  Oops.)

Sue (my art buddy and friend) came to visit from Michigan and we did artful activities.  Gen (long time friend, like 50 years) visited and we had a great time with some art involved, too.

I'm entering a show in Santa Fe and attending the International Pastel Society Convention in June. Regina, my pastel buddy, will be there.  Yay!   Maybe that will work!!

I just signed up to audit the mentoring workshop this year with  Jason Horejs, Xanadu Gallery.  (Check it out, should be very good for marketing and growing as an artist.  You can apply to be the artist he will mentor.) **Note added this for the link to apply to receive the mentoring.  It is on the blog.

I'm also thinking about going to a pastel workshop in September.  

I'm like the government, throw money at the problem and it will go away.  Right? ....... Right.

What do you do when you don't feel creative?

Hunting 313 and Wildflower Photos, etc.

Why haven't I posted these sketches??  I sketched in my studio with a Pilot ball point pen the other day.  Sketching with the ball point pen is a bit different as you press harder.  The ink marker/pens just glide over the paper.  It is always good to do things a bit differently.  It gets you off of your auto-pilot and wakes you up a bit.

Number 9, heavy - weights
Number 10, light - the sheers in my studio
Number 11, hanger - the clear hook on my door

I When I got my new Canon Power Shot camera,  I decided to add insurance as I have not been the gentlest person with my cameras.  When I went to verify it, I found that I had insurance on the Casio which would expire in June.  I corresponded with Square Trade Warranty Services about my Casio not working.  They authorized me to send it in.  I got a full refund, plus 5% if I got an Amazon Gift Card.  I did that since we use Amazon so much.  So the refund almost paid for my new Camera.  I had forgotten I had the insurance.  Wow, how nice is that?

I have been trying the new camera.  It is very nice.  Compact and easy to use.  It comes on very fast, which I need for taking photos out the window.  You can click on the photos to see them larger.

These yellow flowers grow in the yard.  They open up just in the mornings.  Interesting and pretty.

These seem to be morning flowers, too.  They don't live very long.

These thistles grow along the road where we walk.  I like the butterfly.

Nettles are so beautiful, but oh how they sting and make a rash!  Ouch!

We saw several more animals this morning.  Was the roadrunner building a nest or having brunch? Hmm.

The sunrise and sunset on Mother's Day.  I took the sunrise and Larry took the sunset with my camera.

Larry also took these pebbles on the fence post after he took the sunset.  It was very dark, but my camera has a setting for that I see.  He took several of us sitting on the porch.  I won't post those, we were too relaxed.  Ha.

Larry also left my Mother's Day bear like this when he left.  Aw, Larry.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms! I hope your day is full of love and family. It looks like mine will be. This little Longhorn fan is from Gene to add to my holiday collection.

I will be thinking of Lisa, David's wife, who is the other mom in our immediate family with much love. I will miss my mom and Gene's mom, two very special ladies. Well, all the moms before, right?

Gene will cook his famous brisket and three of our four children will be here. I'm looking forward to a great day. Oh, happy day ...

** I decided to add a couple of photos of my mom and Gene's mom.  I have lots of photos on my computer of Gene's mom, but not mine.  Sadly I never scanned them in and they burned.  Drat.  These are a couple of favorites anyway, I had them on my old website.  This is a favorite of Gene and his mom.  

Mom Frances and Gene peeling chile a few years ago in Albuquerque.   Gene has a hard time sitting around and not working, takes after his mom. 

 My mom as a youngster.

My mom and Dad in Albuquerque, all dressed up.  My mom rarely wore dresses, I don't either!

Scavenger Hunt 312, Off and Running

I  actually sketched a bit the last couple of days.  Good sign that I may get back to painting, right?

Scavenger Hunt 313 started yesterday.  I started out on the porch with the iPad.  They are numbered wrong, but here goes.

Number 1, Fingers crossed from the top - iPad, Brushes

Number 2, Fingers crossed from the bottom - iPad Brushes

Number 3, Pen cap - Prismacolor 01 in my Canson sketchbook.

Number 4, Thumb alone and Number 5, Fist These were done today, out on the porch.  It has been perfect for sitting out there.  Too bad "hot" is coming.

Number 6, Something that starts with "T", how about a tree?

Number 7, power bar, an energy bar that is very good to eat.  I am gluten sensitive and I eat these. They have oats and barley malt and are not processed in a gluten free environment, so not truly gluten free.

My new Canon Power Shot camera is very nice, small and easy to use.  Just slightly different from my Casio Exilim to make me look at the buttons every time.  I will get used to it.  I took a couple of close ups from the porch yesterday and it works pretty well.

The island (which is growing every day - we need rain) in the middle of the lake with the turtles and egret.

An Eastern Bluebird on the feeder.

Beautiful Recycle

First of all, let's go back in time. From March 2010 to March 2011 I had a gallery on Main Street in Bastrop, Texas.  It was a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed having my own gallery/studio.  Judy Hawes makes amazing jewelry and she shared space and was caretaker when I traveled.  Lea Blue loaned me some glass shelves for display.

Our son, David, designed and made a beautiful shelf for me to display my small paintings and jewelry.  It looked great in the studio.

The fleur-de-lis design is lovely and I really liked the shadows that fell on the wood behind the metal flowers.

But, as you may remember we moved the shelf to the house when I closed my studio and had it in the living room.  Our home burned in the big Bastrop fire, September 2011, and the shelf was lost.  We did find the metal flowers, a bit crumpled with gunk burned on them.  David asked to have them back so he could see what he could do with them.

A couple of months ago, we were surprised with this wall hanging, about 17 x 24 inches in size.  There was a perfect spot in the entry.  Having the shutters and the wall hanging with the light fixture makes a nice division for the entry.  The door is always shut so it looks great there.

The shadows fall on the wall which I really love.  I can see it from my computer desk in my new studio.   Thank you, David!!