Saturday, December 19, 2009

Frances' Birthday

It is number 93 for Mom Frances today. Can you just imagine all the changes in her lifetime?

She carried water from a well to her house to cook, bathe, and wash clothes. They washed in tubs outside over a fire and hung them on a line. They cooked on wood cookstoves and hauled the wood for that. She was creative and did hand work like crochet and worked as a seamstress. She remodeled her house, building cabinets and moving walls and much more.

She and husband, Jesus, raised nine children. She worked for all those years. Jesus died in 1964 and she continued working with 3 kids still at home, finished high school and became a teacher's aide where she retired years later.

She lived on her own, driving and caring completely for herself until about 2 1/2 years ago. She moved into assisted living in Albuquerque to keep her independence and not have to live with a daughter.

I talked with her on iChat a few minutes ago. She is amazed at the technology and was figuring out what Gene's new computer has that her orange iMac doesn't. She still turns on the computer once in a while. She makes a rosary every day and has for many years. She and Gene figured out she has made well over 10,000. Wow! She is a walking history book, right.

Here she is in 2005 at a reception for the Queens of the Magdalena Old Timers Reunion.

Frances in 2008.

Frances in October 2009.


And Frances at last year's birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom Frances!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Christmas Song

Joanna pointed this song out to us. It is great, I had never heard it. Merry Christmas! I have to go get it for my iTunes. Thanks, Joanna.


More Double Sketches

I sketched night before last for the Art House Project. I used items from Scavenger Hunt 158 to get ideas for the sketches and I can use the sketches for both. I also finished the cover a few days ago. The cover on the sketchbook is filled with a Zentangle. I say a doodle. :) They even sell kits to make them and this link has "how to" video and instruction. Wow!

But back to the sketches.


Number 1, eyeglasses. Thinking of me and how many pairs of $6 to $8 glasses I have owned. I have lens implants so I can use over the counter glasses. There have been many .. all colors and all styles. I hang them around my neck. I could have bifocals, but glasses driver me nuts, even sunglasses.

Number 2, musical. Thinking of you, Joanna, and all the music you have and go see. You inspired us to use iTunes and this is the screen on my computer with the music and the screensaver going.

Number 3 and 4, gift and red. Thinking of you, Jennie. You get so excited about the gifts under the tree.

Number 5, frosty. Thinking of you, David, Lisa, Cole and Christy up in the frosty north. Well, compared to here. I have so many cups that I probably could have sketched all cups. Too late now. Ha.

The cover of the sketchbook.

More to come, the deadline for the sketchbook is drawing near!

A reminder that we do not send Christmas Cards. Gene spends most of the day on Christmas Eve making calls to our friends. If I dont have your number send me an e-mail and I'll give you a call.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Double Sketches, Again and Digital Sketch

Because I am so behind on the Art House Sketchbook, I will double up with the Scavenger Hunts as much as possible. These four work for both if you stretch it a little, especially on the chair.

For Scavenger Hunt 157.

Number 11, tree. The Christmas tree. For the Art House, it is thinking of all the people and Christmas trees in the past.


Number 12, shoes. Gene's feet propped up with his soft shoes on. I have sketched these before, this is a new sketch. For AH, thinking of Gene and being comfy.


Number 13, flower. The artificial poinsettias and holly on the table. For AH, just thinking of YOU and Merry Christmas.

Number 14, chair. Gene's computer bag on a chair across the room. For AH, Thinking of Gene and his trip to visit his Mom for her 93rd birthday on December 19.

For Art House, sketches that don't fit in the Hunts.

Stocking and corner of fireplace, thinking of Santa. (You can see the color from the poinsettias peeking through.)

Pencil bag, thinking of Regina that gave me the bag. I use it for my colored pencils. Regina likes to use colored pencils so this should be an agreeable use for the bag. It is handmade from North Carolina as I recall.

And, for the record. A very quick sketch on the iPhone that I did at the airport in Birmingham on the Thanksgiving trip. This rack was out in front of the store in the hallway of the airport. It was interesting trying to sketch on the phone in the busy place. I didn't try people, they move too fast. Maybe when I have more practice with the phone sketches.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Revel Photos

Gene took a few photos and a short video at the Revel last night with his iPhone. It was very nice. The musicians, Carla McElhaney, piano, and Joel Becktell, cello, were super and the program was great. It included some Charlie Brown songs and a couple of carols.

The Dream Season is a wonderful way to enjoy classical music. It is fun and you learn about the music, too. You missed a good time. I hope you can make the next one on January 30. I will try to remind you.

Here are the teasers. Thanks Gene and Joel.

The photo and below, a very short video.

video

Seeing with your Hands and Painting

An artist friend, Charlene Eppright, sent me this link. It is amazing. John Bramblitt lost his sight. He began to paint and the rest is history. There is an inspiring video on the site, too. I should not complain when my lines are crooked, I should just fix them!

Charlene is a great portraitist. She paints in pastels and oils. I hope you have a look at her wonderful artwork as well. Thanks, Char.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Hunting Bottles and Reveling

I found a couple of unusual bottles for Scavenger Hunt 157. They were given to us by David's mother-in-law. They are Jim Beam bottles. Very cool.

Number 8 and 9 or 9 and 10. I lost count as I wasn't numbering them so I can double up and use them for the Art House Sketchbook Project. The numbers do not matter as I never finish a Hunt anyway. The 57 Chevy is for "car" on the Hunt and the genie bottle is for "bottle" on the Hunt. I used a Prismacolor pen 03 and colored pencils. The paper is just too thin for the Prismacolor brush pens and angled ones.

The back of the car is too short. I even presketched with a pencil which is something I never do. I guess I changed some of the sketch as I went and made the convertible top carrier too long or something. Ah me. Looks like the front axle is broken, too. So sad.

Still, sketching is sketching and I almost enjoy it lately. My art energy has been low. Tomorrow night we are going to Revel it up and that may help! We are going to Austin for the Revel Christmas Concert. Joel Becktell has purchased some paintings so we need to go have a listen and party some. The concerts sound like fun. Maybe we will see you there!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Double Up Sketches

I did some sketches that double up for Scavenger Hunt 157 and the Art House project. Maybe I can finish the Art House project that way. At least I was sketching and fitting in some art time.

Number 7, crumpled paper done with a Prismacolor 05 pen.

Number 8, scissors done with a brush pen.

For the Art House Project:

Interesting to do this with the brush pens, they are like using a brush and it is hard to use a light enough touch for the skinny lines. All about control and I need practice!

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Hunt Sketches and More

I finally started on my sketches for the Art House book again. (Luckily they extended the date to the first part of January) I am not very pleased with my sketches, but I am getting it done. I'm doing a Zentangle all over the outside of the book. I won't take a photo until I finish it.

My assigned theme is, "Thinking of You". I'm not pleased with that either. Oh well.

Working with the Prismacolor pens is ongoing. I did this sketch in the Art House sketchbook. Not good there, the paper is too flimsy and the color bled through to the other side. It looks lovely, though, bright and colorful. The pens will be great on thicker paper.


I sketched the cup Jennie gave me for traveling. I have sketched both before, but I like cups and these are special. I have one that Joanna made for me, that will come, soon!

And for Scavenger Hunt 157, I sketched with the Prismacolor 05 pen.

Number 1, 2 and 3. Cup, bowl and fruit. It looks like everything is floating. Sigh..... I used the Prismacolors for the dark colors and colored pencil for the light ones. I cannot use both sides of the paper with these pens. That is OK, but I prefer to sketch on every page. I will have to use them on the two sketchbooks I have with watercolor paper in them. Something to look forward to.

Number 4 and 5 - fork and spoon.

Number 5 and 6. Hand and doll.

These last two are also in the Art House sketchbook, but since I am in a rush, I will use them for the Scavenger Hunt, too.

By the way if you are new to my sketching projects, here is some of why I sketch freehand and do the Scavenger Hunts.

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Jo Castillo
Bastrop, Texas, United States
I Grew up in a small town , Magdalena, New Mexico. I enjoy art and the pleasure other people get from my work. I always donate some of my sales and art to charities, especially for children. That started in Bolivia with Para los NiƱos. (Link on sidebar)
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