Acrylic Mini Painting

Joan Bohls is an artist friend from Bastrop.  Once in a while, we end up in Angel Fire at the same time.  We try to get together and paint.  (We did that today!)

A couple of days ago we were invited to a get together for Joan's birthday.   I have some mini canvases with me and thought it would be fun to paint an Angel Fire scene on one for a small gift.  I painted with acrylics while sitting on the porch/deck.  Nice.

Angel Fire aspens, 2 x 2 inches in acrylics.

The painting, larger than in real life:

Here is a post from 2010 when Joan and I painted here in Angel Fire:

https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/three-plein-air-landscape-paintings.html

Pastel, Tablet and Other Sketches, Photos

My days are running together.  (It's the altitude .. see previous post)  I have to think to remember when and why.

Scavenger Hunt 507.  One of the items on Scavenger Hunt 507 was a waterscape.  There are a few lakes around here, the closest is Monte Verde lake which I have painted before.  I got out the pastels to do a sketch because water is easier to show in color.  It was pretty breezy and the lake was not very pretty, but today was the last day of the Hunt so I stuck with it.  This was sketched yesterday, August 15.

For Scavenger Hunt 508
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432647

Number 10, waterscape - Monte Verde Lake boathouse.  Choppy water.  It is a sketch done in about an hour on blackish Canson pastel card.

And the photo of the scene.... bit of a different angle.  Gene met me there and we drove back home.

Number 11, related to car - part of the dashboard with some toys, sketched while waiting for Gene on his trike.  He rode to Eagle Nest and then we had lunch and drove back.
Number 12, something that relaxes you - being in the mountains.

I went to exercise this morning.  That was fun.  The Essentrics class was held outside where they have the Farmer's market.  Beautiful morning and stretches mostly.  Anyone going by might have thought we were doing Tai-chi.   Class was free, another bonus.   When we finished, Gene came by and said he was riding to Eagle Nest so we made the deal for lunch.

I forgot to bring my travel sketchbook as previously mentioned so I stopped at the Dollar Store hoping to find some sort of tablet or spiral with blank sheets.  I didn't hold out hope for a sketchbook.  I actually found one!  It is a Little Fingers Sketch Pad with 50 sheets of paper, 9 x 12 inches.  They also had some fine line Sharpie pens so I got that to sketch with while waiting for Gene.  Nifty!  It is not very sturdy but I can take something to make the back firm .. Gene's clipboard or a puzzle book!

I haven't been doing many puzzles.  No time.

Sketch New Stuff and Visitors Guide

It is always interesting to sketch "new to me" stuff.  There are many "new" things here to pick from.  I'm not very comfortable sketching here for some reason.  In La Paz, Bolivia, everything was blamed on the altitude.  I will do the same now.  If it is good, it is the altitude and if it is bad, it is the altitude.

I sketched in the big coffee table book with a Prismacolor 01 and a Micron 01 pen.  The Micron is has a finer nib.  They both last a long time if you are not hard on the nibs.  I sketch freehand and as quickly as possible.

For Scavenger Hunt 507
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432181

Number 6, a view inside a closet or cabinet - corner cabinet for coffee cups
Number 7, something related to cooking - stove
Number 8, something sharp - knives on the counter
Number 9, something from your bathroom - a ceramic soap dish

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I took this sunset photo night before last.

Yesterday I was looking through the information books and pamphlets and opened this one from last year.

Inside there was a quote from me!  I comment on facebook on the page for the Angel Fire Resort and that must be where it came from.  Weird....

Quote is "Sunsets are the Best Here" -- Jo Castillo  in the upper right corner.  I'm published!

I'll be posting more sunsets .. they are special in the high mountain air!

Here are a couple more Angel Fire (AXX) Photos from past years....

Finally at AXX for Sketching

We have arrived in Angel Fire (airport code AXX), well, two nights ago.  Two nights on the road.  Visited family in Yeso, New Mexico.  That was good.  We hadn't been together with my two nieces at once in years.  Whee!

The drive from Yeso to Angel Fire included a ferocious rain storm between Clines Corners and Santa Fe.  Wind, lightening and hard rain.  We made it fine, though.

The house is beautiful.  The driveway is steep and Gene had a devil of a time getting the trailer parked.  We did not have the correct combination to get in, but a phone call took care of that.

The first morning it was 43 degrees F.  Brrr.  We expected it though and were better prepared than in Colorado last trip.  It got up to about 74 degrees yesterday.  Very pleasant.

I sketched in the big coffee table book.  I brought it in a computer case so I can put some different things in it.  I sketch our "stuff" over and over.   New to us stuff in this house.

For Scavenger Hunt 507
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432181

If you haven't ever looked at the Hunts you should.  It is fun to see the different takes on the same items from around the world and different techniques.  You may be inspired to sketch from life.

Number 2, basket - this is pretty big, sits under the coffee table for magazines
Number 3, hanging - this wooden plaque of Texas
Number 4, flower - an artificial sunflower in a pot in the corner of the living room

Our home away from home, inside and out.  Pretty darn nice!

I left my point and shoot camera at home -- plugged in and charging.  I took these with my iPad.  Will have to use that and my phone.

Quick iPad Sketch

On the road so a quick post from my iPad.  It was quick for me.  Usually the iPad takes longer.  I used one color so that probably helped.  This was just about 15 minutes with Brushes (app) and my fingers.

For Scavenger Hunt 507
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432181

Number 1, chair -at hotel, black

Waning Hunt

Yep, Hunt 506 is about over.  Tomorrow is the last day.  I was thinking of the waning moon and then had to look up "waning" just to make sure it was when the moon was leaving.  Why did that word come to my mind.   I'm rambling......

I sketched in the big coffee table book.  Progress in that book is slow but sure.  I sketched with a waning Micron 05 so my sketch is a bit faint.  Sigh....

For Scavenger Hunt 506
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1431790

Number 11 has lid, the big bin I am packing with art supplies.  It is roughly 18 x 20 x 31 inches
Number 12 has straps, the bag I use for my plein air supplies, I cleaned it out and it folds flat and fits in the bin.  I wrote on it the sketch has handles, but I already sketched handles so I'm subbing this for straps.
Number 13 gives out wave(s), my hand.  Actually I usually wave with my right hand except when driving.

We are almost ready for our trip.  I'm going down to Art Connections to collect my four paintings since they are moving.  I will need to change their status on my website and find a place to hang them here at home.

The saga will continue  ...  check back.