Website Jo Castillo Art




Back to my website:

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Are you an artist or a great artist?

I wrote a post last year posing the question of being an artist. Today Clint Watson is revisiting a post, The Moment of Hope, about the same question.

I hadn't painted for ages until yesterday and when that happens, the doubts crawl in. When I am not busy I tend to sit and wonder and procrastinate even more. The answer for me is to get busy .. not too important what .. as being busy brings on inspiration.

What do you do to be inspired and be positive?

On this same line, I think age has a bearing as well. We are visiting Gene's 92 year old Mom in Albuquerque for this month. Her energy comes in spurts and seems to ebb when she is left alone to sit and wonder. To top it off her memory is failing so she worries about not remembering what to worry about. When we are with her, in other words -- when she is busy, she does better. No time to sit and ponder. The assisted living home schedule is organized for the residents with hair cuts, massages, games, puzzles, music, parties, etc. I'm sure the idea is to keep busy.

Here I go, off to be busy. :)

Garden Morning
Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches

This is an old painting that I created from my imagination. I really like flower pots, hollyhocks and geraniums.

12 comments:

Teresa said...

That's a gorgeous painting, Jo! Love the contrasts and the rich colors.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jo: That is a wonderful painting, stop over if you get a cchance to see my pastel fire sky.

Valerie Jones said...

The painting is beautiful, Jo! I also like your thoughtful post today. I agree with you. It doesn't matter what you are painting, just as long as you are painting and enjoying the process. Don't let the doubts creep in, friend.

Jo Castillo said...

Teresa, thank you. I had fun with that painting, even used the knife a little on the rock patio.

fishing guy, thank you. I will go look at your sky for sure.

Valerie, thanks. I do well most of the time, but I do loose focus more as I am getting older ... too many choices maybe. :)

Rose Welty said...

Jo, I couldn't paint something like that from imagination - so, from where I sit, you are a great artist, you surpass me!

You know, I read a great quote the other on Maggie's old blog. I was struggling with doubt myself - and a bit of frustration.

Here it is:
"You don't have to be confident in your ability to weld a pencil or a paintbrush -- you have to be confident of your ability to solve problems and push forward despite adversary."

Regina Calton Burchett said...

I think this is one of my favorite paintings of yours, Jo. The composition is great and the light is wonderful - you do light so well.

To be inspired and positive? I'm lucky to have several people (including my friend, Jo!) who are encouraging of my art. I read through art books and go to galleries to see other art I love, which inspires/depresses me at one time. And I focus on how much I love to just paint.

Jo Castillo said...

Rose, thank you. I know how dedicated you are and how much you have learned. You are a great artist, too. Maggie has certainly been an inspiration for me and she is proof of her statement. Amazing lady. Thanks again.

Jo Castillo said...

Thanks, Regina. You are an inspiration as well. I know what you mean by inspiring and depressing all at once. I felt like that at the International Association of Pastel Societies convention. 600+ wonderful pastel artists and 600+ wonderful pastel artists. Ha.

Hope we can get together soon and paint. :) A little over a month, eh?

Donna Crosby said...

Jo lovely post and painting. The painting demonstrates that your mind is rich. Happy travels

Jo Castillo said...

Hi Donna, thank you. :) We are back in Albuquerque after a weekend of no posting. Wow, I'm having withdrawals.

Rae Andrews, Contemporary Texas Artist in all media said...

Lovely painting Jo, the light in this one is gorgeous! A seductive and moody study, one wants to laze in the sun alongside these geraniums, get a good book and veg for a while. Love it!
Rae

Jo Castillo said...

Thank you so much, Rae. Nice to "see" you.


About Me

My photo
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. "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns." -- Winston Churchill

Labels

#inktober (49) #inktober2019 (27) #inktober2023 (20) #inktober2024 (2) #inktober21 (11) abstract (1) Acrylic Paintings (75) Arizona (3) Art House Project (14) artist (88) artist blogger (360) artist blogger  instruction (3) artist blogger  instruction (20) artist blogger  instruction (17) artist blogger instruction (41) artist friend (7) at (1) Balloons (1) Baseball (210) Bastrop Sketchers (11) Bastrop TX (34) Bolivia (5) Calendar (1) Canada (3) Challenge (6) Charity Events (75) chile (4) classes (3) coaster sketch (9) coffee (1) colored pencil (59) computer art (5) crayon sketches (3) DailyPaintworks Auction (3) demo video (4) Digital Painting (14) doodle (1) dphotos (1) exhibit (156) Figure (4) Fine Art Friends (3) Floweb browsing (1) Flowers (33) food (10) Footwork (1) fused glass (3) Gallery (3) gluten free (5) Golden Open paints (2) Golf (12) House Concert (1) iMac Sketch (1) Inktense (2) inktober2024 (2) inst (1) instruction (78) iPad Sketch (91) iPad sketches (112) iph (1) iPhone painting (3) iPhone sketch (27) jo (1) Jo's Notion (9) Jo's Thoughts (306) Joanna (2) Joodles (2) Landscapes (137) Marines (30) marketing (3) meme (6) memorial (1) Music (69) New Mexico (130) Nonsense (2) Oil Painting (72) Oil Pastel (1) painting buddies (1) PanPastel works (3) Pastel (29) Pastel Demo (60) Pastel Paintings (413) pastel sketch (142) Pastels (12) pears (3) Peru (1) Photo (83) photography (2) Photos (1001) Plein air painting (56) podcast (1) poll (1) pottery (2) Powwow (3) Recipe (6) restaurants (6) scenery (17) Sculptor (7) sculpture (4) seascape (2) sketch (4) Sketches (1863) snow (2) Still Life (36) Stu (1) Studio (26) Texas (70) Trees (36) tribute (5) under painting (1) Unsorted (7) videos (4) watercolor (180) watercolors (27) web browsing (262) web page (11) wetcanvas (1) WIP work in progress (15) workshop (8) World Blog Hop (2) Yesterfest (2) zentangle (3)