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Friday, October 25, 2013

Workshop Finishes

After returning from the Tom Christopher http://tomchristopherartist.com workshop, I have been busy trying out some of the techniques Tom presented to us.  I really enjoyed working large and have to figure out a way to accomplish more large paintings.

I did not work anymore on the snow painting.  It is from a photo by Tom and will keep it around here for inspiration.  I may get Gene to frame it an put it up in my studio.

Iowa Snow
Pastel on Wallis Sanded Paper
36 24 inches

I accomplished my goals from the workshop.  You can read about how I choose a workshop in Part I of my report.  http://goo.gl/z5tNgk     (I'm using the short URLs so they are easier to copy and use.  Hope you like the idea when the links get sooooo long.)

First the goal and the result:

  • To learn new techniques - Tom uses a very light touch and builds up slowly, starting and developing the painting with value and then color.  I often put down my highlights early on and work with a heavy hand.
  • To refresh your skills - We worked on some things I already do like do an under painting, do thumbnail sketches, stand to paint, step back often, show depth with cool colors and less detail in the distance and more.
  • To travel - We enjoyed Eureka Springs, Arkansas, very much.  We had been nearby in Branson, Missouri, and Poteau, Oklahoma, but never Eureka Springs.  A beautiful area and the Eureka Springs School of the Arts  http://essa-art.org/  was a great location for the workshop.
  • To meet and socialize with other artists with similar interests - I especially had fun with Lou.  We have been blogging buddies for several years and this was our first workshop together.  We have painted/sketched in Angel Fire and visited her and Toby in Oklahoma.  It is always good to meet and be around artists with similar interests.  As artists, we work alone much of the time.
  • To be inspired - Tom Christopher is a great artist and inspiring to see him work and see how he handles his "business". The whole workshop experience is inspiring


The first painting I started there was from a photo I took in Montana when I went to the Wanda Mumm workshop in 2012.

 The watercolor under painting.


The finish at the workshop.

My finish here in my studio.  
Twighlight Pines
Pastel on Pastelbord, 16 x 20 inches

The second painting from the workshop is from a photo right around the corner here at home in the Loblolly pines.

This was at the workshop.  I wanted to change the palette a bit, so I brushed this off and washed the U-Art paper back to the watercolor under painting before I reworked it.

The watercolor underpainting.

The finish here in my studio.
Daybreak Pines
Pastel on U-Art Sanded Paper
12 x 18 inches

Sendero
Pastel on Pastelbord
11 x 14 inches
This painting from my studio the first part of this year, Sendero, is also near the same area as Daybreak Pines above.  The same but different, I always use more saturated color.  I think there is more distance in the new version and it feels less closed in.  What do you think?


I might be able to copy one of Tom's paintings (if I really tried) but  I was working toward learning and then incorporating some of the new ideas into my own skill folder.  Each artist has their own "handwriting" so to speak.  As a result, my paintings look like my paintings.  I'm starting to enjoy painting again!  Woo hoo!

Sometimes we like an artist and try too hard to change our "handwriting"  Enid Wood http://enidwood.com, friend and artist, sent me this advice, "Often, a painter that we emulate has a brain that works completely differently from ours. Then we beat ourselves up for not being them, when we could have been enjoying being ourselves all along."  Thanks, Enid, for your comments and inspiration.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Art Link for the Day


A new museum in San Antonio for western American art is opening this weekend.  Looks wonderful:

The Briscoe Western Art Museum



An additional art link for this post is a "new to me" artist that I have seen around the web someplace and may have seen his horse in Santa Fe.  In fact I'm pretty sure I did see it when Regina and I painted there this past summer.  His name is Mark Edward Adams  http://markedwardadams.com  His sculptures are amazing.  He also wrote a very nice blog post about  changing our persona as artists.

I think we should all start out by saying, "I'm an artist!" and go/grow from there.  I still make light of my artwork sometimes by saying I have fun with it or I just like doing it, etc.  I get better results when I say it is my job and how hard I work and how I invest in the best equipment, classes, etc., to improve so that you can enjoy my work, too!  Gene is great, he always introduces me as an artist.  Think about how you present yourself.  I don't think the old "starving unorganized artist" works anymore.  Artists that get ahead are organized, work regularly, and are professional.  Don't you agree?

6 comments:

Joanna said...

Good work on all fronts! Happy to see you painting. Hugs...

Jo Castillo said...

Hey, Joanna! Thank you. Hugs back.

Joan Tavolott said...

I must say Jo that the finishing you did in your studio really brought these to life. The light on the trees really enriches them. Looks like you really enjoyed the workshop!

Jo Castillo said...

Joan, thank you so much. The workshop reinforced all the other things I have been trying to do get back on track. I think the pushing and prodding is finally paying off.

Bag Blog said...

I love seeing your art in progression. The changes you made to make those paintings "yours" were perfect.

Hopefully I can get some painting done this week and maybe get a photo sent off to you. Jesse said she liked my latest painting. It still needs some work, though. I need to do some matting and framing too. I need to get busy!

Jo Castillo said...

Hi, Bag Blog, it is good that you are painting, too. With so much going on it is hard to schedule studio time. I have been doing better by not doing email in the mornings. Today is an exception. We are in San Antonio. We came for a friends birthday party yesterday. Happy Birthday, Fred!


About Me

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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

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