Remembering and Sketch

I want to remind you of the World Blog Hop.  Joan Tavolott posted her "story" this morning.  http://goo.gl/kJdLw7  Joan is a prolific sketcher and such fun in the Scavenger Hunts.  Have a look and check back on the previous artists in my World Blog Hop post.  goo.gl/dkzXvY

I am hosting Scavenger Hunt 387. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1368047  I decided I better get a sketch or two done.  It started December 20.  I'm not sure how I get so far behind.  Ah, yes, I do.  I procrastinate!  Such a lazy habit...... makes more work in the end.

Number 1, holiday decoration - These little pieces are survivors from the fire.  In case you are newer to my blog you can read about the big Bastrop fire where we lost our home along with 1694 more families.  http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/search?q=bastrop+fire   Anyway, there were about 12 pieces in the nativity scene originally.  The baby Jesus survived as well, but he hasn't been born yet.  :)  The little people are children singers.  The pig and llama were not part of the set but I always included them.
Number 2, evergreen - one of the Loblolly pines across the way.
Sketched in the large sketchbook with a Micron 03 pen.

Yesterday I did absolutely nothing about getting ready for Christmas.  Jennie will be out with two of the grand-dogs.  Romeo, the maltese, and a new puppy that is a shih tzu, Chewie.  That should be fun, right?  Keep telling me it will be fun.  So I need to get busy.

Last night we went to the Revel at the Austin Ballet.  That is soooo much fun.  Classical music in a casual setting.  They even had a sing along with holiday music.  Joel Becktell is the cellist and a good friend.  We met him in Magdalena, NM, at one of my shows.  He bought paintings and we have stayed in touch for a long time.  Carla McElhaney is the pianist and is a great musician and friend, too.  We really enjoy the concerts.  You need to figure out a way to get to one.  Go here http://revelmusic.org/about-revel/ and get on the mailing list.  They perform in the Austin area. Joel performs in New Mexico, too.   If you can't see them, buy a CD.  The music will lift you on a grand scale.  Beautiful........

I'm off to the work of the elves.  Oooh, we have to go grocery shopping, too.  We need to get some of the ingredients of the New Mexico food.  The chile has to come from New Mexico or it just won't do.  A likely menu will be posole, enchilada casserole, beans, flour tortillas, chile, tamales, chile balls, biscochitos, and so much more -- all homemade.  Yummmmmm.

Scroll down or go to previous post for my Christmas greeting and pastel painting.

World Blog Hop for Artists

I was invited to join an Around the World Blog Hop (Google "World Blog Hop Artists and be amazed!) by fellow artist Mary Lemmenes  http://creativeeverydaylife.blogspot.com/  , whose work and blog I always enjoy and admire. Please Mary's blog to see for yourselves and for her Blog Hop entry from December 8 http://goo.gl/NmNq2L.

It wasn't hard to say yes, I love to talk as much as I love to paint!  Mary lives in Jacksonville,  Florida.   We have been blogging buddies for a few years now.  She called me to talk about this and it was great fun to "meet" her by voice. 

Mary paints beautiful landscapes in acrylics and also paints on silk.  She also sketches which is no surprise for a painter.  Her blog is full of interesting painting and traveling stories.  She is generous with her ideas and "how tos".

 Beach scene, Mary Lemmenes, copyright

 Marsh scene, Mary Lemmenes, copyright

 Silk scarf, Mary Lemmenes, copyright

In turn, I am passing the torch to Joan Tavolott, http://watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com/ , to post on  Monday, December 22. When you visit her blog, look at the sidebar and you will see how many blogs she works on, including Paint, Paper, Pencils and Pens! and Angelina's Life in Venice, an imaginary trip to Venice with some of her real sketches from there.

Joan is a very prolific sketcher and wonderful watercolor artist.  We became friends through wetcanvas.com and the Scavenger Hunts.  She sketches out and about almost every day.  I am amazed at her dedication and energy.  Please visit her blog next Monday, December 22. 

 Coffee Shop, Joan Tavolott, copyright

 Beach scene which are Joan's favorites, copyright Joan Tavolott

 Santa, Joan Tavolott copyright

I am anxious to see where the World Blog Hop goes from there.  All the past blog hop entries I have visited are fascinating as a variety of artists each answer four questions about their work and creative process.

For the World Blog Hop, I was asked to tell about myself and answer the questions then pass this on to another artist or two.  Be sure and look at Mary's post and go backwards to discover many new artists then after December 22 on to Joan's post and the new artist/s from there.

So here goes, for you new visitors I paint mostly in pastels.  I like to play in the dust and get my fingers dirty.  I paint in any medium and sketch mostly in pen and ink.  Sketching is my homework and I sometimes sketch on my iPad, iPhone and iMac to relieve the monotony. 

I am an ancient, retired painter.  My husband, Gene, and I live in Bastrop, Texas.  It is a beautiful small town in the Loblolly piney woods east of Austin, Texas.  Bastrop has a great winter climate, but is downright hot in the summer.  We escape to cooler environs which has been the New Mexico mountains for the last few years.

We lived in South America for about 16 years with Gene's work.  We grew up in New Mexico and I love the high desert.  Bolivia was my favorite country in South America as the altiplano is similar to New Mexico but 5,000 feet plus, higher.
1. What am I working on? 
I have been in a real art draught.  I have been trying all the ploys for coming out of it.  I have tried:

• No art, ignoring it
• Perusing other artist's work
• Different Media
• Classes
• Travel
• Just painting
• ....and so much more

I have a show scheduled at Art Connections in February, so I need to get with it.

I've been working on these, but neither is finished and so .......

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I tend to be a colorist.  You won't find gloomy or washed out paintings in my world.

3. Why do I create what I do?
A hard question.  I am not "driven" or "called" to paint as some of my friends.  If I don't paint for a while I don't give up or go into withdrawals.  I enjoy painting and drawing and seeing the smiles on people's faces when they look at my work.  I like teaching, but that involves schedules and we are retired, so I teach only occasionally.

4. How does my creating process work?
I paint and draw quickly.  That is why I choose sketching with pen and ink and working mostly with pastels for painting.  I put down a stroke and it is there.  I get bored easily with an idea.  When working on a painting for several days, I lose the enthusiasm that I started with.  I could never do a large colored pencil for example, too many hours of coloring.

I like working/painting plein air.  I get more feeling and energy into a painting done on site. I like painting from life more than photos.   For sketching, I employ a comfortable chair with my feet on a stool.

I work with the best equipment I can afford and that helps me to be successful in my attempts.  Using poor grade pastels, pencils, paper and canvas only serves to make any artist work harder.  Being comfortable is very important in creating.  Music can help set the mood.

I am not afraid to wipe off a piece and start over.  Each piece I start is now my favorite painting.  I do feel that practice makes each piece easier to do.

OK, off you go to investigate other artists on the World Blog Hop.  Come back again .....