Pastels All Around

I went to the meeting of the Austin Pastel Society yesterday. (There is still time to enter the Annual Juried Show, deadline January 31 see "Juried Show" at austinpastelsociety.org)  Rae Andrews, President, gave the demonstration.  It was about using an abstract under painting of acrylic and finishing in pastels.  It was fun and informative.  Rae works in pastels, acrylics and watercolors.  If you get a chance to see her or take a class you will be educated and entertained.  She is from Australia so talks a bit funny!! 

Rae Andrews, APS meeting

Look at her blog to be inspired and find out about her classes including a painting trip to Spain!
http://raeandrewsgallery.blogspot.com/

It was good to see old friends and make a couple of new ones.  Guess I should get back in the habit of attending meetings.

This morning I  was inspired to get out the pastels to sketch for Scavenger Hunt 436.  I had already decided to do the spheres and stacked rectangles so didn't even look at the page.  I busied myself for about 50 minutes including time to find a piece of used paper.  I was so happy to find 3 small boxes for the rectangles that I forgot to stack them.  Then I went to post them and Hunt 436 ended yesterday.  Ah, well, I got in some practice.  Now Hunt 437 is underway, you can join in here.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1397326

 The boxes are cute.  The navy blue one is Gene's Bulova watch box.  The green held a little glass elephant for my collection and the red and black held some pastels.

Gene had some fruit for snacks so that filled the spherical slot.  I didn't number them as it was too late to post.  Now to think of something for the new list.  Lots of food items.... that means lunch time!

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This post by John P. Weiss on FASO caught my eye.  John was a policeman and paints, sketches and writes.  He does police related cartoons.  This is a sentimental story and brought tears to my eyes.  Be prepared.  It is about putting value on yourself and your art.

http://faso.com/fineartviews/102562/memories-are-roses-in-our-winter

Sketching XL Again and Larry Castillo Photographer

I decided last night to do a special sketch for the humongous book that was not a Scavenger Hunt item.  I tried to capture the big tree between our house and the westerly lake.

I used a Micron o3.  I need more practice to make it look like that particular tree. Branches should be longer, especially on the left.  Interesting tree.  Humongous, too.  Ha.

Today, I did the Scavenger Hunt sketch in the big book as well with a Micron Brush Pen to make it go a bit faster in XL size for a sketch.  :)

Number 13, beverage in container - Chocolate wine
Number 14, used to measure - cup
Number 15 - shovel or scoop - coffee scoop

And both pages together.  So now on day seven, I have 4 pages done.  Only 591 more to go.  Leaving 2 pages blank (4 sides) at front and back and one page (both sides)  for the Title Page.  Wheeeeeee.....
(I will not be keeping track of how many to go!)

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Larry, son and professional photographer, has been updating his webpage and adding to his Instagram.  You will not be disappointed to go have a look, I promise.  On his website you will find beautiful photographs.  http://larrycastillophotography.com/ , look at the  Seven Deadly Sins by clicking on the Modeling tab.  Fun!

And on Instagram you find him at  https://www.instagram.com/larrycastillophotography/

Have fun, see you back here!

Watercolor Connection

I love the watercolor sketches on this blog from Spain.  I'm putting this link mainly for Bag Blog (Lou), Joanna and Joan.  It is on Blogger so you can translate it to English at the top of the Blog.  Joan,  he is an Urban Sketcher in Spain, so maybe you follow or have seen his work.  All of you will like seeing his lovely watercolors.

Joshemari Larrañaga Watercolors
http://jmlarranagaacuarelas.blogspot.com/

Sketches and Good Habits

I sketched outside for Scavenger Hunt 417 http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1386204  yesterday afternoon.  It was warmer in the sun than in the house!

Number 4,  leaf- I sketched some from a vine and some from a weed
Number 5, thumb folded into your hand

You know I follow many blogs.  One of the artists that I like is Lori McNee http://www.finearttips.com/loris-original-art/  She is generous and knowledgeable.  You can learn a lot from reading her articles and tips.

This article is on Artists Network, 20 ways to Create Better Work Habits in Your Studio.  I should practice more of these ideas as in "practice what you preach".

http://goo.gl/SWyGYQ

The house cleaners came and now the house smells and looks great.  It is very windy, though, and I may have to close the door to keep out the dust.  Oh, Fair New Mexico!

Playing in the Pastels - Day 2, Pastel Painting, Hunting

I decided to continue my practice this morning.  I spent about 45 minutes on this, so maybe it is a sketch instead of a painting.  I had a series of fruits and vegetables going a few years ago.  I will add this to the bunch.

Bunches Of ...

10 x 8 inches

Pastel on Canson paper

I will post it on Scavenger Hunt 399  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375890
Number 1, something from the fridge

That works for me.

Ralph Serpe started Creative Spotlight http://www.creativespotlite.com/ He invited me to post there a long time ago.  That site has grown and grown and so they added Art Instruction Blog  http://www.artinstructionblog.com/  where  has a slew of free videos and "how to" posts.  Many varieties of media and artists.   I did one waaaaaay back in about 2006.  It is still there if you care to see it.  I haven't changed my technique very much since then. 

http://www.artinstructionblog.com/plein-air-painting-with-pastels-city-of-rocks#more-388

Playing in the Dust, Pastel Buffalo

I did a quick pastel painting for the Southwest Art Challenge on wetcanvas.com.  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1373983   We paint from photos which is not my favorite way to paint.  I usually think about it and then do a sketch instead.  The photos were so nice this time, it was hard to resist the buffalo in the snow.

Buffalo from photo by Dave Slaughter from the wetcanvas.com image file.  About 8 x 11 inches on Canson pastel paper.  About 45 minutes painting.

I should do this more often.  To play with some pastels and try something new is good for your eye.  You gain experience and confidence with every practice piece.  For the snow flakes it is just crumbled pastel pushed into the paper with a painting knife.  I think the back rounded side of a spoon would have worked better.  I see a couple of lines that wouldn't be there.  I didn't notice until I took the photo.

Canson paper does not have much tooth so that makes you be more deliberate with the pastels.  You can only put a couple of layers on before it is too thick to continue.  

My horror-scope for today is/was:

   VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you don’t act when you see the opportunity, someone with less experience and wisdom will. Take initiative. It won’t be as much work as you think, and you’ll get help once you commit. 

I already have help, Gene sent me the horoscopes from the paper.  Ha.  I also did a piece of practice art and a blog post.  Woohoo!
 
Alyson Stanfield has a good blog post today about having a more productive day.  About prioritizing, ignoring, taking breaks (even a nap) and slowing down at the end of the day.  Check it out, some great tips throughout her blog.  She is an inspiration, especially on the business side of art.

How to Have a More Productive Day  http://goo.gl/kaPkXi

 

Sketching or Nothing

I have been either sketching or no artwork at all lately.  The Scavenger Hunts are great for making me do something.  I have been part of the group for so long that I feel guilty when I don't sketch.  I'm not sure guilt is a good reason to get out the sketchbook, but it seems to work for me!

I sketched in the large sketchbook yesterday at my desk.  That is how the mouse and photo loader came into play.  I am cleaning off the desk and catching up on my paperwork so I can do our taxes.  Better get with it, right?

For Scavenger Hunt 398 http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375297
Number 5, first thing you see in the morning - the projected time on the ceiling.  When Gene got the clock it bothered me to see the light up there.  It flashes the time and outside temperature every 3-5 seconds.  I am used to it now and when we stay at a hotel or someplace else, I miss it.  We take it with us if we are going to be gone a few nights.
Number 6, shadow - the shadow from my extra mouse and photoloader.
Number 7, shell - no shells in our house, so am subbing this pottery pot that survived the fire.  It is from Peru and sort of shell shaped.
Number 8, nail - my pinky nail

For my art link today, Jenna, http://thecozyred.wordpress.com/, on wetcanvas.com, Southwest Forum, shared this with us.  The painter is blind and is "amazing" as Gene might say.  Scroll down near the bottom of his page for a video.  Inspiring!

http://www.demilked.com/artist-blind-painter-john-bramblitt/

 Arckh!! Not doing what I said, I gotta get out of here.  Caio!

Sketches, Visiting, and More

 I got in a bit of sketching this morning ... in the house.  It was a tad cool on the porch.  I sketched in my big sketchbook with the Micron 05 pen.

Number 7, something to dry yourself with - hair dryer
Number 8, latch
Number 9, wet - I tried to sketch the steam bubbles on the inside of my cup cover.  It is not easy to do in pen and ink.  It was a good idea to ponder.
Number 10, used to light something - a butane lighter for the grill

Here is a photo of the cup cover with moisture and the way it is used on a cup.  The cut in it is for your tea bag.  It is very handy, thanks, Joanna.  Bubbles are easier to paint than draw, at least in small size for me.

I made plans to get together with Pomona Hallenbeck after my pastel class on Tuesday.  She is such an interesting artist.  I met her about the time the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild started up, which means about 1998.  We only see each other occasionally as we both live here in the winter and now in New Mexico in the summer.  She teaches at Ghost Ranch.  She is a water colorist.  If you get a chance to take a class with her, you will have fun and learn so much.  She also teaches in Austin at The Contemporary Austin.  So with our busy schedules, we have to plan ahead to get together.  We are hoping to sketch a couple of times before we leave for summer.  It was a delight to see her at my First Friday show and again on Tuesday.

The Art in Public Places groups are very busy in Austin and Bastrop.  One of the interesting things the Austin group did is hosting Hello Lamppost  (you can text with inanimate objects?)

http://www.hellolamppostaustin.com/

Most projects are completed with area artists and their website:  http://www.austintexas.gov/department/art-in-public-places 

The Bastrop group has painted utility boxes and is now putting up sculptures around town.  Check it out here on their website:  http://www.baipp.org/

Cactus Blooms Pastel Painting

Painting is something that I like to do quickly.  Usually this works out and I am happy with the results.   If my results are not working I let it sit for a day or more.  There are times when I cannot get the idea rekindled, especially if I let it sit for too long (think days or weeks).  In those cases I wipe it off and start over.  At other times the painting cannot be rescued so I wipe it off and do a completely new painting.  Not all ideas are good paintings.  I consider it practice and don't worry about doing away with concept.

I started a large pastel just before we left for New Mexico.  It was almost finished.  In fact, I thought it was finished but I wasn't thrilled with it.  The painting sat on my studio easel for the summer, waiting for the big wipe off.  When we got back, I looked it over and decided to finish it.  Rare that I can just continue on and be happy with a painting.  I did this time.  The deep saturated colors I use require deep darks to empathize the light.   The painting called out to me and said, "Strengthen the darks!"  That change made all the difference.

Cactus Blooms, Too

Pastel on Pastelbord, 24 x 18 inches - $950

For sale at Art Connections, see info above for their location and contact.

I used some spray bottle drops of water on the background.  I am pretty sure the Pastelbord was gray to start with.  I used a variety of pastel brands.  I worked from hard to softer with the exception that I will use a hard pastel near the end for blending. 

Before I took the painting to Art Connections, I took a photo in our bedroom so you can get an idea of the size.  It is over a night stand with an office size chair.  The frame is dark brown with black accents near the painting.

Now on to another project ...

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I have a couple of art links for you:

A short video from artist Daniel Edmondson about how the direction of light affects eye movement.  Interesting concept.
http://www.oilpaintingworkshop.com/AR/17.htm 

I follow a blog by Julie Ford Oliver, Las Cruces, New Mexico.  I like her New Mexico paintings. 
http://juliefordoliver.blogspot.com/2014/10/late-afternoon-sun.html  

New Mexico Evening

Pastel on Sanded Paper, 14 x 11 inches

Julie's painting reminded me of this similar style house I painted ages ago (2003).  I've learned a lot about painting backgrounds, atmosphere and distance since then.  I should paint a new New Mexico evening.

Sketches, What Else?

On Wednesday I finished up Scavenger Hunt 378 which I was hosting.  I used a Micron 05 pen in the large sketchbook.

 Number 5, view in or out of a doorway - this is from my studio to the living room.

Number 6, red - a folding chair
Number 7, is down below in the sketches for Hunt 379 as it was on the same page.

Number 8, zebra or zipper - I subbed Zentangle, then realized it is not from life it is imagination so doesn't really qualify.  I received the book from Sue, my Michigan painting buddy, this summer and finally did the first lesson of lines and circles.  Looks like I will learn some new designs, I usually use the same old shapes like in the right hand lower corner.

Today my sketches were done quickly out on the porch.  These are for Scavenger Hunt 379. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1363111   I sketched in the large sketchbook with a Micron 05 pen.  In other words, my usual sketching utensils.

Number 7, from Hunt 378 - Old Fashioned - a Dutch oven that I got from Jennie.  You never think of receiving hand-me-downs from your child!  We have silverware, the Dutch oven and a couple of other things she gave me after the fire.  All four of our children came up with things for us.

Hunt 379, Number 1 - comfortable shoes - Gene's canvas slip-ons
Number 2, yellow - there were actually 3 yellow items on the porch:  this electric fly swatter (batteries), the yellow bungie cord and a can that had a yellow label.  I skipped the can.  I usually have to really go hunting to find something yellow.
Number 3 - Anything lit by a single light source from a window - I substituted the porch shelf for a window and sketched some cups and a little vase.

Note for Texas artists, have you entered the Hunting Art Prize?  Will you be taking home $50,000?  You can't win if you don't enter.  http://www.huntingartprize.com/  The deadline is November 30.  It is for paintings and drawings.  The final is in Houston so not too far for our area.

I have been painting, finishing up a pastel painting of cactus blooms to put at Art Connections. http://artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/ I will post about it a bit later after it "cures".  For me that means to let it sit and see if it is finished.  It is pastel, so doesn't need to dry or anything like that.

Sketches, Jenna's Pigs and More Procrastinating

I sketched yesterday in the big sketchbook for Scavenger Hunt 377.  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1361739  I sketched on the bottom of the page where I sketched for Hunt 376 so just carried on with the numbers.  Sigh....

This should read: Number 1, keys two kinds.  I do have the right date.

You may remember that I was posting about procrastination the other day.  I'm still at it, procrastinating that is.  I wanted to mention that in the post by Jann Alexander http://austindetails.me/2014/09/03/just-create/ that I really liked number 1 and number 3.

Number 1 suggests you make your studio or painting area into a sort a a refuge, a place you want to go to escape, a place you want to be.  I'm going to work on this.  Gene and I tend to put things in here (my studio where I am) when we don't know where else to put them.  It gets cluttered and I put off cleaning/straightening it up it, so I put off creating. That is one excuse at least.

Number 3 is selective avoidance, sort of reverse psychology, if you will.  Have something to do that you don't want to do and you procrastinate by painting or creating.  That should work great for me, don't you think?


In the Southwest and Western forum on wetcanvas.com, we were commenting on some of Jenna's wire sculptures of pigs and we were wondering what a group of pigs is called.  It is not simple.  I found a definition on this page by the USGS.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/about/faqs/animals/names.htm

Here is what they had:  Pigs:  A drift, drove, litter (young), sounder (of swine), team, passel (of hogs), singular (refers to a group of boars)

Some of the names are quite interesting:  

• A rafter or gang of turkeys.  
• An army of frogs but a knot of toads.
• A murmuration of starlings
• A shiver of sharks.  

You can see (and buy) some of Jenna's neat sculptures on her blog, The Cozy Red:

http://thecozyred.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/a-pig-a-peacock-and-a-giraffe/

Sketch for Hunt 374 and Photos

The Scavenger Hunts seem to be over before I get a good start, I was still thinking about the last Hunt and this one started September 6.  I guess it is true that time passes faster as we get older.  Our summer has sure flown by.  We only have a few more days in Angel Fire and then will be on the road again.  Internet and phone service will be very scarce at times.  I will keep in touch when I can.

I sketched across the road at the rocks again for Scavenger Hunt 374. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1359976  Actually I was just going to try and sketch some of the rocks and the sketch happens to fit in the Hunt.  I was working on plein air watercolor techniques.  I was using a small watercolor set with a water filled brush.  The set worked well for my intentions.  I sketched first with a Micron pen in a watercolor sketchbook.  After the watercolor was added, I went back in with more ink.  It is half a page in the sketchbook, about 5 x 8 inches.

I have a lot to learn about mixing colors for shadows and nature.  Actually I have a lot to learn about watercolor.  Maybe I will take one of Mike Henderson's classes at the Bastrop Fine Arts Gallery.  http://bastropfineartsguild.com/news-and-events/classes-and-workshops/

 Number 1, nature/organic thing - tree trunk and rocks

This was where I was going to paint.  I sat in a chair under the big tree on the left.

Art Link:

Free advice from Jason Horejs and Barney Davey about promotion and marketing. I think they post a video monthly, it is free.  If you can't watch this one tonight you can get on the mailing list and check YouTube.
https://plus.google.com/events/cn3qrjfei60ov3g0sgp0finntcg


A few more photos from the last couple of days:

 Clouds came up yesterday afternoon when I was sketching.  So pretty.

 Gene was off on his Terratrike and I thought I might have to rescue him from the looks of the sky.  He had gone that way.  But no, he was back at the house.  He said he had a good ride, about 12 miles.

We have seen a few of these squirrels.  We see more of the ground squirrels that I posted before.  These are so interesting looking.  They appear to be Albert's Squirrels, typical of the Rocky Mountains.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abert's_squirrel

Pastel Rock Painting Fixed

When Bag Blog, Lou Baggett,  http://bagwag.blogspot.com/ was here we painted a few times out and about.  That is always so encouraging and gets my blood flowing.  Evidently I am a people person.  I often say that I don't know whether I like painting or talking more.  We had a great time.

I thought my painting of the rocks was finished and I posted it here, so happy that I had actually finished a painting.  Well ....... I looked at it on the floor here in Angel Fire and all of a sudden I could see a face.  It reminded me of a monolito from Bolivia.  That doesn't work in a painting and sometimes  happens when painting rocks and clouds.  I tend to start painting the actual rocks and then revert to rocks in my memory.  Not a good idea!   One of the rocks that was a part of this scene does look like a llama or camel head and I avoided that one on purpose.

When I paint, the problem with "faces" or "animals" in clouds or other mistakes like where two edges kiss/touch, is that after you see it, that is all you see.  If you have seen a painting that disturbs you or that you just can't figure out, this may be the problem.

So, here is the face/rock painting, do you see the face?

Just in case you can't see it....

And the change because the face really bothered me:

Hanging On

Pastel Plein Air, 9 x 12 inches, Pastelbord

We walked by there to look at the rocks again so I think this still qualifies as plein air.  I did revise it while painting on the porch.   My painted rocks are not exact, but I think that they now are more representative of the scene.  I be happy, as son, Larry, used to say.

Art link:

Reading blogs today, I came across the one below.  I have a thing about mistakes in writing and especially in e-mails that I receive.  Take your time when you write.  I try to proof read my work, though not always successful I know.

I am linking to Carolyn Henderson's post today, it made me smile and ponder.

Serously, This Haz Gawt to Stopp

by Carolyn Henderson

Considering that we are communicating with the reader for some reason -- we want something, we are introducing ourselves, we’re selling something, we’re providing information -- we don’t want anything getting in the way that doesn’t have to be there. And misgivings about our intelligence, organization, competence, or vocabulary acumen -- brought about by something as simple as a typo -- are an unfortunate, yet avoidable, issue. [...]

Read the rest of this article at:
http://faso.com/fineartviews/80160/serously-this-haz-gawt-to-stopp

----------------------------------------------
This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.faso.com/art-marketing-newsletter

Katherine's Squidoo Quandary

Katherine Tyrrell, my walking art encyclopedia, is in a quandary about what to do.  She has created 160 helpful websites on Squidoo and they are closing down.  Check out her article and maybe you know of helpful software or servers for her.

http://makingamark.blogspot.com/2014/08/making-mark-on-art-and-end-of-squidoo.html

Making a Mark on Art, her Squidoo page about art

http://makingamark.squidoo.com/makingamark-art

About Artists her Squidoo page about artists

http://makingamark.squidoo.com/about-artists

 

I am clueless as how to help.

I have kept my website on my own as I know things disappear, especially if they start out "free".  I can always move to a new server, but so far I haven't had to.  The original server was Cedant and they sold to Aplus.net,  https://www.aplus.net/   so I have only had to adjust my thinking once.  It is more trouble to do my own design and updates there, but I have control of all my photos and information.

I am tempted to go to other servers where the websites are so much easier to update.  That means they have all my photos, etc., stored without easy access or ability to delete by me, plus use their templates.  I have all my old designs stored on my website in archives which are still accessible to me and I could use that info again by linking to it.   I have so much storage there that I don't know what to do with it.  I host a couple of other sites, too.  Maybe I will just stick with my mess! 

Procrastinating Works for Me

I was procrastinating and ran across this blog post I did in 2007, Free Pass to Procrastinate.  Perfect!

http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/free-pass-to-procrastinate.html

All Washed Up

Pastel on Pastelbord, 7 x 5 inches

http://www.jocastilloart.com/pntgarchives/applesallwashedup.html

I am hosting Scavenger Hunt 371.  Come over and join in!  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1358126

For my art links today, it is fun to get to "know" artists from around the world.  A few sketchers:

Mary Sheehan Winn
Artist and Sketcher
Massachusetts
http://marysheehanwinn.blogspot.com/

Jody Regan
Mary Sheehan Winn's friend and sketcher
New England
http://jodyreganart.blogspot.com/

Joan Tavolott
Scavenger Hunt Sketcher and Artist
New York
http://watercolorsbyjoan2.blogspot.com/

Ai's Art
Scavenger Hunt Sketcher and Artist
Thailand
http://aiarts.blogspot.com/

Kat Farmer/Van Hookens
Scavenger Hunt Sketcher and Artist
France
http://gardenartjournal.blogspot.com/

Something New - Pastel Asters

Yay!  I painted something new with no reason!  I was working outside on fixing up the plein air paintings I painted with Sue.  I will post more about that later.

As I was setting up the easel on the porch I saw some little wild asters.  They demanded to be painted.  It is small, just a 7 x 5 inch painting on Pastelbord.  It was good to do something just for fun.

Mountain Asters

Pastels on Pastelbord, 7 x 5 inches

$60, against the glass, free postage in USA

Richard McKinley's blog has good info today for artists about the power of suggestion.  The blog is for pastelists but most info applies to painting in general.

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/the-power-of-suggestion

Hunting in Angel Fire and Photos

I sketched yesterday in the house with the Micron 05 in the travel sketchbook for Scavenger Hunt 367  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1355537  This morning I sketched on the porch about 9:00 a.m. at about 60 degrees in my watercolor sketchbook.  Pretty nice!

Number 8, made of clay - an owl here in the house
Number 9, in a bottle - tequila for margaritas in Rodeo
Number 10, hot - chile petin from Gene's brother, he eats it on pizza and eggs.  Too hot for me!

Number 11, organics - stretching the meaning a bit, but I sketched in watercolor and ink for the practice in my watercolor sketchbook that is about 8 x 10 inches.  I got it in 2006 in Michigan with Sue, who arrives on Saturday.  I have done about 8 sketches in the sketchbook and only about 3 of them are watercolors.  So, you see I need the practice.  I just put on color after I sketch so you can't really call it a watercolor painting.

Last night we ate at the Pub n Grill.  It was good food with good service.  We were on the deck and it started to rain.  We were about ready to leave so we asked the couple at the rail to join us while they waited for their food so they wouldn't get wet.  We chatted a bit.  They are in the Air Force, stationed in San Antonio, Texas.  We appreciate their service to our country.

The deck when we first got there, then it got busy.  The pub is in the building where the Yu Garden, a favorite, was located.  The Yu Garden moved to Taos in 2011.  We ate there once after their move on our way through to Montana a couple of years ago.  We will be eating there in Taos on this trip.  They have a dish called Volcano Shrimp .... so yummy.

This is some road art on the way to Angel Fire from Albuquerque around Pojuaque.

This stretch of road is by Española between Santa Fe and Taos.

Gene back from his ride this morning.  He is really liking his Terratrike.

This was near Hatch when we got back on I-25 the day we were on our way to Albuquerque.  I wonder what made it so wavy??  I had to post this for Joanna.  She is always telling me to stop to take my photos.  These are with my iPhone as my camera is not working/charging.


For the art link:

Check out the Bastrop Art in Public Places website.  They had local artists paint some of the electric boxes/transformers.  You can vote for the People's Choice Award selection.  They are so nice and brighten up downtown Bastrop.  The artists did well, very creative.  The Bastrop Art in Public Places is calling for sculptors now, you can apply on their website.

http://www.baipp.org/#!bastrop-transformers/c3c7

Sketches, What Else?

Maybe I should just put ditto marks and post the sketches for today.  "My sketches were done on the porch with the old feet propped up and coffee by my side."  I have to drink decaf so it is mostly smell and taste, but I still like to have my morning coffee.

The sketches were done with the Prismacolor Premier 03 which still hasn’t run out of ink.  Pretty amazing.  I sketched in the large sketchbook which I will leave at home for the summer.  I will use the two new small sketchbooks that I got from my kiddos while we are traveling.

For Scavenger Hunt 364 http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1353616
Number  13, crumpled - paper towel used to wipe the water off my side table.

Number 14, closed - my coffee cup with the tea lid that Joanna gave me.  You can see it has a slit to put the cord of the tea bag and then is soft plastic so you can squeeze the bag (if you do that) and then leave the bag on the lid.  I occasionally drink tea and this lid is perfect for that and to keep my coffee warm, too.

The temperature was down to 71 degrees F this morning.  Nice!  It was very foggy and muggy however. We did not get much rain here, just the humidity.  About lunch time we had a shower and got about .48 of an inch.  Yay.  The scattered rains have kept it cooler.

We got in some heavy rain yesterday between here and Elgin when we went to Austin to see Jennie’s and Brandon’s new home.  It is brand new, very beautiful and will be wonderful for them.  It is so exciting to move into a new home.

Today is packing and getting ready to go.  Not much time left for that.  

Almost to Angel Fire

Our internet is down at the moment so who knows when we will get back online.  I wrote this early this morning and now it is almost 4 p.m.  Interesting to see when I get this to post.  Internet off and on all day.

Art Link:

Today’s artist is Sherry Fields, http://sherryfields.fineartstudioonline.com/  pastel and oils artist and friend from the Austin Pastel Society.  I’ve known Sherry since about 1999 through APS.  She was an officer and very active member of our group.  She is a real estate agent for her day job and was very helpful with Jennie and Brandon in finding their home.  Give her a call if you have real estate questions in the Austin area or are interested in her paintings.

Bar Sketching

Ha, got you!  I haven't been hanging out at a bar and sketching, it is that "something with bars" was on our Scavenger Hunt 364 list.  I sketched them on the porch in my regular large sketchbook with my Prismacolor Premier 03 fine line marker/pen.

Number 8, something with bars - the fence around the pad, it will be a parking area for the Thunderbird when we get it back home.
Number 9, something see through - the bottle on the porch with more bars behind it.
Number 10, something that pleases me - the view from the porch

It seems I will not get my paintings finished before we take off.  When they sit so long I get bored with them.  I will have to wash them off and have a go when we get back.  

Maybe you have noticed I haven't been painting much.  After all the things I have tried to get me excited about painting, not much is working.  I hope to be doing plein air painting this summer and see what happens.  Stay tuned.  This week is packing and getting ready to hit the road.

I did finish the replacement painting and will get it framed and delivered.  I will post it then.

Art Links:

I found this article interesting.  Forensic art is something I had not thought about, regarding training and ability.  Lee Hammond is one of the not so many forensic artists out there.  They are a special breed.
http://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-blogs/police-art-its-not-for-everyone?lid=CHarnbl040114

We also have a new Contemporary Art Gallery in Bastrop.  David Baker is the artist and paints huge abstract paintings.  It is a beautiful and impressive gallery space.  Stop in and check it out:
David Baker
Art on the Colorado
924 Main Street, Bastrop, Texas  78602
512 234-5300
artonthecolorado.com

Don't forget while I'm gone to visit the exciting gallery where my paintings are.  There is much to see by many artists, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, weavings, and much more:
Art Connections Gallery
908 Main Street, Bastrop Texas  78602
512 657-4275, Deborah Johnson
http://artconnectionsgallerybastrop.com/

Also
The Bastrop Fine Arts Gallery
815 Main Street
Bastrop, Texas 78602
bastropfineartsguild.com

Sign up for my newsletter above right and follow this blog to keep in touch all the time.

Behind on Posting Sketches

I couldn't come up with a good title for this.  I'm behind on posting, sketching and very much on painting.  I have been keeping up on wetcanvas.com with sketching there when I do them.  But that is a little like procrastinating as I post and read and surf and ......  You  can see I started the sketching for Scavenger Hunt 360 back on May 19.  I also see that I haven't posted since May 16.  Wow!  I won't bore you with my lazy excuses.

I have been listening to the UT Baseball games.  The Longhorns were in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Tournament.  They won the first two games and seemed to be playing well.  Yesterday they only had to beat Oklahoma State once to get to the championship against TCU.  They just couldn't pull it off and lost the first game and had to play again as it is a double elimination tournament.  They played an almost identical game and lost it, too.  Oklahoma State and TCU play the championship today at 4:30, I think.  The Longhorns will be in a Regional on the way to Omaha for the NCAA Championship they hope.  Joanna says it is good in a way that they don't have the Regional in Austin as the Horns have been playing better on the road ... well, until yesterday.  Ha.  Hope they can play on and get to Omaha. They players deserve that reward.  Sigh....

This is what I do when I listen to the games on the internet or am on hold on the phone.  Doodles are now called Zentangles, so here is one I did yesterday in between keeping score, drinking coffee, etc.  You can see one peeking through from the other side of the paper, too.

 The doodles look different depending on the way you hold them.  This is upside down and looks like a chicken or bird to me.

This way I see a fish with the head to the right.

 Right side up I see a small bird looking to the right and a turkey or turkey buzzard to the left or maybe Carmen Miranda.

This looks like a different fish going left.

This was done with a pencil.  I usually use a pen.  What do you see?

As was editing this I decided to add the zentangle from the other side of the page done in ink.  Also done during a baseball game I see.  Ha.

This one reminds me a little of the La Morenada dancers in Bolivia for Carnival.  You can see some on this link.  I see a squatty bird of some sort when I turn it upside down.  The dog looks like some bird with a worm.   I won't continue on with that, though.
http://www.rutahsa.com/boli-13.html

And for the Scavenger Hunt Sketches for Hunt 360  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1351063&page=3

Number 1, water;  Number 2, outside animal - egrets and crows; Number 3, tree
These were done with a Prismacolor pen.

Number 4, outside edible - dandelion ( I hear they are edible) and rosemary.  These were done on my iPad with Art Rage and the Truglide stylus.  It has a AAAA battery.  I had not seen one of those before, pretty small!

Next Number 5, liquid - my coffee and Number 6, raw food - Gene's candy-loupe which are supposed to be sweeter than cantaloupe but I couldn't tell the difference.  Maybe because I'm not fond of melon except for watermelon.

And today for the finish of Hunt 360, Number 7, flower - the mimosa blooms in the neighbor's yard and the little yellow flowers in our yard.  They are all over the grass area and open in the morning and close in the evenings.  They are bright yellow and the blooms are about the size of a 50 cent piece and about 10 inches off the ground.

Finally, Number 8, garden tool - Gene's wheelbarrows with the challenge of doing a sketch in one minute, three minutes and 15 minutes.  I couldn't keep going after 12 minutes on the last.  I was done with the wheelbarrows!!

For an art link or two:

You may remember I was working on a tonal painting with Enid.  Richard McKinley talked about the same subject on his blog.  The post is worth having a look.

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/the-quality-of-color-a-tonalist-approach

I found this article interesting along the same lines.  It is just so interesting how colors change by what they are placed next to.  Richard calls it "simultaneous contrast".

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/medium/pastel/the-contrast-effect-important-rules-for-landscape-painting



My post here has some photos of the same idea:
http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-on-value.html

You can click on my home page above and then put "instruction" in the search box on the left and find many posts with my instruction experiences.

Have fun!