Kudos # 2

It's time for another Kudos. 

This one is for someone very special.  My studio roomie, Mike Keeling.  Mike is not only unique - just ask him! - he's the kind of guy that goes out of his way for his friends and never knows a stranger.  

This is Mike from several years ago.  It's the first time we ever collaborated on a painting.  Two, in fact, and we used my studio in Art Works.  We set up two large canvases facing one another, so we actually worked back to back.  Sometimes we'd switch.  But as the paintings progressed, we wound up working together on each piece, learning from one another during the process.  Because we had so much fun, AND because we both needed a larger space, we wound up moving to a new studio in another facility.  We've been roommates ever since. 

Although our spouses have helped us along the way, Mike has been the workhorse for our studios.  He built the loft in our current space.  

Mike attends nearly every one of my night classes.  He contributes to the conversation, helps when he can, works on his own art, photographs student work, walks students to their cars when we're done. 

Mike is also the kind of guy that will stop in the middle of a highway and chase down a stray Great Pyrenees because his studio roomie said he would.  And who stays with the neighbor's baby when the grandfather passes away. 

He's also a pretty fabulous self-taught artist who absorbs everything art like a sponge.  Mike brings joy into most everything he does - has a smile on his face, a joke on his lips, a compliment in his heart.  I've not met many people with the joy of life that Mike exudes or that are as comfortable with their inner child as he is with his own. 

New Blog

I have created a new blog - Adele Castillo Art - to separate my art posts from my other musings. Both will exist for the time being. If you wish to catch up on what is happening in my studio or related to art, visit Here.  Thanks for checking in. 

Writing. Painting.

"Selfie #1, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24 

The self-portrait that inspired me

 to begin an entire series of selfies.

The writing that inspired me 

to begin an entire series of stories.

You can read the first one published on this website 

created and moderated by Valley Haggard: 

Life in 10 Minutes

Thank you Valley, for your continued encouragement. 

"Much More"

“You are very pretty.”

My dad and I were in the breakfast room, a soft yellow tiny rectangle of a dark room with one high window, just off the kitchen in a very old house in a very old neighborhood in the small town where my family lived for the 10 most important years of my life. The “formative” years. I must have been about 7 years old. I suddenly felt shy and giddy and loved.

Dad was a handsome man and quite the charmer. His smile lit a room and his laughter and voice came out with a sonic boom, deep and rich. I adored him. I danced with him standing on his shoes, I (along with my baby sister) lost countless games of Monopoly, Go Fish and Concentration to him. I watched him work at his watch bench and in his garage electronics lab. I wanted to be him. 

“Show me how to use the oscillator, Daddy.” 

“No.”

“But why?”

“Because you are a girl.” 

I pouted as I left the garage and went back into the house to complain to my Mama. My young self was furious. I loved science and math and Dad had so many gadgets and experiences. I studied his flight manuals and books on weather when he learned to fly. He had his own plane! But I got airsick. 

LIfe took me on a path to becoming a teacher of art. A painter. An artist. A far cry from the scientist I thought I might like to be. The veterinarian I couldn’t be because of the blood and the cutting. 

And yet, there is so much about art that suits my geeky brain. Chemistry! which I nearly flunked in high school, fascinates me now as applied to color. I paint dogs and animals, the things I love and  once thought I’d help save. I still teach, which means I must continue to learn. 

Recently I began a series of self portraits. Not so flattering, up-close facial expressions. The reaction to them has been universal. 

“But, you are so pretty. Why would you do that?”

Because. 

Because I am much, so much, more. 

February 2015

Currently in progress: Selfie # 3

Textures

"Currents Above" in progress 

This past year I took a path into textures and layers in my work. You can see some of that in the last post of my selfie in progress. Much of the work is not for public display...they are studies with a huge learning curve. I'll post the most recent one here. And explain a bit. 
FYI - the photos don't do the work justice - I just can't capture, reduce and keep the feel of depth, layering and texture in these paintings.

Texture and oxidation study in progress

Several years back, I learned in a workshop how to make my own paint. Watercolor, acrylic, oil and tempera, even pastel sticks. I noticed the acrylic paint home-made was so much different than the commercial art paint available and wasn't crazy about it at the time. Fast forward about 7 years and a workshop in texture somewhere in between, and I began toying once again with the idea of mixing my own pigments to the strengths that I want. 

I discovered new binders and additives, which added so many possibilities for layering textural effects. By layering these effects, I noticed the color was being suspended, one layer over another, and that my work was beginning to feel like floating in imaginary outer space, or underwater. Which led me to create a huge painting (still in progress) that I've titled "Currents Above."  While the other works were more accidental in nature, this one was entirely controlled, in the sense that I let the painting speak with each layer and chose what effect to create next. 

In the meantime, I was invited to participate in a huge collaborative project, Art Roulette, a fund-raiser sponsored by artSpace Richmond. Normally I avoid fund-raising projects (another story for another time,) but this one included a host of local artists that I hoped to work with. This project gave me the opportunity to experiment with some Golden Paint products I'd just learned about in a workshop. Micaceous Iron Oxide and Coarse Alumina along with Copper Iridescent paint and some old Cobalt Teal were a part of this process.  I noticed after two weeks, the Teal color had changed to a deeper, richer blue.  The paint was oxidizing.  Whoa. 

This is one part of a collaborative piece. The paint is quite reflective and is bouncing off light. 

Which is what has led to the painting you saw at the top of this page. I'm curious as to what will happen with the teal with the Alumina alone and with the Iron Oxide. These may wind up in the experimental closet for another visit, or they may evolve and land on the gallery wall.  I'm not sure. But for now, it sure is a lot of fun. 

Selfie

It's been a long while since I last posted.  I've spent the last 5 months or so making art and teaching. I have more art to make. 

Here's a self portrait in progress until I get back here again. 

And another to give you an idea of the size. 

This began as a challenge to my art class for our upcoming student exhibit.  It's become something else for me. A series. About perception. 

What's There?

Completed June 2014

 sold July 2014 at Crossroads Art Center.  

"What's There?"
©2014 Adele Castillo AllRightsReserved
5 x 5 acrylic on canvas

 I began this tiny piece in class one evening in late May when all of my students were "in the zone" with their own paintings, finished it and put it on my wall at Crossroads before heading to the beach for a July 4 vacation.  A phone call this week let me know it sold to a fellow artist and teacher as a gift for her daughter.  It is always an honor to be appreciated by one's peers!  Thank you Sue!  

 

It's Summer

I'll be back shortly.  

It's kinda been one of those months.  

In the meantime, enjoy a fresh painting that will help you think of cooler days.  "Saint Charles" went home to a collector yesterday.  

"Saint Charles" © 2014
Adele Castillo AllRightsReserved

Chance Meetings

Last evening I walked into Crossroads Art Center to resume teaching classes after taking off the month of May.  I had been in earlier to drop off some supplies and noticed a school bus in the parking lot, plus a young couple hauling in some quite random objects, not even connecting the two.  I assumed the couple was setting up for a workshop and simply said a courteous "hello."  When I came back for class I learned, (by asking - I am curious, or nosy, depending on who you ask) that the woman had come in to Crossroads after a chance discovery of the gallery to ask if perhaps there was a space where she could paint.  and there was, thanks to Jenni Kirby owner of Crossroads and an empty classroom. 

I stopped briefly and chatted with the artist shortly before my students arrived.  I found out she was from Australia and traveling from San Francisco to New York, before I had to go teach.  I was able to resume our conversation this afternoon when she returned. 

The young lady is Hayley Welsh.  and this is her website.

And this is why she is in Virginia.  And this is where she is headed.  
I spent a while asking her all sorts of questions, but why try to remember it all when she has it perfectly well described on her own pages?  Follow the links above when you are done here.  

The school bus parked in front of Crossroads Art Center.

Hayley is from the U.K. living in Australia with her partner Andy, who is also traveling with her.  Both are artists and they are touring the U.S. in a short school bus from the west coast on their way to an exhibit of their work in New York.  Hayley is charming and soft-spoken, seemingly serenely confident that all will happen as it should even if the method of "getting there" is unorthodox.  Her work is intriguing.  She's even left a bit of it behind along the way.  Today she was back at Crossroads, tables and easels filled with her paintings on found objects. Her name and website grace the back of the vest she wore that reminded me of a long chamois cloth.  Hayley was more than willing to talk about her work and had great praise for the photography of her partner, Andy, whose work is fascinating 3-D visions mounted in old toy viewfinders.  

a table full of work in progress by Hayley Welsh

On the tables I saw a skull with horns covered in drawing, a trash can lid, road signs and old prints all altered with her signature creatures that are mostly large eyes, some with ears or legs. She explains these representatives of positive or negative thoughts here. I loved the way she incorporated her creatures into the old prints and paintings, as if they had been a part of the original all along.  (an aside here :  Hayley takes time to research any art she purchases to be sure it is in public domain so that she is not infringing on copyright law before she repurposes it.  That alone was enough to make me a fan for life!)  In other pieces the creatures float or hang out or take over the original object - like this charming piece on a yield sign.

photographed with permission, copyrights to the artwork belong to Hayley Welsh

I am ever and continually amazed at what life brings, if only we take time to pay attention to others and listen to our curious selves.  What if I had not bothered and simply passed by this stranger - what I would have missed!  

I love that Hayley and Andy have packed up everything they own, traveled to another continent on a temporary visit and planned this crazy adventure for the love of their art.  I love that they happened to land in the parking lot at Crossroads Art Center and on a whim asked if Hayley could paint inside while in the area.  Who does that?  Because of happenstance, kismet, karma, who knows?  I met this creative young lady who graciously chatted with me about her trip and her art, about searching for the right vehicle to travel, live and create in, about gathering items and painting for their show along the way.  Even more, I loved finding out once home and perusing her websites that she has written and illustrated two books and already at her young age is a well-received exhibiting artist.  Hayley's enthusiasm for her art and her travel is tangible.  Getting to meet her was my good fortune.  

KittyCat has a new home

I was inspired to paint a little differently when a friend of mine texted this photo taken on his cell phone.  

© Adele Castillo 2013
12 x 18 acrylic on canvas

Recently it was sold from Crossroads Art Center.   Thank you to my newest customer.  And thank you Scott, for sharing your little buddy. 

Productive Time Off

Taking time off from teaching has been one of those things I did fairly reluctantly, but am I ever glad that I did.  The time has been productive.  These were recently finished.   They are claimed and will head to their new home soon.   

© 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas
AllRightsReserved

© 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas
AllRightsReserved

Time Off, but Not Really

"Thin Blue Line" 

That's a painting I began in 2012 or 2013, using homemade acrylics.  I ordered binders and pigment dispersions and thickeners and other fun things from a wonderful company in New York, Guerra Paints and Pigments .   

Point is, it isn't finished.  I thought it was, but I decided to splurge and have a consultation with another artist / teacher whom I admire and respect.  It was well worth every dime.  I spend my time as a teacher, so I don't get to paint as much as I'd like and when I do, I find my fellow artists generally don't give me feedback unless asked.  ( I suppose that's actually a good and polite thing!)  So prior to taking time off from teaching for most of the month of May, I scheduled the consult and now have some ideas about what I wish to do next.  

However, the entire point of taking off was to complete the backlog of paintings I've begun and set aside in the last 7 years.  Yep!  SEVEN years.  So that's what I shall do first. 

As of this afternoon, I am officially on vacation, but not really. I'm on a Paint-cation.  and looking forward to every moment.  

Puppy Butts!

Yes, I am painting puppy posteriors. 

This is number five in a series of small acrylic paintings on cradled wood panels.  

Puppy Butts Five

This one is 4 x 4 inches and is currently is available at Crossroads Art Center.  Price for 4 x 4 panels is $50.   

Finished and Sold

This is Callie.

"Callie" acrylic on canvas 12 x 12
copyright Adele Castillo AllRightsReserved

I began this painting in one of my Paint Along workshops.  That's where students come in and we generally paint the same image. I demonstrate and students copy my technique to get started, but after the initial layers are done, and some valuable technique and color mixing information is shared, students move along with their own interpretation.

Callie's Mom offered her as subject matter for the group that weekend.  She loved it so much, she offered to purchase it.  So Callie was finished up and went home this past week.  

Thank you, Callie's Mom! 

Painting and Teaching

"By Learning you will Teach, 

           by Teaching you will Learn."  

                                                                attributed to Latin proverb and to Phil Collins lyrics. 

Painting in Progress

I've been told I was probably a dog in another life.  If such things are true, it's probably so.  According to Animal Wisdom, I am Coyote.  (ok, that's not exactly what I had hoped - Wolf was what I imagined.)  In this life, I am woman, painter and also, teacher.  

Trying to paint AND teach is challenging.  I manage to do both.  Some will argue you can't do both and do either well.  There is some truth to that.  Only in the sense that you can't be in both places at once.  In my case, it means that I don't paint as often as I like.  

Monday night class

Which is why, in May, for the first time in 4 years, I'm taking a month off from teaching to concentrate on painting.  I'm looking forward to it - chomping at the bit, actually, for May to come NOW.  Not that I don't love teaching or my students.  I DO...beyond description.  But it's time for me to paint.  

New Works and Sold

"Smiling"
6 x 6 acrylic on wood panel 

"Puppy Butts Two"
4 x 4 acrylic on wood panel

Thank you to recent buyers who have purchased a few of my smaller paintings.  These little ones found homes in the last couple of months.  

"Scotty" 4 x 4 acrylic on wood panel

In addition, I have two more small pieces in the Puppy Butts series ready for sale.  These are each 

5 x 5 inch acrylic on canvas.  

"Puppy Butt Three"

"Puppy Butt Four"

More work still on the easels will completed and posted soon.  

Thank you for stopping in.  

2014 in the Studio

 Since October:

Painted for Richmond Animal League Auction 5 x 5 on canvas.
Yes, this is Eugene. 

I've seen several paintings find new homes recently (hooray!) and I have several more on the easels that will hopefully be heading to new homes soon.  

A collector sent this photo yesterday after hanging her latest addition
on the lower right.  All original paintings © Adele Castillo

Workshops are a new addition to teaching my regular classes.  So far, they are going well.  A woman who is a regular student of another teacher in the gallery had been interested in taking a class, but not committing full time - her medium is watercolor. This student specifically requested a demonstration style class, so I came up with a cross between the currently popular paint party concept and a technique workshop.  It's been a success and the participants step away with basic lessons in acrylic painting and color mixing, even though we all use the same image as reference. 

My goal for 2014 is to 

Paint more. Teach more.  Live more. 

So far, so good. 

Eugene - December 1999 - October 29, 2013

Inspiration for so many paintings.  My protector, teddy bear, official guest greeter, rabbit hunter, squirrel chaser, therapy dog.  Angel Dog. You are missed, every day. 

Thank you, for choosing us. 

We loved every single moment. 

On Judging an Outdoor Art Show

"Crater Valley, El Valle,  Panama" copyright Ed Obermeyer
  used with permission

I recently wrote about my experiences jurying two art shows in a gallery setting.  This weekend I had the honor of judging and selecting winners for an outdoor art festival.  And wow, was that a different beast entirely. In the gallery shows, I not only juried in the art, I chose the winning pieces.  The art surrounded me, so I could compare.  I had only the art to speak to me. In the outdoor show, the artists were juried in by someone else.  I had an entire booth (aka "body of work") to peruse and the artists were there to discuss their work.  Then I moved on to the next booth.  Comparing work was difficult, as each booth was a separate environment.


Once I accepted the request to judge the Ocean View Art Show,  I knew that my main goal was to meet and listen to each artist tell me about their work.  At first, I thought the show would be no more than 80 participants - 64 were already juried in by the time I touched base with the show organizer.  This show quickly grew to just over 100 artists.  hoo boy.

I'll back up a bit and explain the outdoor show process.  Artists apply, usually sending in a jury fee and a booth fee in the event they are selected for exhibit.  Most of these shows are sponsored by organizations that either promote the arts, promote a non-profit, or are run by for-profit businesses.  The fees generally are used for award money, to pay the judges, for advertising, site rent and expenses,  then what is left is given to the non-profit or is salary to the for-profit business.  Artists make their money by selling their art.  Some outdoor fests will take a percentage of sales, but that's rare and often in lieu of a booth fee.    

As an exhibiting artist, one of my pet peeves has always been the aloof judge who walks by my booth and never bothers to enter and see what I actually do.  Much of the time I look up to see the "judge's dot" placed on my name card and have no clue what the judge even looked like. I understand taking a quick sweep of the festival, but I have always thought it to be rude for a judge to pass by an artist without even a hello.  In shows where there is more than one judge, there is no excuse.  I have always respected the judge that takes even just one moment to make eye contact with me and at least see my work close up.  Passing by a booth is the equivalent of judging art on-line...the nuances and workmanship may be hidden or overlooked.  I set myself up with a goal that, as the show grew, began to seem unattainable.  I can tell you I fretted the night before, dividing the number of artists by hours in the show to figure how much time I had to spend in each booth.  I didn't think I could do it.

I also knew from my show days that the work would be incredibly varied - and I wasn't disappointed.  It's like comparing apples to kiwis to bananas to pumpkins.  Fine craft was included, and none of those could be lumped into any one category.  The wood carvers, metal smiths, felter, glass blowers and potters had to be considered equally with the painters, sculptors, jewelers and photographers, to name just a few of the categories.  Challenging is an understatement.

"Think. No Evil." copyright Kate Negri
 used with permission

"Think. No Evil." copyright Kate Negri

I arrived about an hour early and casually walked the show.  It gave me a chance to be incognito and see some of the work quietly and gather some first thoughts about what drew me in.  Of course, not everyone was set up, but that wasn't a problem.  I'd see everyone officially later. Thankfully, I had an assistant for the day, who kept track of the time, artists, comments I made, her own thoughts and the paperwork for our trek through the show.  Tonya turned out to be a great match for me and shared my enthusiasm for meeting and greeting.  Often, I was able to take a closer look at the work while listening to the conversations she was having with the artists.  Later, when I had to narrow down some choices, it was helpful to learn she'd had much the same thoughts as I.

Thankfully, I WAS able to see and chat with each artist, even if briefly. The ones that drew me in, that I wanted to know more about, are the ones I considered for awards.  Their works were unique, skillful, consistent.  Most of the artists were very willing to share their techniques or process with me. (Note to artists: Don't go seeking out the judge, put your arms around the judge or tell the judge how many awards you've won unless asked.  It's quite distracting and inappropriate.)  Most artists had personal stories to tell about why they create as they do.  I loved listening to the elder gentleman explain about his walking sticks (each one was entirely different) as well as learning more about a certain jewelry making process from three of the artists.  A young man with a varied display of blown glass intrigued me as did another young man who created intricately detailed paintings of outer space using cans of spray paint.  One potter created her own glazes and one jeweler created sculptural faces using precious metal (silver) clay.  Photographs ranged from heavily manipulated to straight-up, shoot-to-print images.  Narrowing down the awards to just a few artists is not an easy task with so much variety and talent.  In the end, I had to select, so those works that stayed with me the most and made an impression each time I made my rounds were the ones that I eventually chose for awards. Not every one will agree with my choices and that's to be expected.  But I can say that although not every artist that deserved an award received one, the ones that did receive awards deserved them.

Here are links I had for the winners.  (although some of the links are to Facebook posts and may not be retrievable)
Thank you to Ed and Kate for giving me permission to post their images on this blog. 

Kate Negri - Best in Show  - Felting

Ed Obermeyer - First Place  - Painting (acrylic)

Pamela Hill - Second Place  - Painting (oil)

Geoff Coe - Third Place  - Photography

Nate Avery - Honorable Mention  - Glass 

Tracy Anderson - Special Recognition   - Painting (acrylic)

My Big Dog

My big dog is not well.  You can't tell by looking at him. 

Until he begins to move. 

This is my Eugene, in a photo taken this summer. The big guy on the floor. He still eats well and is in general, a happy dog. He's often somewhere near Gregory, or Gregory is somewhere near him. His spine and nerves are deteriorating, making it difficult for him to walk, and harder for him to control his body or even get up on is own.  Yet, he still looks forward to a walk in the neighborhood where on a good day he can sniff the grasses and check out the doggy bulletin boards. He just can't go very far.  

On a bad day it's difficult and trying, exasperating really. Hard for others to watch. Sadly, his condition is much like having human ALS and will not improve.  So we count each day as a blessing and hope we have the strength to say good-bye when it's time.  We've had that talk with his veterinarian already. 

It just seems like yesterday we went through this with our Gracie.  It was only a few months after her death when Eugene began his decline. We suspect it won't be long before he won't be able to get up at all. We watch the days and compare them, to be sure his good days outnumber the rough ones.  And when they don't any longer, we'll have to make that awful decision to end his life before his body becomes a burden he can no longer carry.  

Eugene has been an extraordinary dog - a therapy dog, a watch dog, a gentle giant that never left my side if he could help it. We were once filmed for an episode of Virginia Currents during a therapy visit. He never met a stranger, but didn't take kindly to perceived threats and he'd put himself between me and another in a heartbeat, in the gentlest way, just in case.  He loved to ride in cars and still does, loved being anywhere we were and still does. Eugene, as my friend Polly will say, is magnificent.  So we celebrate the time that remains.