Drawing Workshop Finale

Here is where I left off. 

After making that leap into a more solid drawing, this is what happened next. 

Our model began a pose which lasted over an hour, with breaks in between.  This one on the right is the first round for me.

This one on the left is the 2nd version.  

I felt I had finished with the one above, so started a new one of the same pose.  Using eraser, I began to "paint" in the form after drawing.  It began as an accident after I tried to pull some white out of a too-heavy dark area. (I think anyone who draws probably already knew this, but I haven't done charcoal drawing in so long, it was like a new discovery.)  I really liked how the eraser worked as a tool and since painting is where my comfort zone lies, It worked really nicely for me.  I was really getting into the work when it was decided it was time for a new pose. 

This one was a short pose, the end of the day, so this is all I had time to do.  I love the right leg - so powerful.  Looking at both legs, you can see where I complete the drawing on the left, then use the eraser to blend on the right one. 

This next image won't make a lot of sense, because I tossed out the work I did leading up to it.  I know!! tsk tsk, - so let me set this up. 

The last day of the workshop we spent working with materials.  The idea was to exploit 2 mediums to their fullest; basically do everything you can imagine with them and more.  This is where I have real problems as an artist.   Liz,  who was next to me for this task, LOVES, loves, loves playing with materials.  She could really care less (at first) about making anything - she just enjoys the process of discovery.  It was very helpful to me to have her nearby and watch her joy and playfulness. 

I like to take one medium and learn as much as I can about it and apply it to what I'm intending.  I don't tend to take the medium beyond it's purpose, so this day was a bit frustrating for me.  I chose oil and chalk pastels; two items which are very difficult to make work together.  

ok, so I set myself up....

anyway, after doing some typical texture studies, which I thought were kinda fun but Thomas (our instructor, see previous posts) seemed to think I wasn't pushing enough.  So he bolts off, comes back quickly and asks "what is your favorite food?"  "Chocolate..." I said with much hesitation and wondering what that was about.  "What kind?"  huh?  "What kind?"  I shook my head and he whips out a peppermint patty.  "Now paint with this."  

ohgoodlord. He broke the patty in half, smeared it all over his hands, then all over my paper, handed it to me and !  I had sugar and chocolate everywhere.  Sugar melts, so it wasn't terribly useful, but it did leave a residue - a very sticky residue, which explains the tossing of the experimental papers. Chocolate is best eaten, in my opinion.  But it did help loosen me up and yes, I probably could have pushed it more.    

I did go on to find ways to make the chalk and oil pastel work together, with the addition of white ink. I had a plastic container for my ipod earbuds, and decided I wanted to do shiny with these non-shiny materials.  I know how to do it with pencil or paint,  or color pastels, but this was a challenge.  I didn't achieve complete success, and it isn't a wonderful drawing, but I didn't do too badly.  

The 2nd part of this workshop comes up in April.  Can't wait!  

Drawing Workshop Continued

This is the next step after that frustrating experience drawing multiple positions continuously on one piece.  I've done it before; it was that I couldn't SEE any of them on the paper.  Many heavy sighs and furrowed brows later, Thomas says "if you are worried about what's on the paper, you are worried about the product, not the feeling."  OK, so I'm quoting incorrectly, but that's basically what he said.  Stop looking at your paper.  Capture the form.  






Obviously I am still struggling with that.  But there are hints of it happening.  And it gets better in the one on the right.  

 

I am still more comfortable with contours, and at this point am not even realizing yet that is what I'm continuing to do. But I like this drawing quite a lot, regardless.  I'm feeling a little Picasso-ish with the minimal lines getting the esscence. (check out his Mother and Child, 1922, which I won't put here since I don't want to deal with copyright issues - but it can be googled)

Here we are again - Thomas is all over my paper.  It's very helpful to have the visual demo help me figure out what I'm doing.  He did the leg on the left, no contours - a quick line for placement, circles for form.  




And look what happens next.  


whoa. 


a leap has been made.  
even more to come...

Drawing Workshop

Drawing is not something I’m “known” for, but drawing is at the core of what I do.  Underneath all the color and medium, I’ve always aimed for a strong beginning - a good drawing.  I haven’t always hit the mark, but it’s where my art begins.  

So recently I’ve been wanting to draw - get my hands into the paper and my medium, to feel the work emerge, get back to my roots, so to speak. I haven't had much time for classes in the past decade, but I fit in something now and again.  Finally, the opportunity to take a class with a teacher I admire and respect came along. A 3 day workshop with Thomas Bosket, an instructor (professor) from Parsons New School in New York. I won't go into how he happens to be in Richmond, but I have worked with him before. So I knew what to expect: to expect the unexpected, and he delivered.  

I'll start with a few images: 

My first drawings were of a rocking chair.  Contours and mark-making.  Gesture. Showing the essence of the rocker, that wasn't actually rocking. I'm literal - Draw a rocker rocking when it is still?  Capture the movement of a still object? My good mood quickly darkened.  I hated the drawings.  

Then came the model.  I had no idea we were going to do figure drawing.  This was a basics class, so I figured I'd just happily float along while he instructed the beginners.  ha.  

Anyway, here I am doing what I know, sort of, and adding in lines that I think capture the body.  

It's ok.  

ok, it sucks.  

  I'm liking this one better.  Fewer lines capturing the position. but oh no - not quite what I'm supposed to have gotten.  hmmmm. 

Now I think this one is sweet.  But we were doing quick gestures with form, so I'm running out of time.  I'm missing the point and getting contour, but not gesture.  ackkkkk!!  

 Below is a piece I began and Thomas jumped into.  I was missing the ground and mostly missing the curves. The round swirls are Thomas showing me how to capture an entire curve, around the entire object even when I don't see it.  

Check out my rendition of curves - zig zags.  

ohhhhh - kaaaaaay.  

Then came this:  Thomas is moving while the model takes a break.  All the while he is talking to us trying to get into our heads what each of us is not doing. (and that is different for each of us.)  We can't lift our charcoal from the paper AND we are to capture each gesture he is making and get form at the same time.  I'm getting frustrated and pissy - all I see is a mess.  All he wants me to do is FEEL.  The drawing.  The movement.  crap.  I don't feel, I render.  What I see....

more to come......

Collaboration

Three years ago my friend and gallery owner Wayne decided to host a themed show based on collaboration at his Riverview Gallery in Portsmouth, VA.   I invited fellow Richmond artist Mike Keeling to join me in a painting.  We were both artists with studios at Art Works at the time. 

Long story short, we wound up making two paintings, loving the experience and wound up as studio mates sharing space at Plant Zero in Richmond.  

Fast forward to January 2011.  

Mike and I are still happily sharing space and friendship.  Collaboration with another artist can be a wonderful experience and honestly, we've been lucky that we are not only compatible, but we have so much to teach one another.  We are totally different souls who approach art in such different ways, but we both have a desire to learn, encourage others and to share.  

"Deck Pup"
Mike Keeling and Adele Castillo
All Rights Reserved

So, Wayne sent an email about another collaboration project and !! we had two weeks to get something done.  I was up for that challenge, having just finished my sketchbook project and wanting to get back into a fun painting before tackling commissions that have been put on hold for awhile.  Mike was up for it, so here is our latest, which will be at the 3rd Annual Collaboration Show opening this Friday night at Riverview Gallery.  

Sketchbook Project

Add caption

RAINING DOGS AND CATS,  simply sketches

I thought it might be fun and challenging to take on a new project.  I belong to Art House Co-op, an online gallery where you can "meet" and share your art with other artists from all over the world.  It was based in Atlanta, but moved to Brooklyn, NY in 2010.  You can access the site here : Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

Above is the cover for my sketchbook.  I originally had a grand idea in mind, but it didn't take shape in the sketchbook I was doing pre-sketches in, so I decided to tackle those in another format. Then I realized, how silly!  I was doing sketches in a sketchbook FOR a sketchbook.  Why was I doing that? Why would I feel silly?  Well, when you see some of the other books, you will know exactly why:  there are so many talented, gifted artists out there doing amazing things with these tiny little books.  I was feeling competitive and overwhelmed.  Competitive?  this is art, not a sport!  

So after talking with my friend Charles, who was also doing a sketchbook, I decided to honor the spirit of sketching and do, well, a sketchbook. 

Some of the sketches turned out nicely, some not so wonderful, a few surprised me and a few others have given me ideas for a new approach to my paintings.  All the ways in which a sketchbook SHOULD work for an artist. As a bonus, I've learned to love sketching again.  

Thank you, Art House Co-op.  

sleeping dog

2 unsuccessful versions of the same dog.  May as well show the oops drawings, too. 

yawning dog

King and brief Notes

King

Happy New Year.  2011 is here.  As I always do in January, I look forward to classes continuing, meeting new students, reorganizing the studios (seems it's becoming an annual ritual) and generally getting back into good habits. 

I'm currently working on a sketchbook project for Art House Co-op, an online gallery and artists' collaborative.  I thought it would be a nice challenge to get me working regularly again.  Yea, well - now I'm scrambling to complete as much of it as possible.  The good part?  I'm really enjoying the sketches of the various dogs and cats I live with and /or have photos of.  


In February I'm headed to a local, intense drawing workshop.  I canNOT wait to get my hands back into paper, charcoal, crayons and whatever other fun materials we use.  Exploring and reconnecting with other media only makes my art better.  I'm also hosting and participating in an encaustic workshop.  This will be a new media for me.  


In between, paintings are happening and they'll show up here when it's time. 


updates on my fur-family for those who've been keeping up :
Gracie is maintaining status quo.  I honestly didn't think she'd survive, but she's surviving with intent.  Still has food issues, but that girldog has some strong will to be.  She astounds and confounds me. 
Gabriela continues to improve her social skills - on her own.  With friends in and out during the holidays, she chose to be in the same rooms with us, check out new people, allow others to touch her, even if fleetingly.  I grin like a proud mama. 
Eugene is declining slightly.  He is now 11 and at 80 pounds, we're lucky he's still as healthy as he is.  We're hoping for some normal aging for him, because there is no way I'll be able to pick up an 80 pound dog even with intense gym work. 
Sassy cat is nearly age 11 as well and she continues to oversee and control the household from whatever perch she chooses. 

King

Since it's snowing outside it's a good day to blog and finish up a painting.  


This is King. Although King passed on many years ago, his humans loved him dearly and have wanted his painting for awhile.  He is a mixed breed, but resembles a Duck Tolling Retriever. 
His mama human has been the perfect client...she loves art and just let me do my thing.  So here he is, so far,  from the beginning.  Stay tuned - he'll be finished soon. 

charcoal sketch

first colors over magenta wash

adding layers making color choices

details and layers

more layers

December Catch up

A friend of mine brought to my attention that I had not posted in quite some time, so she was concerned about how things were going.  Thus, this is a quick post.  No pics.   


I've noticed I have the term "catching up" in some form or another in numerous blog titles.  That's how I feel almost all of the time these days.  Like I'm always catching up.  I'd be happy to just be on task, or in the moment, or caught up would be grand, wouldn't it?  I know I'm not alone - I hear the sentiment coming from quite a few others.  


So, here's my catch up list: 


Gabby graduated puppy school.  well, duh.  Smart girl, 4 years old, done that part.  She's doing really well as we continue to hone her social skills, which is why she was in remedial education to begin with.  Yay.  Dog walks with Jenn Kyzer are perfect for Miss Gabriela. 


Gracie is doing quite well.  Holding her weight, eating for puppy sitters, her normal grouchy self. 
She's even brought herself up the long flight of stairs to the 2nd floor several times.  Which does not make me happy, since I have to carry her down, but it does make me proud of her accomplishment.  


Eugene my middle dog is the best dog on the planet. Ever.  . 


Sold "Harmony in Three" to the perfect home.  It was more like an adoption.  I love it when a painting goes where it will be loved!  Wait, I lied.  I can't stand a blog post without at least an image.  

"Harmony in Three"

Made a trip to Atlanta to visit my husband on a work assignment, and to visit a cousin (her father, my uncle, passed away last month.) Also went with same cousin to see the Salvadore Dali exhibit at the High Museum.   wow.  I don't understand how his head works, but his art and technique are awe-inspiring. 


Painters Block is waning.  Back in the studio in short spurts, but accomplishing.  


And of course, the show of work by my fabuloso students is still on view at Crossroads Art Center.  Go see.  Go buy art.  Local, beautiful art.  It's a nice show.  


Here's one from the show.  

Art work by Nancy LeBlanc

CLASS WORK

Opening Friday November 19.  
Crossroads Art Center
See prior post for more information. 

"Breakfast Table" by Adele Castillo

"Legs Go" by Shirley Silberman

"Ibis" by Linda Lewis

"Sunday Joy" by Mike Keeling

CLASS WORK ART EXHIBIT

I am proud to present the 2nd (hopefully annual) show of my students' art work.  The show is titled CLASS WORK and will open November 19 at Crossroads Art Center in Richmond.  

"Tree" by Caitlin Flora

"Onions" by Dianne Smith

          

"The Daily View" by Marcia Fowler

And you thought all we painted were dogs. 

Come visit and see more wonderful works by even more very talented artists. 

Gracie

 Although lately I spend more time with dog issues than I do in my studio, I wouldn't have done anything differently.  Gracie is my 14 year old collie-lab mix who has just had a rough time of it these past few months.  I am well aware that at certain points, had she been part of another family, she'd have been put down.  Sometimes it is sadly about affordability and other times it's about having the time to deal with a pet's illness.  I find that heartbreaking, having to choose to end a life based on money and time.  But I know it's real and I'm grateful I am not in those shoes.  

Even more so, because Gracie is finally coming around.  After 84 days, or nearly 3 months, my old girl is beginning to ask for food, showing a bit of appetite, is 100 % mobile (though she has her moments of stumbling and awkwardness) and putting on a tiny bit of weight.  She's been through acupuncture, countless diet changes, x-rays, ultrasound and I've taken her off her daily meds.  Yesterday she spent the afternoon at the referral clinic (VRCC) being observed and we're awaiting results of bloodwork to see if she is unable to absorb nutrients, among other things.  


Gracie is not a lovey-dovey dog, but when I leave the house lately and come home, she is beyond happy to see me.  I think she knows she isn't quite right and she is relieved she hasn't been left.  I'm tickled to see her romping again with the other pups and generally just acting like an old lady dog.  I've known all along this was not her time to die.  She wasn't right, but she was in no way ready to give up.  And when she is, I'll be there to help her through that transition.  Until then, we are thrilled to have our old gal still with us. 

October!! Dogs, Art and Life, ohmy.

Hard to believe we're heading towards mid-October already.  I JUST finished the 43rd Street Festival yesterday...or so it seems.  I've actually had some "free" time, loosely defined, where I could actually sit down with my pups and watch a little Ellen or Dexter or another fav show.  I began reading a book 2 months ago, read about 1/2 a chapter, and then was able to finish that chapter yesterday in my doctor's office.  I have no clue when I'll get back to it.   I think anyone can relate...at a "Certain Age" we all seem to lose our free time which we so badly need in order to regenerate, and when we do have it, we fill it in with bits and pieces of things unfinished.  I REALLY miss the days from my 20's when I'd get home after work and sit down and wonder what I would do for the rest of the evening.  

from 43rd Street Festival of the Arts

So, to catch up, I'll start with Miss Gracie.  You can see prior posts if any of this is new.  Or just skip altogether and wait for the next painting to be posted. 
Anyway, my old girl-dog Gracie has nearly fully recovered from her bout with Canine Vestibular Syndrome.  She's unfortunately not ever really recovered from her weight loss and remains odd about food and eating, as well as feeble.  After 2 months we're realizing that Gracie is simply at the end of her life and we're here to help her through the transition, no matter how long it takes.  She's otherwise vibrant, interested and loves her very brief walks in front of the house.  She eats better than any human I know, (when we can get food in her) since we now offer her people food.  Steak, green beans, brussels sprouts, beef sticks, cheese, yams, etc.  My fridge has never been so well-stocked.  The other dogs think it's the best thing ever, since they get her leftovers.  Here you can see Gracie talking to Gabby and she looks beautiful. 

Eugene, Gracie, Gabriela

Next up is our Gabby lab - the anxiety filled wonder hound who is forced against her will to ride in a car (!!) every week to puppy school (triple !!!) and actually socialize with other living beings besides her pack.  oh the horrors.  In spite of her protests - she actually squeezes herself in our bedroom between a chair and a table to make herself invisible and inaccessible - once we arrive she is actually coming out of her shell.  I've learned to take her on a walk around the facility about 10 minutes prior to class to help her shake her energy.  This is a dog than can leap  spring-loaded about 4 feet straight up in the air with no running start.  She's 54 pounds.  So the walk helps and this week she greeted nearly every person and dog as they arrived.  Wow.  I was beside myself with happy.  Granted, playing was not an option and once greeted she was done, but for her to choose to greet and feel safe enough to sniff noses, hands and butts (you are on your own with the visuals) was great progress.  I think some of the other humans still don't quite understand why we are there - she knows the commands and behaves quite nicely - but I am grateful for everyone who has been open to us hanging out, walking around and doing our thing a bit separately from the class assignments.  


Life has been life.  Classes are full and running, lingering commissions are seeing fresh paint,  weekends are reserved for my husband.  In other words, It's good, challenging, busy.  Whose isn't? 

43rd Street Art Fest this weekend.

Just a reminder to come visit the art festival this weekend.  
43rd Street Art Festival

Gabby Goes to School

A while back I wrote about my hound Gabriela and her "issues."  


So, I decided to take her to one of Jenn Kyzer's classes. We have made such great progress with our at home work, it's time to socialize a bit.  Alas, the only class that fit my schedule is puppy class.  Oh lordy, sorry Jenn, no slight meant, but GEESH I had forgotten how boring puppy school can be.  


Don't get me wrong, I think every puppy needs a puppy class and the humans need it more.  A good instructor covers a lot of territory.  Not just commands (like sit, stay, wait, etc.) but she/he will also talk about health, playtime, feeding, etc.  Jenn is a thorough instructor.  


While the instructor verbalizes all this information, the pups are actually learning to sit quietly (or as much as a puppy can sit quietly) and the humans are also learning how to handle their pups when they get bored.  Was that stated?  Well, no, it's actually one of the subtle benefits of a class.  But lordamercy me.  give me Patience.  

This is what Gabby would much rather be doing. 

So in the meantime, my little anxious houndy-hound is not a happy camper.  She's nervous, likes only one of the puppies so far ( a cute little Boston Bull) and I'm trying to let her get near, but not too close to the others to see how she reacts.  Growling is not a good thing.  But pups have E-N-E-R-G-Y.  And now Gabby doesn't like that.  Which is hugely ironic because it's what causes her such anxiety much of the time...her OWN energy.  Ha.  She can dish it out but she can't take it so well.  anyway, it's why we are here, the 4 year old dog in the puppy class.  To learn to socialize without being deathly afraid. 

Ok, here is a sample of the first class for me and Gabby.  We are all gathered in a loose circle in an outdoor parking lot.  Pups are chewing on leashes, wiggling, laying down,  trying to play with the pup next to them, etc.  So we do this exercise called "settle" where we basically wrap our arms gently around our dog, pull them to us with a thumb in the collar and say settle.  Hmmmm.  well, Gabby is 4 years old.  She is settled.  She has no clue why I want to hold her in public.  It's weird, mom.  But she lets me and then she sits.  So I let go and she stands and backs away.  I hold her, say "settle" she sits.  I let go, she stands and backs away.  Gabby believes that sitting is the magic answer to everything so duh, she sits to get out of it.  I'm baffled.  So I hold her.  Repeat the above.  Until I get tired.  In the meantime Jenn is talking about   - I don't know what.  (sorry again Jenn)  


Now that I am standing and Gabby is by my side, being the polite girl she is, a woman walks by in the road behind us.  I hear a growl.  uh-oh.  "shhhh....it's ok."  growl.  "shhhhhh...."  The woman has a hat on.  double uh-oh.  growl.   "shhhhh..."  Thankfully a plane flies overhead (we're near the airport as the crow flies) and Gabby sits down and pulls her neck back, looking up to see if the plane is going to fall on her head.  Oh yes, she really does not like things in the sky.   But, it gets her mind off of the hat lady.  yay.  


Next we do sits.  Well, we have that one down.  Then we do "look at me."  Eye contact.  Now here is a challenge.  No way on earth Gabby is going to look at me.  I don't care how much food she gets, she isn't gonna.  Nope.  So I give up.  in class.  and after a bit more talking from Jenn we are done.  ugh.  


This week I have been practicing "look at me."  Gabby learns very fast when she feels safe, so she's eyeballing me like crazy.  She always looks me in the eyes when she wants something anyway, but now I'm training her to look at me when I want something.  Huh...so far so good.  But will she do this in class?   


We'll see what happens next.  

Coming Up

The 43rd Street Festival of the Arts is Saturday, September 25 from 10 - 5.  I plan to be there and it is a rain or shine event.  This is another of my favorite shows to do.  Although small, the quality of work is outstanding and I'm just tickled to be included.  

I sent out my email newsletter this morning, but aol addresses are kicking them back to me.  So if you are a friend, fan or client and want me to keep in touch, please be sure my email address is in your address book.  Of course if you DON'T want me to send you newsletters, let me know that, too.  


On a similar note, because I have a website (in addition to this) my email address has been and continues to be phished by spammers.  That means you may possibly receive an email from my address that is quite obviously spam.  If so, it did NOT come from my address book, nor did I sell or share your information.  "They" have even spammed me with my own address.  Which is how I know this happens.  And why aol, among other servers, tends to kick back group emails. 

It's been hectic lately, but I'll hopefully see some of you soon. 

Yay! Art! Yay!

Finally, a few pieces to share.  


43rd Street Festival of the Arts is coming up and here are 3 of the pieces I HOPE to have ready for show.  

not settled on the title, but I'm leaning towards 

"Reigning Cats and Dogs"

In progress.   

Complete, but not yet titled

These commission pieces are finally complete and delivered. 

"Micki"

"Plum"

For Kokomo Joe

I have been blessed these last 6 years with the privilege of meeting and getting to know so many pets and their humans.  Each family is unique and wonderful.  They all have special relationships, some quirky, some amusing, some touching.  All loving.  It's such a joy to get to know the animals I paint when that is possible.  Of course, I never really get to know them the way their humans do, as my time with them is typically short and with a camera between us for a good portion of that visit.   Yet, I still have an attachment to these precious beings that do not live with me.  

Last night I received an email that Kokomo Joe, a handsome Newfoundland that I'm preparing to paint, had lost his battle with a very recent and baffling illness.   I first met Kokomo in April of 2007, during our first photo shoot.  He romped with his partner Maggie Mae in their backyard.  Maggie is actually the most photogenic of the two, but Kokomo had the most personality.  What a pair. 


My first reaction was typical. I burst into tears.  I had just taken another round of photos this past June.  Linda and Mike are the most gracious and accommodating clients and clearly love their fur-friends.  We spent some time trying to get better pics of Kokomo.  Maggie had had her hair trimmed and looked like a gigantic black lab.  Anyway, about the same time that my Gracie became ill, a few months after that photo shoot, Kokomo took ill as well.  Linda and I shared updates via email, so I wasn't surprised so much by the latest news as I was simply hard-hit.  The connection to this family had been made, so of course I grieve their loss.  


Our animal companions give us so much and ask so little of us in return.  All they really want is food, shelter, some play time and lots of love.  Kokomo had this in buckets-full.  


To all of the special creatures whom we've loved, who've passed on, who continue their journey in the Universe without their earthly bodies, I say thank you for sharing a moment of your life with ours.