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See you there. 

Exhibit in Gloucester

Another exhibit of my work is opening this Friday, 6-9 p.m., in Gloucester, Virginia at Gloucester Arts on Main.  This includes work from 2005 until 2012.  Other than in my studio, you won't get to see this much of my art in one place. 

Come visit.  Show remains on view until February 25.  

Student Progress

My student Bill has given me permission to share his progress on his most recent painting. 

Bill joined my classes two years ago, give or take.  

His first project was a huge painting of a horse.  It was phenomenal.  Bill paints painstakingly slow, but he's thoughtful and methodical, and in his infinite wisdom, takes all of my advice.  Seriously, he listens and tries out anything I suggest. When it doesn't work for him, we try a different tactic. 

After the first horse, he did a painting of his daughter on a horse.  More techniques down.  

Then he brought in this:

A ginormous painting of his daughter at a young age he'd done several years ago with another instructor. We looked it over and he honestly just wanted to start over.  Nope.  He had the basis down, why do that? And he'd learn a LOT along the way as he corrected mistakes and brought the painting to the final version.  It would be a good lesson for him and good for other students to watch it evolve.  

The red marks are what he did on the first night with me...correcting proportions, shapes and placement. 

Approximately 7 months later, he's about ready to sign it after a few more tweaks. It's beautiful, just like his now grown daughter.  

An Extra 5 Minutes

This isn't what you might be expecting. 

It's about a funeral procession. 

It cost me an extra round at the stoplight this morning.  5 minutes.  It's the least I can do for the grieving friends and family that were trying to keep up with the procession.  Through a very busy, dangerous 6 lane intersection. (2 right turns, 2 left turns and two straight lanes on all sides.)

The number of cars (people) who began to bolt into the procession simply because their light turned green was surprising.  The honking and fists and baffled looks followed. But, bless 'em, everyone in that procession remained in line, honked back and kept on going.  

How many were texting before the light turned? How many were simply in a hurry and didn't care?  How many had their music blaring and thumping? How many felt entitled, because it was their "turn to go?" What if it were your loved on in the hearse? What if it were you, trying to not get lost on the way to the cemetery? 

I remember a time when you STOPPED for a funeral procession no matter what. and waited for the ENTIRE party to pass.  In respect.  

I know it's dangerous now and without a police escort, which is also rare anymore, it's safer to get a map and wait at the light if you are part of the procession.  I know; I've done it.  
But in a country where we continue to grouse about the lack of manners and civility, is this really too much for us to take a moment and wait?  Really, it doesn't matter that the person going to the cemetery isn't "ours."  
Because one day, it will be. 

Kudos #1- Dr. Allison Faber

This year I have embraced a "quest for the positive."  
With that thought in mind, I've had this nagging idea to shout out kudos to those in my community who have had a positive impact in my life as well as others.  So I'm starting this year with:

Dr. Allison Faber.

It makes perfect sense that those who help me care for my animals be at the top of my list. 

http://www.fullcirclevet.net

Dr. Faber holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and is  certified in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.  She practices what I call holistic animal care, or alternative medicine, for small animals and horses. Dr. Faber gave up a traditional practice and uses her intuition as well as her medical background to help countless animals (and their humans) find ways to tackle animal health issues that traditional (or western) medicine just doesn't seem to address.  The idea is to rebalance the body, "giving the body the power to heal itself." I can attest to her success based on the results we've had with my own fur-family. 

Dr. Faber is not a primary veterinarian, (Kudos to them next go round) and doesn't take their place. I see them as complements to one another. For example, currently my big guy Eugene has typical old dog issues, plus laryngeal paralysis and peripheral neuropathy. My regular vet not only does his bloodwork, annual checkups, and dispenses regular meds, but also does laser therapy for his spine and hips.  Dr. Faber offers chiropractic adjustments and herbal remedies for his issues as well.  Combined, I have a dog that is coping quite well and still mentally alert.  And I have two teams of experienced vets looking out for his well-being.  How lucky is he?!

Dr. Faber has also sadly seen two of my furkids through to their final days. Alternative medicine doesn't "fix" our pets, but it makes their lives healthier and easier until their time is complete.

I adore Dr. Faber.  Upon meeting her I could feel her strength and her gentleness. Tall, fit and beautiful, it's easy to picture her on horseback or hiking.  There is a confidant, earth-mother aura about her. Dr. Faber is generous of spirit and heart. Her smile is huge and her gentle approach to animals is quite intuitive. She exudes peacefulness. Even my nervous nellies have warmed to her.

We are thankful to have discovered Dr. Faber and grateful that she is a presence in our lives.   

Hello 2013

It has been a very good year, overall.  I just spent the past hour writing a recap of my year, but decided against posting that. Too long.  So here is my final word for 2012.

This past year I was delighted and saddened by a number of things.  My husband returned home after living in another state for 18 months. I moved into a new studio closer to home. Our Sassy Cat died in October, just a year after the loss of our Gracie. But we adopted Mr. Gregory in February and our house is full of puppy happiness.  A balance achieved. And that is pretty much how the entire year went.  Finally - balance. 

In 2012 I was delighted to catch up with a number of old friends.  By phone, Facebook messaging and in person.  Friends are amazing.  They are yours by choice. They keep you grounded and hold your history.  

2012 was a year I solidified my decision to avoid negative energy.  In people and situations. It's been uplifting for me and I think a relief to those I've left behind.  If their energy was bad for me, I suspect mine was equally bad for them.  We aren't all meant to be in sync. 

In December, I decided that I would spend the next 12 months finding the positive in all that happens.  I also plan to do a good deed, quietly, each month.  A pay it forward plan, as it were.  It's so easy to do.  Something as simple as paying for someone's gas, or groceries (depending on your own wallet) or giving them a hand with a project, baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or rolling in their trash can.  Kindness is easy. I watch my studio-roomie Mikee doing various acts of kindness out of habit, on a regular basis.  So regular, he doesn't even know how extraordinary he is.  

I wish to all a Happy 2013.  May we all be blessed with kindness and acceptance. 

Writing Retreat

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a writing retreat with 4 other gifted writers.  
"But you're not a writer."  I hear you.  And yet, I am.  

The Porches Writing Retreat

I have been writing since I was a teenage girl-child, poetry mostly, which I not so long ago discarded. It was a great way to think through my conflicting feelings that by it's nature the teen years bring.  (and no, I didn't say I was good at it!)  I've continued throughout my life to write in journals - dozens of them.  Not consistently by any means.  They are scattered all around my house in drawers and on shelves.  
I know, here comes that recurring theme - My mother's death.  After she died in 2007,  I plunged into the deepest grief, so deep I could not recognize or name what was wrong with me until just this past year.  I realized as I remembered so many things about my mother that my nephews knew nothing of her life as a woman.  They only knew her as their Grandma. An older lady, not especially warm, who had the habit of blurting out whatever she was thinking.  Which sometimes led to hurt feelings and kept a distance between them. 

In 2008 I decided to write about my Mom while she was fresh in my head and before the memories became too distant and while my mind was still functioning, for the most part, pretty well.  I have a gorgeous leather journal that I began to write in.  and then I stopped. 

Last year when I took my writing class by accident - that's somewhere here in the archives - I began to think again about that goal and began to explore it in writing class.  Fast forward to this past weekend: I dove in again.  
I took a box and a folder of some of Mama's things I'd kept after her death.  A Bible, a mirror, evening bags and gloves, childrens' hats, photos and more.  I used these items as prompts, and oh, did the tides of emotions roll in and out, crashing and so softly receding.  Thankfully the extreme grieving has ended. Still, the memories of a life, hers entwined in mine, of a family whose influences on one another cannot be ignored, began to unfold once again with the writing of each sentence and brought me to tears as well as grins. I began to realize that I cannot tell her story without telling some of mine, as it is through my eyes that I know my mother.  And I cannot tell my mother's story without telling that of my father, sisters and brother, too.  

sunrise from my window

My intent is still to record a family record, for future generations to somehow feel like they didn't descend from strangers, as I feel not knowing much about my own ancestors.  This project has become bigger than life, but still, I'm enjoying the journey.  My biggest hope is that time will allow me to get to the finish. 

Hello!

Yes, I'm still here. 

Farewell, Sassy Cat

Miss Sassy
copyright 2008 AllRightsReserved
Adele Castillo

May your energy and spirit ascend into the Universe, to be used for the greatest good.  May you get to leap fences, romp in the woods, find Bluey and Mama and create the same mischievous mayhem you loved to bring to us.  Thank you for insisting you belonged here. 

We will miss you Sassy Cat.

June 2000 - October 22, 2012

October 2012

...and life getting in the way. 

That's the end of my description of my blog (see above.)  And boy, has it been happening these past few weeks.  As I wrote to my friend Sarah-bean; my life is never dull.  

Sassy cat, my poor pud, became extremely ill nearly 3 weekends ago  with acute renal failure.  The short version is that we went to emergency vet for the weekend, then eventually got her to regular vet where she had the equivalent of kitty dialysis twice a day for a week.  She came home at night, then back in the morning, til her levels came down enough and her kidneys began working without help. She continues to recover, sleeps a lot, but has her good moments, too.  THAT was another close call with yet another beloved furkid. 

Sassy,  post-"dialysis"

Following that, we had issues with every living creature in this house.  It's any wonder I manage to get anything done at all, and sadly, I often do not.  Since my fur-family members are my "kids," they come first.  I don't know - blue moon in September, the fall equinox, election year, whatever, I'll be glad when things balance out a little more. 

the Boys

On a good note I delivered 30 pieces (oops, forgot one at the studio I had to mail the next day. arghhh) to Smithfield, Va. for a show featuring moi-self along with 5 of my gifted students.  Posts and pics will follow soon.  

So, that airmail journaling class I'm behind in? well, I'm still behind.  

Little Bit of Everything

Is what this post is about.  

We'll start with Eugene.  He's doing amazingly well after having a laryngeal tie-back procedure.  It was that, or watch him suffocate to death, which he nearly did during a vacation week back in August.  We still have some issues to deal with, but he's looking better than he has in the last two years.  He's doing so well with oxygen in his system, he began shedding and growing new hair like crazy! My floors are entirely covered in hairballs these days.  Yay.  

While on the subject of furkids, the other three are just fine.  Gregory will soon be one and is the tallest dog I've ever had.  He can sprint off of the deck to the back of our lot in about 3 seconds.  Astounding sight to see him run and dance around the trees for squirrels.  Gabby is oddly now the calmest creature in our household.  What a difference a year makes!  Sassy cat is still fighting inflammatory bowel disease, but we've found her stabilization point.  We don't know how she'll continue to do, but she hangs in there.  

This is a collage, print and paint self portrait.  I joined an Air Mail Journaling group, with Kimberly Kelly Santini, this summer.   I thought it would be a great way for me to segue back into creating, since it was out-of-the-box for me, fairly inexpensive overall and I thought I'd have time. (plus I really love Kimberly's work and her enthusiasm about everything art.)  OK, 2 out of 3 correct, but the time thing just didn't work out.  So I'm about 3 months behind (and thankfully am finding out I'm not alone!) but I AM determined to complete the assignments.  Best of all I WANT to complete them, because when I get going, it's a lot of fun.  (and yessss, I did make myself look prettier and younger because, I can. It's my mermaid look)

Lastly, a gift of two drinking jars.  At the beach. From my friend and pal, Lynne. (Do you know how hard it is to FIND a jar with a lid and a handle?)  A perfect way to end a summer filled with unforeseen challenges as well as new beginnings.  

Kids, Kitties and K9's Art Show

A few months ago the director of a Smithfield art gallery, Sheila Gwaltney of Arts Center at 319, sent an email inviting me to do a show there with the theme of kids, cats and canines.  I happen to know Sheila from my days belonging to a group called Brush and Palette, which sadly no longer exists.  

Of course I was interested, and may I invite a few of my students as well?  
The answer was yes, so we will soon have another chance for 6 of us to show off our work.  

I'll blog more when the time comes, but in the meantime, the opening will be around the first of October and here are a few images of paintings we plan to submit.  

And I should mention all rights to these images belong to the artists - images shared with permission.  

Dreaming II
Dianne Smith 

Muriel
Carolyn Kipps

Presto
Marcia Fowler

Week Wrap-up on Thursday

Because that's the kind of week it has been.  A long week with beautiful weather and I'm pretty much inside with my eldest dog because he's recuperating from surgery. 

This is Eugene 

Notice the HUGE swath of missing hair on his neck and his ode to Michael Jackson glove on his right leg. 

Eugene has laryngeal paralysis, which I've mentioned in former posts, I think...anyway, long story short, (which means of course that's not going to be the case) Eugene scared us to death because we thought HE was approaching death a few weekends back. 

After more walks than usual while on vacation at the ocean in early August, he overheated and could not breathe.  Poor guy (poor us! we panicked a little and the conversation between my hubster and I was not exactly in muted tones) was trying to open his mouth as wide as possible, his tongue hanging out and his chest heaving and roaring as the air tried to enter past his paralyzed larynx.  The nearest emergency vet was 80 miles away, which when you can't breathe may as well be another continent.  We put a fan in his face, I put an ice pack on his head and his paws, the overhead fan was on high, the ac turned low and we prayed he'd cool down enough to calm down.  I don't know why, but heat makes this problem worse.  

Here's a link to Wikipedia to explain what this is all about:   laryngeal paralysis

We'd been discussing for months the idea of surgery and I admit I was the one against it.  This convinced me either he has it or next time he might die.  What was to lose in that case?  We had a consult when we got home and he had surgery the next day, less than a week after the episode.  

Glad to say he's doing really well.  Bonus: He has a magnificent scar he can show off on his next beach trip.  At 13 he's still quite the manly he-dog. 

Mid-Summer Madness

and so it goes

When you leave your little angel out of his crate and unattended for two hours. 

Class Show, Studio Opening

My annual class show and my new studio are both opening to the public tonight (July 20) at Crossroads Art Center in Richmond.  Here's a preview.  Photos of two walls of additional paintings will be added later.  

The latest studio pics are at the bottom.  

Artists Dianne Smith, Nancy Cecere-LeBlanc and Carolyn Kipps

Marcia Fowler, Dianne Smith, Robyn Dillon

Dianne Smith, Robyn Dillon, Marcia Fowler, Adele Castillo
Bill Echelberger, Christina Leighton, Marie Meadows, Carolyn Kipps

Carolyn Kipps, Dianne Smith, Shirley Silberman, Bill Echelberger

Nancy Cecere-LeBlanc, Adele Castillo, Robyn Dillon

Marcia Fowler, Shirley Silberman, Marcia Fowler, Carolyn Kipps

Shirley Silberman, Dianne Smith, Robyn Dillon

storage dividers in the back of the studio

Art on the Walls! 

...and up above

Finally, a place for Mikee's large (6x6) work

Studio Progress!

My studio mate and I are moving into a new space.  We received keys two weeks ago and we (mostly Mike) are in the process of cleaning and prepping it for use.  The photos will explain. 

 Our plan is to be open July 20, to coordinate with my annual class exhibit.  It might not be perfect, but should be presentable by then.  

Our new studio home is Crossroads Art Center located in Richmond on Staples Mill Rd. 

The same gallery where I have wall space and teach.  

The same gallery voted one of the top galleries in metro Richmond.   

Making Art

Hard to believe I have about 6 paintings in progress right now!  Here are two I haven't posted yet.   

unfinished, therefore untitled
copyright 2012 Adele Castillo All Rights Reserved

unfinished, untitled
copyright 2012 Adele Castillo All Rights Reserved

Trying New Options

I'll be trying out new blogger presentation options in the next few days or so.  Bear with me as I find a format I like as my learning curve expands.

Annual Student Exhibit

My 4th annual student exhibit,  Acrylic and Color, is coming to Crossroads Art Center in July.  


This is when I get excited to show off the talents of my "kids" (all adults!) and you get to see what we've been up to in class. 


Some of my students are professional artists - they sell their work and take commission clients.  Some of my students are still honing their skills and finding their voice; either new to painting or just diving back in after a long absence. Others simply love to paint and enjoy the company and advice. Whichever applies, they are all pretty awesome and I'm thrilled to see their finished paintings hanging for all to see.  


Opening date will be Friday night, July 20, 2012.   
Here's a preview:

"Taking the Corner"
by Bill Echelberger
copyright 2012

"Angie's View"
 by Marcia Fowler
copyright 2012

 

Animal Week

This was not a good week for Sassy Cat. 

We should have been at the beach, and I didn't get much done at home, but the critters' well being was more important.  

Misery

Sassy was receiving acupuncture this past month in the hopes it might help with her digestive issues.  She is none too pleased to be 1. in the crate 2. to have pins stuck in her and most of all 3. to have her photo taken with flash. 

Misery Squared

Sassy got worse.  Or more accurately, reached a plateau and wasn't improving.  AND she developed a peculiar gulping habit plus a wheezing sound. We went to an internist.  She had her belly scoped, her belly ultrasounded (I know that's not a word) and better, (or worse?) she had good drugs.  This is woozy recovery time.  Check out her special new wrist "bracelets." Again, not tickled with the Mama for pulling out that dang camera.

Still waiting for test results for Miss Sassy, but we did find something abnormal in her throat.  Once confirmed, I'll post, simply because it could help someone else with a pet with similar symptoms.  

Yoga Gregory

Baby boy Gregory remains a flexible, happy boy.  I swear he can put his back leg over his head, but I can't capture it quickly enough.  We've decided he's a yoga dog.