Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Feb 7, 2012, 5:27 pm
I will be giving a pastel demo, landscape, at the meeting of the Municipal Art Guild at the Senior Activity Center, 2874  Shoal Crest, Austin, Texas,  on Wednesday, February 15 at 9:00  - 12:00, phone 512-474-5921 I will be talking about composition, under paintings, surfaces and lots more ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Feb 6, 2012, 12:01 pm
Art life: You can blame my absence from the blogging world on the iPad.  I got one on Friday and I am still not sure about it.  I have encouraged everyone to get one and now ... well.  Maybe when I get it all set up to my preferences and applications, but right now it is just so time consum...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 2:28 pm
The Austin Pastel Society has an exhibit at the  Georgetown Library 402 West 8th Street Georgetown, Texas 78626 Exhibit Dates January 28 - February 25, 2012. You are invited to the reception Sunday, February 5, 2 - 4 p.m.  Refreshments.  There are 50 or so beautiful paste...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Feb 1, 2012, 9:56 am
Scavenger Hunt 254 ended yesterday.  I'm posting the last couple of sketches today and hope to sketch for Hunt 255 soon.  We have some new sketching artists and it is fun to see all the different styles and scenes from around the world.  Ai, in Thailand, sketched on her bicycle ride the other day...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 26, 2012, 12:46 pm
I'm in a posting frenzy it seems so scroll down if you are on my Home page or click on home if you are on the regular post page to see my other posts today. ** Remember today is the ASH Insights Art Show and Sale.  Hope to see you there. **Forgot to say to go to the Texas Music Awards a...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 26, 2012, 12:25 pm
I saw this article today on FASO, it made me smile.  I think this is great advice for buying art and liking what you buy.  It has always worked in our house.  I haven't tried the "moving around" part, but since I don't have many paintings at the moment they will be moved around when I change out ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 25, 2012, 8:42 pm
I painted a small bluebonnet painting.  I had a piece of Pastelbord that I started a painting on in Angel Fire this summer.  I decided to wipe it off and start a new painting.  I wiped it with a paper towel, turned it upside down and started in with the bluebonnet painting.  Usually I would have...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 25, 2012, 2:16 pm
We had 5 inches of rain here at our house this morning.  Amazing.  Our little lakes look a little better.  The one that is more to the east had very little water.  I hadn't even posted a photo as it was so dry.  In fact some kids were riding their four wheelers in it one day. This i...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 24, 2012, 12:36 am
Yesterday was the end of Scavenger Hunt 253.  I did not get my sketches posted even though I finished them on January 20.  I will check out the new list tonight. It has been so difficult to get my mind around things.  Hopefully it was stress and now that we are mostly settled my mind will c...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 18, 2012, 11:31 am
Sketches for Scavenger Hunt 253 done in the same old brown paper sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 01 pen/marker. Number 1 - from outside the house, Number 2 - from inside the house. Number 3, something from the entry or hall. Number 4, something from the livi...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 18, 2012, 11:16 am
When I don't post for ages, I never know where to start.  I have sketched, painted and taken photos that I think you might be interested in, so....  I will start with the photos. You can see the side of the house now!This star was on the side of the old house. ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 13, 2012, 12:53 am
My artist/sculpture friend, Kelly Borsheim is off in Italy again, working hard on her art.  She can use those carving tools and paint brushes with style.  Have a look at her "Gymnast" and read how it was created and carved.  You can see it in person in Dripping Springs, Texas.  Not too far from ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 13, 2012, 12:29 am
I have sketched a little for Scavenger Hunt #252.  I used the Prismacolor Chisel Point marker and the Prismacolor Premier 08.  The chisel has a flat tip so you can make wide and narrow marks.  Fun for a change in pace.  The 08 is one of the fine tip marker/pen that I like as well.  I sketched i...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Jan 7, 2012, 12:43 pm
I want to remind you of the fundraiser for the Austin State Hospital.  I have donated a painting along with friends from the Austin Pastel Society requested by Mike Etie.  I hope you can go or make a donation.  You can see the art and more info on their site:  www.ashinsights.org  I posted abou...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 28, 2011, 1:31 pm
I have been shopping on line.  So much easier to compare and see if items are in stock or have to be ordered.  Put a couple of Amazon apps on my iPhone.  A bit scary for it to be so easy to spend money!  We are trying to shop locally, too, but we don't have some of the stores or items.  Bastrop...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 24, 2011, 5:14 pm
 I went to the Austin Pastel Society meeting on Sunday afternoon.  Enid Wood did the demo.  It was educational and fun.  Her work is beautiful, especially in person. The Pastel Society is making a nice donation to the relief funds here in Bastrop in our name.  That is so wonderful and spe...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 23, 2011, 8:35 am
Out of the Ashes Artists Helping Artists R.A. Green Mercantile Building 1022 Main Street, Bastrop, TX October 7 - 30 Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 11:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 22, 2011, 10:51 am
We have been doing a lot but I haven't been telling about it.  I did some sketching while doing laundry on Tuesday and some more today.  That is good, especially since I am hosting Scavenger Hunt 242. These were done in the Utrecht letter size sketchbook that has brown paper with a Prismacol...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 17, 2011, 9:24 am
We actually went to the golf course on Friday and walked nine holes.  It was a lovely morning, not too many folks around.  I mentioned that all eighteen holes are open, but the back nine has some damage.  We still haven't seen that.   Sadly we hear that one million, five hundred thousand loblol...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 12, 2011, 9:42 am
I sketched a little yesterday for Scavenger Hunt 241 while we washed clothes here at the RV Park.  They are in the brown paper Utrecht sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 05 pen.  Number 1, landscape - the little fall/Halloween set up here in the RV Park.  Number 2, skys...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 10, 2011, 10:30 pm
We were at the maybe new house going over the inspection and our neighborhood roadrunner showed up. We've seen him two days in a row, so must be a regular.  There is a big cottontail living in the front it seems.  We have surprised him three times now, I think. My first of the roadrunner. The...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 9, 2011, 11:42 am
We are still in the midst of the changes going on with us and around us.  We actually got to the golf course on Thursday.  It was a beautiful day.  We walked the front nine with our new pull/push carts.  The old ones are toast of course.  We had our main clubs with us so that is good!
...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 6, 2011, 8:24 am
Slowly we are getting a bit of a routine going.  It seems to help.  I have sketched two days in a row and Gene has ridden his bike a couple of times.  Yay!  The contract on the house is signed and accepted.  Now the inspection, survey and close at some point. New Homefront, front porch.View fro...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Oct 5, 2011, 9:29 am
I actually sketched a little which is good for my soul.  Although, as I have said many times, sketching is a bit like homework.  I am still trying to love it and at times I almost succeed.  I prefer sketching with a pen as it is quick and I can't change my mind. On Wednesday we went by WalM...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 29, 2011, 8:08 am
You are invited to the Tenth Annual Art on the Green show in Bastrop, Saturday, October 1, 2011, from 10 to 5.   Local and regional artists will show their work and present demonstrations at this family event, sponsored by the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild and held on the lawn of the Bastrop County Cour...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 28, 2011, 9:41 am
There is a fire out by Hamilton Pool the other side of Austin that started yesterday.  A few hundred acres.  Be careful out there, it is still very high fire danger.  Keep your butts in the car!!  Burn ban is on. We are up early as has been the case here at the RV park.  It is a beautiful...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 26, 2011, 9:55 pm
Gene did ride his bike and I walked around the little lake and sketched.  I haven't tried standing and sketching in a sketchbook for a while.  Not easy to hold and look.  I did sketch in the large brown paper book so that helped some.  I used a Pilot ball point pen as I didn't want to look for a...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 26, 2011, 11:07 am
Keep Bastrop County Beautiful is notifying where to drop off recycle refuse on their blog at http://keepbastropcountybeautiful.org/removal-of-household-waste Hope this info helps y'all. Here is an article in the Austin American Statesman about Bastrop. * * * * * * *  &...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 24, 2011, 12:32 am
Is a post with just sketches or a post with sketches and rambling from my wandering mind better?  We won't really know because I'm doing the second idea. We went in to Austin to get some shoes and decided to stop at the Ford dealer's to get a replacement for the second key for the Escape.  T...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 23, 2011, 9:44 am
Joanna pointed out this event in October.  Perhaps we could be settled enough to go take part.  Sounds like fun. The article she found is in the Mountain Mail, Magdalena paper.  Here is a link to the website and event info.  Maybe we will see you there! Monte Verde Path, Plein Air Pastel on Colo...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 15, 2011, 9:58 pm
We are on the road to Bastrop.  It was only 60 degrees along the way today.  Will be near 100 when we get to Bastrop tomorrow, sigh....  It rained in front of us most of the way today until we got to the plains of Texas.  There was even some green with wild flowers near Clines Corners in New Mex...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 14, 2011, 11:57 am
We have been so tied to the fires in Bastrop that I haven't done much art.  I did sketch at the B & B on my birthday but my camera isn't working well so will post that later. Regina sent me this link about color.  Very interesting, the color does not look blue in different situations.   Th...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 11, 2011, 11:47 am
With all the news about the fires in Texas and floods back east you may have forgotten that I have a little contest going.   You have until tomorrow midnight to comment on my post to win a copy of Maggie Price’s new book, Painting Sunlight and Shadow in Pastel.  It is so easy to enter and so fe...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 10, 2011, 9:56 am
I'm pretty sure reality hasn't really sunk in yet.  As I said the house is gone.  No one will be able to get in the area for a few days yet.  Joanna (in Austin) has to go to Bastrop today or tomorrow and get a permit to go into the subdivision to see if the house is down to the ground or what sta...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 8, 2011, 11:27 pm
Thanks to everyone for all the support and good wishes.  Thanks to Regina and Larry Burchett for arranging a place for us to stay when we get home, uh, to Bastrop.  It is wonderful to know we don't have to look for a place. It will give us time to figure out what to do.   With so many people with...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 8, 2011, 12:06 am
That did turn out to be true, that no news is good news, 'cause when we got the news it is bad. From two reliable sources we got the word that our house is gone. We are now gypsies and are homeless. We will stay in New Mexico the rest of the week as our rent is paid! We will be ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 7, 2011, 7:34 pm
No news is good news, they say.  Not so sure about that.  Our home is in the middle of the Bastrop fire in Texas.  Gene and I are still in Angel Fire, New Mexico, so thankfully out of danger.  We will probably not hear anything before the weekend.  The area where we life has downed trees and ho...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Sep 6, 2011, 12:44 pm
The show on Saturday, September 3 was fun.  There were lots of people there.  (Doesn't look like it in the photos, but it had rained a little then so traffic had slowed down.)  My make shift booth worked out pretty well.  I have the heavy folding table with us for the small paintings and G...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 29, 2011, 11:55 pm
I painted on Thursday before Gene's ride, but didn't get any post done.  I was trying to get a couple more little paintings done for the Arts About Town on Saturday, September 3, here in Angel Fire.  You can see about it on the sidebar under Exhibits. I put two 5 x 7 Pastelbords on my drawin...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 29, 2011, 2:00 pm
We ate at the Yu Garden for the last time last night.  They are moving the restaurant to Taos.  So, if you are in Taos, be sure and stop in and eat there.  Amanda and family run a great place and have excellent food.  Our favorite was/is the Volcano Shrimp.  The sauce has soy sauce in it and th...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 27, 2011, 4:55 pm
Happy Belated Birthday to Gene, August 26! Every year Gene likes to ride his age in miles on his bicycle on his birthday.  He has been doing it for many years, now.  He decided back then that by the time he was 80 or so it would be difficult to ride that far, so he tried to get in 100 miles ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 24, 2011, 1:48 pm
It is a great morning again, didn't get up as early so it was warm enough to sit out there .. comfortably.  I had my usual decaf and rice cake with peanut butter, cream cheese and raisins.  I alternated yesterday and had bananas instead of raisins, but must admit that I have grown fond of the rais...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 23, 2011, 4:36 pm
It is so hard to believe that we have finished 234 Hunts.  Wow.  There are several of the artists that have taken part in all the Hunts, since 2006.  I should be an expert, eh?  It is interesting that my style has not changed much.  It is like handwriting.  I can copy other work, but when I do...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 23, 2011, 10:53 am
About 5:30 yesterday we were sitting here in the living room.  The building gave a huge jolt and then there were a couple of shudders. Gene,  "What was that?"  Me, "I don't know, are they still blasting here?"  "Don't think so, didn't sound like an explosion," he says.  "Maybe an earthqua...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 20, 2011, 12:14 pm
 Don't forget to check out the challenge to win a book on the upper right of my blog!  You have until September 12. We are on the road again, this time to Socorro, New Mexico.  This is for a family birthday gathering.  It was supposed to be for the August birthdays in Gene's family, but I ...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 17, 2011, 7:55 pm
First thing this morning, I sat on the deck and sketched.  It was so beautiful ... and cool.  I had to have a flannel shirt on, can you believe it?  It is still just 60 degrees after the rain this afternoon. I sketched in the usual sketchbook with the brown paper.  I like it but the camera...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 17, 2011, 4:41 pm
It rained for about thirty minutes about an hour ago.  The birds loved it, too.
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 17, 2011, 12:23 pm
Regina Burchett entered the challenge to win a copy of Maggie Price's new book, "Painting Sunlight & Shadow with Pastels".  Regina's paints in a colorful and impressionistic style.  We have been painting buddies for several years.  (Posts on my blog) We met in Bastrop and have become artist frien...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 17, 2011, 12:08 am
I did do some sketching this morning on the deck.  It was so gorgeous out, how could I resist.  I sketched for Scavenger Hunt 234 in the Utrecht paper size sketchbook with a pencil first then the Prismacolor pen.  I was too lazy to get up and get the pen for the first sketches.  That's the way I...
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Jo C. posted an article on Jo Castillo Art Blog - Aug 16, 2011, 11:15 pm
This doesn't have art related info except to remind you of the Challenge on the sidebar where you can win Maggie Price's new book and a copy of the Pastel Journal.  Check it out. We had family here just about the whole time we have been in Angel Fire.  It has been a great time, but I haven't...
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