Windmill, too.

Jo Castillo · #1 10-12-2007, 02:33 PM

This is my second windmill this summer, thus the name. Pastels on masonite fixed with Colourfix in a maroon color. 10 x 16 inches. The mountains are near Magdalena, New Mexico.

C & C always welcome.

Enchanted · #2 10-12-2007, 07:58 PM

Very nice mood Jo. I'm a "student" of windmills and long ago found them one of the most challenging objects to draw realistically. When viewed from changing angles, everything about the blades is different. So the easiest way to handle them, I've found, is as you did in this painting - depicting the full-on circle of blades.

objectivistartist · #3 10-12-2007, 09:43 PM

Love the cool colors....... soothing, tho desolate ....

[could always call it "Waterhole #3".....

]

Trilby · #4 10-13-2007, 12:19 AM

Definitely like this one. You have the sense of isolation and distance and the welcome relief of structure and water in the windmill and stock tank. It just really says South West ranching. Wonderful pastel technique as well.
TJ

Jo Castillo · #5 10-13-2007, 12:33 AM

Enchanted, yes .. perspective on the mills is always a challenge. Whether to show them all or not. Thanks for looking.

Robert, good idea for a name! We used to ride in these kind of clouds and hope one would come over us for shade for a couple of minutes. Try to turn the cows towards the shade. Ha. Amazing how cool the shade is in the high desert.

TJ, thanks. Your comment means a lot. Thanks for taking the time.

Jo

Diane Cutter · #6 10-13-2007, 07:46 AM

That's lovely, Jo, with a great little composition going on. I like that you placed the mill blades against a cloud so they didn't get lost in the darker blue of the sky. Good thinking!

Diane

Jo Castillo · #7 10-14-2007, 12:12 AM

Diane, Thanks. It is nice when something like that works. The old light against dark, dark against light, right? I hope to do more windmills, they mean a lot to people. Lots of memories. We saw one near Reserve, NM, that has a solar panel now so guess they have an electric pump on it. It did still have the blades so maybe it works both ways.

Later,
Jo

susnfx · #8 10-19-2007, 06:13 PM

This is lovely, Jo. I've got a photo of a windmill in a canyon in southern Utah that I've been trying to work with for some time now. You've inspired me to give it another try.

Susan

Jo Castillo · #9 10-19-2007, 10:34 PM

Susan, Thank you so much. This is my third or fourth windmill. They are fascinating and I have many photos.

So I'm sure there will be more paintings. I hope you work on yours and let us see how it goes.

Later,
Jo

sassybird · #10 10-24-2007, 01:32 PM

Windmills are one of my favorite subjects too. You did a beautiful job on this one. I have never tried working pastels on masonite. Did you prep the board some way before beginning your painting?

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