Tanya Visit

Tanya Watching Al Paint. (Tomasito photo, 2009)

When Tanya visited the care center where Tomasito's Creative Workshop meets a few days ago, I took the opportunity to take this snapshot.

This was the first day Al had tried watercolor and we were all pleased with his results and fast progress.

We will probably do more watercolor experimenting during the new year-- 2010--and to our blog readers:

Have a very good, productive, arty and happy new year!

Tomasito


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Me and Al at Work

Me and Al at Work. (Tanya photo 2009)

When Tanya stopped by to see how the Creative Workshop was doing, we got her to use her photography skills to show the world how we do it!

AL has been using watercolor on paper for the first time in his life and he likes it!

He asked me if I thought he could paint with oils and I told him it was the easiest thing in the world--almost!

Now we have to come up with the money for supplies. It's a shame that oils are so darn expensive because I DO think they are easier to work with than watercolor--though the long drying time will be sort of a challenge since we are VERY cramped for space!

Well, it is on our "to do" list so it will probably happen.

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Painting Bea

Bea at Work (Tomasito 2009)

Sometimes when everybody is working, I take the opportunity to do some arty things myself.

The home-school kids had squeezed out some extra paint so I used it to make this quick color sketch of Bea at Work with her felt-tip pens.

Some of the people at the care home think I am a "teacher"--but really I am just another one of the workshop "artists" having a good time with arty materials.

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Observer

Chilly Observer (Tomasito photo 2009)

Not all the residents at the Care Center are active in our workshop--but most of them come over occasionally to see what we are up to.

When one of our projects is finished we usually show it off to the people in the activities room--usually to positive comments like "That's beautiful!". These old people are, thankfully, not awfully critical about our creative projects!

The unfinished project in the foreground of today's photo is one of our signature pizza-box picture frames. We are getting pretty good at making them!

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Bea Drawing

Bea Drawing (Tomasito photo 2009)

The other day our home-school kids, Zaccai and Hannah, were cutting out and pasting together some shapes which are in the foreground of today's photo--examples of the famous "Five Platonic Solids"--and I guess all of us were pretty inspired by them to be more creative.

Most of these card-stock shapes evolved into Christmas ornaments and are now decorating trees here and there.

Ninety-one year old Bea , inspired by our "Platonic Solids" models, I think, did some of her own highly creative free-form drawing.

We all inspire each other to be creative--and I found these appropriate words in the book by Henry Glassie: The Spirit of Folk Art.

"We operate in a world that lies beyond our control, using things we did not make to create things that, like us, will not last." -- "Our creativity is but participation in creation."

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Al Painting

I did this quick color painting of Al as he was decorating a pot yesterday--so we are all busy with arty stuff.


Tomasito


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Alfredo

Alfredo and mask

Alfredo is almost a member of our creative workshop.

Every day he comes around to see our latest creations.

So far I haven't been able to coax him to take a pencil and start scribbling along with the rest of us--but he is a very enthusiastic and supportive critic!

He is holding one of my papier mache masks which we used for our Halloween celebration.

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Lizards

There is a good museum of folk arts of the world here in Escondido.

The Mingei Museum is small but has a very good collection and a changing schedule of exhibits which is very worthwhile.

There is presently a selection of art built around the theme of "Rite and Ritual"-- ceremonial art from different cultures--and one of the works has a series of animals and birds in circular patterns which was personally inspiring.

I have used these thematic ideas for a series of cartoons which the artists in our Creative Workshop have been developing into paintings and other decorative projects.

"Lizards" shown above in black and white is one of our collaborations.

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Activities Staff

Margaret (L) and Rhonda (R) Serve Halloween Cake. (Tomasito photo, 2009)

Hard-working Palomar Heights Care Center Activities Staff (photo above) keep the activities ball rolling all year round.

There is always something interesting happening for the residents to do because of these two ladies.

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