Comfort Zone Skedaddle

 

 

Flowers for Michelle. 18 x 24 acrylics on watercolor canvas. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

Flowers for Michelle. 18 x 24 acrylics on watercolor canvas. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

 

A series of firsts this one. First large piece in some time. First time working with watercolor canvas. First attempt using my watercolor techniques with acrylics. First “commission”.

My cousin Michelle requested this in September. She recently purchased her first new home, and I am honored she wanted my work on her walls. We have been discussing motif’s and palettes. She had originally chosen a larger canvas, but decided she wanted to have the freedom to move it in the future. She was very definite about the yellow she wanted, and it had to have her favorite light turquoise as well.

I had a slight heart palpitation when we got the canvas home, and it was for watercolors. Perfect for what I wanted to do, but having never seen it before, I was not sure how to work with it.  I had a hard time finding any information. This video is about a different brand, but will give you an overview.

The canvas is very smooth, and thinner than regular canvas. In fact, we had to return the first one because it had some indentations that were not visible under the shrink-wrap. (Palpitation #2, lost a night of painting time.) We had checked it very carefully. When I went back for the exchange, I opened the canvas before I left the register to be sure it was flawless. There was no line, and the cashier was very gracious.

I have to say this canvas was a dream! I love it. Colors mingle easily and mistakes wipe right off. I had an “OH NO!” moment when I noticed that some of the paint had migrated to the sky area. The area I was working on must have had a slight slant. There were three long lines. You can see a bit of it here.

Oops! Stems kept growing.

Oops! Stems kept growing.

I grabbed a wet paper towel, and wiped off the drips. I did not have to scrub, so there were no bits of paper left. One drip was quite dark, and the edges remained. When I laid in the sky, the new color absorbed the old, and there was no evidence of the goof.

I started by splattering clean water on the lower part. I wanted to encourage the paint to move on its own. I painted the stems, then the blooms. Splattered more of the indigo and turquoise and added some white flecks as well. I painted in the sky, and had some ugly hard edges at first, but as I continued to work, they softened. The sky is a mix of blues, not really visible here.

Lower right detail.

Lower right detail.

It was a two-day trip to California, but I ended up only have one morning to paint. I was not sure when my ride home would pick me up, so I was under the gun!

My inner critic says it is not finished. I left white around the blooms, and I think I should have taken the blue all the way to the bloom edge. Or maybe outline the blooms with soft scratchy pen work for definition. Also the sky looks a bit empty. I wouldn’t add clouds, but maybe the blues should have been different values so there would be more variation. Just thinking out loud. I can always go back in and work some more. But my cousin loves it, and that is all that matters. (To that critic – Shoo fly shoo!)

I had a heart stopping moment in the end. Thought I had sealer, but it was blending fluid!!! I had already poured it on the dry canvas!!! I had brushed most of it on, when I noticed that it was staying slick, and a bit of yellow lifted. I had no choice but to smooth it on gently, and hope it did not turn into a pile of muddy goo.

I used a blow dryer, but the fluid was not drying evenly. Michelle works from home, and I had to leave without telling her about the goof, before it dried completely, and I did not get to see her reaction to it. I will return to seal it, so I can be sure the finish is even.

Finished.

Finished.

For all the flubs and missteps, I had so much fun working on this. My visit with Michelle was so much fun! One night we even had a donut and a glass of wine! Don’t worry, it was a dessert wine, LOL. I was able to visit with my Aunt and Uncle, two more cousins, and Michelle’s daughter as well.  Good trip all around!

 

 

 

 

12 thoughts on “Comfort Zone Skedaddle

  1. Michelle

    Oh Sheila, I feel so bad, all of this was happening while I was working. You have quiet palpations. I will wait to put it in a fame, so you can put the shiny stuff, and add whatever you feel it needs. Yes, I love it, but I want it to be something you are satisfied with. Your the artist! Plus it gives an excuse for you to come here, or I go to AZ. Thank you again cousin ?

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      Aww cousin, not to worry. Don’t feel bad. I was just sharing the experince with friends. And as a reminder for me years from now. Stuff happens, and as artists, that is part of the experience. 🙂 I knew my artist friends would understand, and maybe for one or two, reading the post would help them through their next struggle. I’d love to know what you think about some of the changes I mentioned. And the sealer does not have to be shiney, it can be semi gloss or flat, your choice 🙂 It was a terrific learning experience, ThAnK YoU for the opportunity!

      Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      I think you would love it Emma 🙂 From what I am reading, Hobby Lobby is the only one who has the Masters Touch Brand. But Fredrix has a line as well.

      Reply
  2. carol edan

    What a wonderful gift!!! Getting out of your comfort zone isn’t that hard, now is it??? Never heard of canvases for watercolors… great that you can repair drips etc. Love the details.. wish your photos were a bit larger 🙂 All the best!!!

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      Sorry about that. I forgot to say that you can click on the image to see it larger. (smack to the forehead) Love seeing your class studies Carol. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Val van der Poel

    Well done Sheila! Although there were many firsts for you while doing this piece, at least you still had your favourite yellow to work with. I like the turquoise too – it adds a nice touch.

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      She wanted some of my yellow flowers 🙂 I am going to have to use that turquiose again, I really like how cheerful it is 🙂 thanks for dropping by Val 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dotty Seiter

    Well, well, well, didn’t you just step right out of your comfort zone, Sheila?! Hats off to you! I am in awe of your courage and derring-do. Working on commission, working under a time constraint, working with a new kind of canvas, and discovering you were using blending fluid when you thought it was sealer: YIKES! And now Michelle has your cheery yellow blossoms, clear skies, and lush leaves and grasses (light turquoise!) to grace her new home.

    I’d been wondering what you and your paintbrush were up to, and now I know!

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      Hahaha, thanks daring Dotty! Big won’t be so scary next time 😉 Even if there are surprises along the way!

      Reply
  5. shadowlilies

    Congratulations on all your firsts!!! Love the close up where you can see all the speckles of paint. What a wonderful uplifting painting…reminds me of joy and praise. 🙂

    Reply

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