Author Archives: Sheila

A Visit With Natasha

Yellow Tree Sketch. 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado

This super sunny yellow tree was in front of me when I parked at Hobby Lobby. Such a pretty shape. Like a Japanese dancer. I didn’t get it right. I’d love to do a full painting of it though.

Yellow tree.

Yesterday was a busy day. Capped off by a visit with Natasha Papousek. A longtime LYA friend. In fact I have her 2013 post card on my inspiration wall. Natasha was on her way to a class in Sedona.

She arrived later than she had planned, so we had a short time to see the sights. After a quick bite, we headed to Prescott. We caught the sunset view from the Prescott Casino and Resort on top of the hill. Thumb Butte is left of center.

Prescott sunset, April 19, 2018.

Prescott Sunset close up. April 19, 2018. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Next we went to Watson Lake. In fading light, we hurried to snap some shots. Thank goodness for Photoshop and the ability to brighten things up!

Watson Lake, Prescott AZ. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Natasha in the landscape.

There was so much more I would have liked to show her. She mentioned coming back again soon for a longer stay to explore the area more. With hiking, galleries, museums… plenty to do!

Natasha is a henna artist and she is blessed with the privilege of working in gorgeous downtown San Diego at Seaport Village. She is also well-traveled, well-educated, and even lived in Hawaii for a time. You can see the photos on her blog. Gorgeous! She is truly one of the most interesting women I have ever met!

LYA Side Swaps

Three more LYA side swaps arrived yesterday. One of them Natasha’s! From Lemon Grove, CA. I love this card, so pretty 🙂 On the back:

Creativity is inventing experimenting, growing, taking risks,
breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.
~ Mary Lou Cook

“Peony Party”, Natasha Papousek. Handkerchief, Terry Owenby. Watercolor, Christine Brooks

Terry’s card is so lovely! It is an in progress “slow stitch” project. All done by hand. She has attached a worn, paper-thin vintage handkerchief to a sturdier fabric. A pink linen tablecloth. She is still creating this new piece but thought is was pretty enough to use for LYA. I agree! Very sweet and delicate, the details. From Gresham Oregon.

The birds is a wonderful watercolor from Christine Brooks in Flagstaff AZ. I love Christine’s work ! An addition to my growing Christine collection!

Thank you my friends for sharing your wonderful work with me! I love them all!

And an extra special thank you to Natasha for including me in her busy, artistic road trip! Such a pleasure to meet again after so many years!

Two Mingus starts on the table, plus the one that is bothersome.

#The100DayProject – #14 and #15

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Mingus Day #14. 5.25 x 12 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

If this was a 30 day challenge, I would be at the halfway point. I would be looking at the down side of the hill. But it isn’t, and I have a long way to go. Still, two weeks in and I am feeling in the groove.

I have two on the table. (Laughing allowed.) To be honest, one of them is staring back at me whispering, “You can’t fix this.” So it will, be on the table a while longer.

I used the salt technique on the front range of #14. The effect is very subtle, but I do like the added texture. The sky is lavender, not sure if you can see it here, or if it just looks blue.

Mingus Day #15. 5.25 x 12 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Yesterday was a grey, blustery day. Teasing rain. It was dark east of Mingus, and I am sure that side of the mountains saw same moisture.

The sky is a mix of the sap green and indigo in the hills, with a touch of burnt umber I think. There is some terrific granulation, really love it.

I made a calendar to help keep my right on the numbering. Did it three times, because I kept goofing. If you see an error, be sure to let me know. 😉

100 Days.

LYA side swaps

Janice Darby.

Janice Darby and Sherry Harmes are two of my longtime LYA swap buddies. I always look forward to seeing their incredible cards, and receiving them together was even better!

Janice’s gorgeous angel came from California. Visit her link to see more of her angelic creations! As you can probably guess, I love the colors in this angel card.

Sherry always comes up with the coolest ideas. This year her card is “quilted” pieces. A mix of papers, ribbon, a button and a silk flower. A supper sunny side swap!

Sherry Harmes.

Thank you Janice, and Thank you Sherry! I love your cards, and I am so glad we swapped! Can’t wait for next year!

#The100DayProject – #13

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Mingus #13, of 100. 5.25 x 12 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Just a mellow Mingus Monday. I completely botched this. From bottom to top. What I tried, new for me, didn’t work. So I just spread the paint, and evened it all out. Maybe that is why they call it a wash. Ha ha. I will try again.

I touched up #11. I reworked four shadow areas on Mingus. You might not even see a difference, but I feel better about it. The dark areas at the bottom. In the “v” of the front range, and to the left of that. Also the two side by side shadows at the top. And the third shadow from the left. I softened some hard edges and lifted some paint to lighten some of those areas.