Author Archives: Sheila

Sun Splatters

I started this piece months ago. When I started to add pen to shape the petals, I totally goofed. I did not start with a sketch, I just splattered paint, and then added the pen to highlight some of the shapes the paint developed.

When I came back to the piece recently, I was so attracted to the colors, I felt I had to try to save it. I continued to add petal shapes. Next I added more of the rust tones to the background. That looked terrific in person, but not in the scan. So I went back in with some deep sap green.

I thought it was too dark, so I washed some of that back out. Looking at the petals, I thought it might be a good idea to add some shadows. I didn’t want to ruin what I had, so I added shadows digitally, in Photoshop. The shadows here are not deep enough, and maybe they are not correctly placed. This is still a work in progress for now. Below is the original.

Slide 1: left for dead
Slide 2: attempt resuscitation
Slide 3: add contrast, sap green
Slide 4: lighten the contrast
Slide 5: digital shadows

Sun Splatters, Left for Dead. Original. 2016 Sheila Delgado

Tomorrow is the Liberate Your Art Blog Hop. I hope you will join me, and visit some of the other artists as well. Kat will unveil her video – Sure to be fun!

Header Help, Bookmarks, A Postcard And A doodle

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L.Y.A. Side swap #18 Siobhan Wolf.

This lovely postcard arrived, from Siobhan Wolf. She tells me this is how a typical Ohio Spring looks. Brrrr! We have swapped in years past, and I find the connection as joyful as she does. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful photography with me Siobhan! Those tulips are so pretty – I love it!

Header Help

Kat van Rooyen, Zentangle – Diva Dance:Rock and Roll.

This weekend I worked on some graphics for my good friend Kat van Rooyen. She a had digital disaster, and had to start her blog over again on a new platform. Kat does Zentangle art, so we used a pattern she loves. To the right is the art she sent me. I had to add more flowers to the bottom to create the shape I wanted.

I selected fonts that reflected Kat’s personality, and her art. Zentangle is based on structured patterns. The line work is often very graphic and bold.

Zentangle Triangle Pattern. Sheiladelgado.com

I did two versions of the header. One with a border, and one without. Kat can interchange these when she changes page colors on her blog. For holidays or special events. Below is the completed Header. Visit Kat’s site for a better look. I also created a triangle pattern for the background, which is barely visible, but I think it adds some interest.

Header for Kat van Rooyen’s site.

Bookmarks

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was submitting a bookmark to UPPERCASE magazine. I didn’t make the cut, but my submission is included with the almost 300 entries. They are available to download for personal use. Please respect the copyright of the artists. I thank you, as does Janine Vangool. How fun is that! If you have never seen uppercase magazine, you need to check it out! Visit the blog and Flip through the new issue. Gorgeous! And if you print some bookmarks, why not stop by and tell Janine, “Thanks”.

A Doodle

Watercolor doodle ATC. 2016 Sheila Delgado

Again I was inspired by one of the postcards I received. I showed you a card from Lynn Radford yesterday, the one with the colored pencils on it. Made me want to grab the pencils next to me and put color to paper. This is just a teeny ATC, only took a few minutes. Just a bit of fun!

Postcard Profusion

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L.Y.A. Side swaps. Carol Edan, Natasha M. Papousek, Terry Owenby, Lynn Radford.

It’s raining postcards! Seems right. It just now started raining big ol’ fat rain, as Forrest would say. The sun is shining in the distance, so I know it won’t last long.

Stopping to enjoy. Some thunder too.

I was all set to show these off in the colorful blooms outside, but nature nixed that idea. Instead I placed them on a pillow I ordered from Zazzle, I think you might recognize it.

The colorful card on top is from Terry Owenby in Portland Oregon. She created this work of art with a Gelli Plate print and collage. Gorgeous isn’t it? I love the vivid colors and simplified shapes. Just so fun! On the back she included this:

Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul
– and you answer.
Terri Guillemets

The lovely lavender card is a gift from Carol Edan and traveled all the way from Israel. I love the abstract landscape. The depth, the mood, just wonderful! It is an oil she painted during the January Leslie Seata painting challenge. Visit Carol’s site to see more of her amazing work. This is another favorite.

On the bottom, a colorful card from Lynn Radford. I know I am not the only one who gets excited at the sight of a colorful bunch of pencils! The quote on the front:

The soul becomes dyed with the color of it’s thoughts.
Marcus Aurelius

The back of Lynn’s card is just as colorful. Lynn I envy your tidy penmanship! I am going to have to try extra hard to make mine legible for you! Visit Lynn’s site and check out her “environmentally conscious journey”. Lynn kept her address a secret, which is a great idea. Her swap will go on even longer! Lynn your card will go out today!

The musical card, is from a friend who is close by. Natasha Monahan Papousek lives in San Diego just south of me. We have swapped before, and I always look forward to her cards.

Natasha plays the ukulele. On her recent trip to Hawaii, she learned the phrase “My dog has fleas” is used to remember the tuning of her instrument. Definitely memorable don’t you think? This card brings back memories of my trip to Hawaii – JOY!

Natasha’s envelope was just as wonderful as her card, take a look, and you will get a closer look at the cute fleas dancing on her postcard. If you keep scrolling, you can catch a glimpse of Natasha and her awesome work, at the RAW event that was held in January.

Thank you Carol, Natasha, Terry and Lynn! I was so delighted to receive your Beautiful art in my mailbox! Color me happy!

I have lost count, not sure if I have any more side swaps on the way. But I have five more slots in my album, so I’m hoping. I have a few extra cards if anyone is interested. Leave a comment with your address, I won’t post the address. (Open to non swappers too.)

Have a JOYFUL day everyone!