Category Archives: Gouache

February 2020 30-Day Creative Challenge, Day 4

Day 4, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

This is my Paddle Plant. Also known as a Flapjack It is a succulent, with thick leaves. I will be painting this again, from a side view. Some of the larger leaves curve downward. That is supposed to be a bad sign, but they are healthy. The leaf edges often turn red in winter. Mine have not.

Whew! I finished. Not sure if I pulled it off, but I had fun in the process. Values kick my butt every time. I painted the soil, brownish with details. But it was distracting. And the background was lighter, with multiple tones and some really cool blooms. Those were distracting as well.

Thinking of going back in and lifting the background. then adding the color of the table in the reference photo. What do you think?

Happy Christmas Eve

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Mingus Christmas Eve 2016.

Sunny and 60 degrees this Christmas Eve.

Thought I would share this photo from last year. It was so beautiful.

And here is the painting it inspired. A gift for my brother and his wife.

Snow On Christmas Eve. 5 x 5 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing.

—Isaac Watts

Tiny Tree, 3 x 3 watercolor on paper. 2017 Sheila Delgado

Posted this tree on Instagram. Also some cool shots of these black birds.

Take a look if you haven’t seen them. Don’t forget to follow me, and I will follow you back!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Trees W.I.P.

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Another attempt to paint a cactus. But From the beginning dripping layers, these trees made themselves known. They remind me of the tall palms that are such an iconic symbol of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

Had the idea to add orange on top. To be a focal point. Or maybe I will add it to all the trees. Thinking of maybe going back in with a damp towel to bring back some of the lights in the first layers. Actually, most of the lights ended up between the trees. That is how I knew they were trees. Ha.

A few of my thoughts. Would love to hear what you think. I used a comb for detail in the foreground, I went back in with color that was not diluted as much as I thought it was. I may go back in and reclaim some of that texture as well.