Category Archives: Pastel

A Pastel Floral

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Flowers for Mama. Pastel, 5 x 5. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

Flowers for Mama. Pastel, 5 x 5. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

I am so happy with how this turned out.

I found these pastels in the clearance aisle. The set is missing six, all warm, and mostly yellows. Explains why I am leaning towards the cool end of the spectrum. I only spent $4 on a set of 36, so I don’t have that feeling that I am wasting expensive art supplies. Freeing, when it comes to learning a new medium. I can play and just have fun.

I started out thinking I would paint Bougainvillea. Maybe close up abstract shapes. Not what this is at all.

I started with some loose pink shapes in watercolor. I worked the entire piece, but left the flowers until the end. I absolutely love the light green in this, light sap green. Using that with light blue, and indigo and seeing how they play off of each other. The darks in this are all indigo, sometimes mixed with green.

My composition could use tweaking. I have an even amount of buds, and they line up a bit more than they should. I could have divided the layout better, had more of the sky, and more of the shadows. Blah-blah-blah. But I did manage to seal this one without destroying it!

Still for all the blatant mistakes. I like it! Maybe I am hallucinating, I think it really looks good on a pillow. And that is what I intended.

What do you think?

Flowers for Mama © 2014 Sheila Delgado.

Flowers for Mama © 2014 Sheila Delgado. Zazzle.com

 

Flowers for Mama © 2014 Sheila Delgado. Zazzle.com

Lumbar Pillow

A bit of spring to brighten your abode!

 

Mother’s Day Sale ~ 20% OFF ALL ORDERS! Ends 4/29/14

 

Pastel Disaster

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AAUGH!!!

Daring whispered in my ear today.

“Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to do a pastel to celebrate Earth Day!”

“YEH!”, I thought.

Never mind that I do not know much about pastel painting. It felt only right to work with my hands, to get them dirty. Pastels get you dirty. This is only my third ever, pastel painting.

I spent almost three hours this afternoon working on what you are about to see. Ok, maybe more like two hours, because I was checking on the split pea soup, and changing loads of laundry too.

This is small, five inches square. It is a good thing I really had fun working on this. Otherwise I would be really, REALLY, REALLY upset.

I apologize for the horrible photos. This is a quick look at the process. I was happy with the result. That is, until I decided to seal it, so I would be able to scan it for this post.

Brilliant, bloody brilliant Sheila.

It didn’t help, that right when I started to spray sealant, the wind kicked up and spread a fine dusting of little yellow specks from the trees nearby.

pastel progress. Hydrangea, 5 x 5, watercolor and pastel on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

pastel progress. Hydrangea, 5 x 5, watercolor and pastel on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

I started with a watercolor wash. Then a few layers of pastel to get the basic shapes. I changed my mind, and decided the leaves looked better on the side, instead of the bottom. Little by little, I added details. I used Prismacolor NUPASTELS. 

Decent

Decent

 

 

Here it is, finished and semi-show-able.

 

D.O.A.

D.O.A.

 

And here it is, not ready for prime time.

I know. Awful.

So there you have it. My Earth Day experiment.

Oh, and here is the photo that started it all.

Hydrangea, blooming in the garden.

Hydrangea, blooming in the garden.

 

Hope you had a fabulous Earth Day!

 

 

 

 

 

They Say Angels Are Among Us

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To fit in better with the struggling, striving, sprouting souls on earth, they leave their wings behind. And are known to us as friends.

I know this is true. I have proof. I have witnesses. I will share a short story, and you too can bear witness to the miracle of friendship.

This past weekend I was elbow deep in research. My phone was not ringing, my inbox was empty. My focus was on reading, note taking, blog building.

How to Blog. Build a better Blog. Blogging 101. What beginners need to know about blogging.

By Sunday I was overwhelmed, and sure that I was the biggest under achiever in Blogland. I decided to take a break, but before I turned the computer off, I checked my mail. There it was. A gift. A blessing. A letter from a friend.

Most of the letter was an update on what is new in her art world. Exciting, interesting, GREAT news. I couldn’t wait to reply! And then in the last few lines… she just lifted me up the way Bette sang about to Barbara in Beaches.

She said my friendship was a blessing to her. She complimented my work. And get this, she asked me to teach her about Blogging. What??

ME, teach about blogging?

Her words brought me to tears. A pat on the back that turned into a full-fledged HUG.

She asked if she could buy one of my bookmarks (they are free by the way, and you can see them here.) I replied, telling her that one was on the way via USPS. I couldn’t help but include a quick little ATC (Artist Trading Card) for her. This is just a partial peek, because she might read this. I am hoping it will brighten her day, and serve as a reminder of what a blessing her presence here on earth is.

Thank You Kat!

watercolor, floral arrangement in a pitcher

Watercolor, pastel, pen, 2.5 x 3.5