Category Archives: Photos

Stretch Your Wings

 

Mallard stretching, sheiladelgado.com

 

Our visitors stayed away for a couple of days. When they returned it was for the entire day. They slept here, there and everywhere. After a dip in the pool it was time for a long session of grooming.

I shot over 800 photos that day. Beware the burst shots! I had no idea selecting that option would create so many photos. Guess I need to find the manual and read up on that.  I know the animation goes by fast, so here is a still shot for you. (If the GIF is not playing for you, give it a minute to load, it should start.)

 

wings wide open, sheiladelgado.com

 

It is time for L.Y.A. to begin, and I have already received two side swaps! The colorful, whimsical mermaid came to me from Sarah Calhoun in Atlanta. She had a treacherous trip, but managed to make it in one piece. I smiled when I opened the mail.

 

L.Y.A. 2016 Side swaps #1 and #2. Sarah Calhoun, "Mermaid". Michele Matucheski, "Hope in Winter.

L.Y.A. 2016 Side swaps #1 and #2. Sarah Calhoun, “Mermaid”. Michele Matucheski, “Hope in Winter.

The tree is from Michele Matucheski in OshKosh. She used coffee-stained textures and salt blooms on her photo to create a dreamy landscape. Thank you both so much for sharing your gorgeous art with me! I love them! Your cards will be in the mail soon.

 

 

 

 

One More Try

 

Yellow Bird,revised. 8 x 8 watercolor and pen on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

Yellow Bird,revised. 8 x 8 watercolor and pen on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

I added a grey wash over the branches that did not have it in the first version. On screen, the pen marks are not showing up as well as they do in person.

We had rain most of the morning. Soft and steady. No sign of the ducks, then all of a sudden a female came crashing down into the pool. Sorry to say I didn’t get the shot. Two seconds later Mr. and another female landed on the grass. They stayed for about an hour. They had a snack, preened and climbed the stairs to the top deck. But I am guessing they had enough of the wet, as they did not get in the pool again. Pip also made a brief visit with a few friends.

Ducks #3, sheiladelgado.com

Ducks #1, sheiladelgado.com

Ducks #2, sheiladelgado.com

 

 

 

 

 

Little Pip

 

Yellow Bird. 8 x 8 watercolor and pen on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

Yellow Bird. 8 x 8 watercolor and pen on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

I wanted to call this done, but I think it still needs some work. All the branches seem to be on the same plane. The original photo is very dark, and I “saw” multiple trees, and maybe some vines hanging down. My father has since sent a new photo, and it is in fact one tree. The photo below is what I started from.

Yellow bird in tree. sheiladelgado.com

 

 

Ducks stopped by for a few minutes early this morning, but have been absent since. Two of the Bushtits visited during breakfast. They have been here less often as well. I had a little fun with Photoshop filters on these.

Bushtit. sheiladelgado.com

Little Pip, Bushtit

Bushtit. sheiladelgado.com

Same photo with a Sumi-e filter

 

Bushtit. sheiladelgado.com

Blur filter