Category Archives: Watercolor

Cloudy With a Chance of Sunflowers

Dreary 72

Just a dreary day. And still no rain. Lots of cold, but no rain. Ok, so southern California cold does not compare with below freezing slush, snow and gusting wind cold. But my feet are still like bricks of ice. Puts me in the mood for comfort food. Doesn’t a warm, roasted pear sound like a bit of heaven. HOT from the oven. I still have a craving for these, I never did get around to trying them. Maybe I just have a craving for a warm kitchen, heat oozing from the open oven door.

Winter pear ATC 72

silky faille swatch

silky faille swatch

I received my sunflower sample from Spoonflower today. And I am not happy with it. Their new fabric is great! Silky Faille. The colors printed bright and lively, but the center is off. It is as green as a leprechaun’s new breeches!

Sunny Day. Watercolor, pen, gouache. 4 x 5, 140 lb. cold press paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

Sunny Day. Watercolor, pen, gouache. 4 x 5, 140 lb. cold press paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

Makes perfect sense. The under painting is yellow ochre and the last layer was indigo. Well, heck. The original scan IS on the green side. In person, the originals are much deeper, much more indigo blue.

Hmmm. So I will have to try again. And that means painting more sunflowers. Someone’s got to do it, I guess.

Enjoy your Friday everyone!

 

Patty Digh – The Geography of Loss

 

 

The Geography of Loss by Patti Digh. To be released January 2014. Watercolor on 140 lb. cold press

The Geography of Loss by Patti Digh. To be released January 2014. Watercolor on 140 lb. cold press paper. @ 2012 Sheila Delgado

I am so honored to share this with you. I first mentioned this back in November. My artwork was for publication in Patty Digh’s The Geography of Loss. I have waited since then to find out which piece of art they decided to use in the book. Well,

GUESS WHAT!

They chose both of them! I was so surprised to see that both had made it in the book. Such an honor to be included with so many wonderful artists. You can take a peek inside. It is fun for me to look back at these two images. I really worked hard on them. I was going for a crafty, cartoony sort of feel.

I can see that my work has improved since these were done, almost two years ago. I remember the things I struggled with that now come easier for me. This was one of the first times I put my art out into the world.

After so much time had passed, and I did not hear if they had been accepted or not. I created a short book from one of them. I am still working on getting it released, so I will have to let you know about that later.

Patty’s book is really wonderful. I have only had the chance to read bits and pieces. There are so many wonderful, emotion filled quotes. Lessons shared. Just look at some of the chapter titles:

Love yourself, Bumps Included

Living a Story of Wholeness

See a Future Bigger than Yourself

Page turner, right? Just read this description from the front jacket:

You are the navigator through the three main sections:   

Embrace what is: walk into your new landscape
Honor what was: be grateful for your old landscape
Love what will be: live into your future landscape

Illustrated throughout with art submitted from around the world, this book is an atlas of experience, utilizing map imagery and the richly metaphoric, evocative, and functional language of geography to help you place yourself on your own journey, to find your way through helpful exercises and an empathetic, expert guide.

Patty-Digh-Cover

The cover feels like, well I want to say velvet. But that is not right. It has a warmth to it. I wish I knew what the process is. It wants to be held.

The artwork is bold and colorful, soulful and subdued. To me it is inspiring. I love books. I have always treasured them. Such a blessing to receive a copy as a contributing artist!

So here is a sneak peek at how my pieces appear in the book.The book is over 200 pages, and fabulous art is displayed on just about every one of them.

I am realizing, I did not name either one of these. Oh well.

What way to start the new year! I am blessed!

Page 91, Patty Digh - The Geography of Loss. Watercolor, © 2012 Sheila Delgado

Page 91, Patty Digh – The Geography of Loss. Watercolor, © 2012 Sheila Delgado

Page 184, Patty Digh - The Geography of Loss. Watercolor, © 2012 Sheila Delgado

Page 184, Patty Digh – The Geography of Loss. Watercolor, © 2012 Sheila Delgado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 Days of Art – A look Back

 

 

Jan 30 in 30 5 x 5

 

I am so glad I participated again this year in Leslie Saeta’s 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. It is quite a learning experience. I think the hardest part for me, is writing each day about what I have created.

I know I very often tell you I am not happy with the daily painting. (Lord please tell me I did not complain every day!) Seeing the paintings here, I am really very happy with them all. I know I struggled with wanting to spend more time on each piece. I wanted to create more along the lines of “Fine Art” and less, well less like the level that I am actually at.

I can see a huge improvement in my work, and that is AWESOME! I did not explore Pastels, or work in acrylics or collage as I had hoped. But I did work on Arches paper, as well as start to get familiar with YUPO. In that respect I did stretch out of my comfort zone.

I love the act of painting daily. I love discovering artists, and seeing their work every day. The absolute best part of the challenge for me, is making new friends. There are so many super talented artists taking part in the challenge. The beauty and diversity of what you create… it is a gift! You really are amazing!

 

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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visits my blog.
And thank you for taking the time to comment.
Your kind words are icing on the cake!

 

I will be catching up on visiting artists sites in the next few days. So bummed I am behind – what treasures I am missing!!!

Oh hey, good news here. I received my complimentary copy of Patty Digh’s new book, with my artwork inside. I will share it with you tomorrow!

Thanks again everyone, happy creating to you!

God Bless!