Tag Archives: #day9

30-Day Creative Gathering, Day 9

Day 9, Watercolor on 8 x 8 140 lb. Strathmore Cold Pressed Paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 9, Watercolor on 8 x 8 140 lb. Strathmore Cold Pressed Paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Botched, befuddled, and blighted. Haha. I was doing well, and then I wasn’t. I completely overworked this. Bad timing. And timing is essential in watercolor.

I was distracted by the light and Mingus. First, the front range was white, and Mingus was dark. Then Mingus was white, and the front range was dark. Then the sky began to change. And well…. distraction. I started painting this before the light caught my eye. And I was thinking I had not seen the hills white, as I was trying to paint them. And then boom. They were. Haha.

My sky was decent. The field was ok. Then I added clouds. and they started out ok, but too light. I went back in with more color, but too much water. Ugh. They bloomed, and I had hard, jagged edges everywhere. I tried to soften them with a damp brush. And then I tried again with a digital brush. The small PPI blurs things a bit more.

Knowing I had already messed the sky up, I played a bit more with the field. Trying to get, you know, a feeling of distance. Bleah!!

OK, enough of that. Now for the real star of the show!

Sunset 2-8-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Sunset 2-8-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

On our neighborhood website, everyone has been sharing their gorgeous sunset photos this week. And why not? Last night I was oo-ing and ah-ing over the sunset out front, looking to the east (below). While at the same time, my folks were hyper about the sun setting in the back, to the west (above). WOWzers!

Oh beautiful, for spacious sky!

Mingus Sunset 2-8-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Mingus Sunset 2-8-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Winter Sunset 2-2-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Winter Sunset 2-2-21. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

This sunset sky is from a week ago. It is subtle, but those colors! I wish I could post it larger. To the left, the pinks in the distance, the soft purples. The undulating cloud shapes. It was delightful. 🙂

When the sun is setting, leave
whatever you are doing and watch it.
Mehmet Murat Ildan

When I admire the wonders of a sunset
or the beauty of the moon,
my soul expands in the
worship of the creator.
Mahatma Gandhi

Day 9, 30-Day Creative Gathering

Day 9, 7 x 5 watercolor on Yupo. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 9, 7 x 5 watercolor on Yupo. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

I am cringing while I post this. I have painted three horrible ATC’s. and one awful 8 x 10. And this yucky 5 x 7. Hahaha. I have two fairly cool 4 x 4 continuations. But I thought I posted enough of those. Might be putting you all to sleep. Hahaha. So I am saving those as back up. For days when All else fails.

I hated this last night when I was editing it for posting. I made some changes in Photoshop, using the smudge tool to soften some of the “messiness” in the field. I didn’t like that either, so I decided to post it as is.

It’s been a long time since I have worked on Yupo. This is on Legion Yupo Medium. First time I have tried it and I really like working with it. It is a good weight, and the great thing about Yupo is that it can handle a lot of water, and does not curl up. I did’t tape this down, and it remained flat.

For those of you new to my blog, Yupo is a recyclable, waterproof, tree-free Synthetic Paper. It feels like plastic. It allows for really wonderful effects with watercolors. Welcome, btw. So glad to have you following my artistic journey. 🙂

The tree on the left was a mistake. But I liked how it formed, and went with it, adding more on the right. I am not sure the distance is convincing. I think the field is much to busy and should be simplified towards the top of the hill. But I have to say. I like it a whole lot better this morning. Hahaha. And the great thing is, I can go back in and make changes. Erase the mistakes so to speak. Any suggestions? Haha 🙂

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy,
if a blade of grass springing up in the fields
has power to move you,
if the simple things of nature
have a message that you understand, rejoice,
for your soul is alive.
Eleonora Duse

I’m not sure that I want to be without some lack of confidence. If you are too sure of yourself, you don’t grow.
You may feel confident in some things, but other fields come up as a challenge. And if you don’t anticipate trouble,
you will be in trouble.
Lucille Ball

Day 9 Of 30 And Mingus Moonrise

Day 9, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 9, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

For Day 9, a small barrel cactus. I love the round form of this cactus. A little thorny ball. They are pretty when you see them in groupings. Some look yellow because they have so many thorns.

I used Master’s Touch regular watercolor paper. I think the paper texture is less noticeable with this than it is on the premium paper. In the close-up, you can just barely see a horizontal pattern. More noticeable is the vertical texture. It is very visible in person, on the darker colors. But I don’t mind it.

Day 9 Close-Up
Day 9 Close-Up

Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.
A. A. Milne

Mingus Moonrise #1, 2.8.2020, SMD
Mingus Moonrise #1, 2.8.2020, SMD
Mingus Moonrise #2, 2.8.2020, SMD
Mingus Moonrise #2, 2.8.2020, SMD