Tag Archives: gouache

Cactus True, Or Cactus Cool?

Saguaro, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Saguaro, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

I sat down to clean my palette, but instead, I started to paint. I used long strokes on the Saguaro, instead of blending patches of color. I used a blue Le Pen to define. Looking at the scan, I noticed that the cactus and the foreground were too much the same.

I left it overnight and then added blue Posca. Now it’s a bit too much like the sky. Haha. That is what learning looks like. Sometimes.

Had fun in the process, more fun making the animation. FUN!

Saguaro, revised, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Saguaro, revised, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Loved this true cerulean blue sky with a swish of puffy white clouds.

Mingus 3.27.20
Mingus 3.27.20

One clean palette, empties refilled.

Mijello Palette, 18-Well.
Mijello Palette, 18-Well.

New palette filled and ready to go. I bought this palette months ago, 40 or 50% off. Room for six more colors. I sorted my colors before I started filling the wells. I still goofed somehow and ended up with two empty slots. But that gives me room for new colors. My list of wanna try hues is long. Naturally.

I probably shouldn’t have included the two orange colors. I rarely use them. I’ll have to think of something fun to use them for. “Think. Think. Think.” As Pooh would say.

It’s still a wonky collection. But I do have warm and cool hues of the primaries. I’m working on the color chart next. If anyone is interested, I can share that in the next post.

Martin Palette, 24 well.
Martin Palette, 24 well.

I’ve only wanted paper and beautiful colors.
It was my dream, and it still is my dream.
And books.
They’re all I need, and the rest I can do without.
Karl Lagerfeld

Be well. Stay Safe.

Let’s Get Together, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!

Easter Eggs, 8 x 8. Watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Easter Eggs, 8 x 8. Watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Today I am joining Kim Smith for her EGGSTRAVAGANZA Painting Party on Instagram! #kimsmithfriends if you would like to see more. If you haven’t seen Kims work before, treat yourself to a few minutes on her site. I love her flowers, her birds… everything!

Last night we had a spectacular sunset. We ooo’d and aww’d. Haha.

Mingus Sunset 3-21-20
Mingus Sunset 3-21-20

There is one case of the virus in Prescott, our neighbor city. Two reported in Sedona, an hour east of Mingus. Just over 100 in Arizona. Our county had been virus-free. Stay safe! 🙏

Keep On The Sunny Side

Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Though the moments be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Savior always
To keep us, everyone, in His care

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life

February 2020 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage

February 2020 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage, Sheila Delgado

What a difference a month makes! February flew by. I didn’t feel a loss of momentum until the final week. Being in pain will do that. In preparation for the challenge, I put together a file full of images to paint. I still have enough for another 30 paintings. Haha. Ideas abound. I intended to paint more abstracts. Planned on using Yupo more. Never enough time.

Each time I do the 30-day challenge, I wonder if I “grew” or developed new skills. I can never see it until some time has passed. I did try new subjects. Some that I never attempted before. The Cholla image, day 28, I took in 2012. WOW! I meant to paint it, and it has taken me this long. A little bit, out of sight out of mind. But also fear of painting so many spines. My first Cholla is not great, but it is better than I expected.

February 2020 30-Day Creative Gathering Favorites Collage, Sheila Delgado

Thanks so much for following along this month. I hope I did not bore you with my fascination with pointy things and desert natives. I appreciate your support and enjoy your comments and suggestions. 🙂 Thank you! It means a lot!

Congratulations and high five to the group artists. Whether you did 3 or 30, high five for making the bold attempt. For getting your art out into the world, and for encouraging others on their artistic journey! Thank you for taking part, and for making the group so lively and diverse! You ROCK! Hope to see you in September! HaPpY creating to you!