Tag Archives: #ranunculus

Week Three Of The February 2026 Creative Gathering

Lets take it from the top. These are all 5 x 7 in., on Meeden pure cotton Watercolor Paper, 140 lb. Day 13, A Peruvian Apple cactus. These can grow up to 30 feet tall in the wild. They are twisty, and the spines are along the edges. They are sometimes used as a living fence. They have pretty reddish “apples”, and night blooming flowers. For the spines, I created stars in Photoshop, giving me groups of multiple spines to place.

Day 14, Abstract, mixed media with paint pen, marker and Caran D ‘Ache neocolor. I worked on two pieces that day, but I hit a wall on each. I saw a video, “How to get unstuck”, and it suggested to just play. That’s what I did. Just doodles really. Doodles and done!

Day 15. Ladybugs. Ok, yes. I have been on Youtube a lot this month. Watching gouache artists, and taking in all the information I can. A title on Ladybugs caught my eye. That inspired me to paint them. To be honest, this small painting took two days. Near the end, I was just ready to have it done, I was a day behind again. For that reason, I omitted their legs. My story is, their legs are curled up underneath. I’m sticking to it. 😄

Day 16. Another mixed media abstract. I tried to be loose, but it just looks stiff and frankly, messy to me. I started a series of four. But honestly, they all might end up looking completely different. I should have gone bigger over all. I used a Canson spiral bound sketchbook, taped off for four pieces. I was inspired by Betty Franks. I have been for years. Her style is loose, playful and very organic. I will try again!

Day 17. Ranunculus. Just having fun here.

Day 18. I’ve been trying to get ahead all month. So I don’t have to stress when my day keeps me from painting. But somehow, I have consistently posted late at night, and often, a day behind. This is a faux plant in a favorite vase. The paper scanned a soft, parchment tone, which I really like. A nice surprise, the paper looks bright white on the pad.

Day 19, Floral. I learned a trick. (From one of those many videos.) You might already know. I think it is very cool. If you squeeze a paint tube just above the pointed ends, It draws the paint back into the tube. Less chance of wasting paint and gunking up the cap. How cool is that? I wish I had learned that years ago. 😄

I am enjoying gouache. More experience will equal more enjoyment. I still struggle with the water/paint ratio. I often think I have it right. Then when I apply the paint, it is not fully opaque. Which means I have it too thin.

And now it is time for more painting practice.

Thanks so much for visiting!
Have an awesome weekend friends!

30-Day Creative Gathering, September 2024, Week Two

30 Days Of Art Collage

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30 Day Collage, February 2023. Watercolor, acrylic & digital collage. © 2023 Sheila Delgado.

Once again, my plans were quickly left at the gate. The work led me down a path less traveled. I had decided to do collage for the gathering. I thought to make painted papers, and work on florals and landscapes.

I used the Photoshop pen tool on day one. To outline the bloom. By day three, I was hooked. There are only two pieces, that did not lean heavily on the pen tool. Day 2 and day 16.

Here is a video that will show you how to work with the Pen Tool. Of course, I am using it for a completely different outcome. (There I go using tools the wrong way again.)😄 I have started the video a few minutes in, and you only need to look at about a minute, to get a good idea. I wish I had found this particular video before. His explanations are so easy for me to understand. I learned by trial and error. Lots of errors.

This was my learning for the month. Each day I felt more and more comfortable with the tool. By the final week, my pieces were almost completely digitally rendered. 80-90%. I dared to take on more complex subjects.

I have avoided the pen tool for years. Trying to grasp it now and then, but soon giving in to frustration. It is slightly mathematical in nature. And you know, an artist’s brain does not work that way.

Favorites, February 2023. Watercolor, acrylic & digital collage. © 2023 Sheila Delgado.

I had fun playing with color, patterns and mood. I am happy with each piece. But, as always, I can see some that I would like to improve, having learned so much since then.

I managed to continue with my fabrics for the weekly Spoonflower challenge, for half of the month. I was behind for several days mid month, and I knew that working on a fabric design would sink me even further. I do plan on creating two designs, so that I can catch up on the weeks I missed. It is another challenge for my brain.

Thanks so much for following along with me this month. Your encouragement and support mean the world to me. I am so grateful for you, friends. My people. The ones who understand my art obsession. What it means to me, my soul, and my life.

Tomorrow I will post the Creative Gathering artists gallery. We have new members and I know you will love their work as much as I do. See you soon!