Tag Archives: #sunflowers

Wonky Watercolors

12.07.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12.07.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

This post has been sitting half finished since December. I was going to write about my COVID experience. But I am still mid journey. And for some reason, I have not been able to put that story to paper.

For now, here are the wonky little works I did while in the hospital. They are in my 4 x 6 sketch book. Not on watercolor paper. Christine Brooks made the suggestion, to pass the time. I wasn’t thinking about art at that moment. And at first, it was very hard to concentrate. I would draw, and then paint later.

I put together a list of supplies, and had them dropped off at the hospital. I forgot some essentials. Like an eraser. LOL. I had a larger sketchbook, but 4 x 6 was about all I could manage. I altered a few of these in Photoshop. Blurred a snake plant, to soften. Added a few straight lines. Mostly, they are left untouched.

As for an update. I am plugging along. I am doing great on the whole. My mobility is still mostly limited. My O2 still drops dangerously low. I can get to the restroom on my own now. Without the walker. And I can get up from the seat unaided. Huge milestones! Haha. Sometimes my O2 stays level, until after I have made it back to the bedroom. Then it drops drastically. Fortunately, I often recover more quickly now than before. In the beginning, The O2 would drop as soon as I stood up.
Another milestone. Of sorts.

But every silver lining, I am going to claim. Haha. And thank God for!

12. 02.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12.02.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12. 01.21, Sunflowers, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12.01.21, Sunflowers, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12. 01.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
12.01.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, Snake plant, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, Snake plant, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21,  4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, Bouquet, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, Bouquet, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.29.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21, Pink, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.28.21, Pink, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.27.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
11.27.21, 4 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

We dream to give ourselves hope.
To stop dreaming—well,
that’s like saying
you can never change your fate.
Amy Tan

I simply can’t build my hopes on a
foundation of confusion, misery and death…
I think… peace and tranquility will return again.
Anne Frank

Smooth The Way

Mingus Evening. 10-24-21. SMD
Mingus Evening. 10-24-21. SMD

I’m not surprised. But I still feel guilty. This usually happens after the Gathering. And I always feel guilty. This is the first art I have created in October. After a month of daily art making.

It’s not that I was stuck or uninspired. I’ve just been busy behind the scenes. It seems the tech stuff is never ending. And since it is not always fun, well, sometimes it just seems to take forever.

For the last couple of days, I have had supplies at the ready. Colored pencils, watercolor crayons, markers, paper. On my desk. And yet, I didn’t start. Then a nudge came to my inbox. Carla Sonheim to the rescue. She spoke about “smoothing the way” for creativity. How her plans to create were replaced with to-dos. She reminded herself, to just get in the studio and make something. Anything.

Just another Sunflower. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Just another Sunflower. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

That’s what I did. I put aside the large sheet of paper I had planned to paint on, and replaced it with a 4 x 4 inch sheet. Just start.

Soon, I was in the zone. Relaxed. Enjoying the movement of the color so much, I started a second small painting.

Just another Mingus View. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Just another Mingus View. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

I’ll show you where these led me, soon.
Happy weekend everyone!

When black cats prowl
and pumpkins gleam,
may luck be yours
on Halloween.
-Unknown-

September 2021 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage

Sheila Delgado Sept 2021 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage

Welcome October! And goodbye to the September 2021 30-Day Creative Gathering. We had another successful event, the start of our third year as a group. WOW!

I am extremely happy with my work this month. I didn’t have a plan, or theme in mind. I’m pretty sure I always say that. Haha. And I was not able to prep at all before we started. I worked mostly with mixed media. I started with some collage and experimented with a few tools I rarely use. That was fun, and very time intensive. I went with abstracts next, Color field painting. I have often included these in my 30-Day events.

As you can see, I continued with florals. Mixed media as well, this time adding crayons to the mix. I used them as wax resist along with watercolors. I had so much fun playing with crayons, I just couldn’t stop. Apparently. Haha!

There are a handful that I may go back and add to, or tweak a bit. There are only two that I think are duds. Days 18 and 22. That is a pretty good percentage.

I love the daily conversations with my artist friends. I miss them the most when the challenge ends. Seeing amazing art each day is so inspiring and uplifting! A huge thank you to all of my fellow gatherer’s! For sharing your process, your successes, and your lessons learned when things didn’t go as hoped. I always learn so much from you!

As always, I also put together some of my favorites. They are the ones I had the most fun with. I’d love to hear which pieces you liked the best. 🙂

Sheila Delgado Sept 2021 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage Favorites

Thank you all for following along with me this month. Life is so busy.
I truly appreciate your encouragement and helpful suggestions.

Thank you.

In a few days I will share art from the group members.
You will be amazed and astounded!

Wishing you JOY!