6 Replies
10 am Sunday Morning
10 am Sunday Morning

I’ll soon be there with snow,
I’ll wash my hair with snow,
And with a spade of snow,
I’ll build a man that’s made of snow,
I’d love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye
Go to sleep,
And dream…
Of snow.
Snow, from White Christmas, by Rosemary Clooney.

We had decent snow overnight. Mingus remains under cloud cover. But our streets are dry and the snow is making a quick retreat. We may get lucky though, and have more snow tonight. Fingers crossed it will start early enough to be viewed.

2 pm, Sunday Afternoon.

Making more starts. Honestly, no idea where this will all go. But that is part of the fun, isn’t it? Claro, Que si! Yes, but of course!

Sketchy starts.
Sketchy starts.

I painted over my HUGE canvas. And I will paint over it again. My effort was not successful. Haha. I took the palette knife and played at the end, knowing it was a loss. The colors are off. I need to make a run to Micheals.

I decided that the colors I had on it before were just to, harsh. I want something more restful. So I will keep trying. Still inspired by Hiroshi Matsumoto‘s abstract landscapes.

  • Large canvas WIP. SMD 2021.
    Large canvas WIP. SMD 2021.
  • Day 1, 9-2020. Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
    Day 1, 9-2020. Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

The other idea I have long had is to do something like van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms. But there too, it is bold, strong color. I love it. But maybe one of the softer versions would work. Suzette Rothlisberger gifted me with a tube of Thalo Turquoise. Thank you, Suzette! I also have a tube of Turquoise light. Thinking on it.

Whoa, someone turned the lights down! Clouds are moving in and Mingus has disappeared again. Yay!

Happy last week of January to you! Can you believe it???

How did it get so late so soon.
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December before it’s June.
My goodness, how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
Dr. Seuss

Thinking Of You Dad

14 Replies
Mingus Moonlit Night. SMD 2020
Mingus Moonlit Night. SMD 2020

December 10th. The date of my last post. Ay caramba! Time continues to be a steamroller. Hijole!

The winter weather has given us some beautiful views. We had an afternoon of snow, our first of the year. On December 28th. Haha. Lovely, big fluffy flakes floating down. It was fairly heavy for a while but it did not stick. Mingus disappeared behind a veil of white and reemerged powder-coated. It was heaven while it lasted.

Shrinking Snow Storm. SMD 12.28.20
Shrinking Snow Storm. SMD 12.28.20

We have had gorgeous pink sunsets.

Cotton Candy Clouds. SMD 2020
Cotton Candy Clouds. SMD 2020
Blushing. SMD 2020
Blushing. SMD 2020

My birthday week was filled with appointments. Blood tests, breathing test, bone test. Mostly standard bi-annual stuff, just all happened to land in the same week. Eesh! And here we are, in the middle of the month already. You know what that means. The February 30-Day Creative Gathering will soon be here! Oh my!

After another mini organizing binge, I made three starts. Art supplies and papers are at the ready! Paint pens and pencils. Scribbles to ease the intimidation of a fresh clean sheet of paper. I plan to add a few more layers to these backgrounds. And I hope to have 6 to 12 starts ready before next month. Knock on wood.

Our trees are still holding on to their leaves. I keep meaning to look up the reason why. I am sure it has something to do with how dry the past year has been. This photo is a few weeks old, but the tree looks pretty much the same.

Won’t Let Go.

I ordered a pad of Strathmore watercolor paper after watching an artist use it online. Cold Press, 140 lb., acid-free, 100% cotton. 12 – 8 x 10 sheets. It was about $10 on Amazon. I did see it later at Walmart, for a few dollars more. It has a grey cover. I played just to get a feel for it. This is a tiny sketch. I like the paper, the tooth is nice. I’ll talk more about it in another post.

Green Gold Tree. SMD 2020
Green Gold Tree. SMD 2020

Thinking of my father today. Missing him on his birthday. Truth be told, I think of him every day. We are still in limbo due to COVID. My best friend in high school lost her father the day before mine passed (on July 14th). He was our high school principal.

My dear friend from California lost her dad the Saturday before Christmas. We also lost my Dad’s elder brother Willie, the Sunday before Christmas. Heartbreaking.
Horrible, heartbreaking six months.

Frank Delgado, State Champion.
Frank Delgado, State Champion.
Frank with the "Wailers", October 1965.
Frank with the “Wailers”, October 1965.
Tere & Frank Christmas 2019
Tere & Frank Christmas 2019
Frank, Ray & Willie
Frank, Ray & Willie
Willie, Frankie, Ray
Willie, Frankie, Ray

Looking for quotes brought tears to my eyes, this short one will have to do.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together,
keep me in your heart.
I’ll stay there forever.”
Winnie the Pooh

December In The High Desert

14 Replies
Christine's Cactus #2. 4 x 6 watercolor & pen on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Christine’s Cactus #2. 4 x 6 watercolor & pen on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
Yet I find it so delightful
And since I’ve no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

My friend up north, Christine Brooks, sent me a postcard with her gorgeous photo of a Prickly Pear. In October! WOW, didn’t realize it has been that long. I asked her if I could paint it. The second attempt is so much better (above). I am out of practice with Yupo, and ended up with muddy ponds the first go-round. Haha. I was feeling relaxed with the brush in my hand, I continued until I had a real mess going. That was about two weeks ago.

Christine Brooks, Photographer & Artist.
Christine Brooks, Photographer & Artist.
Christine's Cactus #1. 4 x 6 watercolor & pen on Yupo. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Christine’s Cactus #1. 4 x 6 watercolor & pen on Yupo. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Last night I started again, and everything fell into place easily. What a surprise and JOY! I noticed in my sketch, that I made the pads too large, and left very little room for the tuna’s. (Dad taught me they are called that in Mexico.) Turned out to be a happy accident. I like the composition.

It is cold, and dark, and dreary today. HOORAY! A gentle rain fell from 1 am until about 11 am. The clouds are playing hide and seek with Mingus. And we might get some snow this evening. Fingers crossed.

Wishing you JOY and wellness, PEACE and warmth!

“Let us have music for Christmas…
Sound the trumpet of joy and rebirth;
Let each of us try, with a song in our hearts,
To bring peace to men on earth.”
Mildred L. Jarrell