Category Archives: Maps

Adios October

I am a couple of days early I know. But I am hoping that November will renew whatever bit of talent I thought I had. This month has been crummy all around.

Unexpected car repairs – CHA CHING! Not just for me, but for everyone in the house. We have been playing musical cars for weeks. Yup, I think a double-deep-dip in the ol’ treat bag is needed. Now I just need to find a kid with overflowing treats.

October has never been my favorite month. Playing dodge the scary movies on TV. Or the Linda Blair shuffle. I am ready for Hallmark channels countdown to Christmas. A month filled with sappy, happy endings!

A few more attempts here. Working on some postcard art for Visual Aids. Another “map”, but I prefer the earlier layout – square. This seems a bit “scrunched”. The start of each of these was twig scribbled black acrylic. Marks without a rhyme or reason.

Map 2, watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold pressed paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

The marks on this reminded me of the postcard I submitted last year. That one sold at the show.

Incline 2. Watercolor and acrylic on 140 lb. Arches cold pressed paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

I started with glorious, imperfect lines on the card below. And then I mucked it up by working it to death. Should have just left it alone.

Leaf me alone. Watercolor and acrylic on 140 lb. Arches cold pressed paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado

May your Halloween be sweetly spooky! Save me a Kit Kat and a Baby Ruth! Gee wiz – did you know Kit Kats came in all these flavors? What are your favorite treats at Halloween?

Toil and Trouble

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Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

When I was in high school, I shocked a friend by knowing the word cauldron. We were playing Pictionary. He drew the picture, and announced to the group, “She’ll never get this one!”

I blurted out the answer, Roger’s jaw dropped, and everyone had a good laugh. I have a fondness for the word cauldron. It reminds me of good friends.

I have painted regularly since the end of the September challenge. A whole lotta’ toil and trouble with nothing, not even a frog toe to show. I reclaimed several small canvases, only to cover them up with mud and muck. Time for more gesso. And more practice painting with a palette knife.

While I was watching an online class on Photoshop, I started goofing with some paint. It was a beginners class, and much of it I knew.

So this is just a bit of play…

Harvest Map. Watercolor and acrylic, 6 x 6. © Sheila Delgado 2014

Patty Digh – The Geography of Loss

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The Geography of Loss by Patti Digh. To be released January 2014. Watercolor on 140 lb. cold press paper. @ 2012 Sheila Delgado

I am so honored to share this with you. I first mentioned this back in November. My artwork was for publication in Patty Digh’s The Geography of Loss. I have waited since then to find out which piece of art they decided to use in the book. Well,

GUESS WHAT!

They chose both of them! I was so surprised to see that both had made it in the book. Such an honor to be included with so many wonderful artists. You can take a peek inside. It is fun for me to look back at these two images. I really worked hard on them. I was going for a crafty, cartoony sort of feel.

I can see that my work has improved since these were done, almost two years ago. I remember the things I struggled with that now come easier for me. This was one of the first times I put my art out into the world.

After so much time had passed, and I did not hear if they had been accepted or not. I created a short book from one of them. I am still working on getting it released, so I will have to let you know about that later.

Patty’s book is really wonderful. I have only had the chance to read bits and pieces. There are so many wonderful, emotion filled quotes. Lessons shared. Just look at some of the chapter titles:

Love yourself, Bumps Included

Living a Story of Wholeness

See a Future Bigger than Yourself

Page turner, right? Just read this description from the front jacket:

You are the navigator through the three main sections:

Embrace what is: walk into your new landscape
Honor what was: be grateful for your old landscape
Love what will be: live into your future landscape

Illustrated throughout with art submitted from around the world, this book is an atlas of experience, utilizing map imagery and the richly metaphoric, evocative, and functional language of geography to help you place yourself on your own journey, to find your way through helpful exercises and an empathetic, expert guide.

Patty-Digh-Cover

The cover feels like, well I want to say velvet. But that is not right. It has a warmth to it. I wish I knew what the process is. It wants to be held.

The artwork is bold and colorful, soulful and subdued. To me it is inspiring. I love books. I have always treasured them. Such a blessing to receive a copy as a contributing artist!

So here is a sneak peek at how my pieces appear in the book.The book is over 200 pages, and fabulous art is displayed on just about every one of them.

I am realizing, I did not name either one of these. Oh well.

What way to start the new year! I am blessed!