Category Archives: Mixed Media

Sun Splatters

I started this piece months ago. When I started to add pen to shape the petals, I totally goofed. I did not start with a sketch, I just splattered paint, and then added the pen to highlight some of the shapes the paint developed.

When I came back to the piece recently, I was so attracted to the colors, I felt I had to try to save it. I continued to add petal shapes. Next I added more of the rust tones to the background. That looked terrific in person, but not in the scan. So I went back in with some deep sap green.

I thought it was too dark, so I washed some of that back out. Looking at the petals, I thought it might be a good idea to add some shadows. I didn’t want to ruin what I had, so I added shadows digitally, in Photoshop. The shadows here are not deep enough, and maybe they are not correctly placed. This is still a work in progress for now. Below is the original.

Slide 1: left for dead
Slide 2: attempt resuscitation
Slide 3: add contrast, sap green
Slide 4: lighten the contrast
Slide 5: digital shadows

Sun Splatters, Left for Dead. Original. 2016 Sheila Delgado

Tomorrow is the Liberate Your Art Blog Hop. I hope you will join me, and visit some of the other artists as well. Kat will unveil her video – Sure to be fun!

Because I Had To

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Pear. 5 x 7 in. watercolor and pen. © 2016 Sheila Delgado

A few days ago….

It was late. I was tired. I had the urge to put brush to paper, and color.
Spent the day on ‘tech stuff”, repairs on my site.
Inspired by a stitched work of art. Pear. Bright colors.
Made me want to play.
By the light from my monitor.
A quick sketch. A wash, then another.
Feeling better.
Computer off.
Time to sleep.

L.Y.A. Side Swap #9

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L.Y.A. 2016 Side Swap #9, “Build” by Sherry Harmes.

Sherry Harmes lives in Larsen Bay, Kodiak Island Alaska. I have swapped with Sherry before, and I always look forward to her art arriving. For these tiny houses she used security envelopes and watercolor. On the back of the card is this:

Conceive, Believe, Achieve!!!

The building she is doing this year includes and addition, Bee, Bird, Butterfly and Bat houses. And relationships with long-lost family! Sherry sounds like a busy bee herself!

Sherry includes the weather stats on her card, I think that is such a fun and creative detail. The temperature in Alaska was at 44 degrees, and when I received the card in Wildomar, CA. our temp was at 51 degrees. Funny to think So. Cal. was almost as cold as Alaska!

I placed Sherry’s card in something that I built (with some help), paint storage crates.

This is my lucky 13th card to arrive! Still looking for one more of the regular swap cards, and then Kat Sloma’s to close the swap. And there are more sides on their way as well!

Wishing you the very best in your busy year Sherry! Thanks so much for sharing your playful art with me!