Category Archives: Cacti & Succulents

Cactus True, Or Cactus Cool?

Saguaro, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Saguaro, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

I sat down to clean my palette, but instead, I started to paint. I used long strokes on the Saguaro, instead of blending patches of color. I used a blue Le Pen to define. Looking at the scan, I noticed that the cactus and the foreground were too much the same.

I left it overnight and then added blue Posca. Now it’s a bit too much like the sky. Haha. That is what learning looks like. Sometimes.

Had fun in the process, more fun making the animation. FUN!

Saguaro, revised, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Saguaro, revised, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Loved this true cerulean blue sky with a swish of puffy white clouds.

Mingus 3.27.20
Mingus 3.27.20

One clean palette, empties refilled.

Mijello Palette, 18-Well.
Mijello Palette, 18-Well.

New palette filled and ready to go. I bought this palette months ago, 40 or 50% off. Room for six more colors. I sorted my colors before I started filling the wells. I still goofed somehow and ended up with two empty slots. But that gives me room for new colors. My list of wanna try hues is long. Naturally.

I probably shouldn’t have included the two orange colors. I rarely use them. I’ll have to think of something fun to use them for. “Think. Think. Think.” As Pooh would say.

It’s still a wonky collection. But I do have warm and cool hues of the primaries. I’m working on the color chart next. If anyone is interested, I can share that in the next post.

Martin Palette, 24 well.
Martin Palette, 24 well.

I’ve only wanted paper and beautiful colors.
It was my dream, and it still is my dream.
And books.
They’re all I need, and the rest I can do without.
Karl Lagerfeld

Be well. Stay Safe.

Cool Cactus Hues

Cactus, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Cactus, 5.5 x 8.5, watercolor on paper, © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

I received a SuPeR AwEsOmE surprise in the mail yesterday. Christine Brooks sent me an Arteza watercolor sketchpad. WOW! Thank you, Christine!

There is a wonderful texture to the paper. Different from the Artist’s Touch I mentioned last month. Different, but similar. I like it. I lifted the cloud on the left. With a damp brush. Good to know that is possible on this paper.

Close-Up
Sunset 3-25-20
Sunset 3-25-20

The light on the clouds was so brilliant, it lit up the room. The clouds were actually “dripping down” like thick, wet paint. I am going to try and paint it. Not sure I know how. It will be fun trying though.

I did manage something like it years ago, but don’t ask me what I did. LOL.

Drippy Clouds
Drippy Clouds

“Piglet noticed that even though he had
a Very Small Heart,
it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
A.A. Milne

Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
chaos into order,
confusion into clarity.
It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melody Beattie

“‘Enough’ is a feast.”
Buddhist Proverb

Pink and Purple Prickly Pear

Purple Prickly Pear, 4 x 4 gouache on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Purple Prickly Pear, 4 x 4 gouache on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

It looks like a stack of Easter eggs to me. Messy experimental cacti. I thought it might be good for a laugh. I used leftover gouache. I added one color at a time and thought I could go back and blend. But they did not want to cooperate. The few areas where blending occurred, started to get muddy. Next time I will use multiple brushes and blend while the paint is wet.

I found calm in the process. Fun in seeing the vibrant colors.

I had an appointment today, and I was able to see the trees filled with pink and white blooms. So pretty. I was behind a semi in town, and he bumped against some of them, made it rain pretty white petals.

It has remained cold. So there is still snow on the mountain. Today it was glowing brightly in the sunlight.

A few of my favorite things for today.

Mingus 3.19.20, SMD
Mingus 3.19.20, SMD

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you wellness!