Category Archives: Cacti & Succulents

The February 2026 Creative Gathering, Days 20 Through 23.

Days 20 - 23 of the February 2026 Creative Gathering. © 2026 Sheila Delgado. — Days 20 – 23 of the February 2026 Creative Gathering. © 2026 Sheila Delgado.

Day 20. Prickly Pear. Gouache, 8 x 8 in. The prickly pear pads can be all shades of green, yellow green, gray, silver, sage. Just not usually all on the same plant. 😆

Day 21. Gouache & mixed media on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Paper. 4 x 4 in. S.M. Delgado. My scanner is still blurring parts of the image. (The top image, left side.)
Don’t worry, it is not your eyes. 🤓
For this series, my main goal was to catch up, and get ahead. Six small pieces sounded like a plan. I chose a limited palette and started with large blocks of color. Dots and marks in a contrasting color were added next. In Photoshop I layered leaves, patterns and music for more interest.

Day 22. Gouache on Arches Cold Press Paper 140 lb. 4 x 4 in. Repetition as composition.

Day 23. Gouache on Arches Cold Press Paper 140 lb. 4 x 4 in. By this time, I was starting to question my color choices. It felt like something was missing. 🤔 What do you think?

I received suggestions in the gathering group, and in my next post you will see the results.
Stay tuned!

The February gathering is a 30-day event, despite the month not having 30 days. And the group gallery video is coming around the mountain! Our time to celebrate the fabulous art the members have brought to life!

See you soon!
Have an awesome weekend!

Week Two Of The February 2026 Creative Gathering

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I’ve had a hard time keeping up this week. Whoosh! That’s the sound of the days flying by. I’m in a stellar group who are also posting late at night.

From the bottom: Day six was the WIP for day 7, the yellow Palo Verde tree. That is an 8 x 8 inches. Day 8. Saguaro in the sun, 8 x 8. I had fun with this one.

Day 9. Thumb Butte. Gouache on Meeden pure cotton Watercolor Paper 140 lb. 5 x 7 in.

Day 10, 5 x 7 in. Succulent Garden. Prickly Pear, Cholla (forks), Ric Rac, Agave. Gouache & mixed media. I created the spines digitally. The spines on the Cholla are actually small stars. The agave was made digitally and the sun is something I have used before. Here I added some smudging to soften the details.

Day 11. Mingus Mountain. Gouache, 5 x 7 in. It was a cloudy gray day. I added a little color. A gouache fact. Light colors dry darker, darks dry lighter. It will take time and practice to know better what the results will be. For example, the front range here is much darker than I intended.

Day 12. Pine Trees. Gouache, mixed media 5 x 7 in. I had limited time, but I managed to get this out earlier in the day. (Not at Midnight. LOL) 😂 I painted the blended background on the Meeden block. I then painted ten practice trees. They were all horrible. In the tutorial I watched, she used a filbert brush. I only have two really old, small filberts. My tree looks nothing like her perfect sample. I am surprised and pleased with how mine turned out. The slightly separating brush, gave me tiny details that mimic pine needles. Fun! (Visit my Instagram profile to see better.)

I painted one tree, on a blank paper. I didn’t want to ruin the background. And I was trying to save time. In Photoshop I duplicated the tree, and flipped it horizontally. I then erased select areas to create a different silhouette.

I ordered a new palette. The long one. It fits my space perfectly. I thought I wouldn’t need the others as much. But I use them all. 😆 I continue to be amazed at how far the paint goes. If there is a unified look to the pieces, it is from using the leftovers.

Thanks so much for clicking, reading and viewing my gouache practice!
So nice to have your company!
Happy, awesome weekend to you!

Days 1 – 5 of The Creative Gathering, February 2026

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My 30 day gouache adventure is underway!

Shown in reverse order.
Day 1, Ball Cactus.
Gouache on Arches paper. 4 x 4 in. S.M. Delgado.

There is no doubt this is going to be a month of learning for me. Gouache can be used like watercolor, but it is very different. It is opaque. You can layer light over dark. You can blend. And if you goof, you can paint over it. I apologize for the blur.

Day 2, Prickly Pear Cactus.
Gouache on Meeden 140 Lb. hot press paper. 5 x 7 in. S.M. Delgado.

The reference photo showed the tuna’s as very pale pink. I didn’t quite capture the light in them. And my blending there is very uneven. I’m trying to convince myself it gives them a rough & rustic look. 😄 The spines were very few and mostly around the edges. I can see why this medium is favored for illustration work. I added the outlining and the spines digitally.

Day 3, Saguaro Cactus. Gouache on Meeden 140 Lb. hot press paper.
3.5 x 5 in. S.M. Delgado
I had several busy days in a row, so I went small and simple.

Day 4, Cloud. Gouache on Meeden 140 Lb. hot press paper.
3.5 x 5 in. S.M.Delgado.

I had a bottom layer of “light” in the foreground. And I added texture as well. But it didn’t work, and as I tried to rework it, I lost most of that. I really was focused on the cloud process. I kept working that to blend and soften. I’m not sure it is effective. To me it looks hard instead of soft. But the learning counts.

Day 5, Same Cloud. Gouache on Meeden 140 Lb. hot press paper.
3.5 x 5 in. S.M.Delgado.

You’re right. You are seeing double. LOL. I added a tree line, and some light on the mountains. It was a long day, that’s about all I had time for. I did get some ideas for my next piece. I’m looking ahead to tomorrow. After a long winter’s nap.

Thanks so much for taking the time to look at the first five days!