Tag Archives: #artsupplies

A Little Swatching Project That Got Out of Hand

As soon as I finished the Creative Gathering February video, I jumped right into this project. The original plan was simple: swatch my Arteza Gouache set. I ordered a set of square stencils. I pulled out a Strathmore Visual Journal, I thought it would be the perfect size for easy reference.

And then, because apparently I don’t know how to leave well enough alone. I had the ambitious idea to swatch my colored pencils and acrylics, too. Heck, why not all of my “color” supplies?

The idea was to have everything in one easy-to-reference guide. Instead of having little pieces of paper scattered here and there. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. 😂

Of course, this is going to be an ongoing project. And honestly, I probably won’t get back to swatching in the book until after the next February Gathering. There are only so many hours in a day! (It’s taken me months just to get this post up! Haha)

Swatching took MUCH longer than I expected. But the actual painting part was surprisingly meditative. And it is really helpful to see which colors are more transparent and which are more opaque & heavily pigmented.

I also printed a black-and-white copy of the swatch pages. This helps me see the values, which I still struggle to judge on my own. I can tuck the copy into the sketchbook for a quick reference when I need it.

Now, about those paint tubes…

The Arteza Gouache Paint Set of 60 comes in a HUGE box. The tubes are all tucked neatly into plastic trays, which is great for shipping and storing.

But for everyday painting? Not so much.

The sound of those plastic trays scraping against the sides of the box is as bad as cardboard scraping. Yikes! So I ordered a set of six clear 4 x 6 photo storage boxes to hold the paint tubes instead. So. Much. Better.

They snap securely, stack neatly, and I can easily see what’s where. I put my most-used colors in one box, and organized the rest by color family. No more digging through ten noisy trays!

I feel better prepared. Set-up will be easier. And there’s one less little barrier between me and actually sitting down to paint!

I already have a theme in mind for the September Creative Gathering. I think I’ll work in both gouache and watercolor. But you know me. One thing leads to another, and plans might change completely. 😉

Only 3 weeks until September’s Creative Gathering begins!

I am so looking forward to seeing you there!

New Watercolors – Ooo!

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Tulips, 4 x 6 in. watercolor on Arches cold pressed paper. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

If the desert is holy, it is because it is a forgotten place
that allows us to remember the sacred.
Perhaps that is why every pilgrimage to the desert
is a pilgrimage to the self.
There is no place to hide and so we are found.

– Terry Tempest Williams

Talens Angora Opaque Watercolor Pan Set, Inclusive Skin Tones

I have been coveting this set for a few months. Debating if it was worth the moola. When compared to the Michael’s $6 pan set I often use, there are fewer hues. Having never purchased this brand before, I had to trust the reviews.

The case is roughly 5 x 7, and 1/2 inch deep. Perfect for a travel kit. The colors seem to be highly pigmented. There is a very dark green, and a deep black. For the painting above, I used a green from another palette. New supplies, always a treat!

Medical Update

It’s been a month (19th) since I was released from the hospital. I am almost back to where I was before Pneumonia. Still using a walker, but more for “just in case” than absolute necessity. I am doing well enough that PT signed off on my progress. I am doing the exercises they prescribed to build my strength.

I have regained a lot of independence. I have not started driving, but that is due to the meds. I still desaturate when I am active. (O2 level drops.) So I won’t be browsing in stores soon. Short trips only. Missing Michael’s and Hobby Lobby!

I saw my pulmonologist this afternoon. I had a chest x-ray early this morning, and he viewed the results. I still have some inflammation. I will have another x-ray in 3 weeks, and see him again.

I’m so grateful for each improvement. Grateful for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you. Your friendship is a blessing.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

Days 15, 16, And 17. A Haul, And Fractures.

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Day 15, 8 x 8 mixed media on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 16, 8 x 8 mixed media on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 17, 8 x 8 mixed media on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

I made a short visit to Hobby Lobby a few days ago, after I had my second set of x-rays done. I bought more white pens, and a set of black as well. It seems every pen I have is dying at the same time. Haha. I found a huge wall stencil on clearance for just over $3 bucks. It is tree branches with birds. I am excited to put it to use. I also found a lazy Susan supply holder, but I am still debating if it is going to work.

A few months ago, I had perfect timing. Hobby was having a huge clearance sale on paper pads and sketchbooks. I grabbed up as much as I could. Haha. For less than $30.00:

1 – Lg Canson Mixed Media sketchbook $17.79 for $4.44
2 – 7 x 10 Canson Mixed Media sketchbooks $10.99 for $2.74
2 – Canson Watercolor pads $10.29 for $2.57
2 – Sm Strathmore Visual Journal (under $3.00)
1 – Koh-I-Noor Sketchbook $3.25
5 – Master’s Choice 8 x 8 watercolor pads $5.99 for $1.49

I have been using the 8 x 8 pads for the first two series this month. I’ve used this paper many times. It has a very definite patterned texture. Most often it does not show up in scanning. Sometimes you can see it. For the third series, the florals, I used a Strathmore Watercolor Travel Pad. 140 Lb., 8 x 10.

Both papers are inexpensive. They do buckle when using a lot of water, but they shrink right back to flat when dry. If you tape the edges.

During my recent visit to Hobby Lobby, I did notice that the Master’s Touch paper has changed. Maybe that is why it was clearanced out. It no longer has a pattern, just a slight texture for watercolor. I will try it when I run out of what I have.

I mentioned x-rays. Yup. I had an appointment with my foot doctor. She has been treating a Planters’ Wart. I have been waiting for the referral to go through. Lupus fog kept me from realizing, I should have just called her first thing.

She looked over the x-rays that the clinic ordered. But the images cut off the top of the foot. So she ordered full x-rays of both of my feet. Three images each. She will have the results by the middle of the week. She is sure though, that I have some stress fractures. In my toes, or the bones before the toes. She said my ankle looks fine, and she did see that I have arthritis in the top of my foot. I told her I was having pain there once in a while, and in my toes as well. Toe pain on both feet.

After the bright red and deep dark purple bruises were mostly gone, my toes turned dark purple, even in between. This image is from when they were starting to lighten a bit.

She did not want to put me in a boot, she worried about my stability, having to carry the oxygen concentrator. Instead, I have to wear hard shoes, my sketchers, to support the foot.

Still, it’s a chore already. Haha. I have to wrap my foot, carefully put on socks, then the shoes. And I have to cover the shoes, (we don’t wear shoes in the house), to protect the carpet. And I scrub the soles after I have been outside. Eesh.

Haha. I feel like Frankenstein walking around in clodhoppers.

If there are fractures, I will have to wear the shoes for 6-8 weeks. Then she will have x-rays done again, to confirm they have healed.

I found some hard soled bootie slippers, and some elastic shoe covers online. That will make things easier. I sliced up an old pair of Pete’s hospital socks, to stretch over my shoes for now.