Tag Archives: #coneflowers

September 30-Day Creative Gathering

Day 1, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 1, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 2, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 2, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 3, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 3, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

The 30-Day Creative Gathering is in it’s second week. We have welcomed about a dozen new members. Hooray!

I have been working mostly in collage. The first three are collage, with acrylics, & watercolor. I started by prepping several pieces, building layers of pattern. I cut out vase shapes and placed them, then added paint and sometimes, more collage.

For day three, I also added “digital collage”. The original has collage, gauze, and painted pattern in the sky. I added the trees, the circle and the quote, in the computer. Below is the view that inspired this piece.

Mingus 8 31 22. SMDelgado — Mingus 8 31 22. Sheila Delgado

Day four I shared part of a pattern I am working on. I missed the challenge deadline, lost a day to an appointment in Phoenix. I will complete the pattern, though it may have to wait until next month. This is the bottom layer, there will be a floral layered on top. Time away also made me behind in painting for the gathering.

Day 5 #1, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 5 #1, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Back to collage on day 5. I was not sure about the “empty” space to the right of the vase. The pattern, and a stippled layer on top, did not work as I had hoped. I posed the question to the group. Eileen Vivell made some suggestions that got me thinking.

The changes were made digitally, the original remains untouched. I added a bit of definition to the pattern at the bottom left. I copied a leaf and placed it next to the vase. I didn’t like how the leaf pattern had been cut off. Eileen thought the lettering looked squashed. So I added more, filling the width of the piece. I do like this version better. What do you think?

Day 5 #2, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 5 #2, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 6, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 6, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 7, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 7, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

On to week two!

World Watercolor Month, Days 5 Through 9.

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Day 5, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

These tiny 2 x 2’s are fun to paint. A nice change. I think my favorite size hovers around 8 x 8 inches. Or 10 x 10. This weekend I will be continuing work on the bear. And I have started two other canvas pieces. One is 4 x 4, and the other is 12 x 12 I think.

The skyscape below was inspired by a real sunset. When I stepped away to get my phone, the light changed, and I missed getting the shot. The clouds were all shades of pink and orange, The sky was blue and lavender grey. Storm clouds moving through.

Day 6, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 7, WWM, Ranunculus, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 8, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 9, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

I first learned about the color Green Gold from Angela Fehr. She is one of the artist ambassadors for World Watercolor Month. Laurie Mueller uses it often in her work also. Or maybe it is her own blend, but it has the same jaw-dropping effect. Diluted, it is almost blindingly neon. But you can get a deeper, rich hue as well. It’s a favorite in my palette.

I am sharing two revisions with you. The scans came out too dark, and I was not happy with the “black” band at the bottom. I was behind, so I went ahead and posted them. In reality, The indigo was softer, and blended to a rich, dark green. The color bled into the wet areas above, and there are some soft “finger” like details. But I needed to blend the dark with the rest of the foreground.

I added a few more blades of grass, and I think they work much better now. What do you think? The revised scans are true to life, not as vivid as the first scans. The setting wasn’t right. I like them better now. To me, I think the green gold stands out more. The oranges are not overpowering. Do you like the first version better?

Day 1, WWM, Revised, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 1, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado. — Day 1, WWM, Revised, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 4, WWM, Revised, Sunny Delights, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 4, WWM, Sunny Delights, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado. — Day 4, WWM, Revised, Sunny Delights, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Stay firmly in your path and dare.
Be wild two hours a day!
Paul Gauguin

When art critics get together they talk about
Form and Structure and Meaning.
When artists get together
they talk about where you can buy cheap turpentine.
Pablo Picasso

#WorldWatercolorMonth – #8, #9 And #The100DayProject – #97, #98

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Mingus #97. 11,5 x 5.5 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Mingus #98. 11.5 x 5.5 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Can you believe it? Thursday is the last day of #The100DayProject! I have to say, it has gone by fast. Due I am sure, to having so many distractions.

I was inspired again by the rain today. First Mingus disappeared, then the front range. Then they merged into one. A little lightening, and some small hail. We had two brief rain spurts. One in the morning, and then again in early evening. Also inspired by the O’Keeffe Postcard on my wall.

I would have liked more definition between the two ranges. I used a purple (Crimson Alizarin and Ultramarine) infused indigo for the front range. The red only shows in a couple of areas. But all is well. What happened in life, also happened on paper. One range in view. I also used a Le Pen. They are water soluble. Maybe that is the wrong term. I learned about these from Yevgenia Watts. Love her work, and love how she uses these pens.

I have updated the #100DaysOfMingus gallery. I organized it by month. So if you choose to view a slideshow, it will not be an all day investment.

#100DaysOfMingus Gallery

A Year In The Life Of Mingus

#WorldWatercolorMonth

#8 WWM. 5.5 x 8 in. watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

I am going to tell you that I did some coneflower studies in preparation for this painting. Truth is I botched the very first one, bottom left below. No use in wasting paper. Practice, practice. There is a link to this technique on my Pinterest Art Education Board. (For some reason, when I try to link to the pin, it brings up a search page.) I also goofed the stems in #8. I kept painting until they were barely visible. Ha ha ha .

Color studies

#9 was going really well. Until I finished. Only then did I realize I forgot the stems completely. I went back in and added them, but I think they could still use some work. A bit wonky.