Tag Archives: #sheilazart

Swagger And Stride

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Rooster, 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Rooster, 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

This Rooster was commissioned by my good friend for her new home. I put it off for months. Feeling like I had no idea how to paint a rooster. That feeling was with me every step of the way. And when I was ready for the final feather details, the fear really kicked in. Haha. But then I thought, “Dude, you can always paint over it!”

So, here it is done. And I am laughing at myself because it was not as hard as I thought. But I won’t be telling my friend that. She’ll have me painting roosters from now until Christmas. Haha. Well, there are a lot of cool roosters out there. 😉

  • Texture.
    Texture.
  • Close- up Details
    Close- up Details
  • Grey & white, texture and pattern.
    Grey & white, texture and pattern.
First Fowl Layers.
First Fowl Layers.
  • Head
    Head
  • Head Details After
    Head Details After
Feet
Feet
  • Feather Layers.
    Feather Layers.
  • Darker
    Darker

It was exciting to see him “plump up” as I added the mid-tones. Yay! I felt like I had the neck and tail too dark, while I was working. Now I think they might be too light. I am happy though with the overall look.

  • Neck Details
    Neck Details
  • Tail Details
    Tail Details

I feel like I could work more on the tail. It could be better. Most of the shapes in the reference photo are subtle. There are two tail feather areas I wish I had done better. I wanted to keep the large top feather more white than it appears in the reference photo.

Reference Photo
Reference Photo

Roosters make me think of fancy victorian ladies in their big poofy dresses.
Hey, if ya’ got it, flaunt it! Haha.

This Brewster is signed, sealed, and ready to ship to a very excited Naomi. Whew! She loves it. Thanks, everyone for following along. I appreciate your encouraging words 🙂 God bless!

“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

Bunny Bolt

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Bunny Study, 8 x 8 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Bunny Study, 8 x 8 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

You knew I would paint him sooner or later. When I worked up the courage.

Calling this a study, as I feel I learned a lot in the process. I am going to paint him again. It was fun. I lightened the image I used as a reference after I did the painting. So you would be better able to see details. He appeared much darker before.

I botched one of the ears. And I edited the lighter ear areas digitally, as they looked much lighter in the scan. But, not thinking, I should have gone back in and darkened the outer edges more. My values are muddled a bit as well. But I am really happy with how he turned out!

Bunny on the run. SMD
Bunny on the run. SMD

Finally did the color chart for my larger palette. This small task was very meditative.
I have three colors on the lid. (center top row)
Not so clean after today’s painting. Haha.

Color Chart
Color Chart.

After many months, I finally finished painting this small table. My plan was to do a wood grain effect, to compliment my bed. But the raised panels would have required extra prep work. I applied the base coat and then put it off.

I wasn’t sure which direction to go next. When I bought it, it was a distressed, rustic white. It was a perfect size and a bargain. And I knew I could easily change the finish. I had an abundance of this blue, more indigo than a royal. And in a fit of wanting to get it done, that is what I went with.

I can always paint it again if I change my mind.

Three layers of paint. Two of a satin varnish that turned out to be much too glossy. And an additional layer of matte varnish to fix that mistake. Thankfully, I was chatting online with Sea Dean. I was bummed about the finish and decided to ask her opinion. I knew she would have some helpful suggestions. While we talked about the options, I remembered I had the varnish I used on the legs to my desk. Well, If I could find it. Haha. Being organized doesn’t always help when you are forgetful. Hahaha!

Blessedly, thankfully, after a few minutes’ search, I had my hands on it. Yes!!

THANK YOU, Sea!!!

I painted the “antique brass” handles a crisp metallic silver. And then aged them a bit with a watered layer of brown craft paint. Sealed them with the matte as well. Three full days of painting. Whew! And WOO WHOO! Laughing here. The table is only about a foot by two feet. I am so pleased with how it turned out. All of this with what I had on hand.

Side Table Refinished.
Side Table Refinished.
Satin is too glossy.
Satin is too glossy.

I am not sure if you can really see the difference, but the glossy is above, and the matte is below. I highly recommend this product. It is creamy and easy to apply. It dries quickly as well. It feels wonderful to the touch.

Soft Sheen.
Soft Sheen.
Waverly Matte Varnish
Waverly Matte Varnish

Stay strong, stay safe.
Hugs & prayers. 🙏 

I am happy to be alive, as long as I can paint.
Frida Kahlo

Don’t be an art critic. Paint. There lies salvation.
Paul Cezanne

Short And Simple

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Three Little Blooms, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Three Little Blooms, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
  • Flower Field, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
    Flower Field, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
  • Prickly Pear, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
    Prickly Pear, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Love Notes postcard exchange helped to pass the time. Haha. Is it the end of the month already?! This round we had the option of going digital. I chose that but found a stash of stamps, so I mailed the cards as usual. I was offered a side swap from Kelly, and eagerly agreed. For the side, I painted the Prickly Pear.
Thank you, Priscilla Martin and Kelly Collin-Coulter for brightening up my mailbox and month!

Playful Bouquet, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Playful Bouquet, 4 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Friendship is born at that moment when one person
says to another,
‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.
– C.S. Lewis

My good friend has asked me to post his call for help. He is working on two awesome applications. If you know anyone with the skills he has listed (below in bold), please share this info with them. Thank you for taking a look 🙂

A Call to Arms for Designers!
With the threat of Covid-19 affecting us all, many of us are trying to find ways to help stop the spread of this pandemic through various methods. At Pandemic-Watch we are in the process of developing a mobile app that allows users to opt-in to providing anonymous location data. That data can then be compared to reporting known and suspected symptomatic users and notices sent to those who have crossed paths (with-in the possible transmission time) with a known or suspected person. 
In addition, we also have a project (Medic-Watch) to aid our Medical Heros! Most medical facilities require exposed staff to phone in and answer a health questionnaire each day. Many of the exposed staff are overworked, short on time, and exhausted! So many fail to report daily. This leaves the administrative staff to initiate calls or physically track them down to gather important health data.
Our Medic-Watch project provides a mobile app to collect this data on a given schedule, thus making it easier and less time consuming for the staff to comply. The user can provide a schedule of days and times for the app to open and request their health status. The data is then provided to the medical facility(s) they choose on first use or add later. 
Our two projects are in great need of volunteers. One of our most significant needs is for designers and UI/UX designers to help in the design of our products. If you can design a mockup of a mobile screen given some criteria (such as input fields, and text to display) and make it look modern and professional, we need you! 
Both projects are open source and seek to help stop the spread of the pandemic. The anonymous information they collect will also be provided to medical researchers to help in understanding the spread of future epidemics. So far, our team consists of software developers and epidemiologists. We need web developers, designers, and marketing people, pandemic experts, etc. The projects are both open source and free to anyone to use, modify and further develop for their own use. As long as it is not for profit. 
If you would like to take part and have any talent that could be of use, please contact me at pandemic.watch2020@gmail.com

Randall Morgan, Project Lead