Hills 12-12-16. 6 x 6 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2016 Sheila Delgado
The inspiration photo for this made me realize something. After I had finished the painting. Look closely, and you will see there is a small ridge in front of the dark hills. How could I have missed that?
Looking from my studio window each day, I see fields leading to a row of trees in front of the hills. The shot below is from a slightly different angle, maybe that is why the ridge is more visible.
I thought about including the details in the distant mountains. But as you can see, my details are pure fiction. I was so entranced while painting the blue hills, I forgot to leave space for the tree line. It was in my sketch, but the indigo took over. I later added them by using acrylic.
Mingus Mountain
Toys
While in Phoenix I made a trip to Blick and Jerry’s Artarama. Talk about artist nirvana! I looked at EVERYTHING. They are only ten minutes apart. Divine!
I fell in love with two colors from my Artist’s Loft™ Fundamentals™ Watercolor Pan Set. The colors are listed as Buff, and Red Purple. I want to replace them with higher quality paint. You can see both colors in the image below. (highlight on vase, table)
© 2015 Sheila Delgado
Looking online, I found the colors listed below are close to the Red Purple. Caput Mortum seems the closest.
Winsor & Newton – Quin. Magenta
Sennelier – Caput Mortum
Da Vinci – Perylene Maroon
M. Graham – Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Online, I looked through pans, tubes, pencils. And I discovered Neocolor II Aquarelle Artists’ Crayons. Jerry’s had them in stock, so I purchased a few. OK, six. But hey, I wanted most of them, so I did pretty well in the restraint department!
Watercolor pencils and crayons.
I bought three Faber-Castell and three Derwent Inktense pencils as well. All of the colors are lovely. You can see on the samples below that Faber-Castell has the least pigmented colors. I thought Inktenze were concentrated, but WOW! The crayons are very highly pigmented! They go on and on and on! I love them. (The color in the middle is the Red Purple I am trying to match.)
Salmon seems to be close to the Buff color, a little deeper perhaps. Flesh would be better. I also purchased an extra Inktense indigo pencil. Looking at my painting today, the Neocolor Indigo Blue seems slightly on the purple side to me. What do you think?
New colors
Happy Creating to you!
love your view Sheila! Love reading about your art store visits!!! We are too rural here, so you perk me up by sharing! Merry Christmas to you!
Hi Simone! Oh… I should have taken pictures then. Didn’t think of it, I was so entranced by all the goodies. LOL So glad you like the view. I will be sharing it often here I am sure 😉
It’s always difficult at art supply stores!!! Everything catches your eye… I have a 30 set of neocolor I which are oil/wax based and can be diluted with oil medium. I love working with crayons… guess it reminds me of my childhood. What a marvelous view ! Have you gone hiking yet?
No hiking yet. Not til spring now. Not sure how much I can do, but I would like to get out in nature and see that view from the other side… and from the south, and north. LOL 🙂 The set of Neo’s is on my list, they have pastels too 🙂 I was thinking that too, with the crayon in my hand. Sort of comforting isn’t it?
What a beautiful view you have, Sheila! And your painting, with your own signature style made it proud. And of course I love those flowers of yours. Thanks for all the fun info. I wish I could have been there with you at those stores…I would be in Heaven, too!!
That WOULD be fun Laurie! Oh you should see all the paint lined up so pretty! LOL 🙂 I have been missing those flowers… time to paint some more, huh? Have fun today!
Sheila, so happy to discover your post as I sit downstairs in my home at 300a by the light of the full moon, the lights of our Christmas tree, and the light of my computer screen(!). Not sure where my insomnia’s coming from, but it’s got me wide awake. Love that you posted your inspiration photo along with your inspired painting—it’s fun to see your interpretive voice in the painting. The purple mountains’ majesty and the (acrylic!) treeline are especially captivating.
And the new toys! SO yummy. You’re able to buy individual colors, as opposed to sets? Was that at Blick or Jerry’s?
Oh my Dotty! I have not been able to sleep before 1 am or 2. To be up at 3 am. Goodness! Hope you are able to get back on schedule soon 🙂 Glad I could keep you company though 🙂 I found all of those at Jerry’s. (first stop) They did have sets, but I was only wanting to supplement what I have. The palette I am planning to use in January. I was a bit disappointed with Blick. Only in that it is smaller than the one in San Diego. I did find that they carry sheets of different watercolor papers, Some I have not heard of before. (On my list to try) And they had some fabulous brushes!
Hi Sheila. I got a kick out of your story on this painting – thank heaven for mixing media!. It is always so much fun to buy new product – lots of experimenting and play – enjoy!
LOL, so glad Val. I had to share that “oops” moment. I will have fun – hope you are having some as well 🙂