Mingus Red. 4 x 8 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado
Very pleased with this. I started late and had to work fast. My goal was to keep the color fresh and not heavy-handed. I actually did it this time! So tempted to go back in and deepen the back ridge. Where you see the curved line on the left, I meant to deepen the area underneath. I will go back and finish that as well as try to mimic the rough texture that is on the right side.
More work on the 4 x 4’s today:
Decide that 4 are junk and gesso over them. One survived.
Cover all with warm base color. Pull one more from stack and cover it as well.
Work all as abstracts.
Finish three. Think they are junk, but decide to keep going. For a few seconds I feel like crying because this is my third start over. In my head I shout, “I suck at abstracts!!!”
Think that there is a lot I suck at. But TRY to remember there are a few things I am good at.
Conclude I will feel better if I eat something. So I eat.
Come back to the now dry pieces. Keep working.
End up with two that I think are pretty good. Think even Leslie might like them.
Work a third, not so abstract but it is rustic. Think it needs a few more marks. Or something. Will add it in the next session.
Still paint in my butcher tray. My aversion to wasting supplies keeps me going.
Work two more.
Not happy with them, but will attempt to salvage in the next session.
Final count:
2 that might be really good.
2 that need just a little more work.
2 that may or may not be painted over.
Closer to being the 7 days ahead that I need to be. Feeling less stressed. Whew!! Now I just need to work on the posts.
Hope you all had a productive day. Happy creating!
Thanks so much for your supportive suggestions and observations!!
Take a peek at everyone’s day eleven!
Pinterest board growing with almost 700
glorious artworks by friends and favorites!
Love the sky and the simple shapes. Can’t wait to see your 4 x 4 abstracts.
Thanks Carol! I sure am loving what you are doing this challenge 🙂 have fun!
Didn’t get a chance to comment on this before (sorry! I’m always late because I can’t get to any personal time on the computer until late at night) BUT I just wanted to say that this piece has the best integration between the foreground and the sky that I’ve seen you do! The colour values and application are very well balanced! Great job! 🙂
Thank you Emma, for taking the time 🙂 Thanks for your observation, I will try to keep that in mind as I go forward. It is probably obvious I struggle with values. Have a great night!
Dear Sheila, I have not been getting around to commenting as much this go round of the 30in30. But – I have been getting updates on face book of your paintings. Your series of the Mingus Range are beautiful. There is a certain simplicity about them (but having said that it is no mean feat to do that when painting – especially with watercolour!) that is so appealing. I can’t get over how your watercolours sparkle and you get such beautiful lights and darks. I do want to thank you for always leaving a comment on my 30 posts. Is always much appreciated and you seem to always know the right thing to say. I would love to see some of your abstracts. In an earlier post you did put up photos of your ‘starts’ and they looked great. Tomorrow is another day and another painting. Looking forward to seeing Day 12!
Hi Janet! Thanks so much for visiting 🙂 I will be showing the abstracts the last week of the month. I have five finished. I will do two more this week, and I will show those starts. Thanks for your interest 🙂
And thanks so much for your kind assessment of the Mingus paintings. Trying hard with those to simplify, and keep the colors light and not over worked.
Your work is inspiring, such a joy to open the mail and find your art! Happy painting to you Janet!
I am disappointed not to see your abstracts but your Mingus piece is super. You did a great job on the sky and clouds and all your colours are nice and clean – very watercolour-ish. good job Sheila!
Sorry about that Val, I should have showed at least one. Glad for one success and so glad you like it. Have fun today Val 🙂
Beautiful work! Congrats! Pushing through is a powerful way to get to the good stuff.
You don’t win them all, but if you didn’t keep going, you’d have nothing!
I’ve gotten better over time at doing photos that please me. My keeper ratio used to be somewhere from 1:30 to 1:100. Now I’ve gotten a little better and I usually have a 1:10 keeper ratio… which means 90% are still losers…
Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you…
LOL, I love that Dave!! I have to paint a bear this month…I will keep that in mind. LOL. Thanks for sharing your stats, makes me feel a whole lot better. Time is the key. Putting in the time and gaining the experience. Thanks for the laughs this morning Dave! So nice to hear from you!
Love the complimentary color scheme on this one Sheila! It really stands out in the lineup. You immerse yourself in the 30in30 more than anyone I know, even Leslie! What with all your commenting on everyone’s blog, your Pintrest board, writing detailed accounts of your daily thoughts, trials and tribulations, phew – I’m exhausted just thinking about it! BUT I am so happy you are you and so generous with your thoughts and compliments. I imagine so are a lot of other bloggers who count on you for daily encouragement and a healthy measure of positive feedback and validation. Thank you Sheila. I sure appreciate you! Keep those brushes wet, my dear!! xo
Very kind of you Sandy, thank you. I do enjoy visiting the blogs. I don’t have friends near me to talk about art with, so that is a nice outlet. With the board, I am just hoping to give the artists a little more exposure. And I have been receiving notices of things getting repinned, so good news there. 🙂
I love your posts Sandy, and how you find the time to research those inspiring quotes is amazing to me 🙂 So glad you like the hills today Sandy, and so nice to hear from you 🙂 Happy creating to you teacher!
The fresh, bright, light energy of Mingus Red is singing to me. Lovely.
Appreciate hearing about your interactions with the abstract 4x4s, painful though much of that experience may have been for you. I’m going to be away for at least 6 days of the challenge also, I suddenly realized. I’m not sure how strenuously (or even if) I’ll try to work ahead so as to be able to post each day. I do have a few pieces at the ready at the moment but, of course, that could change if I fall behind some day[s]!
So glad you like it Dotty 🙂 I know we do not have to do all 30. But I always have, and I would like to this time. Always look forward to your daily art 🙂 And if not daily… I will look forward to your return!
Sheila, I like this. The understated simplicity of this gives a lovely mood. I can so relate to your blog posts. Of course we are our own worst critic. I assess mine at the end and some are deemed passable and worked up some more, others never see the light of day again. I am strarting to feel more comfortable with abstracts as I go along.
Marion
Hi Marion 🙂 I think that is what I need to do, just keep working and get more practice. Looking at them today, I am feeling better about the results. Some still need work, but I think I have some ideas 🙂 Happy creating to you Marion 🙂 Glad you like the hills 🙂