Mingus #100. 11,5 x 5.5 in. watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.
Number one hundred was a struggle. It just was not working. I started on an 8 x 12 inch piece of paper. More room for big sky. I got the first layers down. And then the electricity went out. Lightning hit a power box. Or transformer box. What are they called?
For about an hour I was focused on getting the power back on. Thinking I needed to just flip the breakers and it would come back. Then a neighborhood conversation started. Phone calls and suppositions.
This was worrisome for me, as I am connected to an O2 concentrator 24/7. Earlier in the day I had run errands. Got home, started chores and I hadn’t yet plugged in the portable to charge the battery. There was 3.25 hours of charge left. Now, I also have regular O2 tanks. Some are empty, but I have a total of 8 to 16 hours there. And if all else failed, if the outage lasted longer, I could always jump in the car and charge the battery that way.
But I think that first, “Uh-Oh”, messed with my mo-jo. Two hours later power was back, but I was stuck. I picked up a brush, and fiddled a bit. But the way forward was, cloudy. So I called it a night.
The next day, I realized, I had sketched on the back of the paper. Arches can be used on either side. The back is smooth. That could explain why I was having a hard time. I am not familiar with that texture. So I flipped the paper over. Transferred the image again, and started to paint. And the same thing happened. I got stuck. I painted in the sky, thinking that would get me on the right track. I have fun painting the skies, and they often come together quickly for me. Not this time. It was muck.
The image I was working from, has a bit of curved road and some trees in the bottom right corner. I thought I would attempt a more “complicated” piece, a “grand slam” for the finale. “Ha ha ha,” said the universe. There are also distant homes under the smaller ridge, to the left. It is a view from town. South of my usual Mingus view.
I hit a wall and called it a night. Again. But I did manage to get my #Worldwatercolormonth pieces done. I started #100 one more time. Got about half way, before my eyes refused to stay open. I went back to the 5.5 x 11.5 size sheet.
This morning I looked at the painting, and went to work. #100DaysOfMingus, #The100DaysProject, done. Whew!
#WorldWatercolorMonth
#11 WWM. 5.5 x 8 in. watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.
#12 WWM. 5.5 x 8 in. watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.
Not sure why, but #12 was difficult to edit. The colors are off. Below is a photo to give you a better idea. This is sort of abstracted ice plant.
When I was in 4th grade, my brother and I were latch-key kids. Mom owned two hair salons, one of which was just down the hill behind where we lived. If needed, she could walk home in five minutes. We used to climb the hill behind out house, and make forts in the bushes at the top. Climbing that hill from the parking lot (red), was our “Olympic marathon event”. It was steep, and we had to use the irrigation pipe as our “rope”. Had to do that on the sly, so we wouldn’t get busted.
Hills
The hill directly behind our house was not so steep. One day we got the idea to use the plastic rug protectors as sleds to slide down the ice plant on the hill. Well, the cleats on the bottom (yeah, had to look that up) caught on the ice plant, so that was a no go.
Brilliant idea, and I think the credit goes to me, “Let’s flip ’em over!” So we excitedly slid down the hill, thorns poking our backsides. It was a quick ride. We forgot to think of an exit plan. At the bottom, was a cement drainage ditch. So we had to, sort of, lean to the side to jump off before we hit cement. And THAT is when the thorns scraped our bare legs. Yup, ouch. But I guess the ride was worth it, because I remember we did it once or twice more.
The drainage ditch was usually dry. So. Cal., not a lot of rain. That is what made it easy for Mom to climb the hill. It also was a quick route to the 7-11 that was there at the time. You could still get 5 cent candy then. Ice cream, soda, gum. What more could a kid want but easy access to junk food. There were spindly trees there, and we would sneak behind them so Mom could not see us if she happened to look out the window. We had to be very stealth.
Not sure why I am sharing this, only that these were the things I was remembering while I worked on this piece.
Yellow-Salon, Blue-path to 7-11, Red-steep hill, star-home.
#12 WWM True color. 5.5 x 8 in. watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.
All 100 are in the gallery now. My next post will be a review of #The100DayProject. I will show you my favorites, and share which posts were the most popular. It might take a day or two to go through them all. Ha ha.
Enjoy your weekend!!
#100DaysOfMingus Gallery
A Year In The Life Of Mingus
#WorldWatercolorMonth
Congrats on reaching your awesome goal! Especially in the face of the challenges you have to handle daily. You ROCK!
Thanks Dave 🙂 I appreciate that 😉 I’m so grateful for your friendship and support! So glad that you followed along. Keep up your life changing work!
Congrats! I’m mega impressed by your perseverance. I went straight to work choosing my favorites. Some had been with me from the beginning. Many had come and gone and then returned. A few went in and out several times but were eliminated in the final cut. I discovered that my indecision was mostly based on the relationship between the peak in foreground interacting with the line behind. I’ve read that peaks should be close to the center of a composition, but that doesn’t sit well with me. The line often moves the eye too quickly across the page. After that my most difficult challenge was the texture and patterns in the paint. I couldn’t whittle it down to less than 6 which I’ve added again at the top of the Pinterest board. …. Just a thought, why not create a FB questionnaire for people to tick their favorites? Not sure if they still have this, but great feedback.
WOW Sea, you are ahead of the game! I was going to ask for favorites. A questionnaire huh. Just looked, and it seems they still do have it. Interesting 🙂
I love hearing about your Mingus deliberation. I will go through the same process today. Great to see your choices. Some I agree with, and some would almost go on my “worst” list. Well, at least at the bottom of the 100 list. That is always interesting, isn’t it? LOL 😉 And what you say about the line. Yes, true. So I need to find a way to break up that ridge. Add details, or crown it with clouds maybe. Again you have me thinking about composition. Thank you Sea 🙂
Congratulations, Sheila! So many paintings, so much persistence and inspiration shared with us. We all learn together in this life and your 100 days became a part of our daily journeys. Thank you! Your last painting, the sky is beautiful. It flows and is realistic and quite cheery with the light coming from within the clouds. I know your day was rather frustrating, but the painting itself doesn’t reflect that at all. I like how your rendered the landscape in front of the mountains, the variations of brushstrokes and color.
Your ice plant design is gorgeous. I can envision it on so many different products. Nice to have a glimpse into your childhood as you worked on the piece. It causes us to reflect on our own.
You must be very proud. You did 100 paintings of Mingus and learned so much about your art. A m a z i n g!!
Aww, thanks so much Laurelle. Part of your daily journey, such a lovely thought 🙂 So glad #100 works for you. I had fun with this one, after the first two pieces. And I noticed I was more relaxed while I worked.
Ice plant pattern. Hmmm. There is a thought. I don’t think this plant gets as much recognition as it should. It is not only fire resistant, but fire-retardant as well. Drought tolerant, and so many lovely colors. One of my favorite things about California, is the purple covered hills.
I am glad for #WorldWatercolorMonth, and the prompt to continue daily painting. Thankful also, for you generous appraisal 🙂
Sheila: YOU DID IT!
100 Delightful Days of Magnificent Mingus by Sheila: Shazam!
In #100 those spacious skies embrace me with the wonder of the universe.
And, speaking of the universe, #11 WWM feels like an intergalactic illustration The Little Prince—I love it.
I stand in awe of your paintings of the past 100 days, Sheila. I stand in awe of YOU.
Shazam! LOL! Love that Dotty. My brother’s alter ego in the early 70’s. Ha ha ha. And I love your take on #11. Yes, I can see it now. Seeing things through your eyes – what an adventure 😉 I stand in GRATITUDE for your encouragement and esteem 🙂
Well done Sheila on getting no.100 completed even with the interruptions! It has been great following the series, you have a lovely collection of artwork now. Best wishes. Jacinta (jmirishart)
Jacinta I am so glad you enjoyed the journey. I have been feeling like these posts were on the dull side. I have not had time to include WIP shots, or talk about the process like I usually do.
You should see the stack! LOL 🙂 I will share it in my review. As I was painting, I put them away for safekeeping. I didn’t realize. I mean I was not conscience of it on a daily basis. Looking at the calendar doesn’t have the same effect.
So blessed to have you follow along Jacinta, thank you 🙂
Congratulations! Power down etc is so upsetting especially with a goal you want to meet! Glad to see you going bigger. You made it! Kol Ha Kavod!
Hand in the air for high five! Ha ha 🙂 Thank you Carol 🙂 I WANT to go bigger. I think about how 4 x 6 used to feel right. I keep taking small steps to bigger. 6 x 6, 8 x 8, LOL. When I was working on the larger piece, (that didn’t work out), it “felt” good. I think I just need to approach it differently. For one, I need to mix up a larger batch of paint. (say, for the sky.)
I was also trying a new technique, and I should have practiced that a few times first. LOL.