Mingus Has A Ball

June Sunset, Mingus. SMD 2021
June Sunset, Mingus. SMD 2021

Gotta love the desert light. I’ll try to remember that as we soar over 100 degrees. Today we hit 105. But the “real feel” was 112. Yikes! Phoenix’s high was 111. We are usually 10 to fifteen degrees cooler than the city. The warm light on the hills forced me to jump up, and grab my camera to catch the scene.

Another postcard exchange. Yay! I still miss the annual LYA exchange and was so excited to get an invite from Nelvia McGrath. I painted my postcard offering, naturally.

Ball Cactus, 4 x 6, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Ball Cactus, 4 x 6, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

After I scanned the image, I noticed I completely forgot to add distant hills. So, I added them digitally with Photoshop. That “straight” line was buggin’ me.

Ball Cactus, 4 x 6, mixed media on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Ball Cactus, 4 x 6, mixed media on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Next time I will remember to sketch them in.

Have a super week everyone!

Magic of the shadows can best be seen in the deserts.
Mehmet Murat Ildan

A flower blooming in the desert
proves to the world that adversity,
no matter how great,
can be overcome.
Matshona Dhliwayo

12 thoughts on “Mingus Has A Ball

    1. Sheila Post author

      Really? WOW, thank you for that Sea.
      Been thinking of you, hope you are settled and all is well. 🙂

      Reply
  1. laurelle cidoncha

    You were right to trust your intuition and add the hills to the lovely composition. It allows the viewer to travel through the painting, not just resting on the beautiful cactus. Nice gift for whoever receives it! Stay safe in the hotness!

    Reply
  2. Christine Brooks

    Beautiful. Love your painting and how you added the mts. I have no clue how to do that but it works.
    I too miss LYAPS.

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      Yup Christine. I think LYA was loved by all.
      All I did in Photoshop was make three triangles, each on their own layer.
      I erased some of the edges, to make them look more organic. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Val van der Poel

    Wow – it sound much too hot for me! I hope you get some relief and some rain as I imagine the land there is parched. A lovely postcard and the addition of the mountains was just right!

    Reply
    1. Sheila Post author

      Indeed Val! Monsoon season started today, so there is hope. Fingers crossed.
      Thanks for the thumbs up. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dotty Seiter

    Sheila, the added mountains in the background are terrific!

    On a different note, I’m currently using a postcard of yours as a bookmark in which I take delight each time I open the book and each time I reposition the bookmark and close the book : )

    Reply

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