Category Archives: ATC

Day 25 Of 30

Day 25, 2.5 x 3.75 ATC, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Three fun, but failed landscapes. I used one of the mini Legion pads, Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Heavy. The other minis have 10 or 15 sheets, this one only has five. The paper is so thick, it is more like an artboard. I like that it can handle lots of water.

This is my last try. I like it, in spite of it not working as I planned. I thought about showing it vertically. But I decided I liked this view better, as painted. I think it could use more light areas.

I used Yellow Ochre, Indigo, and Green Gold. And the Indigo was the smallest proportion in each painting. They still went much darker than I wanted. I used a credit card to apply the paint and then sprayed water to get the paint flowing. Very little control using this method. It is better suited to larger pieces of paper. Still, I had fun experimenting!

Thought of naming this one, “Ocotillo before the bloom.”

Day 25 #1, 2.5 x 3.75 ATC, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Second try is too heavy handed. Too much pigment, not enough water.

Day 25 #2, 2.5 x 3.75 ATC, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

So what do you think? Did I make improvements in the end?
Did my roundabout path to looseness pay off?

In watercolor, if you are not in trouble,
then you’re in trouble.
Selma Blackburn

The watercolorist’s vocabulary consists of
the ability to handle edges
in a variety of ways, from soft to hard.
Tony van Hasselt

30-Day Creative Gathering, Day 10

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Day 10, 2.5 x 3.5 Mixed media on Stonehenge paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

This challenge is going by much to fast. We are already a third of the way! Even though I feel like I have been struggling to create, I do not want to pass quickly. Haha.

I painted this on a sample size of Stonehenge Warm white. I am not sure if it is meant for watercolors, but it seemed to work fairly well. Although one area I tried to scrub started to show wear. I painted it vertically, liked it better this way. And I thought I would use it as a background. As I seem to be creating those this round. Hahaha.

I started out, trying to use Jean Haynes style, but the paper was not cooperating, so I just went with it. I will try again on the Fabriano.

Day 10 original, 2.5 x 3.5 watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Without the text.

Day 10, 2.5 x 3.5 watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

On my way home from Phoenix, I decided to make a few stops for art supplies, naturally!

Jerry’s Artarama, Woo Whoo! Two pads of Fabriano paper. I have used the rough before, always wanted to try the smooth as well. I found an orange Micron pen, which could be fun. Also a large palette knife and more pens.

ATC sized pads of Stonehenge paper samples for only about $1.50 were too cute to pass up. Aqua Coldpress Heavy, Warm White, and Yupo Heavy. And BOY! The Yupo is a terrific weight, nice thickness. The Aqua is super thick. I am looking forward to trying it in a larger size. It is like a heavy-duty card stock. Super thick. The Warm White is thin, but still a good weight and smooth-surfaced. Follow the link to see how they work with different mediums.

Next was Dollar Tree. While I was helping my aunt, I came across a dollar store supplies video. Well, you know how hard it is to resist art supplies. She recommended some pens, I am not sure if these are the same, but I really like them. And they did not bleed when I used them with the yellow sharpie. A mid-sized pair of scissors. I also found packs of self-laminating sheets. Roughly 4.5 x 6, perfect for postcards.

Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy,
for it means pushing back a boundary-line
and adding to one’s liberty.
Henri-Frederic Amiel

I feel an earnest and humble desire,
and shall do till I die,
to increase the stock of
harmless cheerfulness.
Charles Dickens

Had To Do It

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ATC, Decked Out. Watercolor & Pen on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Up late. Wanted to paint. Should have been asleep. Took ten minutes and made two starts.

Start #1

Start #2

I went through my saved Instagram images. Work by other artists that just makes me happy. Color themes repeated. And this was one of them. A Big Stick Popsicle. Dripping on the sidewalk.

I had to lay down some paint. I wanted to see the colors flow. So that’s all this was. A quick commune with water and pigment. I was thinking, this has been an underlying theme for me this year (quick bits). It has already been a year!

You can look at the menu, but you just can’t eat
You can feel the cushion, but you can’t have a seat
You can dip your foot in the pool, but you can’t have a swim
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain…
~Howard Jones~

A well versed thought. Describes my busy year. I’m not sad or, down. Just thinkin’. Looking towards next year, and the positive changes ahead.

At the end of September I was given a horrible diagnosis. The doctor took my case to the board, a team of specialists. And they decided there is nothing they can do. My esophagus is 100% non- functioning. It also narrows at the bottom, like a bird’s beak. And my stomach stays open. The “flap” doesn’t close. He said that some people ask if they can replace the esophagus. I had never heard of that before. He told me with my lungs though, I would likely not survive the surgery. So that is off the table. Plus I know, the likelihood of rejection or complications from Lupus is high. So he referred me to another specialist. And told me, he could help me with a feeding tube, if that is what I decided to do.

A feeding tube. A hole in my stomach.
Yup. I was completely bummed for a couple of weeks.

But the thing is, food goes down. It just also sometimes, comes back up unexpectedly. Or gets stuck if I forget to chew thoroughly. (Painful.) I wash it down with a quart of water (32 oz., sometimes). I have had these same symptoms for years. The acid reflux is very likely a contributing factor to the damage in my lungs.

BUT WAIT, there’s more!

Floral Escape. 4 x 6 in. watercolor & Posca pen on paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado.

Early last month I had an appointment with another pulmonary specialist. Actually four of them came in the exam room. My case was so intriguing, (insert humor) that they asked me to stay for a second exam the same day.

They mentioned mixed connective tissue disease. A new term I have learned. Just means that it is not only Lupus, but a mixture of issues. Not unusual. I also learned that some of my symptoms DO in fact have names. Revelation!! They said what I have is rare, but did not give me the name. Maybe they did and I was just too busy digesting so much information.

The GOOD NEWS is, that my esophagus CAN BE REPAIRED. HALLELUJAH AMEN!!!

(Looking above with hands in prayer, eyes tearing, “Thank you Jesus!”)

They are fast tracking me for surgery. They will remove the damaged part of the esophagus, and bring the stomach up to meet it. Then they will work on repairing my lungs, sometime later.

Amazing news, right?!

Where I am now. Still in recovery mode. Caught a cold, well it was early November I think. Was barely over it when we went to San Diego. I knew the trip would just prolong recovery. It is basically a Lupus Flare. Pretty mild though. I am just exhausted, and sleeping more. Also, I lost my voice during the trip. Just used it too much, visiting with friends. It is still not back to normal.

I have two major projects I need to finish (start) before early next month. Hoping to also get a head start on the 30 day challenge. But you know what day it is, so that may not happen. Kinda hoping the challenge will be in February again. But either way, I will be interrupted.

There you have it. I rambled. One thought led to another. What the heck. Had to share the bad with the good. And the good is really GREAT 😉

~ Sheila