Category Archives: ATC

Little Bits

 

Fresh Start. 4 x 6 Acrylics on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Fresh Start. 4 x 6 Acrylics on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

I like this better now. Not stripes, now there is a flow. Having a hard time getting the colors to scan true to life. The brightest green is not nearly as neon. And the tone in the bottom right corner is more sap and less avocado.

Fresh Start. 4 x 6 Acrylics on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Fresh Start. 4 x 6 Acrylics on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Not sure where I will take this next, but I do feel it needs a bit more work. Contemplating. Here is a reminder of where it started.

I have painted, a little each day, haven’t taken the time to edit and post. I conquered a major project. Well, half of it at least. I scanned all my family photos. Been meaning to do this for, well a decade at least.

The wildfires of 2007 made it more important. I have good friends who lost three homes in one family. Parents and two sisters. One family on the La Jolla reservation lost 20 homes. Sisters, cousins, parents. It was devastating.

I worked at the Rincon Harrah’s Casino, and could not get to work the day the fire started. A good friend was already working, and she was trapped, with many others, for three days at the resort. No safe way out.

I spent a week in my apartment. Ash was falling, the sky was tell-tale red. Dozens of huge Eucalyptus trees in the complex were destroyed by the high winds. The tree in front of my balcony was torn in half. My back was to it, and it scared the you-know-what out of me. Walkways were blocked, parking was blocked. If anyone needed to drive out of there, they were out of luck.

My place was miles away from the main fires. If you are interested, here are some links to more details.  After seeing my friend and her family lose precious family photos and heirlooms, I made it a goal to copy all of my photos, and digitize them for safekeeping.

I figured five days, it took seven. The second half of the task is to crop, name and file each one. Then back them up so I have the files in two locations at least. Later I will restore any that need it, but honestly, that could take years.

Big load off my shoulders though. Having the scanning done.

Back to art.

Mini Mountains. 2 3/8 x 3 3/4. watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Mini Mountains. 2 3/8 x 3 3/4. watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

This tiny piece was just a few minutes of play before lights out. Meant to be a sunset, but it sort of reminds me of fire too. More late night play below. Both Caran d’Ache Neocolor II on gessoed Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper.

 

Wings. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Wings. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

After working on Fresh Start, I had paint left on the palette. More work on one of the first abstracts from the beginning of the month.

 

Simple Start. 4 x 4 Acrylic on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Simple Start. 4 x 4 Acrylic on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper © 2017 Sheila Delgado

I started Laly’s class, and her building of layers was in my mind. So there is more to come with this I think. Here is the before.

 

Simple Start #2. 4 x 4 Acrylic on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Simple Start #2. 4 x 4 Acrylic on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Still paint on the palette, I  grabbed an ATM card, and a scrap of paper and started again.

 

First layers. 3.5 x 7.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mingus Mail Art Museum

 

 

PJ Lawrence, acrylic and oil pastel. LYA side swap 2017.

PJ Lawrence, acrylic and oil pastel. LYA side swap 2017.

Seven postcards arrived today. Nine pieces of art in total.WOW, lucky day ‘ey? This first card is from PJ Lawrence in Tennessee. She tells me it is in an altered photography book. Oh my, that sounds like fun! The back of her card has some really cool graphics and a wish,

“Enjoy!”

Just love your card PJ! Gorgeous colors, shapes and textures! Thanks so much!! A reminder for me to mix my media and experiment more in my own abstracts!

Sherry Harmes, LYA side swap 2017

Sherry Harmes, LYA side swap 2017

Sherry and I began talking about LYA months before it started. She didn’t say, but this piece almost looks like it is painted on wood. So much wonderful texture! I always look forward to Sherry’s cards, She often takes the most basic elements, and turns them into wonderful works of art. Never fails to surprise!

Conceive, Believe, Achieve!

Sherry’s message, she includes the date sent, current Larsen Bay Alaska temperature, Winds calm, and Seas at 4 feet. There is a sparkly family of Polar bear stickers. I can’t help but smile, thinking of them animated and perhaps enjoying an icy cold Coke! She also sends her trademark “Hugs!”

Love  your card Sherry! The rustic, nautical, majestic feel. Thanks so much for always swapping with me!

Christine Brooks, San Francisco Mountains, Flagstaff. Watercolor. LYA side swap 2017

Christine Brooks, San Francisco Mountains, Flagstaff. Watercolor. LYA side swap 2017

Christine Brooks shared her wonderful watercolor this year. Aren’t these mountains gorgeous?! On the back was a personal message, and a simple wish:

“Peace”

So love the simplified, loose look of this piece. Inspiring Christine! You are right – this is a fun swap! I am so glad to have met you, and I am sure we will meet in person one day soon!

Funny connection side note, my mothers maiden name is Francisco, and her name is Kristina.

Thanks Christine for sharing your lovely, wonderful art with me!

In the Thicket of Things, Suzette Rothlisberger. Side swap 2017

In the Thicket of Things, Suzette Rothlisberger. Side swap 2017

This soft photo is so lovely! Makes me think of fine Victorian women in all their splendor. Delicate, precious, regal. This thought came to mind. Even as beauty fades, strength endures. On the back Suzette included this sweetness:

Surely a star danced in Heaven on the day you were born
Flavia

Suzette included a link for flicker, but sadly I can not read enough of it to share. Suzette, if you read this, please share it in a comment so we can see more of your gorgeous work! Suzette was so creative with her post card displays this year. Very entertaining!

Thank you Suzette for sharing your work with me! And thank you for making the arrivals so much fun to see!

Houston Skyline, Lisa Comperry. LYA side swap 2017

Houston Skyline, Lisa Comperry. LYA side swap 2017

Look at those clouds! Look closer and you can see that lightning is striking. This is a low res image, Lisa’s photo is so much better. I know Lisa is a true photographer. She tells me she took this from the parking garage at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Even Lisa’s stamp is stunning!

Historic Galveston Pleasure Pier. Lisa Comperry

Historic Galveston Pleasure Pier. Lisa Comperry

She mentioned that it was 80 degrees. I suppose that is on the cool side for Houston. Lisa, we will be in the mid 70’s this week! Lisa is from Riverside California, a hop, skip and a jump from where I lived. Follow the links to see more of Lisa’s terrific work. This image is for sale in her Etsy Shop. You will also find her stunning work on Flicker. Got lost there for a bit. Stunning work Lisa! Those Texas sunsets are divine! Love the duckling photos too!

Thanks so much Lisa for sharing your vision with the world, and with me! Your work is filled with JOY!

Kate Lehman, LYA side swap 2017

Kate Lehman, LYA side swap 2017

 

 

Kate Lehman sent this wonderful image. Just love the textured, weathered, aged look. Her Flickr stream is filled with gorgeous images. Love the monkey shots Kate! (Yes, the little human monkeys too! So Sweet!) And Oh those flowers!

Thanks Kate for the swap and encouragement! Such a treasure!

 

Rooftops. Montreal Canada. Louise Mamet, LYA side swap 2017

Rooftops. Montreal Canada. Louise Mamet, LYA side swap 2017

This colorful card is from Louise Mamet and came all the way from Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France. I didn’t notice in the Facebook group, how blue the tiles are. And that green just pops. So lovely, notice the pattern on the brick wall. All rooftops should  look like this!

Louise sent a very encouraging message – thank you for that my friend. You can find Louise on Facebook, and at her website.

Louise Mamet

Louise Mamet

Louise also shared this ATC sized, business card photo. So wonderful, it even inspired some terrific sketching by one of the LYA participants. Wouldn’t I love to have that little room in the tower!

Thanks so much Louise for sharing your photos with me again this year! Treasures!

 

Hope you enjoyed this tour of the Mingus Mail Art Museum!

 

Wishing-You-Joy-Orange