Category Archives: Pen

Day 8 And Revisions

Day 8, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 8, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

For day 8, a Saguaro. Sentinel and symbol of the southwest. They grow taller than many trees, up to 40 feet. They are strictly protected in Arizona.

About a year ago I purchased a pad of inexpensive paper to use for watercolor. I knew it was not good quality, but I thought it would be good for practice. I also used it with acrylics, and it worked pretty well.

I really fell in love with the texture, and I used the whole pad. I have been trying to find more since then. Haha. Thought I did, and I bought two pads when they were 50% off. This paper is slightly different. The texture before was straight horizontal lines. Now it looks like there are two patterns, one straight, and one sort of wavy. Here’s an example of what I remember.

Turquoise Dream. 6 x 6 mixed media on paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado
Turquoise Dream. 6 x 6 mixed media on paper. © 2018 Sheila Delgado

Maybe this paper is the same. I had fun working on today’s piece. It started loose and fast. I worked really wet, puddles, and the paper held up, not warped. This is Hobby Lobby’s Master’s Touch brand. 140 lb., premium watercolor pad. I also have a pad of their regular watercolor paper, I’ll try that next. The textures are different.

Day 8 WIP
Day 8 close-up
Day 8 close-up

I revisited two previous works. For the aloe, I used a digital edit. The original is still intact. I like both versions, but I do think the drips competed for attention. I also shortened the small dark leaf. For me, the edit wins.

Day 7 revised, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 7 revised, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 7, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 7, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

I had so much fun with the Paddle Plant. Three cheers for Arches paper, and its ability to take a good scrubbing. I left some of the Indigo, I was afraid to get to close, and ruin a leaf. It acts as a shadow, and I really like that. I do see one area, above the right, top leaf, where I could go back in and soften a little more.

I LOVE the way this turned out. I love the hints of dark beneath. The softness of the wash. It was a fairly thick wash, but it looks translucent. LOVE this!

Day 4, new background, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 4, new background, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Below is what was left after I scrubbed the indigo off. I also used some Winsor & Newton Turquoise in areas, and the variation in the stain is interesting. I LOVE this one as well! Crazy right? The neutrals really allow the other colors to pop. It makes me think of a tablecloth in shadow, low light.

Day 4 color removed, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 4 color removed, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 4, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 4, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

The original has my loyalty as well. I love the dark. And the almost abstract shapes. I really appreciate everyone’s comments in the group. Thank you!

If you never change your mind,
why have one?
Edward de Bono

Every time I’ve made a radical change
it’s helped me feel buoyant as an artist.
David Bowie

Day 7 Of 30

Day 7, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.
Day 7, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

Sittin’ by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
I don’t know where I’m goin’

but I hope I know it when I get there.
Thinking about how love never works out.
But I guess that’s the way it goes
And how this story ends, only heaven knows.

Andie MacDowell – Michael


Last night Mingus went from hot caramel to glowing ember red.
The sky was not going to be outdone.

Mingus Early Evening, 2.6.2020. SMD
Mingus Early Evening, 2.6.2020. SMD
Mingus Red, 2.6.2020. SMD
Mingus Red, 2.6.2020. SMD
Hello Moon, 2.6.2020. SMD
Hello Moon, 2.6.2020. SMD

Mingus Pretty In Pink

Mingus in Pink II, SMD 11-10 2019
Mingus in Pink II, SMD 11-10 2019
Mingus in Pink I, SMD 11-10 2019
Mingus in Pink I, SMD 11-10 2019

I thought I missed it. The best shot. Turns out I didn’t. That is why the photos above are in reverse order. I pulled out the pink in Photoshop. On my phone, the sky almost looked white. I didn’t have to adjust it much, to see the pink as it was. Sort of eerie, like being on Mars. A pretty, human-friendly, oxygen-filled Mars.

I made the 30-Day Creative Gathering board on Pinterest public. My idea worked. Whew! I added the photos (sent to me by participants) to a page on my site. The page will not be published, but I can pin from there to the board. Take a look, September was a great month for art!

Only thing is, if you click those images on the board, they link to the page on my site. I didn’t think anyone would see it. Now I need to dress it up and credit each of you. On my list for tomorrow. I’d still like to include everyone who created during the challenge. I added the FB post about it to the announcements section if you are interested. If you would like to be represented on the board, you can message me your collage, and/or 1 to 2 works created during the challenge.

Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.
Lovelle Drachman

I have been playing with scraps and paint the last week or so. Usually right before bed. I’m painting lots of blah and yuck. But the process is… restorative. Today the weather was feeling sort of grey and sad. So of course, I felt like painting bright flowers.

Coneflower. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Coneflower. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Tulips. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Tulips. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Wildflower. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Wildflower. 4 x 4, watercolor, pen on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.

Solitude is creativity’s best friend,
and solitude is refreshment for our souls.
Naomi Judd

Arizona Sunset. 11-11-19. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.
Arizona Sunset. 11-11-19. © 2019 Sheila Delgado.

Many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all.
They choose to remain comfortably

within the bounds of their own experience,
never troubling to wonder how it would feel

to have been born other than they are.
J.K. Rowling