Category Archives: Spoonflower

Splatter Stripe

This week Spoonflower’s Design challenge is for an Abstract Whimsical Watercolor. My original idea turned out to be a very complicated repeat. I just could not get the design to work as a seamless pattern. I saved the file, so I can continue to work on it. Do some research maybe, and find a solution.

On top of that, the abstract watercolor was not cooperating. Ughh! So I switched gears, and selected a watercolor piece I created a couple of years ago. I was down to the wire, had about an hour and a half to complete a design and upload it to the site. A stripe seemed the quick solution. It also seemed to fit the summer feeling these colors gave me. Click on the image above for a closer look.

I have a collection started. I need to upload the designs, but here is a peek. I started thinking the design might lend itself to quilting projects. Seaside cottage or nautical. That gave me the idea to do a cheater quilt. More on that later.

Splatter Stripe Collection.

Just for fun, a couple of clothing mock-ups.

Splatter stripe skirt mock-up.

Splatter Stripe, youth dress mock-up

The top winners each week will take home Spoonflower credit and a Skillshare Premium subscription to start learning everything from how to create a surface design using motifs to “The Basics of Photoshop”, “Hand Lettering” and so much more! Skillshare is an amazing an online learning community where anyone can discover, take, or even teach a class. All submissions into May’s design challenges are automatically entered to win the grand prize full of design goodies worth over $1000!

A super opportunity, and why I am so grateful for your vote!

LYA SIDE SWAP

Christine Brooks LYA 2017 side swap. Painted on wood, with USA stamp.

So happy to receive this wonderful postcard from Christine Brooks. The piece is painted on wood and includes a postage stamp as part of the art. The texture is really wonderful. I just love it! Christine lives in Flagstaff. Just a hop north of here, an hour and a half. She is also taking part in the current round of Love Notes Postcard swap.

Thanks so much Christine for surprising me with this side swap extra! It is a treasure!

Wishing-You-Joy-Orange

Days End Light

12 Replies

April Hills. 6 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper postcard. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

The light was fading. I thought, O.K. work fast and see what happens. One way to stay loose. The hills were glowing one second, the next they were not. Breathing better with a brush in my hand.

These photos are from a couple of days ago. I noticed that the shadows have changed on the highest hills. You can see part of the rock juts out at the very top, and the shadow on the right rear is much larger. The earth has moved. I played with the sky in Photoshop, but I can see now, I over did it. Better than grey though.

April Sunset. SMD

April Sunset close-up. SMD

Did a blah, quick piece yesterday. Played with filters in Photoshop, and I like it better now.

Wonky flowers. 6 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Wonky flowers, filtered. 6 x 6 watercolor on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Seaing is believing. Mixed media digital surface design. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Still time to vote for Seaing is Believing. Thanks so much!

Hope you are having a terrific weekend!

Seaing is Believing

8 Replies

This week the Spoonflower design challenge is to use watercolors (or digital watercolor brushes) to create a whimsical surface patterns inspired by fantasy creature motifs. I know that the Seahorse is a real creature, but to me they have always seemed magical.

I used both digital watercolor brushes and hand-painted watercolor for this design. You can see the digital brush layers on some of the Sand Dollars. The Seahorses are all hand-painted.

Voting begins today. This challenge sponsored by Skillshare. The top winners will take home Spoonflower credit and a Skillshare Premium subscription to start learning everything from how to create a surface design using motifs to “The Basics of Photoshop”, “Hand Lettering” and so much more! And, for the first time ever, all submissions into May’s design challenges are automatically entered to win the grand prize full of design goodies worth over $1000!

Here is a closer look.

I drew some dots, and circles and spots, and used them to suggest air bubbles, sand and pebbles. The watercolor was applied using a clipping mask. Here is a short video that shows how it is done. I know some of this may be too complicated, for those of you that do not use Photoshop, but the basic principal is easy to understand. It is just like cut and paste from the olden days!

I started by deciding on a palette, sunset hues.

Sunset palette

I am working on a companion piece as well. This will be on a smaller scale than you see here. This collection will lend itself to quilting or children’s clothing projects. I will also do this using different colors for the background.

Sand Dollars. Digital surface design. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Thanks so much for taking the time to vote, I can’t make top ten without you!

LYA Side Swap

Val van der Poel.

I received this wonderful watercolor from my good friend Val in BC Canada. Val works in many mediums, and she is consistently learning and growing her skills in new areas. She works in paper quilling, watercolors, acrylics, oils, pen & ink, charcoal, mixed media and, recently, fabric art.

Not only that, she teaches too! I can always count on Val to give a sincere evaluation of my work. Be sure to visit her site and treat yourself to her fabulous work!

On the back of the card:

This is what I feel about art;
“Art is a Gift. Whether you make it, give it or receive it, I hope you will cherish it!”

Wonderful thought. And yes, I do cherish your card! Hugs and best wishes to you as well Val. Thanks so much for sharing your work with me. Your mountains are inspiring, and your pines and poppies are perfect! Love this view!