Category Archives: Cacti & Succulents

Smooth The Way

Mingus Evening. 10-24-21. SMD
Mingus Evening. 10-24-21. SMD

I’m not surprised. But I still feel guilty. This usually happens after the Gathering. And I always feel guilty. This is the first art I have created in October. After a month of daily art making.

It’s not that I was stuck or uninspired. I’ve just been busy behind the scenes. It seems the tech stuff is never ending. And since it is not always fun, well, sometimes it just seems to take forever.

For the last couple of days, I have had supplies at the ready. Colored pencils, watercolor crayons, markers, paper. On my desk. And yet, I didn’t start. Then a nudge came to my inbox. Carla Sonheim to the rescue. She spoke about “smoothing the way” for creativity. How her plans to create were replaced with to-dos. She reminded herself, to just get in the studio and make something. Anything.

Just another Sunflower. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Just another Sunflower. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

That’s what I did. I put aside the large sheet of paper I had planned to paint on, and replaced it with a 4 x 4 inch sheet. Just start.

Soon, I was in the zone. Relaxed. Enjoying the movement of the color so much, I started a second small painting.

Just another Mingus View. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Just another Mingus View. 4 x 4 watercolor on paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

I’ll show you where these led me, soon.
Happy weekend everyone!

When black cats prowl
and pumpkins gleam,
may luck be yours
on Halloween.
-Unknown-

World Watercolor Month Wrap-Up

World Watercolor Month July 2021 © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

My July watercolor diary. I placed my favorites in the middle. I am honestly pleased with just about every piece. There are two I’d call do overs. The florals at the bottom. I was trying to paint like someone else. A new method. Lesson learned. Haha.

I painted 8 others. Two of which are complete duds. I thought they could be fixed. But no, they fought me to the end. The rest are abstract landscapes and they might make an appearance in the future. I attempted another coneflower for a grand finale. Haha. Instead, some quiet, spindly little wildflowers. But I am exceedingly happy with the vase. Haha. Silver lining.

Thanks everyone, for following along. It is always a JOY to hear from you. Thank you!

Day 31, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 31, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 30, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 30, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 29, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 29, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Drop by drop is the water pot filled.
Buddha

Day 28, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 28, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 27, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 27, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 26, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 26, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.
Pablo Picasso

First forget inspiration.
Habit is more dependable.
Habit will sustain you
whether you’re inspired or not.
Octavia Butler

World Watercolor Month Days 18 – 25

Day 20, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 20, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.
– Claude Monet

Day 18, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 18, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 19, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 19, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 21, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 21, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly,
is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.
– Kurt Vonnegut

Day 22, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 22, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 23, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 23, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 24, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 24, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 25, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.
Day 25, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

In the final week now. Curious to know if your July has passed as quickly as mine. Haha. Choosing this 2 x 2 inch size was a surprisingly good idea. So much fun! I’m going to keep a stack of minis at the ready.

Time to paint!

Enjoy!

Don’t think.
Thinking is the enemy of creativity.
It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy.
You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.
– Ray Bradbury