Category Archives: Trees

February 2022 30-Day Creative Gathering Collage

FEB 22 30-Day Collage. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

No surprises here. Flowers and Cacti. Cacti and flowers. I have a tiny sliver of Sap green left in my palette. Made it to the end, by the hair on my chinny, chin chin. 🙂 I am very happy with the work I produced. Hallelujah!

I’ve been hoping and praying for precipitation all month. You would never know it by looking at these sunny settings. The influence of the warm desert air no doubt.

Challenges make you discover things about yourself
that you never really knew.
Cicely Tyson

This event kicked off our fourth year of the gathering. We welcomed many new members, a great way to begin! There were over 665 works of art created in our international group this month. An abundance of light being sent out into the world! We have members in England, Canada, Spain, Hungary, Australia, France, and Scotland. And of course from all over the US.

Do not let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do.
John Wooden

I worked in several small series this month. Cacti, wildflowers, abstracted flowers, potted plants, and my simplified floral still life. Each day what I sat down to paint was posted for viewing. Only one early painting failed so badly that I had to start over. There are two that made me cringe when I posted them. A few others I thought were mistakes, but they received the most comments. Proving again, I am not always a reliable judge of my work. 🙂

Below are my favorites. You can clearly see why my sap green is depleted. Haha. I always love hearing what your favorites are. One reason I number my collage.
Which did you like best, and why?

FEB 22 30-Day Favorites Collage. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

I am so grateful to have you follow along this month. Your encouragement and considerate critiquing will stay with me long after the challenge has ended. I pushed myself, because I did not want to let myself down. I did not want to miss participating. But I confess, I was reminded each day how many of you prayed for me (are praying). I did not want to let you down either.

You are the wind beneath my wings! Thank you, my friends!

In a few days, I will share art and collages from the many who took part in this round of the Creative Gathering. We are fortunate to have so many gifted artists, who work in a variety of mediums and styles. I am so honored to have the opportunity to see their work each day. And learn from their strengths.

You will love a virtual stroll through the Gathering’s Gallery!

Faux Mono – Day 19

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Rhythm of the Falling Rain, Day 19, Mixed Media on 6 x 7 Watercolor Paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Inspiration from a book shared with me by Natasha Papousek. And a video from Barb Mowry that landed in my box today. Wanting to try mono printing, but not having any of the “proper” supplies. I picked up my dollar store glass trivet and my Fiskers brayer, which I am sure is meant for something else. Cheap Master’s Touch 6 x 6 paper. Four puddles in a square ceramic dish. Ready.

I did five prints very quickly. Scanned to edit. While adjusting to get the colors true to life, these songs popped into my head. Thought to add sheet music. Hey now!

Thank you for the sheet music, Christiane! And thank you all for the inspiration!

With The Sound Of Music, Day 19 #2, Mixed Media on 6 x 7 Watercolor Paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Months ago, saw an artist who watercolors on wet paper, taped to a glass trivet. I have seen this technique before, but the video reminded me. Searched and searched. For one 12 x 12. Amazon has a set of three. Didn’t want three, and not at that price. Searched some more.

Watched a crafters video, making decorative trivets on the cheap. Fabric and modge podge. And, Ta-Da, a Dollar Store glass trivet. Round and square. slightly smaller than 8 x 8. Woo Whoo!

I went to the largest Dollar Tree around, and noticed that they have expanded their craft offerings. Great! I found small rubber jars, meant to hold salad dressing, that I think might work with alcohol painting supplies. A short bulb I needed that was more expensive at Walmart. And a small cutting mat. WOW! For a buck?

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.
Chinese proverb

Music is the color of sound.
Unknown

Thinking Of You Dad

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December 10th. The date of my last post. Ay caramba! Time continues to be a steamroller. Hijole!

The winter weather has given us some beautiful views. We had an afternoon of snow, our first of the year. On December 28th. Haha. Lovely, big fluffy flakes floating down. It was fairly heavy for a while but it did not stick. Mingus disappeared behind a veil of white and reemerged powder-coated. It was heaven while it lasted.

We have had gorgeous pink sunsets.

My birthday week was filled with appointments. Blood tests, breathing test, bone test. Mostly standard bi-annual stuff, just all happened to land in the same week. Eesh! And here we are, in the middle of the month already. You know what that means. The February 30-Day Creative Gathering will soon be here! Oh my!

After another mini organizing binge, I made three starts. Art supplies and papers are at the ready! Paint pens and pencils. Scribbles to ease the intimidation of a fresh clean sheet of paper. I plan to add a few more layers to these backgrounds. And I hope to have 6 to 12 starts ready before next month. Knock on wood.

Our trees are still holding on to their leaves. I keep meaning to look up the reason why. I am sure it has something to do with how dry the past year has been. This photo is a few weeks old, but the tree looks pretty much the same.

I ordered a pad of Strathmore watercolor paper after watching an artist use it online. Cold Press, 140 lb., acid-free, 100% cotton. 12 – 8 x 10 sheets. It was about $10 on Amazon. I did see it later at Walmart, for a few dollars more. It has a grey cover. I played just to get a feel for it. This is a tiny sketch. I like the paper, the tooth is nice. I’ll talk more about it in another post.

Thinking of my father today. Missing him on his birthday. Truth be told, I think of him every day. We are still in limbo due to COVID. My best friend in high school lost her father the day before mine passed (on July 14th). He was our high school principal.

My dear friend from California lost her dad the Saturday before Christmas. We also lost my Dad’s elder brother Willie, the Sunday before Christmas. Heartbreaking.
Horrible, heartbreaking six months.