Tag Archives: #coneflowers

30-Day Creative Gathering Collage

I didn’t stay too far from my usual subjects. Florals dominated the month. I did experiment with a few new techniques in watercolor and collage. I learned a lot. That is always fun.

One of the reasons I enjoy digital collage, is that I am always learning new techniques. I want to do something, make it look a certain way. And often times, I have to figure out just how to do it. Haha.

30-Day Creative Gathering, Favorites Collage. 9-2024. © 2024 Sheila Delgado.

My favorites are the ones I had the most fun with. Some of you have already shared your favorite pieces with me. It is always interesting to know what others find appealing.

I count my September as a successful one. I picked up a brush, after many months of not painting. My desk is a mess, and I have ideas in mind for new work. I am looking forward to that. And also to the February 2025 session of the Gathering.

I will be adding some of these to my Society6 shop next week. I will let you know when they are available. I appreciate your interest in purchasing my art. Color me excited!

Thanks again friends, I really appreciate hearing from you.
Your support means a lot to me. God Bless!

September 30-Day Creative Gathering

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Day 1, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 1, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 2, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 2, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 3, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 3, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

The 30-Day Creative Gathering is in it’s second week. We have welcomed about a dozen new members. Hooray!

I have been working mostly in collage. The first three are collage, with acrylics, & watercolor. I started by prepping several pieces, building layers of pattern. I cut out vase shapes and placed them, then added paint and sometimes, more collage.

For day three, I also added “digital collage”. The original has collage, gauze, and painted pattern in the sky. I added the trees, the circle and the quote, in the computer. Below is the view that inspired this piece.

Mingus 8 31 22. SMDelgado — Mingus 8 31 22. Sheila Delgado

Day four I shared part of a pattern I am working on. I missed the challenge deadline, lost a day to an appointment in Phoenix. I will complete the pattern, though it may have to wait until next month. This is the bottom layer, there will be a floral layered on top. Time away also made me behind in painting for the gathering.

Day 5 #1, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 5 #1, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Back to collage on day 5. I was not sure about the “empty” space to the right of the vase. The pattern, and a stippled layer on top, did not work as I had hoped. I posed the question to the group. Eileen Vivell made some suggestions that got me thinking.

The changes were made digitally, the original remains untouched. I added a bit of definition to the pattern at the bottom left. I copied a leaf and placed it next to the vase. I didn’t like how the leaf pattern had been cut off. Eileen thought the lettering looked squashed. So I added more, filling the width of the piece. I do like this version better. What do you think?

Day 5 #2, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 5 #2, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 6, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 6, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

Day 7, CG 9 22. © 2022 Sheila Delgado. — Day 7, CG 9 22. 8 x 8 inch. © 2022 Sheila Delgado.

On to week two!

World Watercolor Month, Days 5 Through 9.

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Day 5, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

These tiny 2 x 2’s are fun to paint. A nice change. I think my favorite size hovers around 8 x 8 inches. Or 10 x 10. This weekend I will be continuing work on the bear. And I have started two other canvas pieces. One is 4 x 4, and the other is 12 x 12 I think.

The skyscape below was inspired by a real sunset. When I stepped away to get my phone, the light changed, and I missed getting the shot. The clouds were all shades of pink and orange, The sky was blue and lavender grey. Storm clouds moving through.

Day 6, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 7, WWM, Ranunculus, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 8, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

Day 9, WWM, 2 x 2 inch watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2021 Sheila Delgado.

I first learned about the color Green Gold from Angela Fehr. She is one of the artist ambassadors for World Watercolor Month. Laurie Mueller uses it often in her work also. Or maybe it is her own blend, but it has the same jaw-dropping effect. Diluted, it is almost blindingly neon. But you can get a deeper, rich hue as well. It’s a favorite in my palette.

I am sharing two revisions with you. The scans came out too dark, and I was not happy with the “black” band at the bottom. I was behind, so I went ahead and posted them. In reality, The indigo was softer, and blended to a rich, dark green. The color bled into the wet areas above, and there are some soft “finger” like details. But I needed to blend the dark with the rest of the foreground.

I added a few more blades of grass, and I think they work much better now. What do you think? The revised scans are true to life, not as vivid as the first scans. The setting wasn’t right. I like them better now. To me, I think the green gold stands out more. The oranges are not overpowering. Do you like the first version better?