Tag Archives: Sheila Delgado

Trees W.I.P.

Another attempt to paint a cactus. But From the beginning dripping layers, these trees made themselves known. They remind me of the tall palms that are such an iconic symbol of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

Had the idea to add orange on top. To be a focal point. Or maybe I will add it to all the trees. Thinking of maybe going back in with a damp towel to bring back some of the lights in the first layers. Actually, most of the lights ended up between the trees. That is how I knew they were trees. Ha.

A few of my thoughts. Would love to hear what you think. I used a comb for detail in the foreground, I went back in with color that was not diluted as much as I thought it was. I may go back in and reclaim some of that texture as well.

Tree Wannabe

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I want to be a tree. 5 x 5 mixed media on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Stain gessoed paper, drip by drip. White becomes yellow, then Shiraz and rust are added. Finally a dash or two of fuchsia. Let dry. Splatter more of each color. Splatter clean water. Get a wild hair, and scrape the entire piece. Think maybe that was a bad idea, but I continue to scratch into the paint. Let dry.

Add more layers of splattered color and water. Put paint on and take some off. The water allows the colors to mix. Dabbing with a damp paper towel reclaims some of the white. Reveals terrific texture.

My intention was to carve out a “Sunset cactus”. But as soon as I added a bit of white, it was there. A pretty little lolly of a tree.

So a tree it is. Heavy Burridge influence, but nowhere near as wonderful. He would call it my “practice”. Computer was off for most of the day, and when I turned it on to post, there was a notice that Mr. Burridge added a new video on YouTube. Funny huh?!

Blessings-shiraz

From Chaos

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Soul Art 2017. 12 x 12 mixed media on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Hours filled with blessed creation. International Soul Art Day 2017 proved to be meaningful, mindful, and mending. This was my fifth year participating. I always find it so hard to put into words.

I was in the moment. No plan. Feels like I have said that before about Laura Hollick’s Soul Art Day. Layer after layer, I continued to paint without a preconceived idea of where I wanted the work to go.

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.
Deepak Chopra

Not sure why the word chaos came to me when thinking of a title for this post. The only chaos was the unrestrained creative activity. The free-flowing mark making.

We live in a rainbow of chaos.
Paul Cezanne

First layers.

Watercolor dripping and staining the paper. Wine, yellow, orange, fuchsia, rust. Acrylic stamping with wood and rubber. Stenciling gone wrong, paint too wet. Do more “wrong” stenciling in different areas. Use a dropper to add more yellow acrylic. Mist water on top and watch the paint spread in jagged blooming fingers. More yellow marks with a twig.

It seems like the chaos of this world is accelerating,
but so is the beauty
in the consciousness of more and more people.
Anthony Kiedis

Detail 1.

White acrylic scribbles and swirls. Some of the watercolor mixes in and softens the bright here and there. White repeating texture. Some strong, some fading. Some becomes soft yellow when paint accidentally mixes.

Wine dipped dry brush tapped on the paper. Marks become like feathers. Thinking flight. Freedom. Spirit. Jagged marks with watercolor pencil. Swirling scribble line to cover the page.

Detail 2.

Dark splatters in watercolor and acrylic. Cover almost all with watery white acrylic. Layering in patches. Use the same square brush that made the feather marks.

Outline Seussical shapes with black marker until it runs dry. Continue with thick wine watercolor. Cover black marker with the same. Soft diluted splatters finish it off like sprinkles on frosting.

Art is the triumph over chaos.
John Cheever

A few tools.

When we submit our work to the Soul Art Gallery, Laura asks about our process, what the day means to us, and what insight we gained from taking part. The insight was slow in coming. Maybe I just was not focused on that.

That inner nagging voice told me that this wasn’t about creating a pretty picture. Maybe I took a wrong turn and missed the path to enlightenment. Maybe I was stupid for worrying and being too serious.

Maybe it did not HAVE to be deep, to be meaningful.

It wasn’t until the last layer of whitewash that it came to me. A single, simple thought. I know. Not very original or deep. But a message just the same.