Tag Archives: #succulents

February 2020 30-Day Creative Challenge, Day 4

Day 4, FEB C.G., 8 x 8, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

This is my Paddle Plant. Also known as a Flapjack It is a succulent, with thick leaves. I will be painting this again, from a side view. Some of the larger leaves curve downward. That is supposed to be a bad sign, but they are healthy. The leaf edges often turn red in winter. Mine have not.

Whew! I finished. Not sure if I pulled it off, but I had fun in the process. Values kick my butt every time. I painted the soil, brownish with details. But it was distracting. And the background was lighter, with multiple tones and some really cool blooms. Those were distracting as well.

Thinking of going back in and lifting the background. then adding the color of the table in the reference photo. What do you think?

Day 3 – 30-Day Creative Challenge

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Day 3, FEB C.G., 4 x 6, watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper. © 2020 Sheila Delgado.

This is a pencil cactus. But really, it is a succulent. The stems are round like a dowel. During cooler months, they glow in vivid shades of pink, orange, and yellow. How fun is that? Their nickname is “Sticks On Fire”.