A Little Swatching Project That Got Out of Hand

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As soon as I finished the Creative Gathering February video, I jumped right into this project. The original plan was simple: swatch my Arteza Gouache set. I ordered a set of square stencils. I pulled out a Strathmore Visual Journal, I thought it would be the perfect size for easy reference.

And then, because apparently I don’t know how to leave well enough alone. I had the ambitious idea to swatch my colored pencils and acrylics, too. Heck, why not all of my “color” supplies?

The idea was to have everything in one easy-to-reference guide. Instead of having little pieces of paper scattered here and there. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. 😂

Of course, this is going to be an ongoing project. And honestly, I probably won’t get back to swatching in the book until after the next February Gathering. There are only so many hours in a day! (It’s taken me months just to get this post up! Haha)

Swatching took MUCH longer than I expected. But the actual painting part was surprisingly meditative. And it is really helpful to see which colors are more transparent and which are more opaque & heavily pigmented.

I also printed a black-and-white copy of the swatch pages. This helps me see the values, which I still struggle to judge on my own. I can tuck the copy into the sketchbook for a quick reference when I need it.

Now, about those paint tubes…

The Arteza Gouache Paint Set of 60 comes in a HUGE box. The tubes are all tucked neatly into plastic trays, which is great for shipping and storing.

But for everyday painting? Not so much.

The sound of those plastic trays scraping against the sides of the box is as bad as cardboard scraping. Yikes! So I ordered a set of six clear 4 x 6 photo storage boxes to hold the paint tubes instead. So. Much. Better.

They snap securely, stack neatly, and I can easily see what’s where. I put my most-used colors in one box, and organized the rest by color family. No more digging through ten noisy trays!

I feel better prepared. Set-up will be easier. And there’s one less little barrier between me and actually sitting down to paint!

I already have a theme in mind for the September Creative Gathering. I think I’ll work in both gouache and watercolor. But you know me. One thing leads to another, and plans might change completely. 😉

Only 3 weeks until September’s Creative Gathering begins!

I am so looking forward to seeing you there!

World Watercolor Month 2026

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July was World Watercolor Month, and I decided to jump in! My only goal was simple: put brush to paper every single day. I didn’t follow the official prompts, and I didn’t feel the need to finish a complete painting each day. Some days I found inspiration in YouTube shorts, and I just let the creativity take me where it wanted. It was such a fun month of making art.

Of course, not everything went as planned. I spent weeks trying to paint a beautiful cloudscape, and as you’ll see…none of them quite worked out. But that’s all part of the creative process, and I learned something from every attempt. Timing is key.

The whole month turned out to be the perfect warm-up for the September Creative Gathering—which is almost here! Time for me to start prepping!

The first nine images were the top performers on Instagram. Most are 5 x 5 in. Some are 4 x 4 in., or 3 x 3 in. They’re not in order. Keep scrolling for a closer look at a few of my favorite pieces!

WWM Details 2026. © 2026, Sheila Delgado.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Until next time,
may your world be rich with
color and texture
& layers of inspiration.

Happy creating!

Celebrating Creativity: The 8th Year of The Creative Gathering

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A global community of artists exploring new mediums while starting the year with
creativity, curiosity, and connection.

As we begin the 8th year of The Creative Gathering, we’re celebrating another inspiring season of creativity, dedication, and community. This month, our artists collectively created and shared 588 pieces of art. This is a wonderful reflection of the passion and commitment within our global creative family.

Throughout the gathering, artists worked in a wide range of mediums. These include pencil, pen, watercolor, gouache, inks, and oils. They also used photography, mixed media, nature art, colored pencil, assemblage, and journaling. Each piece reflects a unique voice and perspective, with artists of all experience levels sharing their creativity and vision.

What makes The Creative Gathering so special is that it’s truly international. Artists from around the world come together to share not only their work, but also encouragement, ideas, and support. Beyond the art itself, the gathering fosters camaraderie and connection, reminding us that creativity thrives in a supportive community.

Artists often spend long hours working alone, which makes these moments of connection especially meaningful. We share our work and cheer one another on. We witness each other’s creative journeys. By doing so, we build relationships that enrich and reward the creative process.

Each year, participants challenge themselves to try new mediums, experiment with unfamiliar tools, explore new techniques, and learn new approaches. The Creative Gathering isn’t just about making art—it’s about growing as artists and embracing curiosity and exploration.

The gathering is also a wonderful way to start the year on a positive note. By committing to create daily for one month and sharing that work publicly, artists celebrate both discipline and courage. While some complete the full month, we believe that even showing up for part of the month is worth celebrating. Every sketch, photo, journal page, or painting represents a moment of creativity and intention.

You will want to have a seat to view the video.
It is over six minutes long! Enjoy!

To everyone who participated this year—whether you created every day or joined in when you could—congratulations. Your creativity, dedication, and willingness to share help make The Creative Gathering such a special community.

We look ahead to gathering again in September to continue our shared creative journey. Together we’ll support one another, explore new ideas, and celebrate the joy of making art. Let’s see where our creativity takes us next.