Watercolors by Celia Blanco

 Calla Lilies oil on board 65 x 130 cm I visited my family in August and was asked by my mother to paint her Calla Lilies. It has been over 20 years since I used oil as a medium so I set out to do a  rather large painting, almost as tall as me. It did take me a while and I also forgot how long it takes for oil to dry. It was a lot of fun to do, and the best thing is my mother is pleased with the results. It now hangs in the living room of her home. Unfortunately, the photo is dark and does not highlight the details well. I worked much on layering colors and used textures to create form. I also had fun looking back on some of my older art work, especially my old sketchbooks and drawings. There is some of me in every corner, I won't bore you with everything! My mom is definitely responsible for my love of art. She not only named me after her high school art teacher, she was a high school art teacher for a few years and a wonderful art...

Sweet Autumn watercolor on paper 23 X 30cm. It has been a very hot autumn for us but today, finally the crisper air has arrived. Fig leaves, very common locally, turn a beautiful bright yellow. I have noticed they even grow spontaneously in many impervious places. Last year I snapped the photo below for future reference. I love how the tree displays its various stages of life. It is a beautiful time of year to observe nature at its subtlest and most poignant point. I hope you are enjoying a beautiful day! 

 I have been practicing in my sketchbook and wanted to share some of my favorite pages. It's a place where I can play, experiment and, hopefully, improve.  I recently had the pleasure of a visit from a friend, who is an incredible sketcher and watercolor artist, Joan Tavolott .It has been a dream of mine to be able to sketch along with her! We had the most fun sketching on the Spanish Steps, not even the rain stopped her! I started my sketch on location , then added the paint at home. It is intimidating working in the confusion of the Spanish Steps. I had a difficult time taking in all the information. with Joan  My sketch on the Spanish Steps Joan Tavolott sketching in the rain, determination at its finest!  This experience has inspired me to get out more. I am lucky to live in a vibrant city: yesterday I brought my sketching supplies along while I ran errands. My favorite moment was sketching at the market. I feel like it was a br...

Vine Ripe  watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paper 9" x 12"/ 23 x 30,5 cm These tomatoes are from my father-in-law’s garden. We had an unusually cold summer which killed many of the plants but the few that survived are now giving him a nice crop. I am always happy to be a recipient of a basket of his fruits, assorted herbs are also welcome, if present. Who doesn't appreciate the “just picked from the vine” flavor?  Naturally I love to capture all that goodness on paper, I cannot resist the juicy red colors. While on the subject of JUICY colors...my blogging friend, Laura Leeder , was one of my choices for last week's "blog hop around the world". I hope you take the time to pay her a visit and see her elegant still-life’s and florals. One look at her incredible ability with color and you will understand why I am such a big fan of her work! I hope you are all well and thank you for the visit!

I am honored  to have been invited  by my friend, Debbie Nolan, to take part in a Blog Hop Around the World . We share many common interests: watercolors and sketching foremost. I love visiting her blog, View from Harmony Hills ,  where she shares her thoughts and photos of her beautiful country life.  I love the sense of peace I get when reading her posts and am constantly inspired by her photos and words. Please pay her a visit, if you haven't already. She will surely give you the warmest of welcomes! I have chosen to tag my friend and watercolor artist Carmella Tuliszewski from the blog Watercolor Works . She paints beautifully vibrant paintings with an incredible eye for detail and composition. She is currently participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge, recently having been nominated a signature member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society. There is no doubt she is a particularly talented lady, please do make her acquaintance.   Here are the an...

 Yellow Peppers watercolor on paper 28 x 20 cm./ 11" x 8 " I hope everyone had a nice summer/ winter (for those of you in the southern hemisphere). I have worked a lot in my sketchbook despite not sharing much of what is in it. The sketches led me to paint these peppers. I was attracted by the varying cold and warm yellows in the peppers and the plate itself makes for an interesting play of light with the colors. I love to paint what surrounds me. Thanks for taking interest in my work!

I have been very busy these past two weeks. I've tried to organize myself in a way to still find time to sketch. If I have my sketching supplies at hand, I try to put something down even if I finish it later. I spent an hour waiting at the health office just to pick up some paper work... by luck I had brought my sketching supplies!  I painted the fruit stand across the street. The first one I  first drew out, then added the black ink.The second page was drawn immediately with marker. When I went home, I added the watercolor. Cars are not my forte... People waiting do not stay still, constantly looking left then right, it is a challenge to get a likeness. I try to fix one side then hope to catch them again when they are in the same position. One of these days I will go up and ask them to...please stop moving!!!  I love the long roots of these fresh white onions. I would like to incorporate some calligraphy but feel rather shy about it, hence ...