Watercolors by Celia Blanco

Purple Umbrella watercolor on Arches paper 5"x 7" Quick sketch of an umbrella while at market, I love the chaos! The inspiration for this painting comes from my local market. Italian markets are like no other. It is a full sensory experience. The purple stripe pattern on this umbrella reminds me somehow of a painted Easter egg. This is the first time I use Arches paper. It is a beautiful paper and it turns the whole painting process into an even more pleasant experience. My colors look as intended and are very easy to rub out. Some artist choose to only work with Arches even if it is quite pricey ... now I fully understand why. Thanks to my generous friend Joan Tavolott for giving me a couple of sheets when she visited  Rome last September! Please check out her blog or even better, enjoy watching her while she shares her art story on You Tube . She will inspire you to grab your supplies and sketch! Much like Joan does, I also stopped yesterday...

Crochet and Violets  watercolor on paper  12" x 9"/ 30 x 23cm. I'm so happy to have finally finished this painting. The inspiration came to me from violets that bloomed way back in February.   I started this from life, unfortunately the flowers wilted so I had to work from memory and my sketches. I wanted to make it equally about the crochet doily pattern as the violets themselves. I like the way the sun hits at noon and creates an interesting shadow. I set my alarm at noon and repeatedly worked at that hour even if sometimes it was only ten minutes at a time. Thank you for stopping by, I always enjoying getting your feedback on what I do!  

  Kitchen Interior watercolor on paper, in my sketchbook   I recently finished reading Danny Gregory's new book Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are . The book is full of helpful inspiring tips, great for those like me who find it impossible to fit creativity (of any kind) in a very engaging agenda.    I'm hoping to get back to a weekly posting schedule. Trying to capture the light while there is a solar eclipse outside...

(By Jane Moller, olio su cartone / oil on cardboard 10, 5 x 15 cm) Spring arrived in the mail for me today with this beautiful bouquet painted by my friend Jane Moller.  I am one of the lucky winners of her painting giveaway! This painting has me mesmerized, it is even more special knowing a dear friend painted it. Thank you Jane! Please check out her popular blog True Colors , if you haven't already!

African Violets 3.5 x 5 inches watercolor on Fabriano CP paper   I have been working on studying my African Violet plant. It has been cheering up the grey and dreary winter days we have been experiencing. I worked on two little studies to play with colors. One I painted with my own color mixes, the other with colors right from the tube. It was a fun exercise. I drew my composition from life and from my previous sketch. I've added masking fluid to save some white areas. I only need to add the paint... I can hardly wait! Thank you for stopping by!

 African violets sketchbook page I painted this sketch slowly, over a few day's time.  I use my sketchbook to experiment towards improving my skills although I seem to always find myself in a hurry to finish the sketches. It took my African Violets over two years to bloom, I felt compelled to capture this achievement! The flu is making the rounds around my household once more, I hope everyone else is well!

 Clementine watercolor on paper  20x14 cm.   I am very excited to start off the new year because of the opportunity to focus on what lies ahead. My  goals for the coming months include many positive wishes!  I have written out a physical list for the first time in my sketchbook  to be able to draw a balance at the end. My first painting of the year is a clementine. The contrasting colors and the long shapes of the leaves  are always fun to paint; the fruit's taste is definitively delicious and brightens the dreary winter. I wish all of you a joyful, creative year! Happy 2015!