Watercolors by Celia Blanco

Colorful Callas for Mom watercolor on paper NFS I was asked by VIDA to design a scarf with my mother in mind. I prepared a design to be printed on a square silk scarf. My mother loves balance and colors. She is also aware of color undertones which bring out the undertones in one’s skin, as when picking out a lipstick or blush (I highly recommend going with her when you need one!).  She is particularly fond of a shade of greenish teal, I wished to include it in my design. She has even introduced it in her interior design, walls, chairs, etc . Callas are her favorite (you might recall I painted callas for her here ). I purchased a plant to have inspiration but mostly painted from impressions, keeping my mother in mind. This is the result, a scarf is already making its way to my mother's home. my work in progress I used a lot of  Ultramarine Turquoise, Green Gold, and Opera Pink from the Daniel Smith line. I added colors from my usual  palette t...

The Mending watercolor on paper 20 x14 cm     The inspiration for my painting is loosely based on a photo from an on-line art friend for our monthly art challenge. The tomato pin cushion brings back warm memories of my grandmother who always lovingly mended everything on demand for us. Basic sewing skills can be crucial to important relationships.

Winter Fruit watercolor on paper 20 cm x 20 cm A ripe pomegranate with its deep red, round shape is the inspiration for this painting. I added the pears for contrast. A quick sketch while I still had the fruit in front of me with the idea of painting it at a later time. I  redrew it to proceed with my painting. I then stopped, feeling stuck, the painting format looked too plain.  My work in progress ... I replaced the pomegranate with an apple, the former needed to be eaten. I decided to set it aside ... ended up being for a couple weeks. In the mean time I had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Vatican Museum .  Pattern, colors, details everywhere!! Incredible history, very glad to see many frescoes restored since my last visit...over 20 years ago!!  yet more patterns and incredible works of art..."The School of Athens" takes my breath away every time!! Photography is strictly prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel, I think if I...

Mediterranean Pine Horizon Study watercolor on paper 30 cm x 14cm NFS  This week I have worked on a landscape based on a photo I have taken in a nearby park. I liked the high horizon line with the Mediterranean pines dotting the landscape. I first started out with a loose warm up exercise (pictured below). I began painting without drawing and allowed myself a 15 minute time limit. For my formal painting I wanted to play up the colors from my own imagination. I chose to work from a black and white photo to give myself the possibility to explore different color schemes instead of what is really in the landscape. It was a fun exercise to stimulate my imagination.  I ended up cropping away half the painting because the path and grasses was competing with the tree line. It is great to experiment, I love the learning process inherent in each work, whether good or bad. I drew a line where I felt I needed to crop.  30cm. x 20 cm. my warm up sketch ...

  A Gull watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paper 29,5 x 22 cm NFS I belong to an on-line art group where each member takes turns providing photo inspiration for a monthly challenge. I am late on my contribution for January. I like the opportunity to work from another person's point of view because it pushes me to look outside of my comfort zone. Not having much practice painting animals, this gull is exactly what I had in mind. My work in progress, almost finished. I approached the painting  following a watercolor tip provided by Angela Fehr. One of her many suggestions to stay loose in watercolor is to not obsess over details. A great way of doing this is to work from a photo on your phone.  Add the fact I can't see anything small without reading glasses... I have surely uncovered a wonderful approach to a loosening up my style. I really focused on just the broad shapes whiled choosing to emphasize the beak where all the action lies.  I ...

Violets watercolor on paper 12,5 x 18cm/ 5" x 7"  Available The one tiny bloom in my African Violet has inspired me to grab my paints. The leaves with their funny texture always attract me, I decided to highlight them more in my composition. I was also tempted to break the rules of perspective. Instead of placing the focus in the obvious center, I positioned it in the upper corner. My wish is to build up to the bloom. I hope it works. I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ― A.A. Milne  hand-lettering project watercolor on paper 21 x 30 cm.  close up of the dragon fly My daughter asked me to create this for her room. I love including handlettering in my sketchbook, usually quick notes to myself. I also enjoy copying different font styles, mostly playing with ideas, always in my sketchbook. This is the first for me. After a hundred tries,  I think I am finally happy with the outcome. It has been very difficult to get the paint just right on my brush to keep the flow.  A dragonfly adds extra interest to the composition. I had a lot of fun with the project.  I'm including a link to a video of an artist I subscribe to. I love her tutorials, this might be useful to anyone exploring the concept. Saturday is National Handwriting day. The day is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of John Hancock. I w...