Watercolors by Celia Blanco

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 will celebrat

 A Good Morning  29,5 x 22 cm watercolor on  paper Available  I always wish to improve when I challenge myself anyway I can. The Daily Paintworks weekly challenge is exactly what I am talking about...to paint pastry. It is naturally challenging to paint food from life and not a photograph because it means contemplating it, not eating it right away. It took me two days, safe guarding it in the refrigerator in the meantime. I wanted to capture the early morning light as it streams into my kitchen.  I am very proud, I fought the temptation to the very end!

 Clementine Still Life 18cm x 25,5 cm watercolor on paper Available I hope everyone is beginning 2016 well. It is a time of year for renewal and self improvement. I am always hopeful to discover ways of improving and growing as I develop my artwork: more sketching and painting are always on top of my list! My first painting of the year is a clementine still-life. I painted this set up from life. They are presently found in abundance, easy to peel and full of flavor. I have been buying them by the crate load. I find the long leaves elegant and with the right amount of contrast to the bright orange peel.

balcony with column watercolor on paper sketched plein-air I have focused on my neighborhood, outfitted with my sketching supplies, this month. I find myself feeling better while sketching on location on trial and error.  I also fine tune what works, what to avoid, what to bring, best time of day, etc. I really enjoy sketching this way. One never knows what to expect, ideas are always challenged by changes to the environment. The "cafe sketching" experience was more successful this time. I went with a friend, as had been suggested, it is surely more fun! Have to admit, I do have more enjoyment scoping out interesting architectural areas. I find myself looking at people's laundry, hanging over windows, in a different way.   I thank everyone for your kind visits to my blog throughout the year. I wish you all a wonderful, Happy New Year! the pink house on a hill watercolor on paper sketched plein-air morning tea break sketchbook page

 Morning  Stream 21cm x 29,5 cm watercolor on paper  Available as a print I have donated my painting "Morning Stream" to be auctioned off (here) as a limited print. Donations will be benefiting Marilyn who has a progressive muscle disease - muscular dystrophy. Donations are needed to help fund Marilyn's "Tram" - a device  for transfers from wheelchair to bed, etc. Without it, she would need the services of a caregiver. You can read more about her story here . Kim Tysse, Marilyn's cousin, is organizing everything through a blog in order to find a way to help achieve enough donations to help her with this purchase. She is looking for artists to donate their artwork to be offered up as prints. There is no need to send the original art, just a good file that she can make prints. Any kind of support is nevertheless welcome! If anyone would like to help Marilyn, please  send your file here .   Marilyn is someone who has always tried

  Still-life study watercolor on Fabriano paper 28cm. x 12 cm. My daisy lasted a good two weeks, I couldn't resist painting it one more time. I painted this in one sitting, observing the colors' set up from life. I feel I over worked it and lost some of the freshness the previous painting had. A good lesson in patience. Anyone who understands the medium will understand how important it is to wait and let the washes dry, evaluating what the paint does on its own. It is nevertheless fun to experiment, there are always good lessons to be learned. Thank you for stopping by!   My work in progress...