Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween 2009




The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints.

But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en),


The Gauls claim all to be descended from Father Dis [a god of death, darkness and the underworld], declaring that this is the tradition preserved by the Druids. For this reason they measure periods of time not by days but by nights; and in celebrating birthdays, the first of the month, and new year’s day, they go on the principle that the day begins at night.


Some other names are also associated with the Celtic New Year:
The Third Harvest
All Hollows Eve
The Day of the Dead



And the famous Halloweens Day.

The Celtic Druids eventually came to be viewed as witches, and the subsequent witch craze led to the horrific murders of vast numbers of women, men, and animals, particularly nocturnal animals, with cats most frequently targeted. It was believed that witches could shapeshift, and that they would most often take the form of cats, which were believed to be their familiars. In some cases cats were thought to be reincarnated witches as well.


The widespread slaughter of cats during this time contributed to the human death toll from the black plague, as cats had kept the population of rats that carried plague-bearing fleas under control.
Okay what about all those good treats?



The tradition of trick-or-treating dates back to the early All Soul’s Day in England, during which poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits



I love Halloween. The costumes, the candy, the parties, and the memories. Thinking back I don't know which I enjoyed more: the costumes or the trick-or-treats.







I'm still a kid at heart. The lure of the spooky whether I am doing the monster mash or drinking Bloody Mary's with the undead.






Have a very scary Halloween







Thursday, October 29, 2009

Petunias, Flowers in the Window

Petunias Flowers by the Window
Petunias Flowers by the Window, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:

I like the sound of the word Petunia . It makes me smile and think about Petunia Pig in the cartoons. I was charmed by these little flowers because of the way they crawled out of the pot.They quietly wiggled their way to the table top trying in vain to escape the clay pot prison that keeps them from the window.


Petunias Flowers by the Window
8x6
oil on canvas mounted on hardboard

Petunias Flowers by the Window
Petunias Flowers by the Window, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Petunias Flowers by the Window
8x6
oil on canvas mounted on hardboard

Media: oil
Size: 6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email






" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

Trick or Treat

Trick or treat
The history of "Trick'O'Treating" can be traced back to the early celebrations of All Soul's Day in Britain .
The poor would go begging and the housewives would give them special treats called "soulcakes". This was called "going a-souling", and the "soulers" would promise to say a prayer for the dead.
Over time the custom changed and the town's children became the beggars. As they went from house to house they would be given apples, buns, and money.

With the economy being down some artist feel like beggars. It is important to look successful when you are in business for your self. Who wants to talk to a down and out artist? It is just more fun to dress well and drive a killer car. Mine is a bright red convertible. So treat yourself to a little something whether you are an artist or a collector it will put a nice spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Fall Harvest, pumpkin squash,flowers,still life
Fall Harvest, pumpkin squash,flowers,still life, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Fall Harvest
6x8 oil on canvas mounted on panel (RayMar)


Media: oil
Size: 8 in X 6 in (20.3 cm X 15.2 cm)
Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email



" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Google Wave

The Breaking Waves
The Breaking Waves, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
The Breaqking Waves
12x16
oil on hardboard

1. You signed up early on for a Google Wave account. Google put up a request form for Wave invites not long after Wave was announced. Most of the invites arriving tomorrow will go to people on that list. Your chances improve if you signed up early on and wrote a message to the Wave team.
2. You have an account on the Developer Preview of Wave. The Sandbox version of Google Wave has been active for a select group of developers for several months now, allowing them to test Wave, report bugs, and build Wave extensions. They will all get accounts.
3. Some paying users of Google Apps will get accounts. It’s likely several companies asked Google for invites when the real-time tool launched. They will get accounts. Some schools that use Google Apps will also get early access.
4. You are invited by someone currently using Wave.

Want to know more about the wave here a little look. The Wave

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Monday, October 19, 2009

Autumn Leaves

Our Oak trees have been slowly turning yellow for maybe a month, but I swear they have “suddenly” turned into glorious yellow beacons.

Maybe the rains cause that? However it happens, I’ve got blue sky, white clouds, warm temperatures and bright yellow Oaks and Maples to keep me company. Life is good!

Autumn Leaves, Fall Landscape
Autumn Leaves,Aspen Fall Landscape, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Autumn Leaves (A08-399)
24x20
oil on gallery wrapped canvas with painted side
The back is wired and sides are painted.
Delilah Smith,Michigan, USA

Media: oil
Size: 20 in X 24 in (50.8 cm X 61 cm)
Price: $950 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $950 USD plus $20 USD s/h
Or, send me an email





" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Where did summer go


This is one of the those weeks that just flew, and I am left scratching my head wondering where the time is going. I love this time a year, but I also start to get nervous as I know summer has come to an end , fall is in full swing and winter is peeking around the corner. I am starting to see little signs of it in the trees and feel it in the air.


One thing I am reminded of is to be aware. What I know for sure is I don’t want to get to the end of my life scratching my head wondering where the time went!

It's not easy to be a successful, profitable artist in any economy, much less this one. It takes really good art, a consistent 'can do' attitude, and knowing all the steps that will take you from your local art scene, to a regional, and then national standing.





" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Cupcakes with Fruit

Last night I baked a fresh peach pie. I had picked the peaches from a small peach tree in my yard.The season is late this year. Tonight I will paint peach pie, but for today it is cupcakes.

Cupcakes with Fruit,blue berries,strawberries,cherries
Cupcakes with Fruit,blue berries,strawberries,cherries, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Cupcakes with Fruit
8x10
oil on stretched canvas


Media: oil
Size: 10 in X 8 in (25.4 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $150 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $150 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email



" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Tomato Martin and Cucumber

When I painted this I had no idea there was a recipe for a Tomato Martini. Now I have not tried it but I will. I like Bloody Mariy's so I would think this would be just as taste. Now the recipe does not call for a cucumber but what the heck live on the edge and garnish with a slice.

Ingredients
Ice cubes
1 1/2 ounces gin
1 teaspoon dry white vermouth
3 ounces Tomato Water, recipe follows
2 tablespoons tomato based vegetable juice (recommended: V-8)
1/2 lemon, plus a twist for garnish
Couple drops Pernod, optional
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce
Garnish: Olive, cherry tomato, and cocktail onion on a swizzle stick or toothpick
Directions
Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice cubes. Add the gin, vermouth, tomato water, vegetable juice, and a healthy squeeze of lemon juice. Add a couple drops of Pernod if desired--it adds a nice background flavor, but more than 1 or 2 drops will overpower the drink. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of hot sauce.
Cover and shake vigorously until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add the olive, tomato, and onion garnish. Drink.
Tomato Water:
1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch sugar
Puree the tomatoes and their juices with the salt and a pinch of sugar. Line a small sieve with a coffee filter and set over a bowl. Pour the tomato into the sieve and set aside to strain, about 3 hours. Discard the solids and save the tomato liquid. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Yield: about 2 cups

Tomato Martini and Cucumber,vegetables
Tomato Martini and Cucumber,vegetables, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Tomato Martini and Cucumber
G08-724
10x8 oil on gallery wrapped stretched canvas

Media: oil
Size: 8 in X 10 in (20.3 cm X 25.4 cm)
Price: $150 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $150 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email




" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Monday, October 05, 2009

Keep those old pencil

Using an emery board (nail file) on all those #2 pencil erasers you can no longer use because of how shiny and hard they've become, will 'reactivate' them so they're good as new.


" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Fall Leaf,

I shuffle down the garden path
now strewn with drifts of orange and gold
each season has it's color, it's smell, an uniqueness all it's own
an autumn of red wine
the fragrance of fallen leaves
color so bright and bold
they pursues me

Fall Leaf,colors,red,orange,yellow
Fall Leaf,colors,red,orange,yellow, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Fall Leaf warm fall colors
8x6x1 1/2 gallery wrapped stretched canvas wired and ready to hang or it can be framed.

Media: oil
Size: 6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD plus $5 USD s/h
Or, send me an email




" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Gypsy Dance

The Fiddler plays
laugh,sing
mesmerise me with dizzy swirls of your skirt
dance
gypsy blood of passion
dance, dance
dance for the lust of gold
dance for my soul
dance for me gypsy

Gypsy Dance, music landscape
Gypsy Dance, music landscape, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Gypsy Dance 8x6 oil on RayMar panel ready to frame.

Media: oil
Size: 6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm)
Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email


" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Friday, October 02, 2009

Truban Squash

Turban squash, with its bizarre shapes, extravagant coloration and bulb like blossom end, is wonderful to paint,to feel,to write about.

I came to the bedroom
my towel of red and orange a turban squash on my damp hair

I stand a moment uncertain
where have those wiggle worm socks and worn flannel nightie gone
Like the popcorn and the wine on my night stand they comfort me

I sit cross legged in the middle of my bed
prizes found
turban crown, wine in hand, pop corn wedged between my legs,a book of romance and adventure at my side
Queen of fuzzy socks and worn flannel

I am comforted

Fall Harvest No.2,turban squash,vegetable,orange
Fall Harvest No.2,turban squash,vegetable,orange, painting by Delilah Smith

About This Painting:
Fall Harvest No.2
10x12 oil on canvas mounted on hardwood panel

Media: oil
Size: 12 in X 10 in (30.5 cm X 25.4 cm)
Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $100 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email




" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Home Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com