Art Prize 2013

Art Prize 2013 is almost closed and I still d not have a venue for my painting. I see that their system changed the inch on my painting to feet which did not help my situation. They seem to be having more system issues this year I'm not sure why.

When Art Prize first started Michigan artist and Grand Rapids artist where suppose to have first chance at available venues but I see now that the city has taken over the process it has changed. There are many Grand Rapids artist who are still looking for a venue with only a few days until the site closes.

I have not given up hope and continue to work on my large Beach Beauty. Today I worked on the sky.

Here was the start of my color palette.

I mixed more paint as I went on a deeper cloud shadow color.

This is where I quite on the sky for the day. I will let it dry for a few days and come back to it later.Tomorrow I will work on the water putting in some nice waves. A breeze on the beach is always good.

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Chaos in the Art Studio

Social media can seem overwhelming if you try to tackle too much at once. Better to focus on bite-sized information you can sink your teeth into.

As for focus have you ever heard of the Chaos Theory?

The "Chaos Theory" 

Chaos is the science of surprises, of the nonlinear and the unpredictable.The theory states that "initial conditions" can yield widely diverging, desirable and often unpredictable outcomes. 

A good way to understand chaos theory is what psychologists call "the butterfly effect." 

From an unlikely chrysalis a magnificent butterfly emerges. The all-too-common human instinct to tame chaos may also be key to creative flight. 

The messy artist puts her need for order into her art. Beauty, uniqueness, and personal joy are the result. That is my story and I am sticking to it, maybe I will clean the studio next week.

Three Pots of Pansies

About This Painting:

Three Pots of Pansies
11x14x1/2
painted on stretched canvas

Media: oil painitng

Size: 14 in X 11 in (35.6 cm X 27.9 cm)

Price: $380 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal

Price: $380 USD plus $15 USD s/h

Or, send me an email

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Are You Bored with your art?

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) figured the main problem for painters was boredom. Apart from appearing never to stop painting, he contrived to fill his life with a menagerie of birds and animals and the constant coming and going of models, students and admiring friends.

I wonder if cat count? I am never bored maybe it's the cat, or the music, or just the wondering of my mind.



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How to travel with Art Supplies

I love to travel and I like painting on location.

A few years ago, I was able to bring all of my painting supplies onto the airplane. I could bring 2 bags for free. Who would have thought that you would have to pay to bring cloths when you travel.
 Those days are gone. But with some common sense and a little pre-planning, traveling with paint supplies isn’t a big hassle at all. Here are some things to keep in mind.

You must put your paints in checked luggage (unless you have dry watercolor cakes). I am currently using more and more watercolors and watercolor pencils when I travel. I use them for studies take lots of photo and do the oil when I get home.

I have started doing watercolor journal when I travel and I love. You can use both sides of the heavy journal pages to paint and write on.

You must put all palette knives and other tools that may look suspicious in your checked luggage along with any paint in tubes oil or watercolor.

If you are an oil painting RarMar now makes a feather lite panel that is great for travel.

Mediums are a maybe. Check the manufacturer’s website for the Materials Safety Data Sheet or MSDS to determine the flashpoint (the temperature at which the paint will reach combustion). Most all art supply manufacturers have this info on their website. If the flashpoint is higher than 140°F, you can bring it on an airplane. This is a good time to think aboout water- soluble oils for plein air and travel.

Do not bring any solvent of any kind. Either plan to purchase it once you arrive at your destination or ship it ahead of time. This is the most difficult item if traveling to a third world country. I had to buy cheap quality (and very strong smelling) solvent in Guatemala. However, I recently learned that Gamsol has a flashpoint of 146°F, so you can bring it if you make sure to bring the MSDS to prove that it is allowable. I have yet to try this.

Bring all paints and mediums in their original containers. and then put the boxes in zip lock bags.

Bring a printed copy of the MSDS for your supplies in case you need to prove the flashpoint. Keep it with your supplies.

I also include a brief typed paper explaining the following points (it is best to use simple bullet points like this example or else they might not read it):

• These are Artists’ Colors (never use the word “paint”)
• They are made with vegetable oil (unless they are acrylic or watercolor in which case indicate that they are water based artists’ colors)
• They are not hazardous for travel
• They contain no solvent
• Indicate the flashpoint
• Refer them to the MSDS for more complete, detailed information

Be prepared to have your bags opened and inspected. Your art supplies will almost always get a closer inspection.

Doing these simple things will make it much more likely that your travels will be hassle free (at least when it comes to the art supplies).

So go ahead, make those travel plans. Take your paints and enjoy capturing your trip in paint.

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Things to think about

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." (Lao Tzu, 6th centutry BCE)

So just maybe if I keep it up I really will get there huummm.


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Updates on ArtPrize Painting 2013

Sunflowers in a Vase

About This Painting: As I work on my daily paintings I am also getting ready for the Ann Arboe Michigan Art Fair and Art Prize. I will be showing updates to my painting for Art Prize daily on my blog Art by Delilah.
Here is the latest  update on my painting Beach Beauty

.

Sunflowers in a Vase
14x11x1.5 oil painting on stretched gallery wrapped canvas.

Media: oil painting

Size: 11 in X 14 in (27.9 cm X 35.6 cm)

Price: $380 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal

Price: $380 USD plus $10 USD s/h

Or, send me an email

"post your opinion in the comments" Or, send me an email
Thank You:
Art by Delilah, with a Passion for PaintingAll Images © 2006-2013

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Here is a quick look at some of the daily paintings I did in May, 2013. I post a new painting each to my blog Painting of the day.

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Thank You:
Art by Delilah, with a Passion for PaintingAll Images © 2006-2013

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Still Life painting Demo

Yellow Vase and Flowers
5x7 oil painting on a Masonite panel
Click here to bid on this painting



 


Thank You:
"post your opinion in the comments" Or, send me an email Art by Delilah, with a Passion for PaintingAll Images © 2006-2013

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Floral Still Life with Apples

About This Painting:

Floral Still Life with Apples
9x12x 1/2 oil painting on gallery wrapped stretched canvas

Media: oil pianting

Size: 12 in X 9 in (30.5 cm X 22.9 cm)

Price: $270 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal

Price: $270 USD plus $10 USD s/h

Or, send me an email

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We Remeber

I pause with in remembrance of all of the people who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live in this wonderful country. The United States of America, our great nation and home, has been protected by thousands of men and women, giving their lives so we can be free. I am grateful to all of them and their families. My prayers are with everyone in the armed forces and law enforcement. 

Thank you for your service.

Flag, We Remember

About This Painting:

We Remember
7x5 oil painting on canvas mounted on a museum quality panel read to frame ro set on a small table top easle,

Media: oil painting

Size: 5 in X 7 in (12.7 cm X 17.8 cm)

Price: $1100 USD

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal

Price: $1100 USD plus $10 USD s/h

Or, send me an email

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Things NOT On Our Bucket List:

Positive wish: "The sun will come out tomorrow." Negative 

reality: "Yeah, and it will flash brand-new daylight on the 

same old mess unless something is done to clean it up." 

(Bob Knight)

Yep that is the way it goes. So the mess I am looking at is my studio. I get so busy I just don't want to stop and clean, but in the morning it is clean the studio and book work.







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Few of my watercolors

Here are few of my latest watercolor painting.

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Figurative Painting Demo

This Painting demo is at high speed, that means that hours of painting have been moved up to a few minutes so enjoy a quick look at how I paint.

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When to start your art career

Don't wait. The time will never be just right."

- Napoleon Hill, pioneering US self-help author

Things to think about.

 "I was very embarrassed when my canvases began to fetch high prices. I saw myself 


condemned to a future of nothing but masterpieces." (Henri Matisse)



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Dolphins in front of the Studio

I am suppose to being doing Spring Cleaning i the studio today but when you see Dolphins out the front door you just have to go and look.



Now that was more fun then cleaning.


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Painting Demo

Hot Pepper

About This Painting: Today I painted a hot pepper and I have a short video of how I did it.

Hot Pepper
5x7 oil painting on canvas mounted on a museum quality panel

Media: oil painting

Size: 7 in X 5 in (17.8 cm X 12.7 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 opinion in the comments" Or, send me an email
Thank You:
Art by Delilah, with a Passion for PaintingAll Images © 2006-2013
" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com

Chicken Trot

Chicken Trot, Delilah

About This Painting: I am working out an idea for an oil painting so I will be doing a few Chicken watercolors until I can get it figured out in my mind. Here is the first as I work through how I want the chickent to look.

Chicken Trot
12 x 9 watercolor on 140 lb watercolor paper

Media: watercolor

Size: 9 in X 12 in (22.9 cm X 30.5 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

Daily Paintings for the Month of February

My daily paintings from February 2013. To view more of my daily paintings visit my Painting of the Day blog.

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March News Letter

 I have been airboating around Florida this month, thye even let me drive. It was a ball even though we got caught in a tropical down pour before we returned to the docks. It was a good thing I had extra dry cloths in the car.

Last week I painted with the art Don Getz who is traveling through the US painting and journaling small towns on his trip.

He has taught watercolor since 1967,and always cherished the idea of doing a country-wide tour. Seeing America's back roads and teaching as he toured. He lost his wife, Judie, last August , and not getting any younger; altho at 78, he is very able and up to the task. I love to travel but taking oil paints on a plane is now almost inposble, so if I am not  driving I had to find another solution. I think watercolor Journaling may be the solution for me.

 Don At work.

Here are a few of my first attempts. No pencils alowed so I really had to think before I started.

HOT OFF THE EASLE

A few of my lates oil paintings

Fuzzy Wuzzy No 2

                                  Winter Barns                            Rabbits

                                      8x10                                           8x6

Stop in at my Daily Painting Blog 

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Be who you are and Paint what you love

I hope your painting is going well.

It's no secret that it's hard times financially for most artists around the world.Two of my own representative galleries have gone under in the past few years.

    There’s a saying that I love: “Don’t try and give the world what you think it needs, do what makes you come alive, the world NEEDS more of those people.” I really take that to heart and I hope that you will too… When you passionately pursue your dream, you create a unique road to travel on that is full of surprises and amazing experiences and people.

See, it doesn’t even matter what you are passionate about; it could be art, writing, selling your products or services…When you radiate passion, people of all walks of life are drawn to YOU, even if they aren’t totally interested in what you are offering. They become emotionally involved in you and the story you can tell them about whatever it is that you are offering.

So, for those of you that don’t absolutely love what you are doing, selling, etc, you need to move on to something that makes you come alive. I’m not saying quit your job, what I’m saying is that you need to start something after-hours that really makes you tick. If you are already on the road of doing what you are passionate about, congratulations. Success is much more attracted to people who love what they do.

 It’s only a matter of time before more and more people start to notice you and connect with you and your story.

As you know I have a passion for Painting and each year I start at least one large painting. If you follow my small daily paintings on  Painting of the Day you know I already paint one warm up work each day that takes about 2-3 hours to do, well these large works take 3-4 months to complete sometimes longer.

I have had a hard deciding just what I was going to paint and I have changes my mind several times. The sketch book is full of sometime maybe ideas.I finally decided that I would paint something a little whimsical and from my childhood. I grew up on a Michigan farm so I love painting farm animals.

I started by going to Lowes and buying lumber to build a stretcher frame. The painting is going to be 6 feet high and 4 feet wide. This is really large for something whimsical but I am already in love with the crazy idea.

I built the frame stretched the canvas then added 4 coats of gesso sanding after each coat dried.

I sketched it in with some alizarin crimson just to mark where I wanted things. It will be painted over so it's just to give me an ides of placement.

I want a rear view of the cow so I have been looking at a lot of cow behinds lately, oh the things we do for art.

because this is going to be a Michigan cow I wanted it to be on the shores of Lake Michigan, above I have added the sky and below I have started to add the water.

It's going to be bright sunny day so I have started to work on the shadow area. I work from the top down that way I don't get my arm in the paint so often. I will be posting more as a work on this old cow.


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Daily Paintings

Painting that I have done over the month of January. 

Thank you for viewing my artwork

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Creat your owns success

Be more successful by eliminating  annoyances 

What are you putting up with? You might be tolerating any number of small things. We artist tend to put off things that are not art: Cleaning off the desk ,filing, boxes of stuff for still life paintings that you need to go through, taxes stuff that should be posted, and every time you see these things you feel disorganized. You are creating your own bad habits.

Everything that is disorganized and annoying wears you down, To eliminate these 50 - 150 things that you are tolerating, write them down. Make  list. Get it out of your head and put it on paper now there is more space in your mind for creative stuff.

Get a buddy, on line or on the phone and put aside a day to clean up one or two things, check in every hour to see how you and your buddy is done. Set a timer for an hour and see how much you can get done.

After you get one of the jobs done give yourself a treat; a walk at the beach,ice cream, a movie.

When you finish all the little stuff because that what most folks do start on the small stuff and the really big things are still there. Decide how long it will take to get one of those done and start.

Be more creative with little stuff cleaned up.

So start Painting!



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Goal Setting for the New Year

 Goal Setting and Bushiness Planing for 2013

When the economy slows down you must not only work harder but smarter. It is easy to become discouraged but setting realistic achievable goals will set you on the right path to a successful artistic career.

Here are some ideas to point you in the right direction. Please share things that you use I know we would all love to add them to our bags of tricks.

How to plan for more income:
1.*** Review your expenses and income from 2012***
You can not make improvement if you do not know where you have been.
a. Is there any way to cut expenses?
b.How can you increase revenue? (SALES)

2. Review your sales, where did they come from
a. Galleries
b. Art Shows
c.on line

3. Do you have other ways to market your work or generate income from it?
a. Cards
b. Prints
c. Jewelry
d.Teach

4. Set Attainable goals that are measurable.
a. How many paintings did you paint in 2012, what % sold
If you sold everything you painted, can you paint more this year? If not then it is time to raise your prices.
b. Was there a common factor in the works that sold? Color,size,subject?

5. Break down your sales by price and sales. To set goals for this year.

Let's say you made $10,000 last year and you want to increase revenue by 25% this year.
Last year you sold :
20 @ 100= 2000
10 @ 200=2000
5  @  500= 2500
2  @ 1000=2000
you taught 2 class @ 500=1000
Then you sold cards,prints,and trading cards for 500
This was the break down of you 10,000 revenue stream.

Now you know where the money came from what months were good which ones were slow? Now plan how to make those months even better this year.

6. Now write your business plan/goals for 2013. Break it down into months. Review each month at the end of the month and adjust for the next month. I would write each months plan now and it will be so easy to adjust it later if needed.

Remember goals can be adjusted. The more you think about them and review and rework them the more ideas you will have. It funny how lucky you get when you are ready.

Live long and prosper.
  -- Spock, "Amok Time", stardate 3372.7

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The End of the World

As you can see it has started. The end of the world and the great apocalypse.



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Get off your Limb

Your beliefs don't... 

“Your beliefs don’t make you a better person. Your behavior does.” - Unknown"

We all have sets of beliefs many we learned as small children. Taking those beliefs and making the world a better place is where behavior an action come in.

The painting below a time to fly means just that, get off your limb and start making the world just a little better today.

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A Daily Painting Demo

I do a small painting every day and post them to my blog Painting of the Day. Here is a high speed demo of one of those painting.

A little Demo on how this small painting was done. I quick review of this oil painting.

Sunshine Sparkle, still life with marbles

About This Painting:

Sunshine Sparkle
6x6x1.5 oil painting on stretched gallery wrapped canvas

Media: oil painting

Size: 6 in X 6 in (15.2 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 opinion in the comments" Or, send me an email
Thank You:
Art by Delilah, with a Passion for Painting

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

Painting Demo Get Loose

Get Loose and Paint





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Keep painting this is fun: Time t Finish this painting: Hope you had as much fun as I did painting this watercolor.

Artistic Temperament Touched with Fire

The drive to paint is all consuming. I do this because it's what I want to do.

 Many people can not understand this obsession of mine to show up at the easels every day with pure joy. Not because there is a boss who say's you must clock in a 7 AM, not because I would be docked on my pay check. Employers use paycheck deductions as a way to penalize for sub-par performance. I know if I don't show up everyday I will not paint as well because it really boils down to brush miles to get better

.I know when a painting is sub-par. It kills me until I get it right.The artist temperament kicks in, the drive to do it right, better, make it the best that I can and learn from it. Do it again until it is the thing that was in my head then on my brush dab with paint onto the canvas.

Money is not the motivator even though sales are a part of the business of doing art. Sales are bench marks little goals that I set for myself.

The hot button is to make art, to follow the muse and not be distracted by what people say is good or bad art. If the work is well received and sells it is validations. The touched with fire emotions of creativity that turn my thoughts and imagination into something real that became a painting.

I do these little daily paintings to think with my brush to work ideas out. To see if I would like to do a larger work.

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Lets talk Turkey

            Happy Thanksgiving From Art by Delilah

Lets Talk Turkey

This year there is much to be thankful for my family,my friends, and for all the support you have given me while sharing my artistic journey.

I would like to offer a Black Friday special:

Olives Still Life
5x7 oil painting on canvas mounte on a museum quality panel

$50.00



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Take a Positive Punch with your art

Art by delilah

"I realized that all the really good ideas I'd ever had came to me while I was milking a cow. So I went back to Iowa." Grant Wood

Having read this quote made me think, yes this is so true. Creative ideas seep into the cracks of your mind when you let your thoughts drift.  I keep a note book with me at all time because I have a mind like a steal sieve , if  I don't write it down,sketch it or make some kind of note, I know it with disappear like vapor in the morning sun.

I sometimes go back and read The Creative Habit: Learn and Use it for Life, by Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp"s Book " The Creative Habit: Learn and Use it for Life". Is an excellent read. It targets people who make their living with their creativity regardless of what medium you work in the information is transferable.I recommend this book as part of any creative persons library as a must for staying motivated and showing up at the Muse of your choose daily.She talks about habits and how rituals form our daily lives lead to habits. By changing are habits we can create rituals that lead to more creativity in our lives. New Habits lead us in a more creative direction.I reread this book at least once a year to help keep me focused on whats important to my creative career. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life]]

I really believe that the habits we develop lead to who we are and what we become. I personally have several daily rituals that lead me to more creativity. I start my morning with classical music, a cup of coffee, scented candles, and my journal. My Journal is where I jot down ides,success',goals. This is where I pat myself on the back and say nice job you got so mush done yesterday. It's the way I wake up that Artist Muse in me. The most important ritual I have is showing up at the easel and painting every day. Showing up is the most important creative habit you can have. The rest will come if you are there.

1.)  You don't control all the variables, but you should make an attempt to find out the one's you do control and make use of this.

2.) Make an assessment of what you are actually good at and expand on those things. Make these abilities work for you.

3.) Always be open to learning new skills and information, history, etc, . . . The world is a big place and no one knows everything.

4.) Know what "finished" work looks like. This seems like a "no-brainer", but people often lack the ability to be their own self-editors.

5.) Stay positive, there may be something great just around the corner. You cannot work in a state of panic and expect great results.

Verba volant, scripta manent” is a Latin proverb that means “spoken words fly away, written words remain

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New Age Art for the kid in us

I'm not good at getting into the the digital age for art how about you? the kid in me really would like to try, how about you?

Do you use any of the new technology to create art? I personally would love to learn more about it, but I am so slow at learning any thing it is a real hard row to hoe ( gardening hick talk, not geek speak)

I you have never meant Val let me introduce you to the Wow artist of the New Age.To see more Val's Art Diary watch her YouTube Channel.

So tell me more about what you are doing with your art in the digital age.

Is this the New wave of art?

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If you like it just steel it

Paintings Stolen From Dutch Museum Despite State Of The Art Technology

To read the story click here

Okay just want to look at some good art don't have time to be a cat burglar. Take a peek at some of Paul Cezanne's work.

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