Monochromatic Painting

A monochromatic color scheme uses a single color. In this type of scheme, various darker shades, grayer tones, and paler tints of the main color may be included in the palette. In addition, the one color is often paired with white or another neutral





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Working on a Painting

I am still working on this painting that I started a few weeks ago.I have been working on the color and value in the still life.

A painter has five basic weapons in his armoury.

1. Tone

2. Colour Intensity.

3. Texture.

4. Warm & Cool.

5. Linear Composition & Shape.

Using shape we can make things larger in the foreground and smaller as they recede. Using warm and cool we can make things appear to recede as we can with tone.

More detailed texture in the foreground will also bring things into apparent focus. But the use of colour intensity can make objects actually appear to be several inches in front of the canvas.



I liked the feel of the painting here, but this is a commission and so I'm got a few more things to add.


I needed a little contrast so I added a few dark flowers.

I am still working on this so there will be more updates to come. It's time for bed right now, so more tomorrow.

A few of my daily paintings. More can be seen at my Painting of the Day Blog.


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Art Prize

ARTPRIZE MAKES COMMITMENT
FOR MORE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE

Grand Rapids, Mich. – March 14, 2011 – Today, venue registration for ArtPrize 2011 opened. ArtPrize officials announced a dedicated Exhibition Center for music and performance. Music and performance have played a small role in the competition, which gives away the world’s largest art prize and had over 250,000 visitors last year, but organizers dedicated St. Cecilia’s Music Center–boasting a 650 seat auditorium–as a focal point for the 2011 event.

“I often say ArtPrize is the world’s largest excuse to get creative, and it’s been explosive its first two years,” says Rick DeVos, ArtPrize founder. “Going into year three, we continue to be intentional about making it open to a broad spectrum of creativity. We invite other performance venues to be ArtPrize venues and really experiment with how music and live shows can play a bigger role.”

General rules stay the same. Any space within the three-mile ArtPrize district can register on the website to become a venue. Artists and venues “connect” through the website to organize their exhibitions (ArtPrize organizers do not select any artists for the event). Exhibition Centers, which serve as large venues and launchpads into each neighborhood, are not-for-profit institutions and include the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Cathedral Square, the Women’s City Club, the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, St. Cecilia’s Music Center, as well as Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Also, a twist on how visitors track the competition, ArtPrize organizers announced that no longer will the website display the top 25 vote getters during the first week of the competition. Instead, the top 25 artists in each of the five neighborhoods will be on display. Read More »

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Artists and Galleries

I visited an Art Gallery at Clearwater Beach Fl yesterday. When I am in an area I try to see as much art as I possible can. One of the artist who work I saw was Martin Quen.

Her work reminds me of Kandinsky and Mark Rothko. When I view art I think of it as a visual poem. It can imply,suggest,take you to a special place with it's images and colour. Visual movement is like a song to my soul. Colours bright, cool,warm, move me ,they dance through my mind.

What are you thinking when you look at art? I hope it makes you smile and think about what the artist is saying in his visual poem.

Here are a few of my small daily paintings. To see more of my daily art visit my blog Painting of the Day where I post a new painting each day.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Starting a large painting

For me the hardest part of doing a painting is just starting. I have been procrastinating on this one for too long, so it's times to just do it.

I put together the stretcher frame for this painting because it is an odd size. I normally buy prestretched canvas but with the increases in supply cost I may start stretching all of my own large canvas in the future.
I use an electric staple gun because I have small hands and it is difficult to pull the canvas tight enough and staple it at the same time. Elvis one of my studio cats always wants to help.

Okay, Elvis say's " I think I will just watch this time".
Stretched and a base tonal coat of paint on it.
At last a start on this one.

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Painting Challenge

A Strawberry

4x6

Oil Painting on canvas

$25.00

Click here to buy

If your paintings are fussy and overworked, this challenge is for you! It will force you to slow down, think and make each brush stroke count.

INSTRUCTIONS: Draw your subject (any) on your canvas/board. Make sure you get everything in just the right place – this is very important for this challenge. Then, with a brush (if you have them use flats or brights – at least ½” wide), mix one color. Put down one stroke on your canvas/board. If it’s wrong, mix a new color and put a new stroke directly over the first. Mix a new color (feel free to adjust the first color, on your palette, to get the second, but make sure to start a new pile when needed). Put down one stroke. Mix a new color. Put down one stroke. You get the idea. Don't worry about edges – your painting SHOULD look sort of like a mosaic when you get done. If you start fussing, no dessert for you tonight!

HINTS: Squint at your subject – paint what you see when you squint. Ignore what you think you see. Step back a few feet after every single stroke – oh yeah, stand to paint! Remember that value is the most important thing to be accurate with. Your color can be completely off, but if the value is off your object(s) won’t look 3-dimensional.

To view paintings completed for the challenge or to post one of your own click here.

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Follow your Whims in Art

A whim is a strange or capricious notion; a temporary eccentricity. A person or thing that has many whims can be called whimsical.Art has passion and a whim can often change the direction of that artistic passion.

Following a whim can add new life to your art let your passion be fun and always explore possibilities.

When I paint my small daily paintings I try out new ideas. These small works are usually 5x7, so if I find an idea that intrigues me I can develop it into a larger work.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

The Painting Challenge

If you like painting challenges you might want to check this out.

The challenge: Paint this image using only burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and titanium white. That's it. No other colors. With that combo you can have it look pretty darn close to a full color painting by achieving a wide array of values and temperatures.

Every DPW (Daily Paintworks) a group of wonderful daily painters has a challenge and anyone can give it a try. The fun part is all the paintings are post on their blog for all to see. Most of the paintings are for sale. If you would like to see what has been posted for the Zippo Challenge click here. Michael Naples, a great daily painter, posted this weeks challenge. There are over 100 zippo lighter posted so stop in a take a look.

Zippo Lighter

About This Painting:
Zippo Lighter
7x5 oil painting

Media: oil painting
Size: 5 in X 7 in (12.7 cm X 17.8 cm)

How to Purchase:
click here to bid on this painting

Or, send me an email

"post your opinion in the comments" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com,,Thank You:Visit my web site Art by Delilah http://www.artbydelilah.comDelilah Smith" Daily Painter"" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Still Life with Wine

After I get the still life set up I take some place ment measurements with my brush. Here I am checking to se where the glass hits the bottle.
Here I am looking for where the glass and bottle hit.
How high is the grapefruit next to the glass.
In this painting I used heavy paint and brush work. As you can see I added the wine t the painting for color.
Here are a few of my recent daily paintings. To view more of these small paintings visite my blog Painting of the Day.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

The Still Life

Once I have tones the canvas I start the still life.
I get a few house hold items of different sizes and shapes. Then I start the drawing. I work on the relationship of the objects. I decide which object will be my anchor and where I want to break the edges. I do not want a still life where everything is right in the center of the canvas.

I make a quick drawing in yellow ochre. Drawing is the most important part of the painting but I don't want this to be a drawing , it is a painting so the drawing is just a place where I start.

I will post more tomorrow.

Here a few of my recent daily paintings more of my daily paintings can be seen on my blog Painting of the Day.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Establishing Value in an oil painting.

Starting with a white canvas.One of the most important aspects of a painting is value and contrast.

Defining value in an oil painting is easier on a tinted canvas. The initial layer of paint can serve as a base for painting or just as a point to establish values later in the painting. Here I have uses a light wash of turpentine and burnt umber mixed with a little virdian

This will help serve as a base guide not as integral background element. The above background base will be used on a quick still life. I also use this method of toning a background when I Plien Air painting.

Sometimes at the end of the day when I have left over paint I will paint background under painting to be used later. when I do this I like to put on several coats of paint, let each layer dry then sanding between the layers. This then will be a very important part of that panting.

See what I paint on this. More tomorrow.

The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time. – Joe Girard

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Are you having fun yet

Are you having fun yet?

It's February already and I should be at 8% of my yearly goal for 2011. I can relax things are on schedule as planed. I have been nurturing the inner self with a few good books,great friends,and wonderful music. I have always been fascinated by those who can paint pictures with words,reading is an obsession for me. It is one of the fun things I do.

How do you define fun? I suspect our definitions of fun are quite different. The way we have fun impacts our goals and defines who we are. Fun for me is doing what most people consider work. My life is about learning,doing and oh boy having fun meeting my daily challenges, I hope all of you are nurturing who you really are, by having fun.

To see more of my daily paintings visit by bl0gPainting of the day

Below are a few of my daily paintings.One of the ways have fun.

"Failure is Not an Option -- It comes bundled with the
software."


" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Seize the Day, Paint on

Everyday has only so many hours in it. As a creative professional my work requires me to generate new ideas, rework old ones,read, stay inspired, and make the most of each day.Seizing the day becomes my focus.I wonder how I can get just one more drop of potential from it.

I want to make my mark. Should it be in crayon, pencil,watercolor, or oils. The choices loam before me a blaze of chroma.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Daily Painter

Last weeks Daily Paintings

More of my daily paintings can be viewed on my blog Painting of the Day.

This small paintings are a fun great warm up for me. I use them to try out new ideas for larger paintings. It is so much easier to work out problem on a small painting then on a larger one. To view my larger work go to my web site Delilah Smith or Art by Delilah both have larger paintings.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

The Art of Less

n the 1920s, Ernest Hemingway - the master of "word economy" - was challenged to write a complete story in just six words. He won the challenge, earning $10 for his success.

His story: "For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn."

Clear, Concise, Powerful

That is just what good art should be,

How could I make it simpler more powerful, more exciting with less color?

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Steven King Moment

I experienced a Steven King moment this morning. In the half light of the morning with a winter crisp fog in the air, I drug the trash container to the road. Its wheel crunching in the hard packed snow. The reluctant wheels turned slowly as snow built up between them and the container. The eerie echo of the squeaky wheel could be heard down the empty street. There was no sound,no people,no movement and what ,no one else had their trash out!

It is Thursday? What day is it ? Have I lost all recollection of time, painting away in my studio grotto?Monday was a Holiday. Does trash not get pick up on Federal Holidays are they now one day behind? Are Trash Men like Bankers? So many unanswered question.

I am just an artist, I paint. Days run into each other my Holidays are the days of breakthroughs, when goals are accomplished, and best of all when someone enjoys my work.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

When Inspiration Strikes

Artist need a stream of fresh ideas something they can work with that keep us excited and fires up the old paint brushes. Inspiration strikes me at the oddest times when I am standing in line at the grocery store, half way through my morning run, or in the middle of the night, that is why I created my idea journal.

I have more than one. I keep a small one in my purse to write down ideas and do thumb nail sketch's. It's not large but I have found that even the worst ink is better than my soggy memory.

The one on my desk is a spiral 5x8 sketch book that is the perfect size for writing and drawing in.I have a second one like this in the studio because inspiration can hit me with another idea when I am in the middle of painting. So I quick jot it down make a sketch and have some to refer back to later.

When I lack inspiration, I review my notes because at midnight the great ideas seem to come to me.

To view my daily painting visit my blog at Painting of the Day.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Positive Thought

"Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your behaviours.

Keep your behaviours positive, because your behaviours become your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny." (Mahatma Gandhi)

I always try to do a lot of positive self talk, because I talk to myself way to much. I find that talking things out to myself helps me figure out what the problem with the painting is. The why, what, how I ask myself helps to get thing clear in my mind.

I'm not sure if behaviors become habits or habits become behaviors. I do know that five years ago when I started the daily painting project it was a struggle to get a painting a day done. Now it's a snap and the day just isn't right if I haven't done one.

Now, I have to get that exercise routine going on a daily bases.

Last weeks daily paintings are shown below. To see more of my daily paintings visit my blog " Painting of the Day" or if you love watercolors my Art on Paper

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

Just a thought

"My face is a map of my time here,
my heart, it's a map of my dreams."

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com

Creat a More Interesting Vision of your artwork

As the New year really get going I am slowing down taking time to enjoy the simple things.There's something to be said for putting your feet up with a good book and a cup of coffee while the evening drifts away. I have a long reading list for this year and I will be sharing some of with you. Just some things to think about.

Today I am going over some ways to make you artwork more interesting.

1. Set up five recent paintings. Study them carefully.

2.Put them in order beginning with your favorite to your least favorite.

3. What are the qualities that you really like in your favorite painting? Why?

4.What are some things you do not like about your least favorite painting?

5. What in each of the others could you alter so that it would have more of the qualities that are in the one you like best?



What can you do specifically to numbers 2,3,4, and 5 to make them better?

Start by asking yourself Why? and How?



1. Why do I paint this subject?



2.Why did I paint it this way?



3.Why should anybody care?



4. How could I do it better?



5.How could I do it differently?



6. How could I do it better?



7. How could I make it simples?



8. How could I make it more powerful?

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" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.comHome Page Art by Delilah = http://www.artbydelilah.com