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

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

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?

View our Archive News Letters

Email Marketing by Constant Contact®

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

A Daily Painter

In 2006 I started the project of doing a small daily painting each day. It has become such a good habit for me I have continued it for almost 5 years now. I belong to a group of international Daily Painters where we each post a painting a each day. Many are priced at a very affordable $100.00 other are more. I sometime paint a larger one but this year I am keeping all of them at 5x7. I will still paint larger oils and watercolor they just will not be part of my daily painting project but may show up on my blog Painting of the Day. The painting above were done this week.


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

Goals 2011

Great expectations and great plans are a simple, two-step recipe that has tremendous power.
Whether you use it to create a profitable business, a loving relationship or to reach some other personal goal, the key is to be clear about what you want and have the personal discipline to make it happen.

In life, we usually get what we expect, especially if we have and use a great system to make it come true. Here's to making 2011 a wonderful year!A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." -- Harvey Mackay

There are a few old habits that I want to break and a few new ones I want to instill. I’ve found that the more people I tell about my plans, the more likely I am to follow through, so here are my painting resolutions for the New Year:
1.Quality compositions
2.Explore color.
3.Work with the negative. Negative space is often an afterthought when I’m working on a piece, and I am still trying to remember the importance of giving the area around an object attention and visual weight. I want to come up with strategies to work better in this space, creating atmosphere and using texture and movement to communicate my ideas.
Here are a few other things to watch for in 2011

JWT: 100 Things to Watch in 2011

View more presentations from JWTIntelligence.

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

Michigan Artist Mathias J Alten

A little art history a little Michigan Art History today.

Mathias J. Alten produced oil, watercolor, and pastel paintings during a career that spanned nearly four decades 1871-1938. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, both Grand Valley State University and the Grand Rapids Art Museum have major holdings of paintings by this academic impressionist. At Grand Valley's DeVos Center on the downtown Pew Campus over 40 paintings are on permanent public view in the George H. and Barbara Gordon Gallery. Selected Alten paintings are on public display as part of the permanent collection of the Grand Rapids Art Museum.




" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com
Stop in at by Web Site Delilah Smith

A Season of Painting

I wish you the happiest of holidays and the very best new year.

May we sell every painting we've ever done - even the ones hiding out in our closets and basements.

May your passion for art never end, but may you accept the ups and downs that come with the territory. May you realize from time to time the magic of paint. Paint on my friends.

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

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

What's YOUR New Year's Resolution?We all have areas that need work. How about sharing a taste of the e-business opportunities and challenges you are committing yourself to this coming year?

Today I am reviewing all the wonderful things that I did well and trying to make a plan for an even better 2011.

A Happy New Year from Delilah


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