Painting an aceo in oils

When painting these very small oil paintings I have found that putting a cloths pin above and below seems to hold them in place while I paint. In the past I have put tape on the back but I like using the cloths pins best. I can keep the painting at eye level and work from my palette. If you paint aceos in oils let me know how you work with them I would love to hear from you.


Poppy No.4

About This Painting:

Poppy No4
2.5 x 3.5 inch
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 3.5 in X 2.5 in (8.9 cm X 6.4 cm)

Price: $20 USD

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Honey Bee Painting Demo

Dreams help to motivate me. Picasso said, Everything you can imagine is real.I didn't sit in front of a bee hive and watch the bees go in and out but I did imagine it.

Honey Bee

8x10

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Sailboat Demo

Sailboats on the Lake

About This Painting:

Sailboats on the Lake
8x10
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 10 in X 8 in (25.4 cm X 20.3 cm)

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Goldfish demo in oils

Gold Fish No.3

About This Painting:

Goldfish No. 3
8x10
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 10 in X 8 in (25.4 cm X 20.3 cm)

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Just Paint More

Red Pear Still Life

About This Painting: I've always found red difficult to work with. If you wanted a lighter area you cant add white it will just make pink. Now that might work sometimes but more often its just not where you wanted the image to go. I have found that orange work wells. Now for the shadow it just depends on the subject and the light. In the above still life I used Transparent Red Oxide in some areas and in the very darkest areas of the pear I used purple.

I think each time I use red a get just a little bit better so as I always say the only way to become a better artist is jut to paint more.

So put the brushes to work.

Red Pear Still Life
8x10
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 10 in X 8 in (25.4 cm X 20.3 cm)

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

TA A Challenge, Selling Art on Line

The first day of the TAA Challenge is here!

We are going to make it as easy as possible for you to participate in this challenge, to show you the absolute minimum that must be done in order to start selling art art online. Today's step? Simply publicly commit to the challenge. That's it.

Okay as you know,I already sell on line so why do this little eight day challenge? Because there might be something I could do better. Isn't there always something we can do better?

Right now I know that I may be with out computer access the last three days of the challenge but maybe I can fins a hot spot somewhere along my way. I hope they have ice cream okay I'm way ahead of myself, but ice cream works well into the challenge. I am really up for this if I get to blog where there is ice cream.

Biker Bees with Balloons

About This Painting:

Biker Bees with Balloons
8x8x1.5
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 8 in X 8 in (20.3 cm X 20.3 cm)

Price: $125 USD

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Demo Copper and Limes

DEMO:






Copper and Limes

About This Painting:

Copper and Limes
10x8
oil painting

Media: oil painting

Size: 8 in X 10 in (20.3 cm X 25.4 cm)

Price: $200 USD

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

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 © 2006-2017

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Something to check on Everyday

Daily Painters has a great Facebook page and they are ask a question each day of artist. It is the Question of the day.

Daily Painters Gallery

Yesterday at 12:09pm · 

Question of the day: What books have helped you the most as an artist? Hop on over and see the comments.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Stand out in a crowd as an Artist

How to find your own style,my advice is just paint. Paint everyday,paint a variety of things and you will find what you really love. Learn to mix colors,find the palette that you like to work with, experiment but just paint.

In a blog post video titled, "How to Make Your Work Stand Out On-line," Cory Huff of TheAbundantArtist.com notes: "True artists spend a great deal of their time creating for the sake of creating, thinking of what matters to them personally and formulating their own perspective of their world. What is then extracted is what can be identified as their unique artist identity. It is that intangible that makes you different from anyone else, because ultimately, you are."

 Similarly, in a post from djtechtools.com titled, "Stand Out From The Crowd-How To Build A Unique Artist Identity," the following was written: "Remember, the greatest of artists in history carved niches that represented the unique expression of their combination of talents, values and beliefs. They weren't trying to be versions of someone else, they were only themselves."

I paint everyday, Lots of small little paintings. Then I tackle the big stuff. I am still just laying down base color on my" Chick Bar ". I hope to have it done by the end of the month so I have to put in several hours on it each day.

I still have a lot of brush miles to go on this one so break time is over back to the easel.




" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Ways to look at your comosition

There are a lot of ways to look at your composition.

Mirror The mirror is a good tool to affirm a composition choice and will also come in very handy later, when the painting is in progress.

Looking at the subject upside-down in the mirror or viewing the painting and the subject together in the mirror will miraculously show the painter where weaknesses are.I have never been a fan of the upside down thing but if it works for you great.

 View your painting through dark red glass .
If you’ve never heard this particular term before, having “clean values” is simply artspeak for a work of art with convincing colors and strong, visually meaningful values.

Take photo and change it to gray values.

I am still working on the composition of the Chick Bar Painting. As I started the back ground color I realized that I would to have more going on in the foreground. I had originally planned on painting the area under the bar dark. I changes my mind and added legs and bar stools. As I work on this painting it will have many changes.

I am currently just laying down the local color of objects to fill in the real estate.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Where Do Art Ideas Come From

Frequently I'm asked where I get my ideas.

The answer is simple, everywhere. I am constantly picking up bits and pieces; a picture from a magazine here, a photo there and the internet has so much to give me ideas.. It seems any place I look something interesting catches my eye. It sometimes is hard for me to get all the ideas down.

I have a small notebook I keep notes.

Today I am back working on my large painting,

I have the figures in place and putin the a start on the back ground.


" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Daily Routine baby steps in the right direction to become an artist

For better or worse, life is made up of our small daily habits. High achievers have habits that reflect their values and aspirations in life.

 Unfortunately, most people have habits that keep them comfortable but do not achieve the things they want in life.

 Over time, work to remove habits that hold you back, but it's even more important to add positive daily habits that reflect your highest and best qualities.

I paint each day. I finish a small painting each day I strive for progress not perfection.Today I have sketch out two small painting that I will finish but the large 24x48 that has been percolating in my mind is just starting to form on canvas. This is one of my fun whimsical painting and is a joy to paint.

It doesn't look like much right now but it is a great start.



" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Backgrounds

For most paintings, regardless of subject matter or media, it’s essential to consider the background as part of the composition. Even if you decide to just leave empty space around your image, then you're still creating a background.


I have started a large 24x48 inch painting and have benn trying to work out the details. I have been going over ideas for about a month now and have just starting placing images, I have lightly sketch the placement of the images.I think the back ground will be very dark. This is a whimsical oil painting.

Here is the start.

The light pencil drawing is easy to remove and try something else.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Spotting Scammers

Have you ever gotten an email like this one?:

I'm interested in your ( Life Guard)How long have you owned it?And how much are you asking for it?please i can only pay using PayPal.email me your Paypal email or invoice antonymarcus007@gmail.com

Usually if it is a Gmail account you think you have a real person not a scammer ring not so anymore. Artist beware. Now they can only pay with PayPal looks good. A few typing errors, oh well we all make them still might be okay.

So you are thinking PayPal is safe what is the scam. I sent them a bill from PayPal with a note pay and it will go in the mail in the morning. Here is the scam:

Hello,i just got a mail from the shipping company that i will need to pay for the freighting fees before they can schedule pr-shipping/ pickup date,they charged $100 for the pick up and delivery,but the problem is they only accept Money Gram transfer as form of payment which is sent to their HQ in USA.As you are well aware of that i don't have access to my bank account online,but i have it attached to my Pay pal account.That's why am using Pay-pal payment,most post offices have Money Gram section,will it be OK with you if I include the fee together with the amount I am transferring? and as soon as the money goes through you can help me make the freighting fees through Money Gram transfer? You are not obliged to help me, but i will indeed appreciate your help as I am a little incapacitated here. Cheers.

Don't fall for it.


" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Plein Air Painting,How the site is important

 I do both studio and Plein air painting. If studio space is a problem for you Plein Air painting is the answer. You have the great out doors for you studio. When you go out to paint Site selection is important. I often drive around looking for great spots to paint in the future.

Site selection is one of the most overlooked steps. Just because a scene is beautiful or interesting doesn’t necessarily mean it will translate well into a painting.

 Because nature fills our subjects with resplendent color and light, it’s easy to assume that any scene will become a beautiful painting. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

 The three-dimensional “reality” that we see at the actual location and the two-dimensional reality of our painting are two different things. Nature always looks “right” because it’s real and we see it in three dimensions. A painting, though, is a constructed illusion. For a painting on a flat picture plane to be “readable” and suggest depth, its shapes and colors must distinguish themselves from one another and the painting must incorporate as many spatial cues as possible.

Crystal River

My interpretation of nature.

About This Painting:

Crystal River
5x7 oil painting
plien air

Media: oil painting

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

Price: $100 USD

How to Purchase:

click here to bid on this painting

Or, send me an email

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

How to stay motivated with you art

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." (Albert Einstein)

I have a vivid imagination but sometimes I lose the strength to keep going. All it takes is a few negative comments on my art a week or two of no sales and I have lost my magical glow. How do I get that spark going again? A soft warm kitty hug helps but I still need more.

I am a full time self employed artist. I spend 90% of my day in my studio alone. In the summer I have yard work and a ton to other demands on my time but I still have to log the hours in the studio. I become overwhelmed. I get up at 5 go to bed at 12 and still everything does not get done.Its hard to stay creative and motivated when you are tired.

1. Allow yourself a day of rest.


“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.” Michelangelo




2. Sell some artwork!

 Nothing more motivating than selling some of your artwork. It’s immediately gratifying and motivational that other people find value in your artistic expression. How? List a few pieces on Ebay, enter some local shows, add some Paypal buttons to your website, try newsletter art marketing, contact friends who might be interested and join social media sites. There are tons of things you can do to sell more of your work. Just realize it doesn’t happen automatically. YOU initiate the conversations that result in sales. Once you see that $500 (or whatever) in your PayPal account or an email inquiry to purchase one of your works you will be motivated beyond belief to create more and more work to sell.

Put something small or that has been in stock forever on ebay auction at 1.00 its fun to watch the bidding.


3. Daily Routines and be a self starter
When I feel deflated like an old red balloon. I just keep  to my daily routines. This is hard for me right now I have lots of interruptions so I must push on and try to get those routines back.

4. Don't wait for inspirations just say I am going to paint " pick a number" of paintings this week and painting. DON'T JUDGE JUST PAINT.

5. Organize your studio
I find when things get messy I lose my motivation. Today I clean my studio.

Let me know what helps motive you.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Tangerine Painting Demo

This is a quick painting demo of a tangerine on a plate.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Daffodil Painting Demo

This painting of Daffodils was done Alla Prima as is much of my work. I think Alla Prima paintings look more spontaneous. I start with a thinner base color thin add thicker paint as I work to define the subject, I always start with a darker value base and add lighter paint in areas over it. Using the darker under painting for objects that are behind and lighter over painting for objects in front.


 " POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2016

Improving your art by telling a story

 Filling the Frame

1. Central subject adds interest

2. Eliminate unnecessary background clutter

3. Know what story you want to tell

4. Filling the frame allows you to show texture and detail

5.  Create drama with your subject to tell your story

6. Fill the frame or crop your image to tell a better story

Sometimes I paint the same subject several times to find the best way to tell my story.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014

Persimmons painting demo

Still life painting demo.

" POST YOUR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS" or email me at delilah@artbydelilah.com All work © 2006-2014