Art of Don DeLeva

Well its been a month... 10 days in Sayulita Mexico were I painted 6 paintings in the sun and pool. Tuff? yes! You try to be in paradise and work. I really can't call it work since I love painting. :-) So here is a run down of this month. I had: Solo / Little Olympia Theater, "Architect dream" Group / Gallery Zero, Portland OR., "Big Ass Art!" Group / Art Not Terminal, Seattle WA., "Rock the Terminal" Group / Fremont Abey, Seattle WA. Here is the work I did: 3 paintings for Aqua Miami Basel 9 paintings for the 5x5 show at La Familia Gallery 2 commission painting for private collectors 1 personal oil painting for my private collection Fremont Sunday market. That's quite a bit of work for being on vacation and still having 9 days left in the month. Well on a different note, you know when you go on a vacation for more then 5 days, you start to loose sense of yourself because you have to see yourself in relations to the new surroundings, eve...

Here in Mexico, with my acrylics, sun, water, roosters, fish , tacos... yeah I know, you think this is all fun agames but let me tell you I have finished 4 full paintings since I got here 3 days ago. One of the local galleries, Clay-Brom, has asked to show my paintings. It just so happens I have painting with me. So I guess I know am an international artist. Anyway i will upload some photos of Sayulita soon.

I am starting to work a lot in Acrylics, mainly because of drying time and and durability. If you don't know, oils take at least 6 months to a year to dry to the touch. Then they can take up to another year or so to completely cure. Once the work is cured the oil film is very sensitive to scratches and dust. Since I started doing markets and fairs, I have had to transport my work and subject it to the outdoors, rain, dust and constant handling, besides the transport. Acrylic seems to be able to stand up to mild wear and tear. My true love is oils and it will take some time before I fully understand acrylics, however my acrylics are teaching me a lot about oil. Next year I am looking into traveling to the Southwest and maybe the Midwest for some art fairs. It's time I take the my work outside of Northwest. LA and SF would be closer but people tell me Santa Fe and Austin are the places I should go to show my work. Who knows, I won't know till I get out there. Well, I am ...

title: Stag Dream title: Raven Dream title: Cupie and the Raven The Above paintings will be showing at 2009 Aqua, Miami, Fl. Busy Busy This week, I went to Portland to hang a show, then I when to Oly to hang a show, then I brought 6 paintings to La Familia gallery, 3 going to an auction, 3 going to Aqua, then I have a holiday show at the Mourning Market, then I have 9 5x5s to paint along with a 4'x5' painting for the Gallery Zero, and then the Fremont market. Thing are going good.

I saw a stag last night. I talked to a raven on a wire I fell back ward on tilted slowly to let the rain in my mouth. Now, I am no longer. Thank gawd for jumper cables I was out of juice.

I was at the Sunday Market in Fremont this weekend, it was like a dream. It was cold the whole day because I was in the shade, the light seemed to be perpetually 10:00 am. I talked to a lot of people that needed to tell me things, 3 people in particular. It was like talking to people in dreams, everything seemed to have a deeper meaning. It was a long day from 5:18am to 12:42 pm, but it felt some how I passed threw gates or passed a test... It was good day.

What a month! I felt the key turn just a little. 1. I have a gallery in Seattle. It's the La Familia gallery in the TK building. I have been working on getting a Seattle gallery for the last 14 years. Some people don't have to work so hard, to them I say; Good for you, now its my turn and I am ready as all hell. 2. I got into the Mourning Market October 18th at Motor in Seattle, 1950 1st Ave. This should be a great show for my Dia Del Los Muertos work. 3. I'll be showing in at the Little Olympia Theater in November for a play called "the Geek". 4. I have decided to set up a small gallery at the Fremont Market. My goal is to be there year round. For the last 2 months I have been at the Ballard and Fremont market, I decided to be consistant at the Fremont market, so come see me. 5. There is a chance I will be going and showing at the Miami Basil Aqua. I will keep you up to date on that. 6. In November I will be in a group a show at the Gallery Zero in Portland....

I saw through fog some shimer of gold the light in my eyes old as the night so hard to keep the balance from dark and light this icicles hang from the chimney with care soon in hope that air will be there. I looked further in to the light All I saw was the rabid glow of foggy steel foggy gray steel like the after glow of a large fire in midday. I walked passed the flames in to the Davey Grey dawn I am still walking but at least my mind is more quiet.

Crazy Crazy, boy have I been going through some change. I almost don't know if my name is DeLeva any more, lol. So as of last week I have finally landed a gallery in Seattle, the La familia gallery. YEAH!!! I will keep you up to date with that, I might even be going to Miami Aqua this year. Today I am headed to the Fremont market to show off some new paintings and check out the crowds. On October 3 Ill be at the Mourning market with my Dollhedz, this should be fun. I'll keep you up on that.

Been a little lets see what I have been up to: 1. Take down show from Corridor gallery 2. Put up show at Zero Gallery Portland 3. Saw some Huskies win 4. When shooting with my lady and her father. 5. Working on a commission for 1800-Autopsy 6. work at Utrecht 7. 4 paintings for Clay Brom gallery Salulita MEX 8. one 3'x5' painting for Zero Gallery 9. getting ready for the Mourning Market at the Motor pub George town October 18 10. Ballard and Fremont Sunday market 11. Group show in Fremont in November. 12. Show a show at the Olympia Little Theatre set for November. As of today, I think that's it for the next few months? Who knows. I am Busy, so don't get mad if its hard to get me to do anything in the next few weeks LOL! I will try to post a little more. I got some new paintings on the way.

Portland was good. Their was a good turn out of people and some good art. I didn't get photos because I forgot to take my camera, but there should be plenty of other show because the Gallery Zero has asked me to show more work with them. The Gallery Zero is located in Portland's Belmont district which is just north of Hawthorn. Forget about your typical white painted walls, the inside is painted black and red which can be seen half a block away. I love the red walls it makes my work jump out at you. I am currently working on a new painting for Zero's next show. Ill keep you up to date.

Title: Bee Medium: Oil on wood panel size: 8"x10" I took down my show from the Corridor Gallery today. I always love showing in Pioneer Square. First Thursday always brings large crowds and downtown Seattle attracts the art collectors. Next I bring my work to Portland for a group show at the Gallery Zero. This looks like it is going to be a great show with all new artists. I will be there for First Friday so if your down there come and buy me a Cognac and meet some good artists. I will try to get some photos.

Here is what I have been up to in the studio for the last 2 weeks. This is called Jax Rabbit. It's an oil painting on wood panel 20"x20". It will be showing in Portland at the Gallery Zero. Hope you show.

Here is the Group show in Portland. I will have 4 paintings in this show. It should be a great, one Come see it!

The Corridor gallery show went well, lots of people stopped in. I love watching the crowds, being a fly on the wall is one of my favorite things to do. Honest reactions are like diamonds in the grass. Currently I am working on the 4th painting for The Gallery Zero show in Portland. Last night I finish painting #3. Jax Rabbit . I will post it as soon as I get photos of it. On to the next

We hung the work today, I have a lot of small paintings in this show. At first I thought the space was too large for my small paintings until Lynn helped me realized my paintings need a lot of breathing room. I usually smash all my work together so you can't get a good look at each individual piece. Out of the 3 shows with Corridor this one looks the best. TNX Lynn, I love the way this show looks. It's really good to get outside your work and see it out of the context of your studio and look at it as a spectator. More to follow after first Thursday. De Leva

I would love to see you at the Corridor Gallery August 6th from 5 to 9 pm This is work from the last 6 months, the paintings are the result of going back to my roots.

Wow, was it HOT with no breeze, it made for a long fair. Sunday was the good day, the best part of Sunday was people where talking about Leviathan, the second was that I sold "Grave decision" to one of the few female grave diggers in this state. :-). That is my favorite kind of sell, like when I sold Copernicus to a Mathematician. Any way its time for me to get ready for my Corridor galley show. De Leva...OUT!

Boy Bellevue is HOT in the 90s easy. Not large crowds but lots of families. Not much to say from my end except I got a lot of dollhedz.com hits, that's about it. I don't think my demo is here and if they are they ain't stepp'en up.

Yesterday saw small crowds, scouts no doubt for today. I have no doubt that today is going to be hopping and hot, 9o degrees or so. Justin Hillgrove, my fair mentor and booth partner, did pretty well. His work is on the mark, great color irresistible images and all around fun. Here is a link to his work: http://www.impsandmonsters.com We are located in the International Jeweler's parking lot, 8th and Bellevue way. Hope to see you there.