Art of Don DeLeva

It's been along time since I gave you any updates at all. I am really sorry about that. I have had a lot of things going on, most of them have centered around the art of computer graphics and Flash. For those of you that think I have given up on my quest for truth and using my freedom of expression, I say to you Have more faith in me! Flash and code only add to my skills of fine art. You will see the results of this soon with my short movies. It takes money and reinvention to be good at what you do, these are the things I have been working on. They insure that I paint as honest as I can. Last year I found myself starting to lean towards selling painting to make ends meet. That became painfully obvious that I have a limited audience for my fine art. Since honesty is the only thing we have in this world I have decided to preserve mine and paint what comes from my head and heart. Computer graphics is my business. It is the money maker that keeps my art honest, it is my way of in vi...

So this year in October I have 2 big shows, one is at the City of Auburn Galleries and the second is at the La Familia gallery. I just got the 2010 city of Auburn gallery announcement in the mail, its always sweet to see your work in print when some one else prints it. ToooT ToooT. I am starting a plan for a redesign of my website. So it might be a little while before I list new work. Stay tuned

Here is some news, I had a painting accepted into the CVG gallery show in Bremerton, curated by Gary Faigin. The painting is "Psycho and Zephretti" oil on panel. I have a photo of it at my website. www.dondeleva.com . The show will be on up in February. I all so got a show at the Georgetown Limited Gallery in Seattle for July. Proceeds support the TheyShallWalk.org . I swear I have some work finished I just have to find the time to shoot it. Its coming!

Aqua went AWESOME! It's so good to have work on the east coast. Next year Aqua, I will send larger work, ( more money!). The La Familia Gallery is working out to be a good place to show and the people are great. I think this year I will concentrate on showing in Washington State. I would love to have a gallery in Grays Harbor or La Connor. I am also going to do more fine art fairs and less craft fairs. I had a great run of craft fairs this year it showed me what the game is about, now I need to take my work to the fine art audience.

This has been a great year, I have had a lot of shows! I showed in Miami Basil at Aqua, I got 2 galleries and entertained my illustration ideas. This year also put in to prospective where I want to go with my work. If anything, I learned my abstract side is an important part of my art. In 2010 I plan to focus back on my abstracts with a new muse. In one way I feel I left my collectors wondering "What the hell is he doing?" All I have to say is, some times you have to step outside yourself to see yourself, you know forest from the trees? By doing this I didn't come away with any "New Vision". What I came away with is the reaffirmation of why I painted in the first place. This year I got to play the "Celebrity Painter" by attending fairs and being out in the public. I also got to paint with quantity as a goal. The experience helped me to understand where to place dollhedz in my work, it also helped me to take my interest in OOP computer programming to ...

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