Art of Don DeLeva

Virgin Mary, I like to know what the medium is and date but sorry I can't find any. Virgin Mary is one of my biggest inspirations for my portraits. They are all about the strength, love and power of woman. I realize they are a symbol of Catholicism, I see them more for their expression of humanity and for what it means to be a human.

Diego Velasquez, Portrait de l’Infante Marie-Thérèse in age 14:  Oil on canvas,  50"x 72", 1665. True Patriot:  wood panel, acrylic, varnish,  5"x 7", 9/2016. SOLD Believe it or not this Diego Velasquez painting influenced my painting. You can see it in the composition and shapes.

True Patriot:  clay panel, acrylic, varnish,  5"x 7", 9/3/2016 SOLD : Steve Nelson Collection, Indianola, IA. Sometimes you just have to believe in yourself and not listen to the odds. This painting is about listening to my inner voice defend my best interests at every cost, cheering me on. Believe in yourself! I have a True Patriot, that is me! SOLD

Here is one of my latest progression videos. The Painting LuxyLdy; https://youtu.be/338bhjkRRYc

Ironman, Tony, Extremis:  wood panel, acrylic, varnish,  12"x 16", 8/2014?. So this is the final progression, as the portrait is today. Explanation: This is a portrait of Ironman as Tony Stark becoming the Extremis Armor. Notice I said Ironman AS Tony Stark. I say this because this is the pivotal moment when Tony realizes he can be his armor...Cyborg Wait till I tell you about my Idea for Cyclops...OMG!!!

Ironman:  wood panel, acrylic, varnish,  12"x 16", 3/2013?. Painted Over. This is a portrait of Ironman, not Tony Stark, but Ironman. At the time I painted it I was just starting to "get into comics". As a kid I never really read them, but the art in them is now starting to draw me in. Anyway, as I read more Ironman comics I started to realize that Tony Stark is a Transhuman and Extremis has turned him in to a Cyborg. I know for all you Comic fans out there that's obvious. This portrait above is has been painted over with a new image of Ironman becoming a Cyborg. So now I will tell you why I posted this. I keep painting a red, armor clad, character in my newest paintings. He seems to be taking on the role of my gut feelings, my intuition. The character seems authoritative, always pointing out a direction, however the armor would suggest to me that he is vulnerable without it. At this point I have been calling him my intuition pointing out the directio...

Recently I was asked in a disapproving tone: "Did you go to school to paint like that? " - nameless  My answer;  Absolutely I did! I spent hard earned money on an education so I could better understand how to use tools and history to more effectively communicate feelings that I can only express in images.  I never went to school to emulate a style of painting. Sure along the way I emulated Dali, Tanguy and numerous other artists (none of witch were my professors), but my education was spent learning how to learn, so I could deconstruct art and have an idea of what and how the artist accomplished the work they created.  Is my vision unique? No how could it be?   

Tag lines for my new post card.  Illuminating darkness since 1985. D-constructing darkness since 1985. D-constructing Northwest dark in to the light

US Maple  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYf3g4i91fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHepUIx9tKo&spfreload=5 This interview is straight to the point of not getting to a point. This is the premise of my art Art and has been the premise of my art. I give you just enough information for you to come to your own conclusions. Art is about making people think and strengthening the individual. An individual has his or her own ideas about the world. My paintings are glimpse of  ideas, reality, emotion and human interaction all coming together in a moment of now to have no point but the point you make of it. My work is about creating the specifically vague. The specificity of the vague.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Hals

Beatice:  Scratch board, acrylic, varnish,  5"x 7"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-MAL6sOQ Thank you Ash Bowie!!! Uploaded on Apr 8, 2011 (lyrics are my best guess) The Pedlar arrived on a cold day With no one to call on and nowhere to stay Considered the dream that made him come To stand on the bridge until his body felt numb Cause everywhere people swarm it's hard to break through Till the stranger approached him And his dream came true The Pedlar decided it was deja vu The Stranger was shocked and said 'I feel like I know you' And everywhere roses grow they harvest weeds and Spend their time on a pillow of green You wonder if the vultures approve Don't look at them they're looking at you On rainy days when the sky looks blue You're at the window changing the view But your luck is gonna turn your turn is gonna come And soon you'll be a saint to someone The Pedlar departed on the third night He thought of the Stranger as he walked in the moonlight He savored the touch ...

No do overs...:  Street Kid, Acrylic paint, skateboard ply, varnish, 8/1/2016,

No do overs...:  Skateboard excertpt, 7/22/2016, sketch for skateboard I think we all think about doing things over all the time or maybe if you're lucky every now and then. This image is an under image on a large painting I am working on right now. I didn't want to possibly paint over it before I captured it. So here is a photo of it. It does come at a time in history when America's decisions affect the world...

Green El Jefe:  Skateboard Ply, acrylic paint, gold leaf, varnish,  32"x 7.5" SOLD: William Streeter, Seattle Wa.

Broadway:  Skateboard Ply, acrylic paint, gold leaf, varnish,  32"x 7.5" SOLD: Derek Kaiser Skateboard Collection, Grosse Point Mi.

This is the evolution of Sonjia.

Sonjia: acrylic on clayboard, 5"x7"; She is complete. Now I am going to put her in a frame. BTW Sonjia means wisdom.

BLnd109: acrylic on clayboard, 5"x7"; This painting is about 80% complete. I will post the progressions. This is the fourth painting on this panel.