Art of Don DeLeva

Counting social media "likes" is a fruitless and harmful habit if  you endeavor to create from the Heart.

Sometimes it feels like you are the only one around. Congratulations your in the lead. Artist Diego Velázquez Year 1652–1653 Medium Oil on canvas Dimensions 127 cm × 98.5 cm (50 in × 38.8 in) Location Kunsthistorisches Museum , Vienna Artist: Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez) (Spanish, Seville 1599–1660 Madrid) Date: 1651–54 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: Overall 13 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. (34.3 x 40 cm); original painted surface 12 7/8 x 15 1/8 in. (32.7 x 38.4 cm)

Creating without a story? Is there a such thing? Everything made seems to have a story with it, a shovel has a story of purpose. A story has the purpose of a story with a lesson or entertainment. Even rocks seem to have a story of history and ingredients attached to them. Finding the story in what it is you are creating will help you to recognize when the work is finished. 

It is hard to see how your art really looks in reality. First you have to know the difference between delusion and what it real. Then you have to let your body do what it wants to do and find a common ground between muscles and brain. You can honestly feel when the mind is controlling the body too much, its subtle but you can feel it.

Creating everyday, convinces the critique that they might be underestimating the importance of your gift. the Curly Brace, drawing, 4x6 graphite   

It is hard to differentiate between what you think you are saying and what you are really saying. I have found the less I try to explain the people who interested always seem to ask more questions. 

People often ask what does this painting mean? If you answer definitively, you will lose their opportunity to interpret the work for themselves. If you ask what their interpretation is, they will ask you the question once again. This is because the do not want to have the wrong answer. How can they be wrong when there is no wrong answer... unless you made one?