This week in the DP Café
Meet artists Delilah Smith and Roxanne Steed
A Chat with artist Delilah Smith
How would you describe your painting style?
I am basically a post Impressionistic oil painter. I love the painterly feel of oils. I do paint some in watercolors for a mental change of pace or when I travel.
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
I think the first time I found a crayon I knew this was for me. I can remember one of my earliest presents was an apron that was hand made for me by a friend of my mother.s. It held 24 different crayons. Each little crayon had its own little slot to fit into and then there was a place for my scissor. The apron was green and had ric-rac at the bottom in different colors. I think I was about 4 years old. It was the beginning, and I think .bug green. will always be my favorite color in memory of my little green apron.
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
I picked it up on my own.
What is your favorite movie & why?
Favorite of all time movie, the one I could watch over and over, there are many . . . but I think the top one would be .Gone with the Wind.. It has a strong heroin that grows as a person and overcomes hardships helping others along the way. She was not a good girl and she didn't behave. She was bold and she didn.t wait to be rescued. The movie has so many memorable quotes you have to love it. .Scarlett: I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow..
Favorite book? Why?
I read everything I can get my hands on. I read many documentary books on the lives of artist, like the Yellow House. Right now I am reading .de Kooning An American Master.. For fun I read fiction. I read everything Steven King writes. I just can not figure where he comes up with the ideas; he is so creative. Writers paint pictures with words, I can.t read enough. Because I am an avid runner I also buy audio books to listen to on my long runs; these are more along the self-help lines.
Favorite type of music? Why?
I am a blues fan; I love Texas Blues. I am not sure why. I used to be a rock and roll baby until I discovered the blues.
Favorite color? Why?
Bug Green, you just can not ignore someone in bug green.
For how long have you been painting daily?
I started daily painting in 2006
Do you complete a painting every day?
Yes, I complete a small painting every day and a larger one about once a week.
What's your typical day like?
Elvis the fat studio cat literally jumps on my head at 5:30 am and wants to be fed. If I roll over he comes and sits on my head. I make myself a cup of cappuccino, that is when studio kitty number 2, Kayak, demands frothed milk for his breakfast .I journal and drink my coffee. Now that I am awake I go for my morning run. When I get back I check emails, this is a bad habit and I intend in the future to only check them after 5 PM.
Off to the studio for 2 hours then, I break, do household tasks for an hour, then back to the studio. I break at 5PM and do my online marketing until about 9 PM ,I then head back to the studio and paint a little more. At about 11PM I call it a day and watch TV until I fall to sleep. I'm always on the go -- I have tons of energy.
What have you had the most fun painting?
Large paintings are a blast.
How would you like to be remembered?
I think to be remembered you have to make an impact on people, I don't think I have made that kind of an impact yet.
What is your favorite room in your house?
The studio; that's where I live.
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
Albert Einstein
What are you most proud of in your life?
My Education .I worked hard to put myself through school and get my Masters Degree. I kid around saying I have done everything once and it is really the truth. If it paid and fit into my school schedule I did it.
What is one thing about you that few people know?
That I am 5ft 1in and I am talking about people who see and talk to me. It isn't until they shake my hand or give me a hug good bye that they realize how small I am. I project a large image.
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
That I went to a one-room country school that was KG-8 grade and had about 40 students. It was the same school that my Great grandfather had gone to.
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Unique
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
Drama, with a little comedy to break the tension, just to make it a good movie.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Life is a journey, a one act play with no dress rehearsal; there is no room for apathy or conformity so I live life large.
See all of Delilah Smith's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/674/Delilah-Smith
A Chat with artist Roxanne Steed
How would you describe your painting style?
Contemporary impressionism. I work with a palette knife and oils as I really love being able to use this lush medium in this way.... like frosting cup-cakes!! I find the textural quality of paint an exciting element, as much as design, composition, and color. I have sought out studies with Leif Nilsson & Camille Przewodek, both were students of Henry Hensche. Hensche refined the teaching process for seeing color. He achieved the light key in all settings (ie, whether bright sun-light or gray days) in a way that had never been done by any other painter. This is what I strive to seek in my own work.
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
I can remember as early as kindergarten being THRILLED to have access to the BIG box of Crayolas! Wow!! I could sit all day & draw & color. When I was much older (a mom with little kids), and had the opportunity for more study, classes at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts convinced me that this was what I needed to be doing. Luckily, every place the military stationed us gave me access to some of the best instruction I could ever have sought out (CT, DC, San Diego).
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
Pretty much came to it on my own, although my mother did encourage me by signing me up for art (painting & drawing) classes when I was in high school. Also, a couple of wonderful Girl Scout leaders were very nurturing in creativity. They enhanced our lives with all kinds of creative endeavors! When I 'graduated' out of that age group, one of them gave me a gift of a little silver artists palette charm (for a bracelet), that I still have to this day! I look at it as a token of faith that I had this in me way back then! (Thanks Mrs. O'Hair!). I also think I was lucky to have a great solid art program in our high school (whew, that was way back in the mid-70s!).
What is your favorite movie & why?
hmm, there's a few that I watch over & over, getting totally lost in (they are my three top 'escapism' flicks:
'Enchanted April' -
The Secret of Roan Inish
- when I need both "an Irish-fix" AND a good belly laugh- this does it every time. You feel like you've been let in on a great secret... "The words that are spoken at a. funeral, are spoken too late for the man who is dead. What a wonderful thing it would be to visit your own funeral."
A strong sense of community, and a wonderful friendship.....(as well as poetic justice for the 'bad-guy').
Favorite book? Why?
There's several on this list, too- but the top ones that are usually in reach & never back on the shelf are-
"A Proven Strategy For Creating Great Art" by Dan McCaw. I love his work, beautiful & expressive. I am continually re-reading chunks of it at a time, and drooling over the beautiful art. I've found it to be the most encouraging word on finding my own path in the art journey as well. It's out of print, so I guard my copy with extra care!
"The Book of Common Prayer"- I didn't grow up in the Episcopal Church, but came to it through my hubby, later on in life. Takes the 'big picture of life' - and brings calm to the sometimes frenetic pace of life.
"The Harper Collins Study Bible (New Revised Standard Version)"- see above....I grew up reading the King James Version...and while it was beautiful & poetic...man, sometimes it was hard to understand! I'm finding some a-ha moments in this version....and am in a really great group of folks on Wednesday nights studying from here! Religion....as in art....I will never have ALL the answers, but as long as I have just one answer, perhaps that's all I need.
Favorite type of music? Why?
Irish Traditional!!
I'm totally hooked on it. About a decade or so ago now, my daughters started taking Irish dance, then competing up through the ranks....wow, they're pretty fab at it! So back in January of 2000, when they had just started learning, & their dad had gone on a 6 month deployment with the Navy, I decided I really wanted to learn Irish fiddle music. After all, he played pennywhistle & flute in an Irish trad band when he was not at sea. So I asked the fiddler in his band if she would teach me to play. (Thanks Bev- you started me on a great musical journey!) So I joined up with a group of homeschooling kids she was teaching- and we all learned to play. It took about 4 or 5 years to get up to speed to be able to play in a local Irish session. I LOVED that sense of musical community - it's a genuine thrill to learn tunes from the really great (and gracious) players...and play for an appreciative crowd!
But, ***it is the one kind of music that I can rarely play while I'm painting! I'm so 'into it', that my brain starts thinking of the playing rather than the painting....and I'm putting down the brush or knife and picking up a fiddle to play along. Funny how that works. Lately, I'm wearing out a CD of Brazilian samba & bossa nova tunes that's great to paint to (and keeps the brain thinking of warm places all winter). And now that I think of it....the best CD for some energetic painting, "Salsa Celtica" (just about worn out that one, too).
Favorite color? Why?
I'd never want to limit myself to just one! Look how many there are in nature!! (man, did we ever get lucky!). Only if I'm trying to pack really light for a plein air trip where I'll be lugging my gear do I limit my colors....and that's down to about 5 or 6! (a warm & cool of all the primaries)...okay, plus white. But if it's a 'park & paint' where I don't have to lug stuff very far, I'll throw the extra colors (and any thing else I think I've gotta have) in my van. Yes, my van IS an extension of my purse/back-pack/carryall!
For how long have you been painting daily?
January 2007 was when I began my daily painting blog, though I had been painting about every day before that since 2005...just not blogging about it.
Do you complete a painting every day?
Not always. I've been wanting to get back to some larger painting. And luckily, I've had a long string of commissions this year that has been very nice. I do end up putting more time in on the planning end of them, so it's rare that they get finished in a day. When I stick to the smaller pieces, (from 6x6 up to 8x10s, I'll finish one in a day. And, I have started taking Sundays off to spend time with my hubby...and have my 'day of rest'. After all, God recommended it.
What's your typical day like?
-Up between 6:30 & 7:00am, go upstairs to my computer & click 'send' on my "Cheer Factor" newsletter, unless I sent it out at midnight the night before. (see my website roxannesteed.com to sign up!)
-Eat breakfast, then meet up with the neighbors for our 3 mile walk. I find that's some of the most valuable time spent of each day- good not only physically, but mentally, too! An artist HAS to get out of the studio every day. HAS to!
-Then back home, shower, finish reading the paper & the crossword puzzle, 2nd cup of coffee.
-Upstairs to my studio, check out the emails, go start whatever project I'm working on (whether it's painting, framing, writing, photographing).
-lunch, then more- painting, writing, blogging, etc.
-Somewhere between 5 & 6pm start cleaning up the paints, head downstairs to cook dinner. Both hubby & I work out of the house now, & the kids are on their own, so we eat pretty late (between 7 & 8pm). I might head back upstairs for a bit of 'goofing off', reading Facebook entries...or just catching up on what ever is left to do for the day. I've noticed though that I rarely get to bed before mid-night. I found during my recent travels when I didn't have access to my computer, I went to bed much earlier, slept like a rock, a woke up in much better shape. hmm.
Also thrown into the mix can be errands, grocery shopping, etc. (those I try to group & just go out all in one shot during the week).
What have you had the most fun painting?
Gosh, maybe it would be easier to answer what's not fun to paint...but I couldn't think of an answer for that one either. The things that I DO love though are connecting with the viewer in a way that I know we both have a strong emotional response to this 'sense of place'. Most of my Ireland paintings have been that way, but many of my landscapes in my 'everyday' environment have brought that, too. Painting on location is what brings that feeling to me. When I'm back at home working on larger pieces (or painting summer scenes in the dead of winter), painting on location helps lock all that sensory stuff in your brain...to be brought out when you're back in the studio. You remember how it felt, how it sounded, all of that, if you've stood out there for several hours studying that place.
Now that my hubby has retired from the Navy (moving from place to place) after 26 years, and we are in one place to stay... we have worked on creating a wonderful garden here- that has been incredibly fun to paint. It has been QUITE satisfying to record in paint the development of this garden over time! Thanks hon!
How would you like to be remembered?
As a kind, loving person, & loyal friend with a good healthy sense of fun! and hopefully my kids will remember me that way as well!
What is your favorite room in your house?
my studio- I've never had a space quite like it before, as we've never had the room to do this. It's the 'room over the garage' with north facing windows and an even sense of light there all day. It has space to paint, two big shelves with all my art reference books, a nice desk & two comfy chairs. When I'm away & return home...I truly feel at home once I've walked up & "smelled the oil paint"!
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
I'd skip all that hoo-rah to just have dinner with my daughters & hubby all present at the same time! Time spent as a military spouse & the separations you endure makes you realize there's nothing better than spending time with those you really LOVE! (did I mention how much I really, really like being with these people?)
What are you most proud of in your life?
see question #14- I am so proud of them all & their accomplishments....and that I'm a part of their lives!
I also have to admit...I'm very proud to be a part of this Daily Painters group! When I meet someone new & in initial conversation, we are getting past the "what do you do's"...They look at me incredulously when I tell them I'm a painter, but I go on to tell them about Daily Painters & what a huge difference in my artistic life being a part of this group has been for me....well, that just gets the whole conversation started! (hehe, and you can hardly shut me up!)
What is one thing about you that few people know?
That in my 'past-life' my degree of study was a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. I've worked in hospitals, as well as consulted for drug/alcohol rehab facilities & nursing homes in the areas of records management, quality assurance & risk management.
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
That at the age of ten (or so) I wanted to be a truck-driver. The big-rigs, huge massive trucks & take stuff all over the country! Ha-ha, glad that didn't come to be. I spend enough time on the interstate as it is, hauling art around, and visiting my daughters (who now live 8 hours away). My van is the biggest thing I'd ever want to drive- and at some point I'll probably down-size that a bit, too!
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
persistent
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
probably a dramedy
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I sure hope I live long enough to paint all the things that "I'd really like to paint" and I hope I never stop learning new things.
See all of Roxanne Steed's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/1128/Roxanne-Steed
