Leonardo Quotes

Today I'd like to share some quotes from my favorite old master Leonardo da Vinci. Study closely as there will be a pop quiz at the end.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452-May 2, 1519) was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculpture, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of unquenchable curiosity and feverishly inventive imagination. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person to have ever lived.

Besides his obvious genius, he has great advice on how to live and make art.


Sounds like me, right? I paint, design homes, garden, help kids with math/science homework, plan birthday parties, take photos, serve in church, write a blog, cook from scratch, sing, and am politically active. I think I'm a little MORE diversely talent than Leo. Ha, just kidding. Maybe.


"I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have."
-Leonardo da Vinci

What? I wish I were so offensive! Artists are typically so very hard on themselves.


War chariot with scythes. Eww... gross. He even drew the chopped up bodies.

"There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see."
- Leonardo da Vinci

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."
-Leonardo da Vinci

"You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself." - Leonardo
I am always telling my children that. Good advice for sure.

He was a master of drapery. I really wish I could do fabric like that. I saw this drawing in person and there are hardly any pencil lines. He can really blend.

I love to draw houses but I never drew anything so fancy. He had very wealthy clients.


"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions." -Leonardo

"Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence."- Leonardo

When I saw this in person I was saddened by the age and deterioration but in awe of it's beauty. This is my all time favorite work by Leonardo.

He said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." I wholeheartedly agree.


Besides the 'Mona Lisa', 'The Last Supper' has got to be his most famous work. Unfortunately, he experimented with unproven techniques and failed. If he had done this work on panel or canvas like his other works this would be the most incredible painting of all time.

"Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else." - Leonardo


"Learning never exhausts the mind."-Leonardo


"Talent is like the grease on the wheels of the cart, you don't need it to get to town, you'll just squeak on the way." -Leonardo

"Art is never finished, only abandoned".-Leonardo

"Nature never breaks her own laws."- Leonardo

And my favorite quote of Leonardo da Vinci is this one, "Marriage is like putting your hand into a bag of snakes in the hope of pulling out an eel." -Leonardo

Maybe that's why he never married.

My First Show!

Here is a picture of me at "The Best and the Brightest" show in Scottsdale. I had my husband take it to show how cool it looks. I went with the black frame but I rubbed a little gold in the creases. I think they must have liked it because they put it by a door and hung it at eye level. If the picture were a little bigger you could have seen my name tag with my name misspelled on it and NO red sold dot on my card. You can see on the wall behind me that there is also no award ribbon :( But that's okay, they gave the "Best of Show" award to a painting of a travel trailer.

Sheri Dinardi

When I first came in the front door I was blown away with this beauty! It won an "Honorable Mention" and I think the "People's Choice" award.

I can paint like that, I just don't have the time. I was really surprised at the level of talent at a student show. It really was impressive.

Cari Updike

I met this artist first. Her name is Cari Updike, she is from Mesa and lives about 3 miles away from me. Her husband didn't like my painting, but she did. They said that they have been coming to this show for 8 years and this is by far the best show they have seen.

Pris Butler

We both thought the green on this was cool. And a black frame is the way to go.

Nancy Becker

There were several cow paintings. Actually, a lot of western paintings. Is this the 'West'?

Elaine Locati

LOVE, love, love this one! It could have been painted right on the farm in Iowa. So pretty.

Tim Perkins

This painting won 1st place in the oil category.

Paula Stern

I don't care for this painting, but the name was funny and it sold right away for $500. The name..."Seeds of Social Justice". Hmmm... what does THAT mean?

Elizabeth Pollie

THIS painting also sold right away. It is Peeka's favorite. It is 20x20 and it sold for $3000!

Jon Francis

THIS... won "Best of Show"! What!?! I rest my case. Because right next to it was the best piece in the whole place.

Sheri Dinardi

Several people were just standing around it staring the whole night. I am surprised it didn't sell at $2900. I would have gladly paid that...if I had an extra $2900 laying around that I wasn't using. If you are in Scottsdale and you want to see some good art, go to the Scottsdale Artist School.

My First Art Competition!

I finally got accepted into an art competition. It's the "Best and the Brightest" show at the Scottsdale Artist's School. I did this painting of a sweet girl in my church. I just loved the way she turned her feet.

Now, here's the problem, I have to frame it and I can't decide which frame to use. I personally like a gold frame for portraits, but black is all the rage right now. Maybe you guys can weigh in and help me decide. Here is the black frame:

Clean, simple and unadorned. Would look good in a Tuscan style home.

Here is the gold frame. Classic, timeless and a little flashy. What to do, what to do...

So, I need you to post in the comments which style you prefer as I have to have this thing delivered by Wednesday. Yikes!

Oh, and I am not the only artist in my home. Look at what my Art Girl did. A mother couldn't be any prouder.

Now, go vote.

Miss Erika Davies

I come from a large extended family of talented individuals. Most of my 48 first cousins are excellent singers. A lot of us are artists, too. My aunts can make anything. Some of us dabble in painting.

My cousin Heidi makes the most amazing wedding dresses.

I can upholster your car, but I don't want to, so don't ask me.

My cousin Jake has an Etsy shop where he sells his custom belt buckles. So does my niece, Erika. Have an Etsy shop I mean, not make belt buckles. She makes clothing ...AND by the way- sings. Duh.
Only this family member is really taking her talent places. She works very hard.
She's serious. And good. I'd like to think she gets her talent from my side of the family, but you should hear her mother...WOW! My brother did good! He sings, too. Duh.
She's very pretty AND the sweetest person you will ever know.
She is tearing it up in San Diego. If you are ever there for a vacation or anything, you should see her perform. She has her own style and it is all about the VOCAL chords baby! Kinda old, old school, a little jazzy, all Erika.

Just recently, she got snatched up to be in this cute little commercial. You might have already seen it on tv. Check her out. She's not a hiker, she's the singer. Way to go!
p.s. visit her Etsy shop and buy her cd. Nothing like a little plug for family.

OPA in AZ

The National Oil Painters of America has a yearly members only competition. Then they exhibit this competition at an art gallery. This year it is in SCOTTSDALE at the Legacy Gallery on Main and Scottsdale Road! Woo Hoo!!! I have already been twice. The show runs until May 24th so hurry up and go see it.
This one won some award but I forgot what it was. All of the art is for sale. This one is the most expensive one that sold. It was $4000. For a 24x36 I think it is a fair market price. But most of the sold paintings were under $1500. This recession is really hitting artists hard.

This one is painted by my kids favorite dude, Dan Gerhartz. We go and meet him every year at his spring show. This is a 24x36 and he wants $13,000.
Michael Mao. Very brushy up close. Beautiful. I'm thinking of doing a series of white paintings.
This is a good example of a bad photo. This painting in person just glows.
I love realism. The name of this one is Plain and Peanut M and M's. How cute.
Robert Coombs.
I really want to paint a cow. I think they are so cute.
Again, way better in person. It really inspires me. I think I'll paint one like this of one of my girls in our woods in Iowa. Does anyway have a long satin dress they want to loan me? I won't ruin it with mud and branches- honest.
I love peonies.
$20,000. For reals? I mean, this is a REALLY beautiful painting and all but $20,000?

This one is probably my favorite painting of the show. I am so going to paint this. Can you just see Married Girl in her wedding dress holding her bouquet?

Well, these are some of the highlights of the show. But there is a lot more to see at the Legacy Gallery. Go. Now. If you can't get there in time, or if you have no gas in your car, or you don't want to get out of your pajamas, you can click on this link and look online. Have fun!

(Not So) Self Taught Artists

I am largely teaching myself how to make art. I would say painting, but painting is easy and I went to a few classes on how to do that. (Thanks, Sarah) What I am trying to learn now is not taught in college. It is taught in ateliers of classical artists all around the globe. Unfortunately for me, I can't go to an atelier because I have a serious life to lead right here in my own little town raising sweet munchkins. And there are no classical artists or art schools here. Wha? Huh? I know, really! Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the country and you would think someone with classical training would move here, but NOooooo.

So, my education is limited to what I find on the internet and practice on my own at home. I am amazed at what I am learning and would like to show you some of the artists I have found who think are doing what I am doing. Maybe there is hope for me yet!

All the art on this post is from the lovely, talented artist Kate Stone . She is amazing and is only 23 years old. She started exhibiting and winning awards in 2006. And on her website she doesn't list any formal training so I think she didn't go to school. Actually, she is married to art instructor, David Gluck, who teaches at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. I think she went there. Dangit, I was hoping that I could do this without going to an atelier!

Although, Canada in the summer would be nice...

She was born in America but lives in Canada. She is storming the portrait scene up there and was even featured in a tv show called "Star Portraits". She got to paint Debbie Travis.

Sweet. I'd love to draw like that, but I don't have the first clue how to do it. What paper is that? I only know about sketch books and pencil. I don't think that is pencil.

Some people say, "Why don't you go to ASU?" If I were to go to a university, I would be told not to paint like this. I would be told to "paint what I feel". Well, I "feel" like painting what I "see". Then adding a little juice to it. Isn't this painting delicious? It just glows. Kate got it right. Atelier training is the way to go.

Look at those HANDS! For Pete's sake woman! Bring your husband and move here and teach me how to do that! The real estate prices are incredible. I will personally find you a house. And the weather is much better than freezing cold Canada.