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Posts from the ‘Art’ Category

Our learning season is getting close to the finish line

The learning season at our gallery is getting close to the finish line. We were exploring multiple techniques and subjects; we created quite many beautiful artworks. We feel enriched and inspired, and hopefully, the newly acquired skills will enable our students to capture their impressions during summer and their vacations.

I have been extremely busy recently, and I need a break, too. I’m going to spend some time in Europe, in my homeland Latvia this year.

My art gallery is getting reorganized, as well. We will start out again in September with new classes, seminars, practical learning in both, life skills school and art school.

I’m working on a new website which will contain all relevant information, and I might be very busy for a while yet, thus, there won’t be that many posts during this time.

The river scene was finished a small while ago. 6 students started it, and 3 students got it done or almost done.

Adult acrylic painting class river scene

Diana’s painting of river and rocks and nature

Acrylic nature painting adult painting classes

Bev’s painting of river scene

River: acrylic painting, adult painting classes

Gordon’s painting with river and rocks

The last scene of this learning season is scene with barns in a landscape. We love it, and I think, we might return to barns during the fall painting sessions again. We are still working on it.

Mother’s Day card: check it out

I recently finished a watercolor painting which already initially was intended to serve as image for Mother’s day card. We started to draw birds at our teens painting class and got the painting done during 2-3 classes.

Chickadee mother's day card

I worked out two versions: one without text (when ordering, anybody can place their own text on the inside) and with short text.

Mother's day greetings

Both versions can be found and ordered as cards via Fine Art America website:

http://fineartamerica.com/pdfartworkmenu.php?artworkid=7289106

http://fineartamerica.com/pdfartworkmenu.php?artworkid=7289435

It’s needless to say that any painting can be bought as a print of many different types and with hundreds of framing choices at very reasonable prices and in excellent quality. Any purchase comes with 30-day money-back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with some aspect.

Fine Art America offers to download a free app if you are using any kind of smart phone, iPhone, iPad or similar device which has camera to view the particular painting in the chosen frame (there are really hundreds) or without a frame on the exact wall space or room space where you intend to place it. The app will apply your chosen size, therefore, you can see everything according to real proportions.

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/inese+poga/all

Should there always be a story behind the painting?

The story behind the painting is believed to be one of the best ways for selling art. Well, that really depends. When selling online, we don’t even know who’s bought the art, and when selling in person, it’s not always a good time for stories.

Spring forest: acrylic painting on canvas
Spring forest: acrylic painting on canvas

An interview with an old artist comes to mind when I’m thinking about how much art critics and art reviewers love rich wording.

Orchard in bloom: acrylic painting of apple trees in spring
Blossoming orchard: apple trees in bloom, acrylic painting

A young journalist pays visit to a much experienced, fairly rough artist and asks for permission to write an article about his art. The artist just keeps working, and seems to be neither too excited, nor too denying about this idea. Thus, the journalist takes out her notebook and starts questioning the old guy.
“How is that all of your art is structurally so multi-layered, multi-faceted and multi-reflective when depicting just routinely flat, boring and standard, sometimes underappreciated subjects? How can it show the underlying emotional hidden mystic concepts of these subjects in such an enormously effective and mentally enriching way?”
“Well, I just grab some paint and brush it on.”
“Sounds very simple, but how could you master describe the energetic overload in these trivial scenes which are jammed with overlaying structurally heavy, spontaneous brush strokes which seem to evoke in us the ancient and primary instincts and passions?”
“Well, I suppose, you see it now: I just grab some paint and brush it on.”
“Sure, your painting style is just fantastic and breathtaking. How about your artistic concepts when choosing these uninteresting subjects, but painting them in the way we experience things we never even knew about, not to mention we could see them captured in this vibrant, rigorously abundant manner which takes us to other dimensions and to futuristic domains of our mind?”
“Well, I don’t think, anything else says it better, as: grab some paint and brush it on.”
“Thank you, master. Would you like to share some of your secrets about implementing in your work this indescribably multifold capture and immediate expression of this vivid, eternally uplifting, intricately subdued and emotionally unvarnished light fractures?”
“Well, it’s kind of tough: just grab some paint and brush it on until you like it”.

Acrylic painting of fall scene: fields, trees and sky
Serene rural fall scenery: acrylic painting on canvas

Images which are attached to this post have been painted as demonstrations for classes. I finished them afterwards since I never get time enough during the class while I am trying to follow up on each student’s work. So, that’s the story: paintings of elements which we had to practice on.

Acrylic painting of white and pink amaryllis

Pink and white amaryllis: acrylic floral painting on canvas

It took me a while, but these paintings are available at the gallery now.

Basic/Intermediate level acrylic painting workshops

In order to participate in these acrylic painting workshops, some experience in painting with acrylics is required.

Relaxing activities in a pleasant atmosphere:

creating ourselves through fulfilling our dreams

Each workshop consists of painting for 3.5 hours during two consecutive Sundays. We are painting for 7 total hours, and your painting should be done or almost done by the end of day 2.

The subject for April 21 and April 28 workshop is Georgian Bay shores at different atmospheric conditions and daytimes, thus, it is possible to choose the scenery which speaks to you most.

Gerorgian bay shores worksh

April 21, Day 1 and April 28, Day 2

Each day 1 pm – 4.30 pm

Each workshop day is $35, 2 days, total 7 hours: $70

Minimum 4, maximum 8 participants.

Minimum canvas size: 16 x 20 in

Paints: acrylic paints

Payne’s grey, titanium white, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow light, quinacridone crimson or naphtol red medium, hooker’s green permanent, sap green or olive green, brilliant yellow green or mix up your own greens, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine and cerulean blue, brilliant purple or prism violet

3 brushes: flat, at least 1.5 in wide or wider, round with fine tip, size 10-12, rough bristle brush (Walmart for painting walls or windows, about 1-1. 5 in wide which can be slight adjusted by cutting out some parts)

Paper towel, paper plate

Choice of scenery: at dusk, twilight, daylight

Basic/Intermediate level ACRYLIC PAINTING WORKSHOP:

En plein air painting of garden/backyard scene

Downtown Whitby

Relaxing activities in pleasant atmosphere:

Creating ourselves through fulfilling our dreams

May 26, Day 1

June 2, Day 2

Each day 1 pm – 4.30 pm

Some experience in painting with acrylics is required.

Materials not included.

Subject for painting includes anything you prefer seeing in a backyard or garden scene since my location has it all: irises, lilacs, blossoming apple trees, old maple trees, blossoming dogwood and lots of other wild plants like lily of the wally or simple dandelions in nice settings. There is an old picturesque fence, old fashioned gate and small shed, back porch and shadows on walls, briefly, the scenery is very artistic and offers a great choice of attractive subjects.

Collage image for acrylic painting workshop

Minimum canvas size: 16 x 20 in

Paints: acrylic paints

Payne’s grey, titanium white, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow light, quinacridone crimson or naphtol red medium, hooker’s green permanent, sap green or olive green, brilliant yellow green or mix up your own greens, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine and cerulean blue, brilliant purple or prism violet

3 brushes: flat, at least 1.5 in wide or wider, round with fine tip, size 10-12, rough bristle brush (Walmart for painting walls or windows, about 1-1. 5 in wide which can be slight adjusted by cutting out some parts)

Paper towel, paper plate

Each workshop day is $35, 2 days, total 7 hours: $70

Minimum 4, maximum 8 participants.

Spring time watercolors: bright, sunny and cheerful

Teen class has been very busy, as well. Some students were not present during March break, some could not attend classes because of Easter holidays, but we just keep going and enjoying the pleasure of being able to create something great, cheerful and uplifting.

Blue anemones: watercolor painting, teen class

Elaine’s vision of blue garden anemones

Purple anemones, watercolor painting

Mary’s painting of purple spring anemones

I have noticed, it’s so much in fashion to write books about anything, including art, all these books and e-books are supposed to be innovative, thoughtful and informative “how to” books.

Pink spring anemones: watercolor floral demo

Watercolor painting of pink garden anemones: demo version for adult watercolor class

While there’s some useful advice contained in a few of them, it’s most often a description of very common, very basic and very well-known stuff. The same about lots of DVDs, online art classes, tips, ideas, etc.

Kristina with her chickadee paintingKristina is genuinely happy since the chickadee painting came out extremely nice

However, there’s a big difference when painting on your own and in reality, and reading about it, or watching somebody else painting. You won’t know how that is until you try it on your own with a real brush or pencil in your hand.

Kristina's watercolor painting of chickadee

Close-up of chickadee on a tropical flower background (Kristina’s interpretation)

My experience shows, the presence of a live teacher is extremely important. That not only speeds up everything, but also provides students with plenty of information in a very short period of time, allowing to experience and apply everything right there and right away.

This is a very direct and very immediate “how to”. Any question receives answer on spot, any problem gets solved straight at its origin.

Mary is very talented artist, and she really loves watercolor classes

Mary painting chickadee watercolor

Watercolor painting of chickadee in progress

Mary’s watercolor painting of chickadee in progress

Watercolor demo: chickadees in apple tree

Chickadees on blossoming apple tree background: demo version

Spring anemones, watercolor wash

Watercolor wash: spontaneous and simple application of watercolor

Well, those ones who want to learn something are very happy with my classes, and so am I because it’s always a pleasure to see fast development of young, talented artists, and to know that I have contributed quite a lot to this development.

Orchards blossoming in the art studio

Acrylic paintings of spring treesWaiting for something can be as exciting as the upcoming event itself. Spring is late this year, and that makes us more impatient since everyone is tired of storms, colds, snow and icy winds. However, why to wait when you can create sensation of spring and speed up its arrival on your own?

Beginner acrylic painting classes

We’ve been busy with blossoming apple trees during the last 4 classes.

Acrylic painting: spring blossoms; Bev's painting

Unlikely many North American art schools, we are focusing not only on technical abilities, which are undoubtedly important in achieving our artistic goals, but also on the emotional impact of our creations and the energetic and intellectual potential of painting. When painting some certain subject, we are trying to capture not that much its photographic likeness, but rather to implement the idea, feelings and emotions, the emotional charge within and behind the painted image. We are trying to paint our vision in the way others could experience it, too. That requires freedom in our approach, experimenting with colors and brush stroke, immediate action and reaction, and high confidence level, as well.

Apple trees in bloom: acrylic painting by Isabelle

The subject was very attractive this time, and we got really great scenery on our canvas.

Acrylic painting class: blossoming apple trees: Diana's painting

It is important that we use the same basic image and the same medium (acrylic, watercolor or pastel) in a class since every medium requires different handling and specific techniques for bringing the painted subject to life.

Apple trees in spring: acrylic painting

Here we go: more blossoming apple trees

Connie and Kathleen with paintings of apple trees

Similar and still different

Gordon, Tara and Diane with their blossoming apple tree paintings

Acrylic is actually very forgiving, and everything can be adjusted, changed and improved when necessary.

Acrylic painting class: Wednesday class students

All artists were not present at the time of taking pictures, but I have inserted their painting images.

We will just have to go through sky and water yet, and these students could surprise us with fantastic paintings done on their own.

When there’s a will, there’s a way

Some of teens have started attending art and painting classes very early. Since we are dealing with a bit more complicated stuff and techniques than general art classes which actually are more play than learning, I prefer teaching teens from 12 years. We are working to achieve results, to make things happen. This is an excellent age for absorbing new knowledge and developing the personality. While many parents support kids’ involvement in artistic activities, there shouldn’t be put any pressure on choosing some particular activity. It is very noticeable straight from the beginning who is genuinely interested in drawing, painting and creating art, and who is just a passerby, somebody who does not really know yet whether he or she would like this type of activity, or not.

Saturday watercolor class: 3 of my excellent students

Some of Saturday watercolor painting class students

Our classes involve personality training, development and growth opportunities along with acquisition of typically necessary artistic skills, since the discussed matters are never limited to only color choices, composition and subject research. Creation always takes some effort; even though, we are trying to never show the difficulties we experienced during this process, but the great effortless final product of our imagination and artistic skills.

Saturday watercolor painting class for teens 12 +

There are impatient teens and impatient adults. The same applies to seriousness, devotion, commitment and willingness. It is obvious that those with a goal and genuine interest always get faster and better results. This is something to consider before you sign up your daughter or son for art classes: will your kid have discipline and interest enough to attend the class regardless of any other issues? Isn’t that just a mood, a desire which will never get fulfilled?

It is easier to deliver excellent results in a small size teaching environment because I can teach taking into account specific individual needs and personal features of a particular student.

Seagull watercolor painting

Watercolor painting of seagull

Bird paintings with watercolor

Some students enjoyed painting birds more than painting flowers, it always depends

Seagull, watercolor painting by Mary

Seagull watercolor painting

I am proud that our mutual efforts are resulting in fantastic achievements.

I am also sure that age actually does not matter: when there is a will, there’s a way.

Tulips in watercolor: artist Elaine

Since I’m documenting our achievements as we go, the progress is so obvious when I compare how some students were painting a year ago and how they are painting now.

Kristina painted imaginative flowers

Claire started to attend classes today: on March 2

Clara started to attend our classes today, and this will be her first painting

Watercolor painting of tulips: artist Mary

Some paintings were just started during this class, and some got the final touches.

Watercolor painting for teens class: demo

The most important thing is that we are moving, and “We are moving fast” as one girl said after the previous class.

Saturday watercolor painting class for teens

Painting spring during snow storm feels really great

I am receiving plenty of e-mails about painting and art classes. Many potential students come straight to the studio-gallery, as well. No doubt, there’s interest in creation and self-accomplishment, there’s a need to express our artistic side and our hidden potential. We all have some dream which can easily come true. All we have to do is JUST GO FOR IT. Sounds very simple, doesn’t it?

However, there are people who will start attending classes and become great artists and decorators, who won’t be looking any further because they have found themselves in painting; and there are those who will keep talking about how much they love art and how much they would like to learn painting or drawing, or both, but this will never happen because it’s just a talk. As we know, talk costs nothing, and basically is worth nothing, too. Whatever our intentions, everything requires some effort. It is amazing to find out that some beginners thought they’d learn to paint within some 1 or 2 classes, which means they allowed for this miracle to happen about 3 hours. Some are surprised that painting actually is a lot of work, intense focusing, thinking and trying.

Groups are very different. I am happy that along with students who quickly drop in and out there are always the serious and devoted ones who will stop at nothing and achieve what they came here for: the RESULTS.

It seems the adult acrylic painting group students are just like that: focused, committed and disciplined. The Wednesday group was a bit too large, thus, I had to start the Tuesday acrylic painting group, as well.

First par of spring scene painting

It was a pleasure to see how satisfied everyone was with the previous painting we just finished. I chose a simple spring scene this time. It came out so good probably because we all are longing for spring in our hearts.

Adult acrylic painting classes for beginners

We are using chalk to mark the spots for adding details, this time for trees

Besides, what can be nicer than painting a warm spring scene when outdoors is a snow storm how it recently happened? It is unbelievable how fast the time disappears when we are painting.

Acrylic painting in progress

Acrylic painting of spring

Some people compare the painting process with a deep meditation: getting lost in colors, shapes and imaginative scenes takes our mind to a meditative state.

Tuesday acrylic painting class

Tuesday group: that was a happy painting session

Pictures are taken fairly late, light might have been better, however, all paintings looked very good in reality

Wednesday acrylic painting class for adults

Wednesday acrylic painting group: this was their first painting for two ladies in this group

Acrylic spring scene paintings: adult beginners class

All paintings lined up: I wish I had a special place where to display them

We just started a nature scene with blossoming apple trees, that definitely will make great paintings.

Nice article about me, my life and art concepts

Many thanks to Laura Hamilton, who is a fantastic writer with an outstanding personality, my early life in Latvia and later in Canada was colourfully and vibrantly represented in an article in Durham’s Online Magazine for Women:

http://www.more2life4women.ca/category/creativeliving/

Look under Spot Light on a Local Artist.

I was surprised how accurate and insightful this article was. It is sometimes not that easy to catch the emotions and capture the feelings behind somebody’s life story, but Laura has done it wonderfully and with ease.

I hope you will enjoy reading this article, as well.

Laura Hamilton visiting Inese Poga's studio gallery

In this picture: Laura Hamilton, the editor, creator and key producer of http://www.more2life4women.ca/, visiting my studio gallery during Culture Days 2012.

Painting classes: becoming more confident and artistic

To create  something from nothing takes creativity, knowledge and commitment.

Watercolor art class for teens

We were doing some negative painting exercises, and after that we were getting ready for the next painting which will be seaside with some birds.

Watercolor painting classes: nature

Psychologists are certain that everything is based on confidence and high level of self-esteem. Art helps reach these goals tremendously, and the acquired awareness that I CAN CREATE, I CAN ACHIEVE MY GOALS, is a new stepping stone when walking through the life.

Watercolor painting: beach and rocks

Step by step, brush stroke by brush stroke: big things start with small accomplishments.

lakeside watercolor painting

Everybody benefits from engagement in arts, and it is something valuable for the entire life.

Watercolor painting: lake and rocks

Some artists of adult acrylic painting group completed their first painting, some their third paintings.

Acrylic painting class for adults

We are overcoming the fear from blank canvas and learning to apply paint with confidence, and results speak for themselves.

Adult acrylic class: nature paintings

It is never too early or too late to engage in creation of something artistic. We sometimes need 30 or 40 years to realize that art is what we want to learn. It is a pleasure to watch this happening as we progress more and more with every single painting.

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