Tips for beginners and importance of art classes

Using contrast: painting tips for beginners

Live art classes versus art classes on the internet

Why are live art classes loved so much when all kinds of online and offline art learning materials are available? For established artists or someone who has quite a lot of painting experience, watching tutorial videos can be beneficial.  They know what the demo is about, they understand how to achieve what is told they would, and there is usually no problem with following the guidance material, even though it can take pretty much time.

Are there any benefits for beginners?

It is a bit different with beginning artists or students, who have no painting experience. For people, who have encountered tough situations when painting on their own, for students, who struggle with some parts of painting, some colors or application of some techniques and who never get the result they are looking for, for somebody who tried and was ready to give up painting because of difficulties, nothing can replace live direct teaching and personal approach in live art classes.

How we gain experience

It is very obvious that knowledge can be achieved thanks to learning, trying and experimenting. I like shortcuts in all areas of life, so I am teaching how to get great results in painting without having to struggle and getting frustrated. It is no secret that many people give up painting, drawing or art because they assume it is something they will never manage or make work for them.

Specifics of acrylic painting

Acrylic is a specific painting medium: along with huge advantages it possesses some drawbacks, too. The most frustrating part is probably the very fast drying times which gives little time to work out painting properly. However, once one becomes familiar with these specific features, acrylic painting does not feel any more difficult. It is as easy to use acrylic paints as any other medium. We learn treating a painting in such a way that we can work in layers and on segments.

Art clases for adults

Painting tips for beginners in art

You shouldn’t overdo with blending. Instead of brushing all along from dark to light and from light to dark which very often will cause everything become the same color, try applying paint exactly on the spots which require it. Place dark colors where you see them, place medium tones where they belong and finish up using light colors and highlights. They come together with a careful, soft brush stroke of damp clean brush, usually flat brush.

Importance of contrast

Great artwork usually contains many or some contrasts and strong contrast areas: light, dark, subtle and strong values, sharp and soft edges, contrasting colors, both in tone and temperature, contrasting lines, layouts and shapes. Problems often arise when there is no contrast in the painting. Painting looks flat and unimpressive. Try not brushing around, but move smoothly from one color to another by applying paint in segments so that no dark spots are lost. If you lose your dark areas or sketch lines, or if your drawing has disappeared, recreate the dark areas and contrasting spots, as well as sketch new lines or shapes.

Advantages of participation in live art classes

While any advice can be helpful, in direct class, we can learn how to avoid most problems and issues; what effects to use, what techniques to avoid and what to pay more attention to. Your art instructor will provide with immediate solutions when a problem arises. Any issue can be fixed when it occurred.

Art classes for beginners
Bluebells and birches are always a lovely project for art classes and painting workshops. We usually prefer landscapes, but some subjects are simply more attractive than others.

Art project

Suggestion for beginners in art

Tip for beginners: unless your painting requires lots of pure white, use pre-painted canvas or canvas board since human perception works better with medium dark backgrounds. It is easy to add dark colors and light colors on pre-painted canvas. It can be dark brown, dark grey, cardboard color, black or red, any color which facilitates better creation process

Tip for everybody, who wants to start painting

Do not give up painting when you encounter the first problems. When painting does not work, instead of putting pressure on yourself and painting, set it aside, give it some time. Place it so that you can see it when walking around, and the right solution will cross your mind at some point. You will later understand easily what exactly you have to do with this painting and how to turn it into masterwork. Anger causes more mistakes, and frustration is even worse.

Cure for creativity crisis
Beginners in art: view your project as a step to success

Tip when using photo reference

If you are using a photo reference, remember that painting is more important as it develops than reference. The photo reference is just a reference. Always do things that matter for painting without trying to create a copy of your photo. That refers to color, shapes and details, as well. The task of art is not to recreate a photo, but to create something completely new which is perceived on its own.

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Happy painting!

The endless waiting for spring: flowers of my dreams

Floral watercolor paintings by Inese Poga

Waiting for spring and creating flowers of my dreams

It’s still chilly and nasty out here in Ontario. The rain is just pouring down in cold streams tonight. Not a good background for happy thoughts. Although, we should appreciate the fact that it is at least not that cold anymore. One step at a time towards the warmth and spring.

I remember my first spring in Canada: it was so sunny, so overwhelmingly warm, everything blossoming; and insanely uplifting green was everywhere. I had already all the garden planted and coming up around this time. That was 10 years ago. We have experienced quite bad weather conditions since then, and, no, I do not assume anymore that Ontario weather is any better than Latvian.

Floral watercolor paintings by Inese Poga
Soothing colors for spring mood

Floral painting to cheer up upset minds

It is no secret that we are already desperately hoping the weather forecast will have some good news for us, too. I recently looked at some of my paintings, and I don’t think I am going to paint or draw winter again any time soon. Instead, I am about to do way more florals, I worked out some nice flowers on the hill concepts, and when it is November I will paint autumn trees, distant skies and fog.

Since all my thoughts are in spring, with spring and about spring, my sketches, drawings and watercolors reflect that. These sketches or pen and watercolor images were all started as demonstrations. Since they are all in soft, soothing colors, they are flowers of my dreams. I am aware I have too many demo works on the go, and most of them get never finished, but that’s just the way I am. I cannot have one single class without demonstrating something. This something gets developed, and later it seems: it’s probably worth putting in more work.

I thought these could be perfectly used as images for greeting cards.

Watercolor and pen, rose painting
The spring rose, pen and watercolor painting in very attractive and soothing colors
Pen and watercolor paintings by Inese Poga
Spring lilies on white, very beautiful watercolor painting
Watercolor painting, pink tulips
For soft and gentle flowers, all shades of pink is probably my favorite choice
Spring daffodils by Inese Poga
Pen and watercolor, Spring daffodils painting 12 x 12 in or 30.5 x 30.5 cm

It’s been also mostly dark, so it’s hard to catch a good day with a normal daylight to get proper colors on my photos because any type of electric light does not allow to have them as in reality. I hope you love what I have created, and maybe I have inspired you to do some floral painting, as well!

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Advantage of sketching in watercolor

Sketching in watercolor what is the advantage

Reality of sketching

I’m usually advising my students: if you ever would like to learn drawing free-hand and manually, do not use photos, grids and other tools, but only your eyes in addition to paper and pencil. That gives us huge artistic freedom and allows not to depend on camera, printer, computer and photo editing software. That also saves a lot of time. It is more difficult for some people to draw and paint from a real subject initially, but it is like everything else: once you’ve understood how it’s done, the improvement is continuous.

Creating without devices

I grew up and learned painting without any cameras and photos. There was no internet, there were no computers. I suppose, that’s why the number of artists was noticeably smaller, too. In order to paint or draw something, you simply had to use your visual abilities and imagination. I am disagreeing with those who are trying to convince us that everybody was using some kind of camera obscura in the past in order to capture accurate details, proportions and perspective. It’s believed, that mostly amateur artists were using it since they did not have the knowledge and capability of producing good drawings. I know, everybody has heard about Canaletto whose drawings were created that way. Well, there were others, too. Some people can draw and capture everything flawlessly. I am one of them.

Why you can’t draw yet

I find that most people are unable to draw not because they have problems handling pencil and creating the image, but because they don’t know what to look for when they would like to recreate the subject on a paper or canvas. That takes practice and work, that’s all. I love doing drawings or sketches just for the sake of pleasure. It’s so great to see something evolving on a sheet of blank paper. Nothing really compares to this fantastic feeling! That always excites me, and I can spend hours drawing alone while other people are watching TV, for instance. As a kid, I was drawing my garden, street views, buildings and similar simple things. I used to draw portraits of my sister, other kids and later my daughter and my group-mates at the University.

Painting and sketching the easy way

Paintings are sometimes very labor-consuming, especially the large and very large ones. It is simply a lot of work. It can be hard physical work, as well, when handling huge canvas. Sketching with pencil, watercolor and pen is a quick way of capturing the desired view or subject. I do not draw anything tiny because I am trying not to use glasses. Glasses, just like camera can distort the image, and I wouldn’t like that to happen. These sketches were created while travelling, and sizes are between 10 x 12 to 12 x 16 in (25 x 30 and 30 x 41 cm). They were done in about 2 hours.

Sketching in watercolor what is the advantage

Advantages of using pen with watercolor

There are many advantages of sketching with pencil, watercolor and pen. First of all, sketching allows to stay focused. It’s like a daily exercise which keeps us in good shape. Our senses stay sharp and fresh, and it’s easier to get back to larger artwork after a break. It is also a great tool to overcome artistic blocks. Just start sketching without worrying about results. We allow our creativity to unfold and follow our imagination and inspiration.

Sketching in watercolor what is the advantage

Sketching is the quick way of capturing reality

Sketching does not take much time, it is very relaxing. Many artists and people, who are doing art for pleasure, know that. Lack of time is an ongoing problem. Not everybody is willing to sacrifice their free time only to drawing and painting, but they should. Doing painting and sketching regularly is already an achievement and it will certainly result in better skills. Sketching is very suitable to experience a new subject or style. There are millions of different ways of sketching, and that means: there is something for everybody.

Become a master in drawing

Finally, sketching is crucial for those, who want to master free-hand drawing from live subjects, or to capture a plein-air view. We can learn writing by reading a lot; we can learn many things by just watching how others do them, but drawing is a skill which we can  learn only by doing it. The more we draw, the more we sketch, the more artistic and skillful we become. We might get a new approach this way. We also might find a completely new style which works for us. I have always something on my studio desks: flowers, cups, jugs, brushes, paint tubes and similar items. Jars and cups are my favorite still life subjects. I have a large collection of them. I’m already looking forward to spring impatiently because that’s when the true sketching starts. Nature wakes up and takes us outdoors.

Framed sketch: why not?

It is also possible to frame sketches and use them as beautiful art for decorating your space. Sketches can make great illustrations and they sometimes serve as a standalone artwork.

Sketching in watercolor what is the advantage

Happy sketching! Please share your experiences with different media and subjects if you have time.

Link to sketching:  https://inesepogagallery.com/2018/05/02/how-to-bring-art-in-your-life-start-sketching-and-drawing/

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My art prints:

Try something different: painting with sponge

sponge painting

Have you tried painting watercolor with sponge? I decided that adding some new technique wouldn’t disturb. Let’s give it a try.

This time it was application of watercolor using a sea grass sponge. It worked well with acrylic (I will post these pictures separately), it seemed it could work nicely with watercolor, as well.

I could see after the first attempts that it is advisable to test colors first. There are lots of brands, many types of paints, it’s hard to know whether the chosen colors will or won’t mix well. The big fear was not to overdo right at the beginning. Sponging sort of takes away easily, and it takes no time to lose focus and to forget where exactly was I intending to place any particular paint. I did not plan for these paintings, I just got straight to sponging. I would advise anybody who is trying this technique to plan a small bit ahead. Sponge allows to create beautiful watercolor backgrounds, like distant trees or forests, it is amazing how quickly some spots get textures, and it is a fantastic for layering watercolor paints. Simply don’t forget to test your colors.

It seemed that Hooker’s green light and dark in combination with French ultramarine, Cobalt blue, Payne’s grey, Lemon yellow and Burnt sienna or Burnt umber worked better than Sap green in any combination unless I mixed only 2 or 3 colors in all layers.

Seagrass sponges are inexpensive and available at any art store, that’s at least where I got them. Every sponge is slightly different, so will be textures created using these sponges. I cut my sponge in smaller parts, and used every time that part which seemed to be the most fitting. Sponge has to be made wet at first, and we should squeeze out all excess water before picking up the paint with it.

Sponge works on wet paper well (wet in wet application), and we can paint nice distant backgrounds this way. It creates thicker layers and attractive irregular shapes when applied on dry paper. It is possible to create the entire painting this way, and it looks especially great when we combine different techniques.

Generally speaking, application of a sponge helps loosen up, and sponge is a good tool to vary paint application techniques.

sponge painting
Sponge with watercolor
sponge backgrounds
Small creek, we used sponge for background

Layering quite a few colors with sponge is interesting: we never know how it will look at the end!

sponge painting
Spring forest: watercolor painting using sponge, it is quite large, 18 x 24 inches

Uniqueness of emerging painting styles and the seeming simplicity of winter scene

Creek, winter, trees, acrylic painting

Winter ends in the art studio around half January. That’s just how impatient we are: once Christmas is over, we’ve got to start preparing for Valentine’s Day, Easter and, most importantly, for spring. We use this time period to define our painting styles.

While winter may seem to be long, boring and unpleasant to many people, we are using the best part of it. The picturesque beauty of snow-covered fields makes a good scene for painting, especially when contrasted with frozen or silently running dark streams to which the majestic attraction of trees under the snow is added.

Our vision and perception of any subject are absolutely unique. There are no two persons who can see one thing in exactly the same way. That’s how nature has taken care of our individual features. That’s also how one image becomes a reflection of many personal interpretations and allows to create many distinctive paintings.

Creek, winter, trees, acrylic painting
Winter creek, acrylic painting, it’s sold. I painted it as a demo for class

Painting as a process is a very individual activity regardless of how much of experience or knowledge we are implementing in this process. The art we are creating from scratch will always carry our own features, as well.

From psychological point of view, it is possible to associate certain types of lines, composition, application of paint, colors, amount of detail or lack of it with particular human features. I find this fantastic because that’s one more way how our uniqueness manifests.

Winter creek project, art of students
Winter creek paintings by my students

The emerging painting style is like handwriting: once we have perfected it, it’s completely ours. Does it make sense to repeat somebody else’s writing? Probably not, not even in these cases when you are told your writing is hard to read. The most beautiful hand-writings are actually all complicated and hard to read.