Space for improvement and skills
I wish the New Year brought back the importance and significance of real, high quality art. When we say: state-of-the-art, we mean something exclusive, outstanding, novel and unique. When we look at all entries on different internet sites which are labeled “art”, there is frequently mediocrity, lots of attempts which do not present skill or mastery, and numerous repeated concepts, e. g., eyes, lips and hands. I see lots of space for improvement there. Subjects, such as back-lit trees, sunsets, starry night skies and silhouettes are also in abundance. However, even a repeating concept is not that bad as long as the execution is skillful and shows some unique artistic touches.
Make it unique and unforgettable
Therefore, I’d love to see hand-made art as something exclusive, outstanding and unique. Just like in any other area, we are witnessing unnecessary self-criticism when a very good artist asks social media visitors how to improve an already great painting (unless, it’s an attempt to get more publicity) and complete lack of any self-criticism. Art should be seen more as something which cannot be repeated or copied by anybody for that matter. Also, designs and wall-filler pieces are also referred to as art. While it is a decorative piece like sign or poster, or framed wallpaper, etc., it isn’t really art.
Quantity versus quality
We have become a society which values quantitative results more, for instance, number of followers, likes, comments, sales, profit, number of created items, and so on. Chasing quantitative outcome, as in an article a day, painting a day, poem or song a day decreases quality because such creativity becomes obligation. Creation itself is directly the opposite. It is a summary of efforts, inspiration, trials, errors, discoveries and sometimes futile efforts. Eventually, such attempts result in what we call art. If you have ever created something, you know that creation also includes doubts and corrections of wrong assumptions.
Creation is not always a smooth ride
Good painting is not created within a few hours. Well, maybe a tiny one could be done that fast. Large paintings can take not only weeks, but months returning to painting every single day. We need to prime canvas, work out the concept, do sketches, color matches, transfer complex drawing and so forth. That can be a smooth or not at all smooth process. Some idea looks great as a sketch, and then I turn it into painting, and it plain and simple does not work. So, I start over.
Creation takes talent and skills
It’s a lot of work, a lot of skill, and I dare say, talent, as well. For some unknown reason, talent is greatly denied its importance. While everybody can learn everything, not everybody can achieve the top of artistic expression. We mostly hear that creating art is just work and practice. That is not true. I do not want to say that all my art is top-notch. It is normal that some pieces come out very well and some not that much. I also have many paintings which I haven’t been able to photograph in a presentable way, so I don’t publish them anywhere. The difference probably is that I am trying to become better and better with every brush stroke and never stop improving.
New paintings of small birds for bird lovers
I am attaching images of acrylic paintings which picture small birds. They were started as demos for art classes. I certainly added many more layers after class. It is very beneficial for an acrylic painting to apply many layers of paint. These pictures show a background with Christmas ornaments, however, I intended these paintings so that they can be used during any season, not only around this time. I used the ornaments to make colors match more my actual original paintings. Enjoy!
Learning, teaching, promoting
My current focus in art is to promote my own art and to give private classes to interested students. Group classes are great, and through these art classes I have met numerous wonderful people. However, it is an extreme pleasure to help shaping a talent and genuine devotion. Students, who attend private art classes, have certain goals and they are interested in a particular medium, subject or skill. That makes painting and teaching process fun.
Private classes: One on one classes
Apply for art classes: Sign up for an art class
Unlimited path for improvement
Since I give very many classes and do very many demo paintings, I also need to bring the painting I started as a demo to finished stage. That’s why some subjects are not my preferred subjects, yet, it is a space for improvement. I am still trying to do my best and not pollute the internet with inadequate quality art. And, certainly, our tastes might be distinctive, yet, good quality is recognized everywhere.
European bullfinch or redbreast is seen more in Europe. It is the favorite winter bird. My painting displays early spring, and I believe it turned out as good painting.
This is the new version of cardinal couple since there are at least 6 more cardinal and cardinal couple paintings. It is a favorite subject of many students in winter.
Happy New Year and thank you
As the year is almost over, I’d like to thank all blogging friends, everybody, who took their time commenting and liking my articles, as well as people, who bought my art and attended my art classes and workshops. Your friendship and interest in my art means a lot to me, and I am grateful there are so many of you. Happy New Year! Happy artistic journey and lots of new discoveries in 2020!
Art prints and paintings:
That cardinal couple is wonderful – and agree about how we need to watch quantity and “measurable achievements” and as you noted –
Because it “decreases quality because such creativity becomes obligation”
—
Also wishing you a very happy new year 😊🙏
We certainly do have to be more cautious and not allow ourselves to plainly produce instead of creating.
Thank you!
All the best for you in 2020! Happiness, health money, luck, inspiration, anything which makes you feel better!
😊🙏💙
You are right Inese, art demands time and devotion. We may practice a lot, post some of it and either improve or destroy the last.
Wish you a beautiful and Happy New Year.
Thanks! I meant the sites which sell ready art. There are hundreds of sites, as well as all kinds of Facebook groups which are supposed to show art for sale. I just recently saw art competition (as if!!!), you can create such on Fine Art America. And the guy’s personal art was something that a small kid would draw with colored pencil and try to make it look like a drawing. It wasn’t a style or modernism or extremely contemporary art. It was just simply some exercise when we learn drawing. He had no talent, no patience to practice most likely and he though it was completely ok to not only sell such art, but even place it as lead painting for this competition which he was organizing.
Posting images of stages, practice pieces, art in progress, unfinished sketches and similar is fine because that’s different and shows how one tries to develop the artwork. I was reviewing the art which is supposedly ready. Like Instagram is full of all kinds of extremely good art, both abstract and realistic, and then there are thousands of pictures which say like: just finished, just painted, buy art, art for sale and they are practice pieces at the best and also lack any kind of concept or any kind of impact because of very bad execution.
I didn’t mean to discourage people from starting to draw and paint, but if it is art that is for sale and finished piece it should have something that makes it art, e. g., color, concept, idea, new subject or interesting take on subject, technical excellence, something.
Happy New Year to you also! Thanks for always supporting my blog, taking time to comment and being a good blogging friend!
Thank you Inese. When I wish to buy art, I prefer to look among artists, as I know in one or another way, by several reasons.
I find it more personal and possible to support an artist, as I do know, is working hard to do their best.
Happy New Year!
That is a very good approach to buying art.
I think it is wonderful when people who can afford that support fellow-artists. It is quite rare because artist friends might show support, but they are in the same situation. Well, it even bigger rarity when we make good bucks with art.
You are such a kind person, I hope 2020 is nice and kind to you!
Thank you Inese, wish you a wonderful year too.
Thanks! I appreciate!
These birds are so lovely! Wishing you a lot of happiness in 2020!
Thanks Irina! I wish it was visible on pictures that these ones are really lovely. Photo didn’t pick up all nuances of red there are, but I think they still look good.
Thanks Irina for always staying in touch and taking your time to comment and like my posts!
Happy 2020 to you, and all the best!
My pleasure, Inese.
Happy New Year, Inese! I hope that things are good for you…and that you are busy creating. May this new year be one of health, love, and peace for you!
Thanks, Lorrie! Happy New Year to you, too!
Everything is fine and I am preparing my solo show, opening on February 13. Lots of work, I’d love to have more new, very large pieces of art.
Oh…that is so exciting, Inese!! I can imagine that it is quite a lot of work…but that is good news. I send you so much good energy and pray for your success!!
I simply wasn’t too lazy to apply, although, I did it in the last minute, the day of deadline. They select afterwards artists, etc. The other show I so far have been selected to is in September. I will see, maybe I will participate in some juried shows again. I usually get in, but it’s just driving me for husband and he is already busy. Thanks for prayers!
Well, best of luck, Inese whatever you choose to enter 😁 Sweet Blessings
Thanks! I’m painting right now, that’s why I am sort of late with responses. Paint dries fast because of heating.
Thanks so much for blessings! I will visit your blog some day when I have a bit more time.