Distractions
These days, there are many distractions which do not allow working peacefully and devotedly on whatever we’d like to accomplish. I never give up painting, unless it’s so that I cannot get physically to my easel or painting desk. That is rare. I am working on additional paintings which will be included in the fall/winter sale event. It was supposed to take place in reality, but it’s safer to do this event remotely in the current situation.
Things which depend on me
I get done efficiently everything which directly depends on me. I wish everything depended directly on my own abilities and decisions! Just as always, iPhone gives me hard times. Especially when painting is large, it seems impossible to just snap a realistically looking picture of it. iPhone tries to enhance everything and I just don’t need that: contrast in excess, all blue or all yellow image, too light or too dark parts. These pictures look good on the phone screen, and that’s about it. Once I upload them on computer, it feels like disaster. It feels like that’s not the same painting.
Energetic value of original art
I post only original art on my website. That means I have created every single drawing and painting from scratch. There is no other one exactly like the ones I have painted. Original art is unique, one-of-a-kind and it displays features which are not visible or not present on a print or digitally multiplied image. Original painting has energy, and this energy vibrates in the space and captures the viewer.
Original art feels alive
Original painting upon completion starts living on its own. It’s a new energetic entity, and it has become a part of the universal energetic exchange. Art prints are copies, and they carry only the energy of materials and machines applied in the printing process, there’s nothing alive about a print. Yet, it is a good solution for decorating some certain spaces.
Texture plus multilayer paint
Many of my paintings have texture under multiple layers of paint. Textured spots enhance the image and usually look very attractive. It is more difficult to paint on a textured surface than on a smooth one. However, when used correctly, texture adds to volume and interestingness of art. I always use many layers of paint allowing them to dry between painting sessions. That also adds color play to painting and works towards an impressive impact. Photo cannot react to every tiniest nuance on canvas, and therefore, it goes almost unnoticed online.
Display and photo features
To be honest, if you haven’t seen art in person and with your own eyes, you pretty much haven’t seen it. Online is ok, and it can be anything: much better or much worse in real settings. If this pandemic had happened 50 years ago, we couldn’t even dream about connecting online and being present where we cannot be physically. Just keep in mind that no image can be like the original from which picture was taken. Every device, every screen will change it.
No-rush life mode
I’m living in a no-rush mode and moving ahead at my own pace. That also means putting no extra pressure on myself. Days are getting shorter swiftly, and I can do only what’s possible. That doesn’t involve lowering my personal standards, however. Every single one of my paintings involves a lot of work, many hours, numerous tubes of paint, countless decisions and millions of brushstrokes. It shows in the finished product. I actually wouldn’t change a thing when it comes to my art. It deserves attention and it deserves love. Slowly, but surely: art sales will take place.
As always, for art prints you go to FAA:
These paintings are just stunning Inese… May we never stop creating… Much love your way .. <3
Thank you very much Sue!
I’ve worked out a bit more defined approach.
Creation is everything and saves from any downsides.
Stay safe!
It does… Sending Love your way Inese.
Thank you Sue and have a good weekend!
I love the texture in your paintings. And the edge details onto the dark frames are eye-catching. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much Jo-Anne!
I think I started applying texture underneath paint layers way before most other artists did that. It’s just so that I never really emphasized that.
It’s nice that photo still makes them visible.
Dark frames was my experiment with not applying any real frames. I have more of them, it is, however, lots of extra work. I know they add definition and feel of completeness, but they cannot be repeated in a print version and they take much time. I liked myself how colors work in these. I will probably do a few much larger.
These are gorgeous works, Inese. Such talent! Best wishes with the online sales.
Thanks very much Cynthia!
So far, I haven’t managed to do much, but I will be implementing a few new features, etc.
Chances are very slim, but they still are.
Have a good week!
Beautiful paintings!!! Love the texture!!!
Thanks very much!
I wish the photos were more like the real images, but it looks like they still work.
It’s quite a time consuming process, but I like sometimes creating paintings with visible and touchable textures. They change color depending on light source and daytime. It’s interesting.
Awesome my friend 😊🙏💙👌
Thanks Craig!
Your comment always sounds so nice!
I was updating content of old posts yesterday, that’s why people sometimes get numerous comment likes from way back.
I appreciate!
No probs my friend 💙 your work 🙏💙👌
I know. You have an immense load of kindness.
That’s really nice for you to say that, thank you.. 😇🙏💙😊
You are very welcome!
wow! these are gorgeous! Gives me hope that i can do better with acrylics even after over 10 years. I have switched to water colors the last 2 years and still working on that but have been considering oils because i can never get the effects i want with acrylics, and rarely see any other acrylic artists getting what i want either..but here i see it can be done..thanks!!
Thanks Lovie!
I started with watercolors about 40 years ago. I still paint a lot in watercolor also, there are many posts specifically for watercolor painting.
I’m very good at drawing, always have been. I have done pastels, as well, and drawings are mostly very large value sketches and some art from classes when I have been teaching drawing.
I switched to acrylics because they can be sold and hang on wall without a frame. Very large frames are expensive, and my watercolors are large and very large.
Oils are fine, but I became completely allergic to them, and that left me only acrylic.
Acrylic is a friendly medium. The only setback is all the time decreasing quality of paint. 10 years ago student grade paint was better than artist grade now.
I do use layered approach. However, I paint differently landscapes or still life, or floral art in acrylic.
Many years of teaching acrylic painting allowed seeing the best and most efficient way of using acrylic paint.
We can do everything in acrylic: create watercolor effect or use it as oil paint. It simply takes longer.
I appreciate the nice comment! Good luck with your art!
lol..oddly thats why i switched top water colors- the acrylics were on canvasses and took up way too much storage space, plus i couldn’t do them at work. watercolor has solved both problems..I still do acrylics outdoors and at home though and need to get back in the groove with that. Thanks
for the suggestions..very nice!
Everybody needs something specific, and it’s great we have a choice.
I personally need full focus for painting. That excludes noise, music and anything else.
My watercolors are large, most of them are 18 x 24 inches or 46 x 61 cm, and I have many full sheet which is 22 x 30 inches or 56 x 76 cm. We add mat, glass, frame and it becomes very heavy. I have also painted watercolor on canvas, a special canvas for watercolor to avoid framing. I take paintings to shows and exhibitions, etc., and glass has broken quite a few times. Each frame is approximately $300 and up. I simply cannot afford framing more than thousand pieces I have.
At least when I put acrylic for exhibition, the worst what can happen is cuts and scratches when personnel hangs them up at exhibition place. That is still way easier to fix then replace a very expensive frame.
I also move a lot, therefore, acrylic paintings I just load up while watercolor folders and ready paintings take extra care and caution.
This current art is painted all in Canada after 2004. Before, I lived in Latvia, Europe, I have practically nothing what I painted there, but it’s in collections, I just have lost count of my paintings. I wouldn’t know also how many exactly I have. I put about 200 watercolors in each huge folder and I have way more than 5 folders. I also do not count large drawings, sketches and demo pieces for watercolor classes. It’s very many. We have 8 large rooms here, and art is in every possible spot.
My problem is I love painting and teaching and I never took time to advertise sales properly, etc. I don’t like being on social media also.
If it was up to me, I’d probably paint only large pastels. Fantastic medium! They are, however, very fragile and sensitive and need to be protected right the moment you finish them, so I don’t do that many.
Thank you very much for your comment! Stay safe!
wowza..sounds like you’ve led a busy art life.. I only got started in 2009 or so..i loved doing large acrylics for a few years but could never sell them. switched to 16 x 20’s for the most part. Then started teaching at paint nights which was fun and profitable until everyone started doing them…i stayed with acrylics on canvas for a long time, then tried to use the hot and cold press mediums on canvasses to do water colors but wasn’t happy with that. Currently i keep all my watercolors in a large file box which takes up only about a 2ft x 3ft space – whereas my acrylics are all over teh walls, in a rack and some in bins in my basement( with dehumidifier of course). Ive even had to take some off the frames to roll up to save space. My roommate and i have run an art venues for over 3 years where we held events and such to sell, plus we are both involved in various local galleries. But with the pandemic , we arent as able to do these things. I dont frame ny water colors for selling unless the client asks for it and then its one at a time. i package them in clear covers with a border (front & back ) with each order to ship them if needed, so it still takes up way less space.Like you though , our walls are covered!We converted 2 metal shelfs turned on their sides for storing as well.Ive tried pastels several times but just didnt care for them..too messy and i just never got interested.I always play music when i do acrylics, but weirdly not for water color or drawing..go figure!
Sounds you’ve been in arts a lot.
I never wanted to teach or get involved in paint nights because it’s just simply very different. Before pandemic, I taught from my own gallery. Then I moved and I have only studio now. I will probably keep working on watercolor books since I’m offering something very different from what’s around at the moment.
Like I was saying my acrylics take long time and many layers, there’s no way I can paint them in 1 day. Alone textures take more than 24 hours to dry.
I was thinking about shipping watercolors in roll, not framed, but if you use thick Arches paper which is like almost wood, I didn’t feel that was a good idea.
I have tried anything I suppose with watercolor, but the best look is framed without mat or glass, on canvas. Canvas is covered with watercolor paper which we stretch over and then it really looks great, but it’s lots of work.
I agree not every client wants anything framed. However, for any show here in Canada, they won’t accept watercolor without a frame. There are even specifications.
Due to pandemic I also lost shows, that’s just how it is.
I’ve sold many paintings over years, it’s always whether you want a high price which covers all hours and material or you just sell it for the sake of sale. Nothing wrong with either one, but most people want originals at print prices. I’m not willing to do that.
I find that it’s actually easier to sell in the States, even though, I’m in Canada. Americans appreciate art. Even fellow bloggers from the States are active byers.
Well, I shouldn’t say Canadians don’t love art, I have sold many paintings through this blog.
It’s all more difficult now, but that will pass, too.
Just came back from blood test. It was very long waiting in line. I feel totally exhausted now.
Ok, take care and thanks!
cool..i have never heard of covering a canvas with watercolor paper.. i use only arches cold press 140lb but never rolled!.. for shipping i just use the clear plastic sleeve with the border and backing and into a bubble lined envelope. Most customers want to frame their own here. When i have mailed in frames the glass , even in a box and wrapped with bubble wrap, always cracked too so i usually discourage it.thanks for all the cool advice and responses and take care of yourself!
Thanks! That’s a good option if painting fits in an envelope. I’d need envelope size of a decent size dining table, that’s why I was thinking putting them in a rollup mailer. I was afraid to damage paintings, though, I didn’t go ahead with that.
What galleries is your work in? Some might have online presentation. Your blog didn’t have a special art page, or maybe I just didn’t see it.
I have taken home all works from shows for now because like last March I couldn’t get them back with everything locked down.
I bought a lot of Arches 300LB/640GSM cold press watercolor paper back in 2010. Right now, I cannot afford it here, but I checked it’s not that crazy expensive in the States. It really feels like would while it’s just cotton paper.
I have lots of garden work to do today before it turns to freezing temperatures. I was hoping to post something on both blogs, but most likely won’t have time.
Nice chatting!
https://www.facebook.com/The-Glass-Vidalia-311578022200997– thats the only place i have my art atm…like you, with the pandemic , everything shut down so i am currently in no galleries here..just posting online..i’d l;ove tio get some 300lb someday..just wanna get better before investing…have fun gardening!!
Thanks! When I click on link, FB says the page isn’t available. It’s probably something in settings which prevents from viewing it.
No worries.
Well, it’s getting cold outside where I am which is Ajax, Ontario. So much to do, I just don’t feel like doing anything.
Turning the clock back is impacting me and my schedule has gotten out of hand. I am trying to use as much daylight as I can. Artificial light changes colors and I’m usually painting only at natural daylight whenever possible. Especially with sensitive medium like watercolor, daylight is of big importance.
So, got to do something.
Have a good weekend!
thats weird…hmmmm.. let me try again..maybe i sent it wrong..
Thanks! I could see it now, but I’m going to delete the link afterwards.
lol..ok…
You have created the page even earlier than I did, a year earlier. The small animals look kind of cute and attractive.
thanks..its a new thing for me..just started them this summer
Nothing wrong with that, especially if it works.
it did ..really well for about 2 months..i sold like crazy( over 1,000 in one month for $40 & $50 pieces)..then came the new fb and i am back to an average of 3-4 sales a month…i’ve tried in vain to get around the algorithms , etc to no avail. Just doing what i do and waiting for the next wave..
Nice to hear!
I’ve never had something like that, 20 paintings sold in such a short time, but then again my cheapest art is $150-$240. I have sold like 3 pieces 20 x 16 in at $300 each at once or 1 piece at $420 at a time, but not on Facebook.I have also sold for $850 a painting, but all in person.
The highest price people were willing to pay on Facebook was something $30-$85. I have very few very small paintings, and I’m not ok with selling some big piece of painting at that price. It was usually understood that these were prints I think which I don’t make. My husband has a print shop, but he’s in different things. I’m thinking about that.
They switched FB around again, and at this point when they ask to pay for everything in order people would see it, I kind of lost interest.
I have sold paintings from this blog, but still, my sales were always the best when people see art in person. Large things sell way easier in person.
For me, it feels sad that I need or must to sell something because I really love painting, the process itself. I also love looking at my best art, and some of it is not for sale at all.
wow..the largest single piece i sold ( 24 x 36) was $300. I have done a series of small ink drawings for a business for $500..but most of my stuff that sells is and average of 50-150. I pretty much go by size and medium plus any extras like framing or special wiring plus shipping of course. I think soon i am going to try Etsy. You just can’t seem to sell on FB anymore – you are right they wanna charge for everything and you arent really getting whats promised..They say it will be seen by “x” amount of people but ive learned they start that from a radius of so far away it makes no difference unless, like you, i would sell more stuff over 3-400..Outside of FB i sold the most at private events..the galleries here in my area are a joke..almost no one sells that i know.Its more a matter of who you know and not how talented you are..but, i guess thats true for many things
Most social media are just that; money grab for their own benefits, and FB doesn’t care about one tiny business.
Well, I was an established artist already in 80s and 90s, but in Europe. I arrived in Canada in 2004, and the first years were just that: starting all over again because I could take with me 1 suitcase, that was it.
I have done 3 types of work mostly: medical research and writing for about 35 years, teaching since 85, and art and design since 1976. I have 4 Master’s degrees and I use 4 languages at a native level. English isn’t my native language, I pretty much learned it after 2004, and while I had some knowledge before, it was really sparse.
I was new to North America, but not with art.
It is kind of difficult to start over at 50, but that’s what I did. My first solo show at Toronto gallery was in 2011. My large works, and many of them are large, sell at 2,500-3,500. Which is still very little taking into account time they take, materials and my personal input.
I see no point in putting them up on the blog because online selling is all about cheap. There is no way I can pay for their shipping. That leaves the local shows and I will have at least 1 next year after we reopen.
I also regret that art has moved away from skilled and gifted to amateurish and no-skill, like in conceptual art which could be done by anybody, including a kindergarten attendee.
I was writing about that in one of previous articles. Ok, I’m really busy, have to go.
you do sound buys!!! wow..thats quite a history!
I think it is quite unusual.
Finally, I’m done with current tests and doctors, so I can focus again on paintings. It wasn’t virus-related. From the times I had a really bad accidents, I still have some after effects. 16 surgeries later.
It’s good I can do something else now. That will be extra inexpensive sale. We are not in a good shape at the moment.
I will take pictures of all small size art I have, will see what happens. It’s very dark today and we had a horrible storm yesterday, maybe upcoming days will be more suitable.
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