Color is a big part of any artist’s work if they paint in color. We love some particular colors and we feel uncomfortable with or even dislike and hate other ones. I am very much convinced, though, color is secondary to value, otherwise black and white drawings and paintings wouldn’t make sense. Color gives my paintings mood and, sometimes, it’s the main element of the artwork. Usually, change in color will change the entire painting. I work very hard to achieve color balance and fine-tuned transitions in my art.
There’s more to art
However, people often notice only color, especially when art is viewed online. The online display has gone through many devices and you can see art also using whatever device you have. The most affecting factor is the size. 10 x 10 in art looks the same size as 10 feet by 10 feet painting online. The impact on viewer is totally incomparable because we have taken away all presence of this art. There is so much more to art than color. Lines, brushstrokes, edges, smoothness or extreme textures, story the painting tells and subject of it.
Unchanged nature: subject of my art
For realistic and semi-realistic art, color is interpreted depending on our subject. I’m looking for warmth in my art, as well as energy which makes us happy, maybe thoughtful, but not upset or more depressed. Therefore, I choose to paint nature. I love unchanged nature: flowers, wild flower fields, creeks, country roads, old country barns, small birds which I can watch in my backyard. This subject is very inspiring for me, and I’d say for everyone who looks at it. About 3 decades ago, I was very much in painting posters with faces and figures, I have done a lot of fashion images, too, but at some point, it became boring and moved on turning to nature.
Original, exquisite and recognizable
Early on, I made it my point not to get influenced by anybody else. It was easy before the internet came around since one cannot be present everywhere. After I moved to Canada, I realized that artists were literary copying photos sometimes. It had been the hugest no-no back in Europe. I still feel like it’s not a good art when one has to copy, trace and pretend this comes from the artist, and not from computer, printer and projection device. Therefore, I’m always trying to distinguish myself from the crowd. Many of my paintings are imaginative views of non-realistic settings, but I like the subject to be recognizable. I also want people to notice immediately that I have painted one or another artwork.
My painting techniques
I use techniques which I have developed during many years of creating art. Nowadays, you can find out quickly how somebody does whatever they do, but I prefer to go for my own discovery. My textures are most likely created with different tools and mediums. My color mixing definitely doesn’t fall into the regular color wheel dependence. I believe every artist has to find their own color palette because that will work always. I do not follow the trends, but frequently, some part of my art hits the trendy side anyway.
I currently sell originals only
The displayed images are of original paintings. Original means this painting is exactly as I have created it. My brushstrokes and my original color transitions are visible and touchable. That also means you can feel the energy and my touch. Original art is alive with everything that’s gone into it. I am very meticulous about what I want in the painting, even when it is a small painting with simple subject. I work tirelessly until I have achieved exactly what I wanted my painting to be. The images have a bit too much blue and green than my art. I use grey, brown-grey, but camera gets colors differently. What you see depends on settings on your device also.
Birds and other enjoyable themes this season
It is great one can rotate paintings on their walls. It is also fantastic one can create displays of large collections. Prints are fine for some areas and specific rooms, but when it comes to classiness and elegance, originals beat prints 100%. Classiness is already built in the original art, so you don’t need to add extra work to make this art look impressive. I have to display some paintings more than just one time for a few reasons: lots of people never read or look at something closely, attention is the hugest deficit nowadays, and holiday season is short. This type of paintings is sold only during holiday season.
Art prints
I can offer to select printed art products from Fine Art America site which has a huge choice of products which can be viewed in 3 dimensions.
My winter collection:
Winter paintings by Inese Poga
Enjoy! I hope somebody loves my art so much that they are willing to go a step farther and purchase it. The special offers are here:
I agree wholeheartedly – there is so much more to painting and art beyond colour. I think there is a danger to connect art with home decoration. We look for paintings to augment a certain colour scheme, but art cannot be put into a box, it is alive, full of energy and creative spirit. Art has soul.
Thanks!
All art cannot and shouldn’t be connected to the home decor class.
I also have good art as a museum quality art, and then I have simply decorative paintings which are in a wall filler status. You look at Google images, most of what’s offered around this time is wall-fillers.
As for small birds, they really take a lot of time. Some of them are way more than a decorative art.
I usually indicate when some piece is pretty much just for decoration purposes. It’s nice to create something specifically for the season, but I won’t do that any longer. It’s difficult to sell such art, holidays come and go swiftly. This was all started some time ago. When I had live classes, students were thrilled about painting birds. That’s why I have quite a few of them.
Prints are very expensive this year. I had even an idea, maybe order some, but they come close to what I charge for originals, especially watercolor. Plus tax. Also, Canada Post makes me very in competitive. I had these ridiculous moments when I had sold art for less than the shipping was, so I painted, wrapped all up and shipped and lost money as a result, not like 5 or 10 bucks, way more.
I agree, “when it comes to classiness and elegance, originals beat prints 100%.” And your originals are beautiful.
Thank you!
I thought maybe I’d order some prints this year, and to my big surprise, prices for prints have jumped up big time.
It’s almost as much as for the original in some cases. It’s not always I want to sell everything.
I arrange and rearrange paintings and it’s such a pleasure to look at them.
Well, taking a photo really changes color, I think camera cannot recognize the mixed colors, it goes straight to primary colors whichever is the closest.
Creating rather than copying it’s the real gift of an artist, in Mystical terms the artist is closer to God, because he creates, rather than imitate.
Hope everything is fine with you Inese. 🙂
Thank you very much!
I’ve been very little motivated recently to post anything. It has effect on things. I am doing something still, it just doesn’t result in anything meaningful, but after a while it might.
We are fine regarding health, but financials are really deteriorating. With no paid work and no new orders, it’s not only tough, it’s at the breaking point. I’m not talking about art. Our main support is husband’s business and if that doesn’t work out, that’s about it then.
My paintings are getting better and I have a lot of them. Kind of pointless thing. Retirement isn’t very far away, might work in my favor, but then: what’s left?
I’ve been reading a lot, just to avoid reality. Books are as calming and absorbing as painting process, shut down everything else.
I hope you are fine, as well, and I so much appreciate your stopping by. It’s been a while.
It’s good to have people like you in the circle of online friends.
Oh I enjoyed this post so much (and the comments too – the idea of wall filler art is interesting)
And the painting “robin on a snowy branch” is a top painting for me from today’s post – the bird as subject – but also there is a design feel to the branches and the way they are spaced almost gave it a stained glass feel (from a distance in the reader as I scrolled) and you know how art looks different neat and far
And you are right – the camera changes color so much!
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When I taught elementary art classes (very basic stuff – here in Virginia we teach art to the “standards of learning” called SOLs- and so all lessons always focused around the 15 or 20 standards they needed to learn – and it actually guided lessons with nice structure and aims – I know some folks say that SOLs can restrict but that was nkt the case for me –
Anyhow – back in those art days I was always amazed how a photo of a painting changed the way we received it!
And Inese, some paintings that took your breath away in person did not really look that great in the photo – and then sometimes a painting that was “so so” in person had a magical Quality in a photo –
Hmmmm
Anyhow – wishing you a great rest of your day
Thank you! That’s a nice heartfelt comment!
I’m very sensitively experiencing colors, and I apply them carefully. That’s also why I only paint by daylight when it comes to final layers. That way I maintain the hardly noticeable transitions of color. That’s lost in a photo. I’ve noticed all my grey shades look almost blue. The robin is different shades of grey grey, grey-brown and up to white. The actual painting shows a bird which feathers you can almost touch and see.
I think whatever art is always more impressive in reality because size and direct presence add to that.
The branch is like branch would come downwards and the front part is closer. It’s not a big painting, but I like myself how the needles and the overall image came out. I only usually paint such birds before Christmas, that comes from classes when students always wanted to paint small birds.
I also paint snow only around this time, later, I’m so tired of it that turn to spring images immediately.
Teaching any grade of students is great. I usually was teaching foreign languages, like German, English to 14-23 year olds. My favorite age group was 17-20. Interesting age. My daughter was always giving me trouble sitting in the last row of desks and making faces while I was explaining German grammar. She is now 41. Time flies.
I’ve seen some paintings, too, which looked awesome on the internet, but in reality not that much. Well, I’m usually painting them so that if I put them in an exhibition or juried show, they would be visible and made impact among all other art. Lots of online paintings are like if you’d put them on a large gallery wall, they’d be not visible at all.
what is sad is that people sometimes go; I am so struggling with this and what should I do in order it looked good. The answer would be starting over again with a big base coat and then build it up, not smear it on.
I really appreciate the nice comment! Wonderful to exchange a few words, and I posted a text on the other blog, too.
i suppose you have Thanksgiving in the States, so happy Thanksgiving weekend to you!
thanks for your time in replying and
I also wanted to add that I am going to mention this post for my “one word sunday” post-
I have been wanting to link to your blog for a while now (and earlier this year I asked you about a different post but this post fits better right now) – so anyhow, hope you don’t mind –
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Shouldn’t be any problem, and it’s nice that somebody can reblog or share my posts. Thanks!
my pleasure – and ttys
No problem. I hope it worked out well.
:0) and again, it was my pleasure
You are welcome. Take care
I’m not an artist but I do love looking. I came to your work through Yvette (Prior) and have to say that it is truly beautiful. That Robin is all but alive! 🙂 🙂 I have very little in my rooms of red. It’s mostly blues and golden yellow, but I have a Christmas poinsettia sitting on the living room table, which lights up the room. Wishing you a peaceful, happy festive season with lots of painting.
Thank you very much!
I suppose Yvette has done a great job by helping me spread the word.
It is what I have told before, I wish there was a more direct way for somebody to see these paintings in person. Video is one way, but in my crowded spaces it doesn’t work that well, hence, everything is covered with art, one or another type.
I love that you could feel how the robin is practically fluffy and has almost touchable feathers.
I appreciate the nice comment and I wish you also a good, healthy holiday season. It feels it’s starting very early this year, but people certainly need something good to look forward to.