Blooming meadows series
It feels like summer
Like every year, we get from winter into summer heat in Ontario. I’ve noticed there’s nothing in the middle quite often. It was cold even until the first weeks of May, and then suddenly, we got high heat. That means plants and flowers bloom over in a few days, and everything at once. It is difficult not to take part in all breathtaking blooming and return to life of nature, therefore, I am feeling as if in summer in my art already. The old story: creation must be done in advance of any seasons, celebrations and festivities.
Not only for shows
It’s not so that I am creating only complex art for competing in shows and simple art for teaching art classes. One of the other categories would be plainly decorative art, and we are seeing lots of it recently. Just some splash of color, some shapes or basic subject on white or abstract background. Nothing extreme, nothing mysterious or hiding deep meanings, just art for covering wall space and keeping the creative hand sensitive. This is the routine art which doesn’t reach ceiling of mastery and doesn’t strongly affect our mind or soul. Art that is often described as “lovely, nice, cute”. These are, besides, the worst compliments when it comes to creativity and creation. They say practically nothing, they are empty words. They leave one unaffected like water drop rolling down a leaf leaving no trace as it evaporates.
Summer cottage
Technical side versus emotional aspect in painting
t’s understandable that with overload of images the internet viewer is attacked with in a split second, nothing gets more than a quick glance. Rarely, somebody will notice elegance of lines, flowing or strong brushstrokes, shifts of warm color into cool shades, perspective, mood, the way the subject reveals itself, I mean, all things which exceed just purely technical approach of painting. Technical approach dominates because lots of art on the internet is done by beginners and emotional level is left out when the main focus goes to the technical side of using art supplies and creating the subject.
Mastery in art
The most adorable category is art as discovery, art as secret, art as mystery and soul touching art. Not every artwork becomes a masterwork, far from that. Even well-known artists have uneven level of mastery in their works, and that is just a very human feature. Nobody can be at the top of their creative juices and riding the wave of inspiration 24/7. Any human has ups and downs, divine moments and dark alleys where they get lost. It is a good personal goal to have more of good art which has lasting effect on the viewer. Every artist tries to achieve that, and in the best artworks, mastery comes to expression.
Show continues
The virtual art show continues, and since the lead post was helping a little, but I need to add new art, I am including in this post variety of available images, the brand-new blooming meadows paintings and some other art. I know how nobody wants to see more sales and so on, but I simply need to turn visitors’ attention to the fact that these are show artworks and they are currently sold at their best prices. I will probably change the content after a while, but for now, please enjoy, and you might possibly like to purchase some art.
Original acrylic paintings: See what’s added
Original watercolor paintings: Amazing watercolor art
I am looking forward to summer, which could be possibly better than the previous one. Thanks for reading!
Just like always, here’s link to my art collections and available art prints:
I especially appreciated your insight: “It’s understandable that with overload of images the internet viewer is attacked with in a split second, nothing gets more than a quick glance.” The idea of ‘less is more’ leads a a greater understanding of what we view. Too many images confuses the mind. Focusing and enjoying a painting gives me time to think on the intent and meaning that the artist wants to convey. I enjoy your posts! Thank you.
Thanks Rebecca! I suppose my comment went not where it was intended to.
The internet environment is visual nowadays and we cannot avoid being bombarded with images, therefore, it is very difficult to draw attention to an art website.
It is also extremely difficult to get noticed on social media or anywhere for that matter. Art is everywhere, there is too much of it and it takes a lot of convincing somebody that this is it, this is the artwork they should stay with.
Have a good day!
I agree wholeheartedly, Inese. I smile when I read tweets, posts and articles advising and reminding that we must detach from the internet. Very difficult to do, these days.
Staying away from internet completely won’t be possible because there are always some things that need to be settled.
Just like with everything, people who stay away from the internet, don’t even tweet and they don’t scroll through Instagram and Facebook.
I do keep it, however, extremely low. I do the necessary things, the absolutely necessary ones, and then I go and paint, do household things, work in the garden and read a real book late at night. I know not all people can do that but I use phone mostly for videos and photos and to answer very few calls. That’s it. I prefer silence or backyard sounds and, thus, listen to music only when I feel like, rarely.
So, most of my time is off the internet, but staying in touch with blog friends is fantastic, and frequently, these are my only conversations I have during this pandemic.
Stay safe! Nice talking to you!
I love our talks, Inese. I agree – we need to understand the internet and how to connect in a ways that feeds the soul. I agree – staying in touch with blog friends is fabulous. And that does indeed feed the soul!
Thanks Rebecca! In times like pandemic, internet is very useful, the side effect is that we immerse ourselves too deep into it.
When it comes to meaningful, worthwhile and rich in content, blogs do that. Social media are extremely flat, nothing new there because they just won’t show you what everybody does and says, but what ranks higher and what is on their list.
Every time, there is something good to take away from chatting with our fellow bloggers. We have extreme cold and rain in Ontario, it’s 3 degrees Celsius right now behind my patio door, I’m not sure what it was during the night.
Well, tomorrow we should return to normal.
So far, this Artfest virtual arts market hasn’t done much in terms of driving people to my art. I just don’t know. The only thing I have gotten out of it is reorganized some art and took more new pictures, as well as added a few summer-type of paintings.
Oh, Inese, these are gorgeous. I gasped, actually gasped, when I saw them. I can completely see why these should be viewed in person to be appreciated fully, but from here, they’re still beautiful.
Thank you Sheri!
This is one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. You have a way with words and that makes one feel the reaction even behind numerous screens and devices.
Size of painting certainly adds to experiencing it. On website they all look about the same.
I appreciate your comment and have a good day!
You’re very welcome, it’s my pleasure.
Speaking of wonderful compliments, that is such a nice thing to say.. We’re all just trying to reach people from these lifeless screens.
I hope your art gets all the appreciation it deserves and more, you can see the love and time you put into each piece, and that should be valued more.
Any time, truly, you take care!
That is exactly it: trying to reach people from these lifeless screens.
I do get fairly upset when I compare the real paintings and pictures of them. I hope some time in the future to get a new good camera, but that will be who knows when. For 2 years now, iPhone 11 Pro Max has damaged any image I’m trying to make. Colors are always off, perspective is so distorted that there is no point in editing it. I’ve tried editing colors to get the real look back, but iPhone is so automated and everything is so preset, that it’s not possible.
I will keep trying reaching people from behind the screen, and, although, I have had little success so far, it’s at least something to do.
Have a good day and enjoy the weekend!
This is a great post, Inese and your paintings are beautiful. I do so agree with your comments about decorative art, and images created for quick impact. But I feel more encouraged now to keep on walking along my own path in my art practice. And aiming for more emotional content and communication.
Thank you very much Margaret!
It takes a while to establish one’s personal style, brushstroke and color palette. Talking about colors: the pictures were taken with iPhone 11 Pro Max and the colors are somewhat off, this phone adds some yellowish gloom over everything. I don’t have a good camera, maybe when we reopen and situation improves I will be able to get one. They are really pricey.
While somebody learns painting, they forget that painting is not only about technical abilities and techniques. Nobody can handle everything at the same time.
The best art definitely has emotional impact and creates echo in the space.
The real life can be burdensome, therefore, my art is a notch above any reality. I feel it needs to brighten up the space and lift the viewer’s mood.
I appreciate your comment. Have a good day!
I so agree with you about art having an emotional impact. And, your art does lift the viewer’s mood. That’s what I’m aiming for myself!
That’s a good goal to pursue. It is a challenge forever.
I’m trying to figure out how I could get a decent camera. My weakest part is art display. I will work on that, but, I’m certainly waiting impatiently until the financial situation improves at least a little bit.
I have to also present the new concepts I’ve got going, I just didn’t have time yet.
I wish you a good week!
Beautiful pieces Inese!
Thank you very much Lisa! I’m just working now to make my theme look better. I haven’t decided yet, change it, not change it, that’s lots of work.
Have a good day!
Enjoy your day as well Inese! Happy creating.
Thanks Lisa! I hope everything is good for you, as well.
hi Inese – great meadow series
and i enjoyed the post and comments –
the wisdom
about being mindful about visual input, tech time, and overload are truly things our culture must find ways to deal with!
Thanks very much! That is so great to know.
Reading comments is interesting, I do sometimes read through especially comments on blogs.
We cannot delegate everything to devices, therefore, I’m standing very strongly for manual drawing and handmade art. So that there is still something created exclusively by human touch and human brain.
Have a good evening!
😊🌺🌸
Very beautiful expression of country land 😍😍😍
Thanks!
I like them, too, and they work well as series. However, pictures do not show correct colors. That’s always the issue with iPhone, but I have nothing else at the moment.
Enjoyed all the artwork!
Thanks very much!
Just published an update after a long break.