Most often, when somebody visits artist’s website or blog, they are simply curious what the artist has come up with. People look for something which would potentially suit their space, and the art students seek for inspiration and advice. Art has many more functions, though, and they depend also on who you are. If you are a creator and love to try painting or drawing, art is a full-scale adventure for you. And me. In my mind, time is not spent usefully when I haven’t painted anything for a while. The creativity-satisfying and mind-moving functions of art shouldn’t be underestimated.
The moment when a painting is signed and done, comes with feeling of achievement. This is a moment of complete satisfaction. We all set our own goals with any task, so this moment shows that I can whatever I wanted to achieve. I don’t stop working until every smallest brushstroke is where it must be, that’s according to me. Therefore, my works take quite a while from the idea to its implementation.
The ties with reality are interesting nowadays. On one side, we have this immense internet surfing space and it transitions more and more into unreality. Digital and virtual world is just that – the things which exist only where there’s internet. On the other hand, our life happens based on real terms, read conditions and in an actual environment. The difference between unreal and real can cause somebody true depression and dissatisfaction with life. I personally prefer the tangible reality which won’t go away if I accidentally click on a wrong keyboard key.
That explains why I paint what I paint. The subject doesn’t exclude fantasy and impossible landscapes, still life settings or colors. That is one more function of handmade art: to take you anywhere you’d like to be. I would love to skip winter altogether. Since I cannot sleep it away, I still need to do something. Anything. It would be so pleasant to have plus 13 Celsius tomorrow instead of minus. The best functions of art are the ability to transfer one with all senses into a pleasurable space and provide with the feeling of being there.
As always, I’m not very happy with the internet display of art on different devices and phone. Every single painting deserves to serve as the cover image, every one of them. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. The full-size image, although, distant out in the internet space, still gives one that feeling of closeness to the source. So, I’ve spent couple of weeks taking horizontal pictures. For example, when my painting is vertical, I cannot use it as a cover image. If my painting is horizontal, it looks small or even tiny when viewing images on the phone. Some photos are very good, some just satisfactory, but I wish for internet space where they’d be all visible in large format, full-width, full size and have colors that match the original.
That remains to be seen and tried again and again. I have my hopes up for the new Twenty twenty-two WordPress theme. Hopefully, it will be what it promises, both, regarding size and flexibility. Until switch, I will just edit what I have. Other than that, we are in extremely deep snow in Ontario. We were completely cut off of everything yesterday, but it’s sunny today. Thanks for reading if you did and wishing you, too, more sunny days!
Shop original acrylic paintings
My dear Inese, I couldn’t agree with you more from the artist’s point of view, to the internet. As always, visiting your virtual home here, leaves me happier than before having indulged in your fantastic landscapes.
Wishing you more sunny days ahead!
Thank you very much Marina!
I’ve been off for quite a while, all kinds of reasons, but, hopefully, I will feel better now and be posting more often.
I certainly appreciate you checked out the beautiful paintings which I like as well. To be honest, I can only paint what I like. Yesterday, got finished a commission. Thankfully, that was a painting subject I loved.
All the best to you!
Loved seeing all of your paintings, they’re beautiful! And I agree, nothing feels better than when you finish a painting. For me I’m uber happy not just because I finished but because of how it makes me feel. The internet and photos online don’t do the paintings justice. You have more of a sense of awe when you have the painting in front of you rather than looking at it on a screen. But it is what it is and I try to make the best of it. Hope you’re having a lovely day and stay warm. I’ll do my best to send you some warm sunshine from S Florida!!
Thanks Maria!
I have many paintings which could have been displayed better. Every single one deserves the cover image display, but, taking into account I cannot post as often as photographers or small form artists, that is not possible.
I have a few new ideas, will start working on them soon. This week, I had one commission, it’s done and gone.
The feeling of accomplishment is huge with things we can see, touch and experience.
Lucky you, it must be nice there.
We have horrible minus degrees, minus 19 Celsius. It’s really cold after the snow storm that left us under more than 60 cm of snow.
If I ever had a chance to spend winter in a warm climate, I would get done so much more. The seasonal affective disorder does just that – affects a lot and freezes me inside and out.
The last year when we had a short vacation in the South was 2013. It’s been a while, and the only thing I can do during winter is wait for spring, and then the energy and health return. For me personally, nothing really helps, no lights and no other things.
I have many room plants, they, too, wait for spring. Green and blue certainly are the best colors during this time.
I hope you enjoy the nice weather! It’s such a privilege.
Dear Inese,
I think when one has perfectionistic tendencies, as you seem to, one is never completely satisfied with one’s creations. I can’t paint, but I feel similarly with regard to my writing.
But I can tell you that your paintings still look beautiful online, even if they don’t show exactly the way you would like them. I like the strong colors and patterns and the sense of walking into a beautiful, vibrant landscape.
I hope your painting will keep you pleasantly stimulated and warm while winter is raging outside your window. 🙂
Best wishes,
Tanja
Thanks very much Tanja!
I like my paintings, and I am happy with practically all of them or otherwise I don’t call them finished and done. The problem with internet display on different sites is that I cannot really present them in a decent manner. The size, let’s say on my sale pages makes no sense at all. Tiny paintings are displayed larger than the really big ones, that type of thing.
I do understand that most people who don’t paint, but simply like art, and I personally, we are looking at different parameters when we look at art. I look for coverage of canvas, types of brushstroke, color transitions, values, cool versus warm, contrast and use of all other elements. All of this is hardly visible on a picture, but it makes big difference when we are regarding mastery. I’d love specific features to be visible more.
I wouldn’t say I am a perfectionist, but I want the images to be of professional quality. Lots of art is literally destroyed by bad image.
I must add as a long term researcher, editor, teacher and so forth, I really dislike sloppiness, negligence and bad design. I think that comes from my early childhood more than 60 years ago. I adored nature and inherited perfect feeling of composition from my mom, that type of thing. So, yes, I am trying to get a naturally flowing perfection, not the artificial one.
i’ve only done 1 commission this year, it wasn’t big, client liked it. When the time is right, I will start a new painting. It’s very cold at the moment, certainly the closer to spring, the better I feel.
I appreciate your nice comment! I will visit your blog, and I’m sure you haven’t been as lazy as I, but have posted many articles. Have a good weekend!
Thank you for sharing your detailed thoughts. I admire you and other painters, never having been able to paint myself.
I hope you will continue to be inspired to create art and enjoy your paintings.
All the best,
Tanja
Thank you TanjA!
Well, I have been painting for practically 50 years and art is my way of living, sort of, so I will certainly paint again and more and so on.
The worst is that we will have to move again, it’s like every 2 years moving all house and studio and garden. It’s a big hassle, not that I want that, but it is how it is. Unfortunately, moving studio with many hundreds of large size paintings, art supplies and tools, not to mention all other rooms, takes huge time. That is time which is taken away from other better things. Yet, there’ no other way about it.
Have a good evening! I will take the evening off to plan something.
Having to move so often is very difficult, Inese. I hope your next move will go as smoothly as possible for you!
Yes, Tanja, it’s difficult. My biggest problem is lots and lots of large art, plenty of art supplies, huge numbers of books and room plants which I’m not giving up. We had to move in 2018, then 2019 and now again. Owners either decide to sell or move in. If you rent, it’s almost impossible to be certain for how long you’ll be staying somewhere. Well, I arrived in Canada from Europe with 1 suitcase when I was practically 50, there you have a scenario for not having a chance to settle down.House prices are extremely high, that includes rent, unfortunately.
I’m wishing you the best of luck with your move and your next home!
Thank you very much Tanja!
I’m already busy looking through listings, etc. It will take a while to find a place. We have lots of restrictions in ONtario, they might be lifted in February. Snow is blocking all roads at the moment, too. I’m not really sure how to even see any new places.
I figure you were off for some days, it’s nice to see you back, and hope the past Holidays you spent well.
Thanks!
Yes, I was off for a while. We had the booster dose on December 29, and I was not taking it too well. I felt sick for about 2-3 weeks. That’s why we didn’t do anything. Recently, I was just shoveling snow for some 4 days, then did a commissioned painting. Basically, it’s been mainly chores and feeling not that well. I don’t post if I’m not ok, I’m beyond that point.
Generally, winter is a time when I am not very active. Many years ago when we could travel, I saw that I’d be very productive if I could live in a warm climate. That’s not an option and hasn’t been since 2013, so I just survive winter.
All the nest to you!
Hi Inese! I just love the work you are showing here. I feel peace…and hope…in the paintings.
I hope you are well and that the new year 2022 has come in with love, hope, and peace. It is hard to imagine that the first month is almost already gone…another year that is sure to fly by.
Stay warm and keep creating…it suits you <3
Thanks Lorrie!
It’s very nice you stopped by. Thankfully, January is almost gone. I was outdoors standing in the backyard, counting days until March at least. March can be cold and nasty here, too, but still.
I recovered from the booster dose after some 2-3 weeks. The previous doses were no problem, but I think that was because I could be outdoors all the time. I was mostly sleeping, reading and trying to feel adequate all this time, that’s why I didn’t post anything, didn’t even turn on computer for long stretches, didn’t look at phone.
I’m better now and when spring arrives, I’ll be absolutely fine. It’s very cold, very windy some days and lots and lots of high snow piles.
I posted the new pictures because I just need and love the green and blue colors to be present. I also spend time caring about my numerous room plants.
I’m not sure where you are in the States, but I hope you are ok and doing well. I hope your spirit is cheerful and you have good time here and there.
All the best to you Lorrie!
Thanks, Inese 🙂 I can’t even imagine the amount of cold and blustery winds you experience! I am in south Florida, Inese, so most of the time it rarely gets below 60F…but we are in for a real cold snap tonight and I am traveling further north…so I will experience “winter!” (even though it is not my favorite.)
I, too, had a hard time after the booster shot. I can still have days that my energy is really low and I don’t feel like moving off the couch! I hear people put the vaccines down…and recently on a news show someone was complaining that the shots don’t protect you from spreading it or from getting it. The other person said, “Yes, BUT IT PROTECTS YOU FROM DYING!” You could tell they wanted to continue to argue…but thought better of it.
Stay well, my friend. I will try to send some warm Florida air up your way 😉
Feel better <3
Oh, lucky you! South Florida sounds like a great place to be, especially in January and February.
We’ve travelled to Florida three times, spent a few weeks there, I did painting, but that was more than 10 years ago, more like 15 I think.
Winters are harsh and long here, so it’s a pleasure to have a milder day and sun coming out.
Vaccines do build your immune response. We have 2 immune systems, we could simplify: one is we get genetically inherited and the other one is acquired through things we do, eat, etc. These vaccines teach our own immune system to recognize and fight off the virus. You can still spread it and you can still get it, but, unless somebody’s immune system is really down and unable to fight off the threat, the outcome can be much better. The outcome depends on the person as with many viral diseases.
Nowadays, peoples’ immune systems are weak due to many things: artificial food with little real nutrients, sterile lifestyle, inability to withstand physical challenges and bad living conditions. Theoretically, people who have had freedom in childhood and are fit, hardly will have any symptoms. But like I said, we are all unique with every single part of us being unique.
Each and every one of us!! 🙂
And yet as unique we may be, we are connected and experience so many of the same things.
I know how blessed I am to live here. I visited the first time when I was 7 years old and I knew at that young age that I HAD TO LIVE HERE!! The only drawback is it makes it much harder to handle the cold. My old too cold number used to be 60F…now it is 85F!!!
Stay well, Inese. It’s nice to catch up with you. EnJOY that sun!!
You are blessed, for sure, living nicely there.
Latvia where I lived up to 46 years has similar climate to Ontario, Canada. During Soviet times one couldn’t even dream of getting out of there. I didn’t actually intend to, either. I never knew that I was going to relocate to Canada, well, it’s across the ocean, so, no, I wasn’t aware of that and I didn’t really think about climate when I did relocate.
It shouldn’t be anything new to my, the winter weather, and to be honest, it isn’t. It’s just so that I have always had extreme seasonal sensitivity, even myart displays that.
I’m not sure about Fahrenheit temperatures since I use Celsius.Maybe later will look up.
It is very nice to exchange a few lines, no doubt about that.
You, too, stay well and poetic!
85F is roughly 30C…so now you know how nice and warm I like it😉
I am always amazed by people like you who leave a homeland and travel to other countries to live. I’ve barely been out of the U.S….once to Canada…once to South America…and to several islands. I am like you, Inese…I am very sensitive to the cold. I much prefer it hot…and it’s a good thing I like humidity too as we get lots of that here! Hope you have a wonderful week ahead 😊
Well, Lorrie, I, too, prefer rather heat and warm weather in all seasons.
My move wasn’t intentional, it just happened that way, that’s why I arrived here with 1 suitcase, and for quite a while that was all I had. I couldn’t take anything with me, so all art which is on my website and all places is painted here during roughly 15 years because I had the surgeries, quite many and that put me out for long periods.
Well, I’m glad you’re happy.
I got a bit of bad news, just now, a few minutes ago. We have to move again, and that takes out about half a year. Nothing too excited to look forward to, except, probably can start packing slowly while we will be trying to find a new place.
See, it’s changes all the time, and we must be ready to accept them!
Have a nice evening! I will be off tonight.
Oh no, Inese…I’m so sorry you will have to move again! But I know you so well…you will roll up your sleeves and get busy packing because you know there is no use in complaining about something you can’t change. My thoughts are with you, friend, as you prepare to make this move. Much love and light!
Well, that’s exactly what we will do. The tough part is that there’s still pandemic and lockdowns here and all the rent prices at the moment are the highest they’ve ever been. The first step will be trying to find a place. Gotta see a lawyer tomorrow to find out what exactly our position should be, etc. I’m hoping to get time until April, who knows. I’d love to take my rare plants with me which I cannot do while the soil is frozen. Lots of things, I’m going to rest now.
All the best Lorrie and thanks!
Awww….sending lots of positive energy that things will go as smoothly as possible, Inese. 💜
Thanks!
Well, it’s a long way to the actual move, there’ll be lots of paperwork, lots of time spent looking for a new place and packing, and organizing and waste of time and so much effort.It’s the 8th time in 17 years and every time, I have to move everything. The worst is, moving every second year or more often prevents from establishing some kind of base for giving art classes and even the garden, I’ve started it 8 times from scratch, and brought to a great garden. I won’t have it this year because I hope for a move in April, let’s see how that goes.
Lovely paintings, Inese. I enjoy the cheerfulness of your color palette. So sorry you are on the move again with your large and vibrant work. I’m sure that standing in front of one of your paintings would be like seeing Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in person. Radiant with energy.
Thanks very much Cheyenne!
You really got it, I’d like that people can feel the energy, and that cannot happen when the image is small or has wrong colors. I think as an artist you understand that things we cannot display via internet and on a photo, can be crucially important perceiving one’s art.
Moving is not the most welcome news I’ve heard recently. In all regards, it’s going to be difficult. Much higher prices, less offers to choose from, the weather impact, pandemic restrictions and so forth.So, this year will have 3 months less because packing and unpacking, looking for a place and finding it, that takes abnormal time. Setting up studio in a new place is usually time- and effort-consuming, too. Nothing too exciting, but whatever.
All the best to you!
Thank you, Inese. Best of luck to you.
Luck will come in handy.
The biggest problem is that there’s absolute uncertainty about everything. I don’t know when, what and where. This also means that I pretty much cannot apply to shows for May/June/July which are accepting applications now and I cannot schedule any spring and summer classes since I have no idea where we will be located, will we stay here, will we move to another town, that type of thing. This will also hit financially to a big extent on top of everything else. It’s not a good situation.Not knowing anything is probably the worst. Well, that will last for a while yet.
Thanks!