I did recently a commission of 4 artworks for wonderful clients. I do take on paintings for commission if you had not known that! My clients told they were unsuccessfully looking for a group of similar paintings for quite a while. Therefore, I got to paint four 24 x 18 inch paintings for an attractive living room. Everything else at their place was done, only walls needed refreshing accent pieces.
Red wild roses painting, commissioned art
These paintings actually had more functions. They had to serve as a bridge for the chosen color scheme between 3 rooms, add the finalizing touch to the walls and simply bring more life to the fairly neutral settings. The living room is connected to an open upscale kitchen area and to the dining room on the other side.
4 commissioned paintings
All 4 paintings needed to be similar, but have slight distinction in the layout of painted objects and background color.
My client was extremely satisfied because these paintings really made the look of this room more complete and more saturated.
View in room settings
It felt, they started to live and breathe in this room right away. Adding groups of paintings makes a lot of sense, and they can often suit the style better than one large painting in a medium size room. It’s an easy way to update, change or refresh the look of any room.
My clients told they’d send me a picture when paintings are on the wall. I suppose, they are going to look even better.
The learning season at my studio is getting close to the finish line. Paintings in 3 pictures are done by my students who started attending my art classes as beginners. They progressed very fast from not knowing how to mix paint to students who pretty much were sure what they wanted to achieve. We were exploring multiple techniques and subjects; we created quite many beautiful artworks. We feel enriched and inspired, and hopefully, the newly acquired skills will enable our students to capture their impressions during summer and their vacations.
Summer plans
I have been extremely busy recently, and I need a break, too. I’m going to spend some time in Europe, in my homeland Latvia this year. My art studio is getting reorganized, as well. We will start out again in September with new classes, seminars, practical learning in both, life skills school and art school.
Adjustments to online presence
I’m working on new updates of website which will contain all relevant information, and I might be very busy for a while yet. I intend to implement store pages and add new art products to these pages. It’s difficult to decide on art store format and what online options to use. There won’t be that many posts during this time.
Adult acrylic painting class: river scene. The river scene was finished a small while ago. Some students were not present at picture taking. This is painting by Diana. Well done!River paintings by my art students, this is Bev’s painting. It looked really good in reality, not every great detail is visible on photo.Gordon’s painting with river and rocks. It is amazing to see how beginners in art develop their skills and art becomes their passion. Good job, Gord!
My demo painting
Reflection of clouds, summer stream, acrylic, 24 x 20 in or 61 x 51 cm
My demo painting was waiting patiently for 7 years to be completed. I have a few paintings at different stages of completion, this was one of them. I wish photos captured colors better because my real painting has fresh summer green and good bright contrast. All my pictures with light green color have turned into some strange mustard-green color. I personally do not like and I do not use this color, not in summer or spring paintings. However, iPhone keeps damaging all my pictures. I should use only the big camera every time, but convenience sometimes comes first.
It is not a secret that some themes and subjects are easier to paint, and especially, if the artist is just starting out. Poppy fields or wildflower meadow definitely make great subject. After engaging for a few classes in two landscape paintings, we decided to paint poppies in a landscape, just for fun and for the love of color. So, we created background for poppy fields, then added flowers on top of that and finally adjusted some values.
This theme was liked a lot, and all students started their paintings without any complications, extreme difficulties or unpleasant surprises.
Everybody told, they really enjoyed this painting and subject.
The excitement was so great that these paintings got finished by students during the following class, which was the last class before I left for vacation.
Adult group painting poppies
Students are using artist grade acrylic paints, so, these paintings will last. We had a chance to check out paintings done with students grade paints, and colors had lost they brightness in just 3 years. We are referencing drawings, pictures, and sometimes real flowers to help our imagination with color choices and composition.
Students have freedom to choose whatever color or its shade they prefer, in order to create their paintings in a way they love it.
Still life, – classic or modern, abstract, or realistic, – I adore this subject in any form it’s created. I took my time this summer and painted a good size watercolor on heavy Arches paper. For this particular still life, I used real pears and a cloth next to the window. My intention was using bright and sunny colors as you can see in the resulting painting.
Golden pears still life on my easel, just finished
It is more my personalized realism painting than pure realism. I chose the placement of fruit and light reflection so that the entire painting shines through flow of colors and shapes.
Watercolor painting, Golden pears, still life. It is 24 x 18 in or 61 x 46 cm in size
In the upcoming art classes, I am teaching still life, floral painting and landscapes. My goal is to teach students so that they can discover the excitement of drawing and painting real fruits, vegetables, flowers, street scenes, nature scenes without reproducing photos, computer printouts and similar aid. We learn creating a genuinely original art since it originates in our imagination and perception.
Most students are beginners or have very limited experience, but everyone has shown remarkable results so far. There is also usually a group of students with previous experience in painting and drawing. They will also learn numerous new techniques and discover new ideas.
Classes are designed for children 12+ years, youth and adults.
Art studio is a necessity for any visual artist. I am lucky to have a real place which displays my art and has become not only my studio, but also my personal art gallery. I intend to post all news and events which will take place in my art studio and art gallery in this blog. I will share my painting tips, techniques and my thoughts about art and creativity, as well as present my art philosophy here.
It starts in spring
The weather has not been too nice this spring, but summer hopefully will bring more sunny days for outdoor painting. Painting from reality is the best way to get in touch with both: painting and nature. The settings are very suitable for creation of art, so is the season.
Inspiration for my watercolor and acrylic paintings
My watercolor and acrylic paintings are often based on scenes just outside my studio. The huge backyard offers plenty of subjects for painting. There are more and more fresh ideas originating in my head as everything blossoms and gets more beautiful outside.
Sunny spring creek, watercolor painting on Arches watercolor paper,full sheet, 29 x 22 in or 74 x 56 cm.
Enjoy creativity of my art studio and my art blog
I hope everyone joining me at my art studio will have great time, gain very useful experience, acquire good painting skills and become excellent in drawing. I also hope you will return to this blog again and again to get new inspiration and to possibly buy some art.
Still life with pansies, watercolor painting on Arches watercolor paper,full sheet, 29 x 22 in or 74 x 56 cm
I love going large
I paint very large watercolors, full sheet and larger, and they exceed 1 meter 20 cm with frame in height and are about 80 cm wide , as well as large and medium size acrylic paintings up to 30 x 40 in or 76 cm x 1 m and 2 cm. The Blossoming orchard is on display in Europe. Well, and I am in Canada.
Blossoming orchard, acrylic painting on canvas, sold
To welcome my most favorite season – spring, I painted the wild blue forest anemones. Blue anemones are the first messengers of spring. They symbolize all that is alive and starts thriving again.
Blue forest anemones, watercolor on Arches watercolor paper, full sheet, 29 x 22 in or 74 x 56 cm.
Still life is what I paint excellently. I love the shapes, I adore contrasting colors. Still life offers numerous variations in color and composition.
Still life with pears, watercolor painting on Arches paper, 24 x 20″Garden works, watercolor painting on Arches watercolor paper,full sheet, 29 x 22 in or 74 x 56 cm
See you around
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at my art gallery and art studio, and this also means a very warm “Hello!” to my future online friends, fellow artists and art collectors. I am attaching link to my Fine Art America site.
