Acrylic painting Archives - Page 8 of 16

December 16, 2019October 17, 2024

Gifts of experience and art

Gifts of experience can be the perfect choice

It can be hard to find a gift for someone, who has everything, or for somebody, who will not be fine with stuff which is presented just for the sake of giving gift. Gifts of experience are great option. First of all, most people rarely take or use time for their own well-being. They’d do gym, yoga, other exercise or a meeting with friends at the best. There is so much more! That is why experiencing great things is actually better than being happy for a few moments because gift of experience can last.

Need for self-care and relaxation

Adults need relaxing self-care time even more than teens and kids. Most people just rush and run through their day, and they believe that is the only way to live. Everybody needs their chance of simply engaging in an activity which is rewarding, relaxing and life-improving. Drawing and painting regularly increase focus, decision making ability, not to mention memory improvement. The trial in brain flexibility and memory-associated issues proved that drawing and painting 3 hours a week improved memory and created new brain neurons, as well as longer signaling pathways 75% compared to start-up condition. People, who draw and paint, have better reaction time and keep focus longer.

Participants of art classes report life improvements

I have had numerous talented, committed and diligent students over more than a decade of teaching art in Canada. They created fairly large paintings to decorate their living and work space, as well as took part in juried shows and contests after completion of art classes. All participants told they gained a great experience in painting and also became better people, who had no more signs of depression and troubled mind. Some recovered from anxiety. Art classes always work as meditation with color and shape since creativity takes over our mind and cleans it. Creating literally swipes your mind clean from disastrous and damaging thoughts, helps with grief and allows overcoming tough life situations.

Available art classes: Art classes

Private art lessons: Classes specifically for your needs

When you retire, you won’t do everything

My art classes always bring together people of all ages and all walks of life. We are experiencing the miracle of creative makeover every time when we have an art class. It can be so that potential students put off drawing and painting until retirement. Some people wait for many decades to get started in art while they know for sure they’d love doing that. Life can present unpleasant situations as we get older and sometimes the dream just won’t be fulfilled because of some bad health condition. Therefore, I am suggesting making time now: today, tomorrow.

Studio snapshots

Spending time at art studio will be your best experience during all dull winter months. Just try it and you will be extremely happy you did!

Art studio is ta wonderful place where pleasure and happiness live, and it comes with your Gift certificate as gift of experience.

Studio Ajax, Ontario, holiday art display

Art for kids and art for fun, including decorative holiday art, these paintings could be on your walls!

Gift of art

Art gifts are timeless. They do not have expiry date. Do you really need just a snow or holiday-related art during holiday season? It depends on preferences. Most people collect art which involves certain subject, theme, color or is created by a particular artist. Original and handmade art always looks classier and more elegant than prints. The special flare of personal touch makes it unique. Buying directly from artist means at least 50% lower price than gallery price, which includes even online galleries selling original art. Gallery markup usually ranges around 50%, plus, shipping is done by artist.

New birch painting, goes with chickadees , birch painting is 20 x 16 in or 51 x 41 cm

Gifts of art, chickadees with golden leaves

They are very lovely! chickadees, each 12 x 12 in or 31 x 31 cm

Chickadee with golden branch, 1

Chickadee with golden branch, 2

Shop original art, all year long: Original art for sale

Specials: Special offers

Wrap up nicely what you’ve got and add some more if something is still missing!

December 2, 2019December 10, 2021

The Christmas gift you can give anybody

Brief Christmas gift guide: choose art

Art is democratic and it is also a perfect Christmas gift. It is a gift which goes from very personal to very formal. Some people might not find any value in art, but most of us do. The difficult part is always having too many choices. Print is not the same as original art. Hand painted art carries the uplifting energy of colors, lines and brushstrokes, as well as artist’s thoughts and energy.

Affordable handmade luxury

Hand-drawn and crafted cards, as well as hand-drawn images and hand painted art are becoming more and more exquisite things. Handmade items are considered luxury in quite a few countries already since they are unique and one-of-a-kind. America is more inclined towards digital art. Handmade art deserves its high and exclusive position on the value list of luxury items. It is a luxury which everybody can afford.

Handmade is unique

Handmade art is always unique and pertains to the person who created it. Anybody can create digital files and print them off. It does not require the specific, elevated state of mind which makes an artist flutter above the Earth and feel like the creator of universe once the painting is completed. Each brushstroke is artist’s signature, each line – proof of excellence.

Art can be perfectly matched to the gift receiver

If you know the main values of person receiving the gift, you might be able to choose a perfectly matched piece of art for them. Nature enthusiast or fighter for sustainability on the Earth will love nature related images and scenes. People, who appreciate beauty, will always enjoy it in art, as well. Simplified and strong images will work well for these, who stand firmly on the ground. Art is a good gift when one is not sure what exactly they should choose.

There is never too much art

Many people say they have enough art already which I absolutely do not believe. I have seen million dollar houses with bad quality prints on walls. Most places would also have just one painting on a large wall. Boring. Art will either enhance and give elegant appearance, or make your space look cheap. There is also neutral art which is not too abstract, not too realistic, but has still all quality markers we should look for. Most importantly, art can be always displayed: on shelves, on walls, on desks, bookcases, dressers and even on the floor if its size allows for that.

Direct sales from artist

Buying art from artists directly is always less expensive. They created this art; they can decide what price tag to put on it. Gallery sales involve extra fees since artists showing their art have to pay either for space, provide percentage of sale amount to gallery, or both. Some galleries will take as much as 50% and more off the sales amount, even online galleries. That is included in price. With direct sale from artist, especially at their studio, no middlemen increase the price.

White winter, acrylic, 20 x 16 in or 51 x 41 cm

The very red poinsettia, acrylic, 41 x 51 cm or 16 x 20 in

Golden trees, moonlight, acrylic painting, 41 x 51 cm or 16 x 20 in

Spruce hills, acrylic painting 41 x 51 cm or 16 x 20 in

Refreshing my own sales pages for Canada-wide, international and USA shipments

I will try to publish also more frequently my own art-for-sale images. For many years, I focused mostly on teaching. It’s time to make my own art more visible. I spend abnormal time creating it. I will have a few public shows in 2020. I have been accepted in 2 so far; when it comes closer I will publish more about that.

My sales pages are always in progress, but I will start adding more “Buy now” buttons for each painting.

Live in Greater Toronto Area? Stop by

The easiest way to purchase some art for people in Ajax, Ontario, and close by areas, like Whitby, Pickering or Oshawa, is to just stop by at my studio. I will ship all unframed watercolor art and small to medium size unframed acrylic paintings (11 x 14 in or 28 x 36 cm to 20 x 24 in or 51 x 61 cm) to other locations in Canada and the USA. I will only sell and ship my original art, not art products with printed images of my art. I do not process your payments on my site, Paypal does; therefore, you are not putting your credit or debit card info on my site and shouldn’t have any worries about it.

My art for sale, getting updated: Original paintings

Inspiration: Inspiring gifts

I just added new painting images to my FAA site, as well.

Enjoy!

October 29, 2019August 2, 2024

Artworks, brushworks, paintworks

Golden sidewalk, fall painting in acrylic

Essential aspects of artworks

Painting isn’t just brushing around. Many different things go into a single painting. That’s why nobody can learn painting within a few hours.

Painting process includes idea, concept and composition, choosing and mixing colors or deciding on palette, paint application using different tools and brushes of all types, brushstroke, blending and creation of values, contrast and adding highlights. The painting process also includes understanding of abstracted parts and backgrounds, ability to see and understand what is more important and what should be left out of painting. Each one of these aspects involves continuous work and ongoing elaboration.

Loose isn’t sloppy

I sometimes get the impression that by liking loose painting style, it is understood that we can apply sloppy, coincidental and not targeted brushstroke (when there is a brushstroke). In fact, any part of putting paint on canvas must be targeted and have some intention behind it. Moving paint around is probably the worst habit one can have or develop. The first step is always to learn practical use of brushes and tools. That refers to painting in any medium.

Flat brush for acrylic painting

Flat brush is magic in that regard that it can carry out numerous functions. Flat brush has a few surfaces and edges. We can make it work fast and create smooth color and values transitions. We can use two different colors or shades of them on each side of the brush. We can draw thin lines using the edge of flat brush and holding it so that it is perpendicular to canvas. We can use it for easy blending with clean water and as a dump brush. We can use any edge or side of it to paint small parts. I assume a decent flat brush an essential tool for acrylic painting,

Fan brush, sponge and paper towel

Any of these tools can be used for textured prints and also for quick cover of large areas. It makes sense to learn using fan brush in a sensitive way. Most people won’t rotate fan brush and won’t use just a part or corner of it, We use in classroom fan brushes which I have specifically cut out with scissors to create more impressive prints. Such brush also controls amount of paint better. Paper towel is our best friend with any medium. It is very important to have many sheets of paper towel around the painting surface as soon as you start working.

Understanding values, contrast and direction of light

If somebody has done a lot of drawing and sketching to establish the composition, focal point and also value pattern in a painting, they will understand these aspects much easier. I find that a value sketch is probably the most useful. Once we have done a value sketch, we do not need even a photo reference. Value sketch will identify all areas which are of great importance. I know that most beginners assume ability to draw and creating value sketches in color a waste of time. Yet, I can honestly say that nothing else helps more than such sketch.

Fall sunset, acrylic painting — This painting which we did in art classes, uses contrasting colors with distinctive temperature, as well as extra simple composition.

The most important part of painting

The most important part of painting is decision making. When somebody has plenty of experience, they apply paint in an automated manner. It is predictable what each color combination, each type of paint application and each element of composition will do for our painting. Until we have gained sufficient experience, it is mostly guessing whether something will work well in your painting or not.

Acrylic painting, red country barn in fall — Red barn, maple gold, acrylic painting on canvas

Red barn, acrylic painting — Red barn, maple gold painting with small bit of background

Layer it on

Acrylic is a friendly medium. Acrylic paint can be applied (in fact, should be applied) in many layers. Each layer will bring out more or neutralize colors and values appearing underneath. If canvas fabric is visible in the final version of painting, it is clear that one has used too less paint and too few layers. That is a common beginners’ mistake: to believe that one layer of paint will do. One layer of paint is not sufficient, especially, because acrylic paint becomes flatter as it dries. We have to go over and over some part of painting for a few times until we have established the correct proportion of colors and values.

Golden sidewalk, fall acrylic painting — Golden sidewalk, acrylic on canvas. We were painting Golden sidewalk during adult acrylic painting classes. This is my demo painting, I always add more layers after class.

Golden sidewalk, fall painting with acrylic — Golden sidewalk painting got lots of attention on Facebook. I must admit it looks very good also in reality.

More about recent acrylic painting: Paintings in progress

Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

October 17, 2019October 17, 2024

New fall paintings and art in progress

New art, new fall paintings, new vision

I have painted recently and completed quite many new paintings, especially fall art and three-dimensional textured paintings. Colors are so bright and uplifting outdoors, and it is difficult to resist not capturing one or another landscape. I have to still work more on making my art visible on the internet. It is not enough to be present on Facebook and a few print sites, like Fine Art America and ArtPal. Just as I am writing this, somebody ordered a print from Fine Art America, my bright pine cones under snow.

Managing single person business

Realistically, I get to paint a lot, and I create new art and paintings almost every second day. It’s completely different story with putting this art out there and letting somebody know it is available for purchase. I am only one person doing everything. Sites like Facebook don’t get that. They tell me that Walmart started to use Workplace app and their sales grew big time. Well, just think about that. How does one single person’s tiny business compare with insanely huge company, such as Walmart? It doesn’t. I have no employees; therefore, I cannot connect them to my workplace. I find that funny how they apply to everything one-size-fits-all.

Your interest would be greatly appreciated

Regardless of anything, I keep painting. I certainly would love to sell something before Christmas, so that I also can enjoy the fruit of my difficult, time-consuming and labor-intensive work. I usually sell at least 1 painting around this time. I should sell 100 times more paintings this season to make a space for new art, that would be terrific. I sell quite a lot of prints on different sites, but the profit from print and art product sale is like $1-$5. It is very little, yet, it means somebody loved my work so much that they were willing to spend some money on it.

New art and paintings in progress

I have brought to completion two very textured paintings: the “Rocky stream” which is more abstracted and impressionistic, and “Birch light” which was totally done during art classes. I had placed the textures using modeling paste before, since it takes quite a few hours to dry.

Birch light, acrylic painting, 20 x 16 inches

Rocky stream, acrylic on textured background

Rocky stream on heavily textured background, 20 x 16 inches; in fact, all recent paintings are created on textured background. It looks excellent in reality, and texture is still visible on a photo, too.

Autumn path, acrylic painting on textured background

Fall path, 20 x 24 inches acrylic painting on highly textured background

Some work will be still done on the “Fall path”. Yellow color is tricky with acrylic, and it takes numerous glazes. I think the color combination works extremely well, and it will fit very nicely the late fall mood.

My next art show will be on November 23. I hope local people will attend. I have many pieces of art in different sizes and done with different mediums. There is so much to choose from!

All art products, including many kinds of art prints can be purchased from FAA:

Art collections by Inese Poga

Ajax, Ontario, art classes and winter workshops

As the weather gets cooler and less pleasant, it is great to be part of our student groups. It can be your “me-time”, it can be your stress relief, it can be the best event in the entire week as my students told me. We have created numerous paintings during my art lessons. Some are more finished, some are less done. That always depends on group. Whatever you learn, stays with you forever. Whatever you draw or paint, will always delight your eyes.

Link to art classes and masterclass: Sign up for art lessons

September 24, 2019October 17, 2024

Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

Fall still life with pumpkin and fruit, realistic still life painting

Giving thanks: Canadian Thanksgiving

I have Thanksgiving on my mind this year. It’s not that we always celebrate it, but I believe there are many things to be thankful for this year, especially, overcoming all the difficulties and sadness in February and March. Canadian Thanksgiving is much earlier than the American, therefore, I hope my gift sales page will be set up and published soon. I can currently invite everybody to check out my Fine Art America products: there are so many: from garments and outfits to notebooks, mugs and totes, not to mention many kinds of prints, both framed and unframed on different surfaces and in many sizes. Link is at the bottom of page.

Inese’s Art Studio creates

Inese’s Art Studio is booming with ideas, plans for projects and hands-on activities. I am working on a few new artworks, as well as finalizing some that were started 3 to 5 years ago. Having one-person run art school, creating my own art and crafts, sometimes sewing things, gardening and performing all daily chores takes a lot of time and work. I simply want to have lots and lots of gifts and smaller size art, as well as cards and Thank-you sheets to offer this year. The good thing is: art never goes bad, so, it can be used and re-used after a while again.

Fall still life with pumpkin and fruit, 20 x 24 in

What’s not to love about fall?

As much as I enjoy spring and summer, I also love the color parade and all shades of gold showing up in nature and tree foliage when the fall arrives. It is a feast for eyes, and it is a great inspiration for anybody who picks up a brush. I finished the fall still life which we started in my art classes 5 years ago. I think it came out great with warm colors and very attractive fall fruit. I struggled with photos, just as always. Some had glare on them, some came out too dark, some were to light and some had wrong colors. I chose the best, yet, I must say, the actual painting is still better. Its size is 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 46 cm.

Sunset boat, acrylic painting on canvas, 20 x 24 in

Moonlit path, acrylic, 20 x 20 in

Under fall sky, acrylic painting by Inese Poga, sunset boats

Under fall sky, 20 x 16 in

Red poppies, bright red, acrylic 24 x 20 in acrylic on canvas

Painting fall is always rewarding and pleasure

We have done it numerous times and every year during art lessons. Even absolute beginners can get nice art done if using sponge and fan brush because it loosens one up and allows going easy about blending and color matching. Any warm colors will do, and if you pair them with cool grey or soft grey-blue, the result speaks for itself. I am sharing a few paintings which I haven’t sold yet, although, fall landscapes usually sell fast. I suppose it is because they make any wall and room cozy and warm. Fall is the time we want our comfort foods, candle lights and warm blankets on the sofa.

Enjoy and let me know if you’d be interested in purchasing some art.

Link to art lessons and workshops: Group art classes

Shop for art prints on Fine Art America:

Art collections by Inese Poga

Category: Acrylic painting

Gifts of experience and art

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The Christmas gift you can give anybody

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Artworks, brushworks, paintworks

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New fall paintings and art in progress

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Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

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