Art classes Archives - Page 6 of 14

March 31, 2020October 17, 2024

Spring mix, staying at home creatively

Last day of March 2020, enjoy spring mix

Just like always, time passes swiftly. Whether it is bad or great spring, we go through it. I just couldn’t get myself to the point this time to post something new. I have started working on projects in downloadable format, and that is tough. My previous main computer crashed, and lots of software which I cannot get back went with it. While I had backups for most picture folders, it is sort of impossible to recreate everything which has been carefully put together over the course of 12 years. Every device has its limits, but crashes come always at a wrong moment. Therefore: spring mix!

Poor choices for realistic editing of picture

While there are numerous, I’d even say countless apps and software for manipulating photos and using all kinds of effects on photos, there is practically nothing anymore for simple editing which makes image of a drawing or painting look like it is in reality. The last great editing software was Microsoft Digital Image Editor, but that’s gone now. I still have it on laptop, but my laptop display is so poor that I cannot do any sensitive adjustments on it. My much loved watermark is gone, too. I bought another one which is kind of ok, but doesn’t do the same at the same speed as the previous one. I don’t have many things on this computer yet, so, putting up my content on the internet is problematic at the moment.

Projects with watercolor pencils

I would like to introduce the use and application of watercolor pencils for beginners in watercolor. It is easy and it is better for people, who are very good at drawing and not that good at watercolor wash control. I read in a Facebook group how people complained that they got horrible results using watercolor pencils. I would completely disagree with that. If you use watercolor pencils sensitively and you have an idea how to do that, the result is fantastic. I have great watercolor pencils which I bought maybe 13 or more years ago. They last long time. I actually use them only in classes. For my personal use, they are too slow. However, one can really learn well everything about painting principles, values, contrast, shadows, shapes, highlights and composition using good quality watercolor pencils which contain decent amount of pigment.

Now is the right time to learn

When else are we going to learn new things if not now when we have to stay at home? Drawing and painting has very good ability to consume all our thoughts. While we are creating, there is absolutely no space for being afraid, scared or depressed. There is no space for being worried and frustrated about the future. It is extremely calming and rewarding process when we let it to be that way.

Stay tuned for home projects!

I wish I could work out the home projects faster and put up them for download, so, that everybody can be creative and busy in a nice way. I know that drawing is the most difficult part for most beginning and even advanced artists. Therefore, I intend to allow tracing template drawings.

Stay safe and create! Have a bit of patience and you will be able to paint with me beautiful spring flowers, landscapes and more!

Inspiration: Light and shadow

Inspiration: Perspective

Art prints Art collections by Inese Poga

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!

November 16, 2019October 16, 2024

Floral watercolors: the softness that soothes

Summer petunias, floral watercolor painting for sale

Touch of flowers

Floral watercolors are amazing. It is easy to get carried away by soft colors and gentle shapes of petals. It usually depends on season, weather and what I feel like doing, but I go for the opposites. When it is cold and dark, I love something sunny and full of light. We have been painting soft and lovely floral images also in classroom most often in December and January. These paintings and process of creation provide with the much needed contrast between the upsetting darkness outdoors and the light and brightness of such artworks.

Pink color

Pink color is easy to grade from dark and cold to soft and warm. It doesn’t take much adding some purples or washes of light red and ocher. Mainly, somewhat realistic watercolors are closely associated with quality of drawing. Therefore, I have decided for the remaining classes to offer my drawing templates for use. Sometimes, drawing is more than 50% of watercolor painting. If you do not understand values, you do not know where to apply paint.

2020 sets of art classes

It is hard to say when everything about art classes and painting lessons shifted towards only end result. The most important part is actually the process of creation and the journey of getting to the completed painting. We are recently facing the following: people want everything right away and immediately. That is a very limiting approach for those who start from zero skills and want to learn. That simply cannot happen. Nobody paints like a master in a few hours. Therefore, the next sets of art classes will start with basics of drawing and painting and progress toward more accomplished skills.

Roses on fence, 24 x 18″ or 61 x 46 cm watercolor

Pink floral watercolor, petunias

Watercolor painting of amaryllis

Enjoy the gallery, purchase art

I took new photos recently, and I hope these images will look better and more balanced. I am working on a new reference booklet which will facilitate start-ups in watercolor painting. It will be available for download everywhere. I’d love to invite the art lovers and art collectors from Greater Toronto Area, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa to simply stop by at my November 23 and December 14 art shows. I am selling original art at my studio. Prints are available from Fine Art America site.

Pink roses, watercolor painting, art for sale

Beautiful rose painting, watercolor paintings for sale

We will be painting orchids and roses, large size. Link to floral painting class:

Art lessons and painting classes

Copyright notice: Copyrights of displayed paintings, drawings, images of work in progress and images of finished paintings belong to artist Inese Poga.

Fine Art America, my art prints and artistic products with my painting images:

Art collections by Inese Poga

September 24, 2019April 14, 2025

Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

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

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

September 15, 2019March 28, 2025

Fruity, simple, attractive

Fruity, simple and attractive is still life with apples. Between years 2013 and 2018, I used to spend either August or September in Latvia. They have numerous fruit trees. Apples were in all tones and colors: red, white, green, purple and scarlet. Their round perfect shape was always attractive to me, so, I rarely could resist sketching or painting some apples whether with leaves or other elements.

This particular painting comes from my bright color period. I think it was 2008 when I painted this still life. It is quite large, 15 x 22 inches or 38 x 56 cm. I used to enjoy extra bright colors and St. Petersburg watercolors definitely facilitate that.

This apple still life was painted in Latvia looking at a tree and balancing paper in my lap. The weather wasn’t really cooperating, but I managed to finalize this painting upon my return to Canada.

Fall still life, shop watercolor paintings

Similarly, this still life with apples and pears was painted at my daughter’s computer desk. The space was too small to lay out paints and paper in a manner that I could paint without worrying that something falls to the floor. However, I love how it came out. I got some leaves in the garden, and they had a few green pears. I love my color combination in this one.

Shop watercolor paintings, apple still life painting

These are clear white apples which grow in my sister’s garden. They are ripe in August or even sooner, but must be consumed swiftly. They are extremely juicy and sweet, but go bad fast. I haven’t actually seen this sort of apples in Canada. I think this still life came out quite nice, too. I had to add final touches upon my return to Canada.

I have many sketches of apples, some unfinished watercolors and also acrylic still life painting with fruit and apples. It is not possible to remember all paintings which feature apples.

My personal point is that anything makes a good painting. Simple things can be painted and drawn as great as very complex subjects. I do always advise starting with such subjects that are around you and are easily found and replaced. That is a wonderful exercise in composition and color. It is also pleasure for eyes. Such paintings look great on any wall.

My art on Fine Art America:

Art collections by Inese Poga

Original watercolor paintings for sale

Category: Art classes

Spring mix, staying at home creatively

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Gifts of experience and art

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Floral watercolors: the softness that soothes

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Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

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Fruity, simple, attractive

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