inspiration Archives - Page 8 of 17

February 10, 2019March 6, 2023

Draw and paint your reality

Draw and paint your reality and keep memory in good shape

Why should you start drawing and painting if you are not and do not intend to be an artist? Why should your kid draw instead of scrolling through screens?

The worst part of nowadays trends is trying to achieve a wonderful result without any efforts, experience and work. When it comes to art classes, that takes away from any benefits drawing and painting provides you with.

I have listed benefits of participating in art class many times before. Some:

Benefits of participating in art classes

I have also mentioned the effects of drawing and painting on our memory many times:

Drawing and painting for brain health

It is not that important actually what you draw or paint, but how you use the medium of your choice or art supplies you have. It is also very important for people who are not and do not intend to be artists, to pick up a pencil and start drawing. Do it for fun, for pleasure, do it without regard to results and just to keep your brain flexible, young and memory strong.

Realistic painting of Bell peppers on white background

How to turn simple things into awesome subject of painting

While trying to become familiar with drawing or painting, you will progress faster and create more impressive drawings and paintings if you use real things, not photos. When artists have experience and know what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve, they can use also photos because they will understand how to handle them.

Draw what you see

We can draw and paint anything. It does not have to be an extraordinary setup of extraordinary things. Anything you have on the table or in fridge is fine. Anything you see through the window is fine. Anything visible in the backyard is fine, too. Try to create abstract outlines at first and then refine every area more. Don’t worry about the result; allow yourself the freedom to be a creator. Who cares what you have drawn? The main thing is engaging our brain, eyes, mind and hand.

Photo versus reality

If your initial learning subject is already flat and two-dimensional, you will have hard times to ever adjust to drawing or painting from reality. It is even worse to trace outlines from a photo because you are missing the most crucial part of drawing and painting process which is to understand why you place things where you place them and why you use the specific artistic tools such as contrasts, shadows, overlapping, specific colors, sizes and shapes on certain areas.

Brain loves drawing and painting

Art is a very logical thing; and decisions we make are the result of communication between many brain areas which are activated while we perform some specific task. Unlike any other cognition and memory related activity, drawing process involves many areas of the brain because drawing is a multi-sensory activity and in order to create we use many brain regions:

to see and understand our painting subject;

to process its shape, outline, size and spatial relationship with anything else;

to send the signal to our hand with brush or pencil;

to recreate visual images with line, color, form, value, contrast and shadow on a paper or canvas;

to give our subject multi-dimensional look and volume on a flat paper or canvas;

to distinct between abstracted areas and definite details;

to make certain focal points stand out or point out the main area of interest.

Decision-making and personal know-how

That is a lot of decision-making! Therefore, using our brain to its full capacity more and more often, we become successful with capturing our idea or visually perceived subject and turning work on it into personal artistic experience, into our personal know-how.

Composition and values

Composition and values, as well as shapes and shadows are things we should figure out while we are creating a sketch or value drawing for a painting. That is why reality is more helpful than we think. Photo has limitations, and you will have to pretty much stick with it while reality allows for endless interpretation and adjustment.

Creation takes origin in us and our own brain

That is also my biggest argument against the idea of believing that watching how somebody else paints results in better drawing or painting for you. You simply do not know all the things the artist who demonstrates painting or drawing is considering. Artists, who demonstrate their creative process, have made countless decisions before they started to apply paint. They keep making new decisions every split second, and most often, they have also practiced on this particular piece many times.

Draw and paint and become more efficient with any mental task

If you already do not spend some calming, soothing and relaxing time with pencil or brush, please, consider it. You do not need to be an artist to start drawing or painting. However, most people need either mental or physical healing, and we definitely need to maintain our memory in a good shape. These are benefits we can count on along with creating something beautiful.

Sign up for art classes: Registration for art classes

P.S. I had already written this post by Friday morning, and my mom had a stroke on Friday afternoon. See lifeschool blog for more info on that: Bad news comes always at wrong time

My mom was better today. She recognized me and was able to recall my name.

January 29, 2019March 28, 2021

The power of pink color in watercolor painting

The power of pink and coral colors in watercolor painting

Soft ambient colors as natural antidepressants

Luckily, we have natural antidepressants. Soft and soothing colors in our space and in our mind’s space are some of these spirit-uplifting things. Color matters, and especially at places, where we spend much time.

Winter is nice some days, but, when storms last for weeks and sun don’t come out frequently, we are reminded that we need cheering up to do.

Do not allow weather affect you

I have a long history of experiencing how bad Seasonal Affective Disorder can become. It is abbreviated SAD. It is sad, indeed. We sometimes miss the fact that life passes by and we just have to skip so many pleasures of it when we are feeling depressed or upset. The bad weather can do that to you. To resist, we paint. At least, I do.

Cure yourself with color and art

I can tell from my personal experience that drawing and painting always helps overcome depression when it is about to set in. When I feel winter blahs are about to take over, I immediately put myself at the desk and start drawing and painting. It isn’t sometimes anything in particular; however, I have noticed that drawing and painting flowers in lovely, soothing and nice colors is an extra beneficial step.

The lovely subject: flowers

We have been drawing and painting flowers and landscapes with flowers in my studio in winter and early spring months since 2012. My students noticed and acknowledged that, too: soft, lovely colors and beautiful shapes of flowers made them feel like meditating with color. Time flew by, and they never even once remembered about their health issues, problems, aches, pains and mental disorders. The truth is that many people come to paint to lift their mood and to feel better.

Cure winter blahs with learning new things

There are serious reasons we feel more sleepy, inactive and unwilling to do anything during times when daylight is short and outdoors is not welcoming. The melatonin production is increased and that can make us sleepier than we would like. Is pushing oneself a little bit the answer? It most likely is because it will take some effort to get up from couch and stop eating the comfort foods or to get out and start doing something.

Learning something new

Learning something new is also an extremely worthwhile thing because it will make you feel more excited, more energized and more engaged. Drawing and painting is a very special activity because it takes your entire mind and all your senses to create art on white paper or canvas. Drawing and painting is very rewarding, too, because we see results soon.

The power of pink and coral colors in watercolor painting, artist Inese Poga — They look attractive

Adding soft pink and coral colors

For additional effect, we can create art in lovely pink and coral colors and use it in our space. The best thing is to paint such art yourself. If you think you cannot draw or paint, you are wrong. Anybody who has some interest in art can learn drawing and painting.

My newest watercolor paintings

My newly finished paintings are all in lovely colors and they are mostly still life and floral art. I enjoyed every single minute while drawing and painting these watercolor paintings, and I would say this process literally lifted my mood every time I picked up the brush.

Please, see my Fine Art America collections, as well.

Some art products look so fantastic, that I sometimes buy them for my own use also.

The power of pink, painting by Inese Poga — Single orchid watercolor

The power of pink, paintings by Inese Poga — Amaryllis, watercolor on paper

Watercolor painting, roses — Painting roses on fence, large watercolor

You might want to shop for art: Inese’s art

I hope you will get inspired and do some painting also. This is the right time to get started. This is the right time to start creating something beautiful in order to avoid winter blahs this year.

More info and registration for art classes: apply here

Art classes

Copyright notice: Copyrights of displayed paintings, drawings, images of work in progress and images of finished paintings belong to artist Inese Poga. The use of painting and drawing images is prohibited if I have not issued a written permission.

January 4, 2019October 3, 2021

Be curious, be creative

Our natural artistic abilities

Children can draw and paint before they are able to speak and anybody can still draw and paint even if they have lost many other abilities. We can express ourselves through art naturally. It is just so that when kids grow up they frequently get engaged in devices and digital devices, as well as they believe there is no more time for art.

Brain fitness

The comparative research in brain fitness and memory boosting activities clearly showed that doing manual observational drawing and painting 2 times a week for a few hours grew the most new brain neurons and wired the brain in the way that it was much more active than with any other activities. Drawing and painting were compared with reading, writing poetry or fiction, researching internet and writing down discovered things, doing mind games and crosswords.

Outstanding visual memory and decision making

My personal experience is that observational drawing develops extremely good visual memory, not simply good and flexible memory, but outstanding memory which does not worsen over time and with age. Drawing and painting boost attention and focusing ability to a high degree, and most importantly, one becomes master decision maker because that is what drawing and painting is. Every single brushstroke and line is based on numerous decisions. At least, it should be. The memory improvement occurs when we absorb the subject visually, and our brain sends a signal to the hand with brush or pencil . That is also active brain exercising.

Style, decisions and originality

Curiosity and necessity are frequently the main driving forces of discoveries. Creativity is the base for any solution we find along the way. Since anything we create must originate in our personal perception and be based on our own decisions, one cannot ever learn drawing or painting by watching somebody else do it. As they paint or draw they make decisions which we are unaware of.

Be curious explorer

I have noticed the following. Most people who are about to attend art classes have new art supplies: new paint tubes, new sets of paints, new brushes and new paper and canvas. Everything is unopened and not used. The first time they open their paint tubes is in the classroom, therefore, nobody knows what their paints and brushes are like. It seems surprising to me. How do you know now what that particular paint or brush will do? We should start with exploring what we have.

Quality or lack of it

We have numerous art supply manufacturing brands nowadays. Some are fine, but some sell such bad quality paints, brushes or paper that it is hardly possible to use them. Just like with many other products, art supplies often will be: “you get what you pay for”. That is why you should always test everything.

Curious as a kid

Look at kids what they do with a new box of paints, pencils, markers or crayons! They open it as soon as they can and start using immediately. Kids are curious and they are creative naturally. What is stopping adults? It is hard to say, but they should try being as curious and as creative with their new art supplies.

Testing art supplies

I am strictly advising: test every color, test every brush, test every paper and canvas. Do it before the class. Open every tube and paint some areas with every paint color in your set. At first, we do this using each color separately. For watercolor, we add more water, then less water to see what range of tones each particular color gives. For acrylic, use a small bit of water and wash the brush with warm water and soap afterwards.

Testing two colors

Next step is to test two colors together, for instance, every other color with blue, then every other color with yellow, then every other color with red. Larger sets will have many blue colors, many red colors and at least 3 to 4 yellow colors. That gives you numerous shades and transitional colors. That will also allow seeing what exactly you have. Be curious, be creative and that will allow you to start out easier.

Creating your own color swatches

It is not important to use any color charts or wheels, but it is important to know what the colors you have are and how they behave when mixed. Create color swatches from all tubes you have. Add to mixed color swatches. That way you know what you have, what it looks like and whether it is worth using it.

Testing watercolor paper

It is very useful to test the watercolor paper, as well. We will have different results with different paper. Some papers buckle a lot and some won’t allow applying more than 2 washes. You need to know what your paper does when using water on it. Brushes are also not the same. If you test your brush and it absolutely does not perform, it is quite clear that you’d need a different brush. We only use 2 brushes for either watercolor or acrylic at the beginning.

Some of 2018 watercolors

Watercolor painting,, perspective and buildings

Being curious and being creative will make art happen

Being curious and being creative is always helpful when doing art. It is so much better to discover your own favorite colors and color mixes than to just blindly follow some rules, charts or somebody else’s favorites. Be the creator of your own style. I am personally against rules in art. We need at least some areas in our life which are free of strict regulations and rules. Art can be that area if you give your imagination space.

It is New Year. Maybe you have lots of new art supplies. Don’t wait to explore them. Always be curious and be creative, try them now. Thanks for reading!

Link to art classes schedule: Sign up here

December 10, 2018June 8, 2021

Studio sale: decorate

Studio sale

I have created quite a few new large size artworks for my studio sale event on December 8^th. I do it every year, and the attendance is usually not crows, but some people come. A couple bought one of my large fall paintings. That was wonderful because this painting was created using a lot of texture and color transitions. It just proves that this type of art is very appealing and people love it. I could have probably created even more textured artworks because they always look stunning, especially when seeing in person.

New art classes, old chores

I haven’t been posting much recently, and there is certainly a reason for that. I was busy advertising my art classes after I moved the studio to another location, and that takes so much time and efforts. I have had quite a lot success so far because I believe potential students realized soon that this is a studio where they can really learn something new. That is very flattering and I appreciate the huge interest. It looks like January and February classes will be well attended.

Some years are just not that good

This year started out on a promising note, but it had prepared some unexpected challenges. The necessity to move house and studio was a huge problem, but my trip to Latvia was fantastic as it always is. I am waiting for the end of this year, nevertheless. It’s hard to admit, but nothing can replace wasted time, and I am extremely considerate about wasting even a minute. I once wrote how I measure the time flow by accomplishments. I wish this year had more accomplishments.

New types of paintings

This is a year when I created less new paintings than I expected, but more new types of paintings, I added a lot of figures, imaginative characters, many still life and floral paintings. I will post these paintings as soon as I get time. I know there is no excuse for posting that few articles. The truth is that my art and creations take a lot of time: weeks, sometimes months. When I have finished a painting, I need to make time for taking pictures. Then I take pictures, and there is no time to post them, and so it goes.

New images of new art

These are the images of new mixed media works, it took me couple of weeks to get them done, and they look amazing. I think colors came out just wonderful. I regret I can post only pictures because the actual works look really very attractive. I create something better and better every year and I’m very happy about that.

Unique holiday painting — The look is very festive and colors look beautiful with lights on

New art for kids

I have created beautiful snowman and gnome characters and they are large and came out very nice, but I hope posting them some other day. You can find them on Fine Art America site, there is a special collection ” Art for kids”. All of these paintings and many more are available during my studio sale event. I had to post an update not to lose all my blogging friends. Enjoy!

October 24, 2018September 30, 2022

Plenty of beauty, plenty of art

Beauty and coziness

There is never too much beauty. There is never too much art. I’ve been to many houses and seen many designer home improvement ideas. A home without art on its walls looks somewhat deserted and empty. That applies even to classy furnished homes. One can have very basic furniture, a few textiles, a few great plants and lots of art and the whole space will look gorgeous.

When I was moving recently and had to take off walls all numerous paintings in the gallery, I could see that many paintings on a wall make the space look much larger. I was convinced about the opposite before.

Crowded versus minimalist

Many paintings do not create a crowded look if they are chosen carefully and art is tasteful and these are originals, not prints. Prints actually add feeling of cheapness to any space which is ok for an office, but not that much for a living space. However, it always depends. Even minimalist spaces look much warmer and much more livable by adding a matching and suitable art.

Flower paintings

Flower paintings are such an enhancement anywhere. Depending on style, floral art can add luxurious and elegant feel or very rustic and homey feel.

Floral art might add more feminine feel to a space that just does not make us feel cozy and well-taken care of.

Why not to create on your own?

Therefore, I would suggest: paint, create or buy beautiful original floral art. Once we have a few tubes of paint and some frames and paper or canvasses, we can create quite a few paintings. The added bonus will be your energy which goes into art and makes your space shine.

Energy of art in our space

Energy in our space is matters. While print will decorate the wall, it will have hardly any energy which circulates around that room. Energy of a printer and paint? That is why we have to choose carefully inherited or antique pieces of art. They come with their energy. We have to make sure this energy is not going to harm us. If we want to have not much impact on our personality, we can choose neutral art or art which displays nice and clam scenes. Floral paintings are definitely carrying good energy and they also have a nice appeal.

Choose beauty

It is as simple as that: there is never too much beauty and coziness!

Large floral painting classes start soon. Sign up from the website.

Original paintings are available for shipping or for purchase in person.

Choose beauty and coziness, especially in the cold season.

I hope seeing you in my studio soon!

My floral art prints on Fine Art America: Floral art for sale

and Flower paintings

Plus, direct access to all art prints and art products:

Copyright notice: Copyrights of displayed paintings, drawings, images of work in progress and images of finished paintings belong to artist Inese Poga. Please, do not use painting and drawing images unless I have given you a written permission. That includes no pinning on Pinterest.

Category: inspiration

Draw and paint your reality

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The power of pink color in watercolor painting

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Be curious, be creative

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Studio sale: decorate

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Plenty of beauty, plenty of art

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