Spring time: we’ve been waiting long for sun to show up and wake up the nature. At my studio, we have been very busy with creating spring time watercolors, too. We keep enjoying the pleasure of being able to create something great, cheerful and uplifting. That would be art which is simple, but speaks to us.
Watercolor painting of pink garden anemones: demo version for adult watercolor class
While there’s some useful advice contained in all learning materials, it’s most often a description of a common, basic and simple techniques and approaches. When you try painting in reality and on your own, it might seem more difficult. However, we have to start with something, therefore, we can do easy spring time nature paintings.
Kristina is genuinely happy since the chickadee painting came out extremely nice
Presence of immediate advice is extremely important. That not only speeds up everything, but also provides students with plenty of information in a very short period of time, allowing to experience and apply everything right there and right away.
This is a very direct and very immediate “how to”. Any question receives answer on the spot, any problem gets solved when it occurs.
Watercolor wash: spontaneous and simple application of watercolor
Students, who want to learn, are very happy with my classes, and so am I. It’s always a pleasure to see fast development of young, talented artists. It is great to know that I have contributed quite a lot to this development.
Waiting for something can be as exciting as the upcoming event itself.
Spring is late this year, and that makes us more impatient. Everyone is tired of storms, cold, snow and icy winds. However, why to wait when you can create sensation of spring and speed up its arrival on your own?
We’ve been busy with blossoming apple trees painting during the last 4 classes.
Unlikely many North American art schools, we are focusing not only on technical abilities, but also on the emotional impact of our creations. We pay attention to emotional aspect and the energetic potential of painting.. Great art creates fantastic energy.
When painting a certain subject, we are trying to capture not that much its photographic likeness, but rather to implement the idea and emotions, the emotional charge within and behind the painted image.
We are trying to paint our vision in the way others could experience it, too. That requires freedom in our approach, experimenting with colors and brush stroke, immediate decision-making, and high confidence level, as well.
The painting subject was very attractive this time, and we got really great results on our canvas.
It is important that we use the same basic image and the same medium (acrylic, watercolor or pastel) in a class since every medium requires different handling and specific techniques for bringing the painting subject to life.
Acrylic is actually very forgiving, and everything can be adjusted, changed and improved when necessary.
All artists were not present at the time of taking pictures, but all paintings looked fantastic. They are beginners! This is a great achievement.
We will just have to learn how to paint sky and water yet, and these students could surprise us with fantastic paintings which they have created without a guidance.
To create something from nothing takes creativity, knowledge and commitment. We were doing some negative painting exercises, and after that we were getting ready for the next painting which will be seaside with some birds.
Big things start with small accomplishments
Psychologists are certain that everything is based on confidence and high level of self-esteem. Art tremendously helps achieving these goals. We also become aware that we can create, we can pursue our goals. It is a new stepping stone when walking through the life. Step by step, brushstroke by brushstroke: big things start with small accomplishments.
Only benefits
Everybody benefits from engaging in arts, and it is something valuable for our entire life. Some artists of adult acrylic painting group completed their first painting, some – their third paintings.
No more fear, just pleasure
We are overcoming the fear from blank canvas and learning to apply paint with confidence, and results speak for themselves. It is never too early or too late to engage in creation of something artistic. We sometimes need 30 or 40 years to realize that art is what we want to learn. It is a pleasure to watch this happen as we progress more and more with every single painting.
Experimenting is the force behind creation of new art. I love experimenting. I think most artists try new materials and challenge themselves time to time. We cannot just paint one and the same subject in the same way all life. Life is too short not to find out what else is out there. In order to create these paintings, I have to try different medium options.
Experimenting with surfaces
I just found out that watercolor canvas is not my preferred surface because paint comes off much easier than it goes on, but it was interesting to try painting on this surface. It was quite a struggle to cheat the paint onto watercolor canvas. I had to wait until the first layer is completely dry and then try adding more paint. See how gorgeous it actually came out: Sunny still life, finished years later
Experimenting with medium
I’m combining acrylic ground, watercolor, pastel fixative and pastels in order to draw with pastels on a stretched canvas. While it is a multi-step process, the small canvas looks really good.
Disadvantage of using glass
I’m also stretching watercolor paper on bars, and I’m doing this because I don’t like how paintings look behind the glass. Frame contributes to perception of an image, but glass reflections definitely disturb it. I have watercolor paintings under museum quality glass, and there is still present reflection. It feels as if color and image are not directly approachable as with acrylic paintings.
First layers of acrylic paint in amaryllis painting
Challenges with any medium
I don’t think, there is any absolutely flawless medium. Pastels leave a lot of dust and cause respiratory problems. They need to be preserved immediately. Acrylic paintings are easy to store and hang, but paint dries out almost immediately, and any correction requires to go over a big area. Watercolor paintings on paper need to be preserved and framed. Glass, mat board and frame increase the selling price a lot.
My set-up is visible in the background
Avoiding necessity to frame art
My goal is to paint on any surface combining any mediums so that I don’t have to frame my paintings. To be honest, good frames look fantastic. However, framing many hundreds of paintings is very expensive and time-consuming. It is almost impossible at this point since there are too many paintings. Art buyers actually like paintings without frames. That allows them framing or not framing later, and using frames they prefer to.
Such art doesn’t require frame and can be used without it
Paintings in progress
None of these paintings is finished yet, but I like how they are coming out. I’m experimenting so far, but I will see soon what works the best. It’s also fun to use watercolor pencils, pastel pencils, pastel sticks, watercolor on canvas, on paper, on board and just take a risk. The result might be unpredictable, but I don’t think it’s going to be unacceptable. Painting from real set-up is also the way I like it. Update: please, see newer articles for all finished paintings.
Many people are stopping by, and my sales are actually better than I expected. I decided to extend the sale until almost Christmas.
I noticed also that many visitors really liked the traditional colors: red, white, green and gold.
Since the previous traditional Christmas decorations were sold, I created new ones in similar style. This time, I used some baskets and more greens.
You might like these ideas, as well. So, get to work.
All you need can be found in the backyard and craft store. I used some dry tree branches and painted cedar branches look great. Add some glitter, make use of hot glue and glue gun, apply tissue paper in your favorite colors, as well as some pine cones and/or fir cones. I am also using a base (for live flowers or for dry flowers), that makes it easier to arrange all parts of Christmas decoration. Arrange your composition in a basket, plate or jar, and nothing moves away from its place.
I start with arrangement of greens, after that, I’m attaching fir cones, pine cones and tissue paper roses wherever they look fitting.
Creating Christmas crafts is a great way to make your home look very festive and welcoming.
Nature materials for beautiful Christmas decorations: what could be more attractive?
Small Christmas decorations can look as good as the large ones.
And paintings look great, too. Original paintings give the special flare and dress walls in an amazing way.
Christmas gift or decoration: bottles rolled in acrylic medium and white paint, oats and then again covered with acrylic medium.
I hope you enjoyed and you are already looking for materials.
