Tag: Ajax Ontario

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New fall paintings and art in progress

Art show, fall painting

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

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

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My magic watercolor brush

Fall leaves, watercolor

Every paint brush becomes magic once we learn how to use it properly.

It’s how you use the brush

It matters how much pressure we put on the brush and what part of it we use. It matters that you use specifically watercolor brush for watercolor. Watercolor brushes are soft and able to hold plenty of water and paint. While the shape of brush matters, too, the most important part is still how one handles the brush. If you just try to aimlessly move some paint around the magic brush loses its ability to create something great. I usually use only a few brushes for every medium, most often just one or two.

My preferences for watercolor brushes

For watercolor, I use number 14 round, soft watercolor brush with a very fine tip mostly. Therefore, it performs quite a few functions. When we hold it perpendicular at a 90° angle, we can draw very thin lines. Since this brush holds a lot of water and pigment which is important for watercolor, we can use the side of brush parallel to paper and cover large areas fast with either water or paint.

Time it right

Timing is also important for watercolor. We can use just part of a large brush and move paint around. We can use full body of a big-size round brush and cover large areas of paper fast. We have to time everything accurately; if you want fine details, you will do them on dry paper. If you want smooth washes and color transitions, you most likely will wet paper first. Wet paper is also safer for those who are slow with paint application. That will allow avoiding streaks and patchy paint spots.

Fall colors

We have beautiful fall weather at the moment in Southern Canada. Leaves are turning golden, red, orange and purple. It is a good time to practice color mixing and color application since inspiration is everywhere. Bright, sunny and golden colors shine on grey and blue backgrounds. Use that in your favor when creating fall paintings. I started the painting of fall leaves a few years ago for watercolor painting class and finished just yesterday.

Fall leaves, watercolor
Fall leaves, watercolor
Fall leaves, watercolor
Fall leaves, watercolor

The most recent watercolor painting class image

This a quick watercolor painting without drawing and applying rather washes. Mine was done on not that great watercolor paper, but it still makes a lot of sense. Not to mention, that real painting always have more balanced colors and look way smoother than extra sharp iPhone pictures.

Watercolor brush

I hope you enjoy these paintings.

Fall, watercolor painting, large size

To sign up for art classes, please go to page:

Art classes, schedule and registration

All my art prints and artistic products:

Art collections by Inese Poga

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Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 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.

Artistic gifts
Still life notebook
Notebook, fall theme
Poppy tote bag
Tote bag with fall still life
Roses on tote bag

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.

Thanksgiving painting

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 painting by Inese Poga

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

Moonlit path by Inese Poga

Moonlit path, acrylic, 20 x 20 in

Red poppies, very red by Inese Poga

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

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Fruity, simple, attractive

Red apples, watercolor

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.

Red apples and grapes, watercolor

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.

Red apples, watercolor

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

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Still life: essence of art

Still life with fruit and flowers, watercolor

Subject I love: still life

I have painted numerous still life paintings over years. It was not my most favorite subject when I was young, but I fall in love with this subject as time passed by. This genre usually works well for me: set up some things which can be found in the garden or fridge, find some cups, bowls and add a few flowers or leaves in absence of flowers. As you know, whenever possible I do not use photos because camera always distorts the image to some extent and the image is never what human eye can see.

Still life tells a story

Still life always tells a story, and this story can be read quite easily if and when the viewer wants to. It is by far not only shapes and color; it is much more than contrast between live and organic shapes and handmade items. Still life reflects my current opinions and my current emotions. It can express everything we are willing to disclose.

I started this particular still life 5 years ago. I had everything I need to set up something quite attractive. I did a rough value sketch in the actual size which is 22 x 30 inches or full sheet of Arches watercolor paper. I transferred the drawing onto watercolor paper and moved to first washes, just like always working from the back to the front.

This is how far I got in 2015, drawing from a setup in my studio.

Still life: setup

I only created a few washes and left the painting alone for practically 5 years

Restarting the process

I suppose, I got busy afterwards and the items of my still life simply went bad. I did not have time for about 5 years until recently.

After I moved into my new Ajax place, I had to sort out all numerous art folders. I found a few started paintings, all on large size Arches watercolor paper, and I decided to do something about at least a few of them. It took me about 3 days to bring the painting to its final stages.

Close-up of still life top part

Lack of reference should not stop us

The sad thing is that I could only reference the rough sketch. I obviously used my memory and imagination, otherwise it did not work. Working from life results in more vivid and lifelike painting. However, if there is huge interruption in the process, completing such painting can be challenging. It is not only because I do not have the same setup, but also because we change over time. Our perception changes, our color preferences change and, finally, the way we work changes. Therefore, it can be tricky to pick up the process where it was left so many years ago.

Still life with fruit and flowers, watercolor

I took the risk, and I think the result is great. It is a very large painting. It took the entire table length to somehow accommodate it. I also had quite hard time taking pictures with iPhone because of the size.

Still life with fruit and flowers

Masterclass: new way to learn art this fall

This fall I am starting master-classes which will take place once a month. These will be classes for people with experience and they will be designed to elaborate a particular subject and master-class will also include extensive demo and explanations.

I would like to give art classes that genuinely teach somebody, so, that they have artistic freedom creating their own art. I find that most art classes teach students nothing. It is mostly just some design which is executed with paints. Learning is a great way to stay young and keep our brain flexible.

Sign up for FALL SEMESTER art classes

See more of my still life and other paintings on FAA:

Art collections by Inese Poga