Watercolor – fantastic medium for any painting style

Watercolor fall paintings

Watercolor: good choice for any style artist

Watercolor has been one of my most favorite painting medium options for more than 5 decades. I still have a few of my first paintings somewhere, deep in my numerous art folders. I was about 10 years old, I was drawing very well, just like I do now, but my watercolors were not sparkling. I come from a family which didn’t have any relationship with art. In the neighboring house, an artist was renting a room. Her watercolor paintings were way larger and way brighter. They had more volume and more contrast. I asked her to see her paints. She showed me the most fantastic box of watercolor paints. Back then, they were Leningrad watercolor paints which later transitioned to St. Petersburg, and then White night paints. The difference was astounding. Clarity and saturation of pigment charmed me on the spot.

Watercolor, rose hips
Rose hips, my smallest size painting 14 x 11 in or 36 x 28 cm
Watercolor painting rose hips

Why to invest in good art supplies

Ever since I tried St. Petersburg watercolor paints, I always tried to find them and use. When I relocated to Canada 18 years ago, I had only a tiny paint box with me, but I quickly realized I will need more paints. So, I shopped the brands available in North America. Expensive they were, the artist grade paints, but they didn’t come even close to my favorite brand. Now with all the Russian issues, I’m in trouble again, but I hope to get some replacement paints. The most understated feature when learning to paint with watercolor is the quality. That refers to quality of paints and quality of watercolor paper. With bad paints and using them on a bad paper, all we can get is unsatisfactory color and contrast, plus bad paper simply cannot take layers and corrections and it buckles and warps. It is limiting.

Importance of good watercolor paper

Good watercolor paper is very expensive in Canada. The 300 lb cotton cold pressed paper comes to almost $30 or more (with taxes) per 1 sheet. Sheet is approximately 29 to 30 inches x 22 to 23 inches depending on brand. The use of bad paper and weak paints might be the main reason many potential watercolor users give up. Well, I am using sometimes non-cotton papers, too, but no other paper compares to the real thing when you need to apply a wash, gradual wash and fine detail. I prefer using the large size and full-sheet paper since there’s no way to paint something meaningful on tiny size paper.

Fall colors for beginner artists

Fall season is a great time to consider painting in colors because it is very simple to apply warm and cold opposites and create something great. It is easy to use more abstracted style or add definite detail when necessary. Inspiration is everywhere assuming you get a chance to be in an area which has trees and other landscape elements. Even a few leaves can create a good composition and then you can just add fence, brick wall or washes for background. It is definitely more rewarding to use real things as models for painting. Not everybody knows how to use photo, and your style will emerge sooner when you are not affected by pre-set colors and composition. You have more freedom.

Watercolor birch path

Relaxing experience with watercolor paints

I usually do not participate in challenges because days are filled with numerous tasks as it is. I cannot be sure I will have enough time to paint something of decent quality every day. For me, it makes sense working when the time is right and I don’t feel rushed. People who have similar conditions to mine, frequently experience depression. It comes and goes, and can be of different severity grades. I noticed, however, a few days ago when I finished up the Fall tree on lake shore, I felt simply excellent. For me personally, painting with watercolor is an extremely relaxing and calming experience. Creating the bright color transitions makes me feeling way better than usually. I could say, using bright colors cures and soothes upset mood.

Watercolor birch painting
Birch path is large, 30 x 22.5 in or 76 x 57 cm

Dark colors without actual black in watercolor

I never use black color in watercolor painting, and I do not like dark watercolor paintings also. The reason is simple: black color indicates areas absent of light. If you are in a totally dark and black space no light waves are coming through. Generally speaking, I don’t like dark spaces, dark clothes and dark living environment. From the practical painting perspective, black color can make other colors muddy in watercolor painting. For extra strong values, we can use raw umber (very dark tone of brown), Payne’s grey (almost black blue), sepia (practically black with brown undertone) and mixes of dark blue, dark violet with other colors of your palette. The safest combinations in my experience are with Payne’s grey.

Autumn tree, watercolor

Art classes for adults in Ajax, Ontario

While there are many art classes, it’s so that lots of them are the paint-night type where there is no actual learning. Good painting takes time and skill. You might want to paint more abstract art, but you still need to know how your paint pigments interact and what your brush, sponge, other tools and materials, as well as paints can do on that particular paper you’re using. Every type of paper acts differently. With globalization, art classes have become part of online domain. However, I’ve never met a student who was able to paint whatever they had intended after watching online instruction videos. In reality, you need to obtain some habits which facilitate painting. My art classes are different. And I provide students with skills which root in my many-decades-long experience.

Shop watercolor paintings
Lake tree watercolor is 24 x 18 in or 61 x 45 cm

Adult artists in and around Ajax, Ontario! You might find your passion this fall season engaging in creation of colorful watercolor art. Calming, soothing and very uplifting! Especially when the days get shorter. Thanks and have a good fall season!

5 stages you can count on

Fall still life

Group art classes

Private art lessons

Inese’s Art Studio reopens in Pickering Village

Moving art studio, artist Inese Poga

It’s been an excruciating and exhausting stretch of time. These tough 5 weeks also seemed to last forever. I posted the previous article when I had started to pack, that was more than a month ago. My art studio wasn’t doing anything for quite a while. Now, after about 40 days of packing, moving, unpacking and sorting, I can say my art studio has started getting in shape, and I mean by that – in a great shape. Well, not everything has found its place yet, that is certainly a task for a few more months. The positive aspect of all these immense efforts is being able to set up my living and painting space finally.

Art studio, setting up

I didn’t have internet for quite a while and my work station wasn’t set up either. Just yesterday, I got to my most important art supplies. They are lined up now and ready to use. It is painful not to paint for a long time. It really is. I hope picking up my brushes over the weekend already. That brings me to the issue of selling more art, or rather selling any art. I pretty much know where any particular painting is, therefore I will edit the sale pages.

Art studio

Art classes are about to resume at full pace at my art studio, as well. I would like to keep the ages between 13 and any age adults. The type of instruction I provide with requires some life experience and some knowledge of basic matters. I intend to focus on three main directions in teaching.

Light in studio

The observational and realistic drawing I teach is suitable only for private classes. I’ve written many times how one can learn drawing, and that’s not done by copying or tracing a photo or mimicking a tutorial. Drawing is a very individual skill and it can be developed properly only in individual settings. Private classes can start as soon as April 6.

Private art lessons

Acrylic painting can be taught in groups and individually, but it is always best when the potential student has practiced brushing techniques. That’s the most important thing with any painting, but especially acrylic since it dries fast. Small group acrylic painting classes will start I believe on April 20. Initially all classes will be daytime.

Small group watercolor painting classes will start on April 19. Currently, only daytime also. I intend to stick to large size practice paintings, like 18 x 24 in. Using watercolor is amazing. Every wash creates art on its own, however, size really matters. The larger the watercolor application space, the better results can be achieved painting traditionally: leaving white of paper for white and using practically no masking medium. I personally dislike using it and prefer pure watercolor.

Group art classes

Inese's Art studio

If you ever wanted to purchase a painting of mine or art print, now is the right time. As we all know moving is a costly, and the time spent on moving doesn’t involve any business activities or even website updates. Unfortunately, shipping is what Canada Post charges me. Art on paper and 12 x 12 in paintings are not heavy, therefore, the shipping is mostly for size.

Durham region art classes

I still have lots to do, numerous adjustments and figuring out the best was of making every aspect of art studio easily accessible. Art studio has specific requirements when it comes to space. Thankfully, natural light is very good here, that’s a huge plus, luxury even. My art studio is overloaded with plants at the moment, but many of them go outdoors for spring, summer and fall, and by the next winter, I will know better where and how I can accommodate my plants.

I am so satisfied; the move is over and the worst is past me. Such a relief.

Original watercolor paintings for sale

Shop original acrylic paintings

Art collections by Inese Poga

I hope seeing some of you in my art classes, and I also hope there might be somebody who purchases at least an art print. I’m sorry, I was absent from blogging, but that is changing now. Thanks for reading! Enjoy pics of my not-yet-completely-set-up art studio. You are seeing just one end of it because it’s the mostly organized. Have a blessed spring!

Plenty of beauty, plenty of art

Acrylic paintings, floral 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!

Register for art classes here: Schedule, info and registration

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.

The perfect gift for Mother’s Day

Floral paintings by Inese Poga

Something different for Mother’s Day

We all know mothers who have brushes, paints and canvas;  however, canvas is not on their easel or painting desk. Art supplies are pushed deep in drawers or hidden in storage boxes for the day “when I have more time”. We know life is hectic; there are so many duties, obligations and tasks to deal with!

There’s more to life

Many years ago when I was in my thirties, an older lady was my friend. I was wondering often how she got everything done and still had time for concerts, trips and visits to friends’ places. She told me this. “You know, dishes, laundry, cleaning: that is something endless, there’s always more of it and there’s never time enough to do it perfectly. I chose to simply take some time off when I need to and nothing too crucial has happened so far neither with our dishes, house, nor clothes.”

Floral paintings by Inese Poga
All the beautiful flowers blossom at once

Good advice

“I realize, my house is not perfectly polished at some moments, but do I want to say at the end of the day all I did was cleaning, washing dishes and doing work around the house? There’s more to life, so I just had to disregard not that urgent stuff and make nice things happen for me.” I followed this advice and ever since I had weekends for doing something more than just routine duties.

Learn how to say “No”

One more thing is that we have to learn saying “No”. I have no time for this, and, no, I am not going to this event, and, no, I’m not watching this. No, my dear family, I will not be cooking tonight since I have my art class. That’s exactly how it works. Once in the studio, you are out of reach of all troubles and nuisances and annoying daily obligations, even phone conversations, bills and other provocative and stressful stuff.

Perfect gift for Mother's day
Painted flowers last longer

Some mothers already have it all, and it is not that easy to find a perfect gift for them. The best gift nowadays is time for oneself or time for doing something peaceful, relaxing and enjoyable. Gift of experience works very well. You can give your busy mom a gift certificate for art classes, and this gift will last for quite a while.

Perfect gift for Mother's Day
Orchards in bloom, acrylic painting, it is on my mom’s wall and she looks at it frequently

Gift certificate for art classes is also a perfect solution for children who cannot spend a fortune for Mother’s Day, but would love to still give a meaningful, valuable gift which does not get eaten up right away and does not wither within two next days.

Happy Mother’s Day!