Try something different: painting with sponge

Spring forest, sponge painting in watercolor

Have you tried painting watercolor with sponge? I decided that adding some new technique wouldn’t disturb. Let’s give it a try.

This time it was application of watercolor using a sea grass sponge. It worked well with acrylic (I will post these pictures separately), it seemed it could work nicely with watercolor, as well.

I could see after the first attempts that it is advisable to test colors first. There are lots of brands, many types of paints, it’s hard to know whether the chosen colors will or won’t mix well. It is important not to overdo right at the beginning. Sponging takes one away easily, and in no time we can lose focus and forget where exactly we intended to place any particular color.

I did not plan these paintings. They are very spontaneous, and I just got straight to sponging. I would advise anybody who is trying this technique to plan a small bit ahead. Sponge allows to create beautiful watercolor backgrounds, like distant trees or forests, it is amazing how quickly some spots get textures, and it is a fantastic way of layering watercolor. Simply don’t forget to test your paint colors.

It seemed that Hooker’s green light and dark in combination with French ultramarine, Cobalt blue, Payne’s grey, Lemon yellow and Burnt sienna or Burnt umber worked better than Sap green in any combination unless I mixed only 2 or 3 colors in all layers.

Seagrass sponges are inexpensive and available at any art store, that’s at least where I got them. Every sponge is slightly different, so will be textures created using these sponges. I cut my sponge in smaller parts, and used every time that part which seemed to be the most fitting. Sponge has to be made wet at first, and we should squeeze out all excess water before picking up the paint with it.

Sponge works on wet paper well (wet in wet application), and we can create nice distant backgrounds this way. It creates thicker layers and attractive irregular shapes when applied on dry paper. It is possible to create the entire painting this way, and it looks especially great when we combine different techniques.

Generally speaking, application of a sponge helps loosen up, and sponge is a good tool to vary paint application techniques.

Forest creek, I used sponge for background.

Layering quite a few colors with sponge is interesting: we never know how it will look at the end! Using just a few colors is beneficial with sponge painting. If you test them before and see that mix well without causing muddy look, just go ahead.

Spring forest: watercolor painting using sponge, it is quite large, 18 x 24 inches

I did these paintings during private painting classes sitting next to my student. That allowed me seeing immediately what they did correctly and what needed extra adjustment. These paintings are perfect for any beginner in watercolor painting. There is hardly any need for drawing, just some areas need that. Painting with sponge in watercolor will make it simple for any beginner and help loosen up.

And finally, large watercolor painting Spring forest: watercolor painting using sponge, 18 x 24 inches or 46 x 61 cm.

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Private art lessons

Original watercolor paintings for sale

Art classes: a worthwhile activity

Art classes for adults, still life

Participating in art classes way to express yourself

What is the best way to never feel bored again?

How to give one’s life a new meaning?

How to make long winter nights shorter not wasting time in front of TV?

It is very simple, indeed: by doing something pleasurable and rewarding.

Art classes and painting lessons fit in this type of activities just perfectly. Not everybody feels like dancing or exercising every weeknight. Not everybody has a good company on his/her own. That’s where I come in with my art classes for beginners and people who simply enjoy colors, shapes and images.

Art classes can lead to a new career or lovely hobby

Some students will continue painting, some will have art only as a hobby, and some students will enjoy time spent in a nice atmosphere. Whatever way it is done, it is worth it. It is amazing to hear after a class how surprised and satisfied students are that they were able to create something on their own, not to mention the value of art created in these art classes.

Wednesday acrylic painting group started to work on fall maple images

Just get started, everything will happen

Many of potential students are asking if they need to be good at drawing or painting before enrolling in art classes. The answer is no, they do not. It is enough that somebody has found time, and this is a good way to spend it. You can enjoy art classes whether you are willing to purchase your own supplies (in that case you can keep working at home, as well), or you just want to use the provided art supplies for the moment.

The new art activity resolves problems

People who feel they depend on their mobile devices, phones, laptops and computers should give this some consideration, as well. We are learning how not to use any devices, printouts or digital references. Once you learn live without a device, even though it is just a few hours, you will see that it is possible and you will learn how to take a break from devices.

Art cures

Art is a fantastic cure for any addiction since it takes us away from troublesome thoughts and cravings. Challenging our brain and drawing or painting new subject every time will improve the cognitive function, memory and brain flexibility.

Thursday acrylic painting class for adults enjoyed drawing, sketching and painting still life. The first part is done, and results look very promising.

Real subject, individualized art

If you use a real subject and do not trace photo, you will get to your personal style much faster. Drawing and painting style is your individual handwriting, and as you improve and develop it, you enjoy a very individualized approach to any part of painting.

Drawing and painting is done observing and re-creating objects on canvas or paper. It may be challenging at first, but this approach is the most natural one and provides with real artistic freedom.

Sign up for art classes: Application for art classes

Our learning season is getting close to the finish line

Landscape painting, summer reflection

Reaching the finish line

The learning season at my studio is getting close to the finish line. Paintings in 3 pictures are done by my students who started attending my art classes as beginners. They progressed very fast from not knowing how to mix paint to students who pretty much were sure what they wanted to achieve.  We were exploring multiple techniques and subjects; we created quite many beautiful artworks. We feel enriched and inspired, and hopefully, the newly acquired skills will enable our students to capture their impressions during summer and their vacations.

Summer plans

I have been extremely busy recently, and I need a break, too. I’m going to spend some time in Europe, in my homeland Latvia this year. My art studio is getting reorganized, as well. We will start out again in September with new classes, seminars, practical learning in both, life skills school and art school.

Adjustments to online presence

I’m working on new updates of website which will contain all relevant information, and I might be very busy for a while yet. I intend to implement store pages and add new art products to these pages. It’s difficult to decide on art store format and what online options to use. There won’t be that many posts during this time.

My demo painting

My demo painting was waiting patiently for 7 years to be completed. I have a few paintings at different stages of completion, this was one of them. I wish photos captured colors better because my real painting has fresh summer green and good bright contrast. All my pictures with light green color have turned into some strange mustard-green color. I personally do not like and I do not use this color, not in summer or spring paintings. However, iPhone keeps damaging all my pictures. I should use only the big camera every time, but convenience sometimes comes first.

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Art classes: Group art classes

Springtime watercolors: bright, sunny and cheerful

Wild anemones, springtime watercolor

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 and detailed parts

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.

Orchards blossoming in the art studio

Orchard painting

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.