Upcoming art show and stolen images

Birch road, acrylic nature painting

Never-ending stealing of painting images

This issue comes up almost every time as I type in Google search terms which I describe my paintings and drawings with. Almost every time, I find stolen images of my paintings which I obviously did not know of. I look at the website link: if it is not my website, my Fine Art America site or similar sites, I can be sure somebody has copied image of my painting and placed on their website. The purpose of stealing painting images is not always clear. Some websites look like they are selling prints, some seem to have the image for anybody to paint or draw. I am feeling sad and mad about this.

How about I use your art for my artwork?

Somebody contacted me recently (at least they contacted and asked for permission, which I appreciate) about 2 of my best floral paintings. It said: may I use your images for creation of my artwork? That left me wondering: how is that? If that was a photo of something else, but not my art, I could have allowed using it. But the idea was to take the image of my painting and use for whatever adjusted art they create. So, I work hard for some 3-4 weeks and paint it and try to do my best. I work on taking good pictures. They come along and admit that I did well, and that’s why they would use these images. To me, they are finished paintings, and I do not want anybody to add embellishments to them or remove something digitally. Creation of art takes time, efforts and actually talent, too. No, I’m not fine that you just copy it over and sell as painting by numbers.

Please, be respectful

I wonder: how do people come on these ideas? I think it’s time we start to respect efforts and time somebody has put in their art. I have seen all kinds of claims about art instruction, writing, including poems, stories, essays, interviews, how to instruction and lots and lots of paintings which are simply stolen from the owner’s website. I have watermarks on my paintings. I usually post paintings with my signature on them except when it’s work in progress. I have copyright notice in place, and I made it longer just now and I am also putting it under each article as of today.

Are these protective measures enough?

Do I believe these measures are going to stop some websites from stealing and displaying my art? Probably not. However, I will alarm about 2 most recent websites where I found my paintings. If you are a good artist, your drawings and paintings might be there also. Internet enables all kinds of unauthorized actions. It’s just so that it is annoying and time-consuming to follow up on all of this. It took me an hour approximately dealing with these websites. I am not even sure; there may have been more images. There is never guarantee that I will achieve much with searching, checking and sending my notifications in case a theft is detected.

It is a big deal

Does this stealing happen because people think that it is not a big deal to just simply copy somebody’s work and go ahead and place or use it any way they prefer? Well, it is a big deal for me, and I suppose for any artist whose life is a full time art creation and writing. No, I do not feel flattered by my painting images (sometimes works in progress) being scattered around who knows where. The display is usually also not the most appealing, and they are taken out of context and sometimes used for other than intended purpose. If you’d like to see what websites have your painting images, enter art descriptions which fit your art in Google search, click on images and see what comes up.

New show paintings

My initial intention was to post two images of my new paintings which will be included in show opening on February 14. And I am still working on more new paintings, as well as adjusting and varnishing some earlier works. But here I am: dealing with stolen painting images again. That happens much too often to ignore it. Maybe it’s time to report these websites and maybe they’d be closed down. Maybe it’s time to deal with thieves in a stricter manner? It’s been countless times I find my paintings on strange websites when I google for images with descriptions I have frequently used.

Happy with results

Anyway, art is where I find my happiest moments in life. The largest painting is Birch road. It is 30 x 24 inches or 76 x 61 cm. I cannot ship it at the moment, but it is available from my studio. It took about 3 weeks painting for about 6 hours a day. The photo cannot show all golden shade transitions which are implemented in leaves, but the real painting has perfect color play.

Some art simply got adjusted and new pictures were taken. I hope you enjoy my paintings and feel the same good vibes as I did when painting them!

Except for Birch tri, all other paintings are 24 x 20 in or 61 x 51 cm.

Fall colors, bright as in nature!

As always, check out FFA site: Art collections by Inese Poga

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:

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

Getting ready for a cozy fall and Thanksgiving

Fall still life with pumpkin and fruit, realistic still life 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 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.

Inese’s Creative Artspace creates

Inese’s Creative Artspace 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.

Fall still life with pumpkin and fruit
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

Under fall sky, acrylic painting by Inese Poga
Under fall sky, 20 x 16 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:

Sign up for art classes

Shop for art prints on Fine Art America:

What it takes to complete painting, fall art show

Floral paintings by Inese Poga

Fall art show, studio sale, don’t miss art deals

Fall art show is here. Buy art from the artist. It will be original art and it will come at a lot less than buying from a gallery. Studio sale offers plenty of art at great prices. 3 ladies already responded. I am genuinely thankful for their support, and I hope they like their paintings, however, taking into account the large number of items for which I do not have left any wall space and any storage space, I would need much more sales happening. Please, take advantage of very affordable rates and keep shopping.

Perfecting my own style

I work a lot and hard to create my paintings. I know how much easier it is to make abstract art because that takes origin only in one’s imagination. Artists sometimes simply try to comply with market trends also. Unfortunately, I am not in abstracts that much, I prefer more challenge. I have developed my own realism style which is not a copy of photo, but artistically enhanced realism.

fall art show
Fall art show: a few of fall landscape and tree paintings

Creating art takes time and patience

When we look at a painting, it seems it didn’t take any time or efforts. It is due to the fact, that good art shouldn’t exhibit artistic struggles and technical difficulties, but mood and atmosphere of the painted scene or subject. When we get past such struggles, the genuine creation happens. Some of my paintings took 2 years to bring to a stage when I liked them. In average, each painting takes about 1 week to month to get it to the point when I am  satisfied with it. There are smaller watercolors which only take one to two days to accomplish, but any larger work requires much more time because most of my paintings are rather representative than abstract.

Fall art show
Snow and winter landscapes

Showing groups of paintings

Why do I love showing paintings rather in groups than just one image at a time? Internet display has huge drawbacks when it comes to art. Small 8 x 10 inch paintings virtually look the same size as 3 feet by 4 feet paintings, colors are also more realistic in group photos. I must add, that the online look of painting and its colors will greatly depend on your device and its settings.

Fall art show
Fall art show: a few of pink and white flower paintings

Fine Art America site for art prints and other art products:

Art collections by Inese Poga

Accept the fall gratefully

accept fall

The fall is here

Just like birds, I will take off tomorrow. I won’t go south; however, I will go east, to Latvia. Whether we like it or not, September is soon over, and October will come with its gold to soothe and comfort our aching souls because, oh well, we are heading towards the winter. Eventually, snow silver will cover the rusty golden sparkles, and our feet will be walking the icy and cold sidewalks of freezing town and city roads. I love the colors of autumn, just like we all do! It is such an injustice that this beauty disappears so fast. Nevertheless, it is a great time to capture and enjoy the fantastic colors. Regardless of personal preferences, nature’s cycles are inevitable.

Fall art projects

I kept working on some projects and I also tried to bring to finish the class project: the distant blue background and the lonely tree. Pumpkins are going to be uploaded to Fine Art America; maybe somebody will like them as greeting cards or other products: there are so many now that I cannot even list them all.

Looking forward to my time in Latvia

I will try to report about my adventures in Latvia since I have a new laptop. Laptop is fine, I would not say I’m very excited about Windows 10, it came with so much abusive stuff which I never intend to use that it takes me hours and hours to adjust my settings for my personal needs.

Alone, acrylic painting by Inese Poga
Alone: lonely tree; 20 x 24 in acrylic painting, it was sold to Brenda. Thanks, Brenda!

Pumpkin for Thanksgiving, 20 x 24, in acrylic painting, art by Inese Poga
Pumpkin for Thanksgiving, 20 x 24, in acrylic painting

High above,  acrylic painting, 20 x 24 in by Inese Poga, sold
High above, acrylic painting, 20 x 24 in by Inese Poga, sold

Under the autumn sky: 30 x 42 in acrylic painting by Inese Poga
Under the autumn sky: 30 x 42 in acrylic painting

Painting tip for students

If you would like to paint some fall scenery, put the color you want to use exactly on a spot where you want it. Do not keep brushing the paint around for so long that everything becomes the same color. This is easy using a feather-like, light brushstroke. It is like running on a spot: you just use the flat and wide side of the brush with light motion, so that it mostly is parallel to canvas surface.

Enjoy the sunny fall days and survive patiently the dullness of rains and chills of winds!

The new http://inesepogalifeschool.com/ post is about trusting  oneself and relying on ourselves:

http://inesepogalifeschool.com/2015/09/21/seasons-change-why-not-to-change-something-in-our-life-as-well/