Whitby art classes Archives - INESE'S ART STUDIO

March 31, 2022October 17, 2024

Inese’s Art Studio reopens in Pickering Village

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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!

September 17, 2021October 16, 2024

Enjoyable watercolor painting ideas

I decided to share watercolor reference paintings and, perhaps, suggest a few simple watercolor painting ideas since there’s no shortage of passionate self-educating artists. I took many pictures of these paintings in numerous combinations, invested lots of time, and I love how they came out. I’m doing all of this in hopes to get something more happening at my studio.

When I was about to publish the new schedule, I noticed I have no suitable images to illustrate the new art classes and their subjects. The truth is that any pictures taken even 3-5 years ago, are not that bright. They look dark or pale, but never really on spot. Refreshed look is always beneficial, and in this visually-engaging era even more so. I suppose you know me by now, and the fact that I do not prefer minimalism in any area of my life. Therefore, I need my images to look rich, inviting and colorful, attention grabbing.

Taking pictures for images that represent what I do is not that simple as it might seem. I have plenty of material, that’s for sure. However, I need to choose small size artworks and add something that ties it all together. The glue for tying together images this year, is the color swatches on good quality watercolor paper.

For this season’s watercolor painting ideas, I specifically painted a few new 12 x 16 and 11 x 15 in (a quarter of full sheet watercolor paper) paintings. They are created without drawing, just applying watercolor washes, and then adding a few defining elements which seemed to be fitting. In the past, I used to make new reference paintings for acrylic and watercolor classes every year or even twice a year. Well, classes were ongoing, but COVID caused a major two-year-long disruption, and I lost a lot of contacts.

After about 300 pictures for watercolor and acrylic, I selected a few which I thought were the best. Watercolor wash is a fantastic way to get started with watercolor paints. I’d say the most enjoyable watercolor painting ideas are very basic, using wash, blending colors, allowing water and pigment to work.

For interestingness, you might add a few details which can be painted on top of watercolor washes. The next enjoyable watercolor painting ideas involve keeping your subject uncomplicated and choosing to lift paint instead of masking fluid application. Such artwork won’t be realism, but such techniques make your abstracted art stand out more. When you look at abstracted paintings online, you probably notice how they look very similar. Your personal style and details create difference and recognizability.

One more watercolor painting idea is as follows: paint the subject which you love and in colors you personally prefer. Tutorials might make you believe there are strict rules about using one or another color. There aren’t. You can choose any colors which speak to you. However, when painting with watercolor, I don’t ever use black or Chinese white. They make the look of dark areas muddy and light areas pale and opaque. For strong dark color, use numerous other options starting with Burnt sienna plus any type of dark blue, Payne’s grey plus any other clean color or Sepia on its own. Options for creating personal dark colors are endless.

I hear students saying that watercolor is more difficult than other media which, in fact, it isn’t. You simply practice using your brush to its full capacity, learn how to lift paint and switch between sharp and washed-out edges, as well spend some time just testing water and pigment proportion for watercolor wash. Paint flows only to these areas which are wet. It never goes into dry paper areas unless there’s a puddle of water. Realistically, we maintain control at all times. The number 1 thing to learn when using any medium is how to use your brush or brushes.

If you reside around or not far from Ajax, Ontario, I hope seeing you in my art classes: Art classes, schedule and registration

If you work on your own, try my watercolor painting ideas and let me know what the result was Get inspired by my art and purchase. Artistic products and art prints

Thanks for reading and have a nice September!

June 9, 2019October 17, 2024

How to keep art supply list short

Keeping art supply list short

We have to keep art supply list short! When somebody wants to start drawing or painting, they sometimes buy too many painting and art supplies, tools and materials, and quite a few of them won’t ever be used. While we need paper, canvas or other surface to draw and paint on, it is important to have that surface which fits your art intentions.

It is also important to find out what the painting style or technique you want to use involves.

My favorite watercolor painting supplies

Buying watercolor paper

Watercolor paper is a very sensitive part of watercolor painting and by choosing the right paper you will enable yourself learning faster and paint better.

There are so many paper manufacturers! Most of thin watercolor paper will not do anything. In order to create beautiful washes, you need paper which takes in water and pigment: thick, heavy, cotton paper. My favorite watercolor papers are Arches brand and Saunders-Waterford. I use the heavier papers of these brands, always cold pressed because I love the grain on paper.

You can do test painting on lighter and thinner paper, it is just so, that you probably won’t get the best results and painting on thin watercolor paper will require more skill and more effort.

Art supply sets

We can see quite frequently sets at the art store: sets of brushes, sets of pencils, sets of paints and sets of canvas and even combined sets of paper blocks, canvas with drawing, brushes and other things. Sets are meant for testing brands and also for as if your comfort: just get a set and no worries.

Universal things never work for specific purposes. You are not going to do a universal painting, but most likely pick your favorite painting subject and technique; therefore, you need specific and tailored things, not anything that says paint or brush on the label.

Art supply sets which won’t work

Some sets don’t make sense, for example, acrylic paint sets. You will use white color at least twice as much as any other color. Yellow color can be very problematic, and it goes fast, too. Depending on a personal preference, you might never like or find attractive some set colors. We generally do not need any premixed green colors because we can always mix up numerous tones. You will need a few primary colors, black and white. The problem is that all primary colors come in very many shades and tones. It is the best you choose from separate tubes and test many similar colors until you find yours.

These art supplies I use for drawing, they include pens

Quality matters

Craft acrylic paints will not have the same features what paints for fine art. They are generally very liquid. Liquid paints are useful if you want to pour them, but they won’t do well for painting.

Students grade acrylic paints are cheaper and contain less pigment, but more binding and filling substances. Some brands have fairly good paints, but most cheap paints feel like colored pasta, not paint. That depends on color, too. Red and some dark blue colors will be quite fine, but the lightest and darkest colors will fail when mixing.

My favorite art supplies for acrylic painting

Medium quality acrylic paints

Medium quality acrylic paints are fine for basic layers, but they usually have very weak white and yellow colors. That affects the painting to a great degree. We have to remember: as acrylic painting dries, it will become much darker and flatter without that initial contrast which is present on the wet painting. Therefore, we normally use third, fourth and more layers depending on subject. It is a good thing to leave acrylic painting alone between painting sessions to dry completely. Every next layer is easier to apply. Most artists use only good quality acrylic paints for top layers.

Brush sets

Sets of all-purpose brushes are simply useless. We use watercolor brushes (very soft, capable of absorbing and holding pigment and water) for watercolor painting, specific acrylic brushes, they can be as soft as watercolor brushes, but with shorter bristles. You certainly could use synthetic watercolor brush for acrylic painting. Acrylic is versatile medium and you could use fan brush, sponge, rough bristle brush for effects and sponge.

You will need a few brushes depending on painting size, painting subject and detail, but not 10 brushes for a small painting. The brush we use depends on our medium of choice and technique. If you are a beginner, get 3 (small, medium and large) brushes for your medium, that will do and you can buy everything else as you go.

Some of art supplies we used in recent art classes

It’s not the brush, it’s the painter

I use only 2 brushes for watercolor painting: number 12-14 round with fine tip and number 6 round for small parts. I usually paint large size art. For acrylic, I can paint the entire painting with 1 flat brush, or 1 Filbert and then use adjusted fan brush. The main thing is usually to know how to use the brush to its full potential. It is frequently not the brush, but person who paints with it.

The specific supplies you need will always depend on size, technique and painting subject. It feels good getting supplies on sale, but one has to be careful when deciding whether you will ever use these particular materials, tools and supplies. Keep the art supply list short!

Organize art supplies and painting tools

Students love leaving everything in a big suitcase type of bag and then they cannot find anything when they need it. We need not only to organize the folder, bag or case of art supplies, but also our work space before we start painting. All tools, brushes, pencils, all paint tubes, palette, palette knife, sheets of paper towel, mixing pad, paper or plate, water containers, eraser, sharpener – everything must be within reach. You should keep on your direct work space only tools, brushes and paints which you are going to use. Overcrowded work space will disturb you and slow down.

My advice is: have less art supplies, thus, keeping the art supply list short. Try also buying better quality art supplies and keep them neatly organized when stored and when in use!

Apply for private art classes: Private art classes

Apply for group workshops and art classes: Art classes and workshops

See what I am creating and selling: Shop Inese Poga’s art

Finally, all collections of my art can be viewed here:

Art collections by Inese Poga

October 8, 2018October 17, 2024

Supplies for watercolor painting, sketching and drawing

Less is more efficient!

I have always students who believe that having everything is a guarantee of good result. That is not true! Until you have found your favorite brush, your favorite watercolor paper or your favorite watercolor paint brand, use whatever you already have, and get only things which are necessary.

Graphite pencil drawing

You can use Bristol drawing paper by Strathmore, the small size is 14 x 17 in, 300 Series. The large size is 19 x 24 in which is a great size. Also 300 Series. This paper is fairly smooth and suits drawing well. It makes erasing easy. Other option is using CANSON XL cold press, 140 lb watercolor paper. Size 12 x 18 in. If you rather keep your drawing at a sketch level, you can use CANSON Universal Sketch paper in size 18 x 24 in. That is a perfect size.

Pencils can be just regular pencils from 2H, including HB and up to 3B. Softer pencils leave too much graphite on the paper. You will most often use just HB pencil because it’s not too hard and not too soft. For eraser, please, get the artist grade soft eraser which absorbs graphite. You buy it at the art store. If you feel you have hard times keeping long lines straight, please, take with you a ruler. Paper towel under hand helps not smudging paper on which drawing is created.

Pen and watercolor sketch or color sketch

For sketch without paint, you can use CANSON Universal sketch paper, 65 lb. For pen and watercolor sketch, you can use CANSON XL cold press, 140 lb watercolor paper. Please, note! It will not work for watercolor painting or painting in layers! It is too thin and doesn’t absorb paint or water sufficiently. It can be used for drawing only and with watercolor pencils. Strathmore 300 series paper will work well for pen and watercolor wash.

We use simple graphite pencil, H and HB, they work well because we shouldn’t have too strong pencil lines.

For pen, you can use any black pen which does not bleed with application of water, but I am using MICRON from 02-05. You can test pen before buying it and see which one you like.

We use only the soft, flexible, artist’s grade eraser. It is very important to have such eraser.

Watercolor painting supplies

We use in watercolor painting classes the following art supplies.

Watercolor paper

Strathmore 140 lb, cold press watercolor paper, 400 Series. 400 series paper is thick watercolor paper which is important. I use it in size 18 x 24″ for all demonstrations You can cut the paper sheet in half, and you get 12 x 18 inch paper. Perfect size for beginners!

Strathmore sells also 12 x 18 inch paper blocks, cold press. It works well for starting out with watercolor painting. However, if you’d like the best, you could use Arches 140 lb, cold press watercolor paper. It comes in sheets and blocks and is expensive.

Please, make sure your paper is at least 12 x 16 inches in size or larger.

We cannot create anything meaningful on a tiny size paper. Saunders-Waterford is also an option, but bright white is not always available, but it is a cotton paper, therefore, results are better than using watercolor paper for beginners. For this purpose, Canson, Fluid or similar papers do not work. Never have paper lighter than 140 lb. It will warp, buckle and there are many things you simply cannot do on thin paper.

Brushes

We need 2 round brushes with fine tips for watercolor painting (soft, synthetic), size 12-14 and size 4-6. Some brushes don’t bounce back, so they won’t do what you need. Especially, lifting. It’s best to test. Synthetic brushes work very well and are very suitable for watercolor painting. Just make sure it is not oil brush with stiff and rough bristles, but the tapered drop-like watercolor brush.

Watercolor paints

If you have paints in tubes, you will need palette. It must have a decent size mixing area. Small kids’ palettes do not work well because they have too tiny mixing wells.

Essential watercolor paint colors

Cold yellow, like Hansa yellow or Lemon yellow

Warm yellow, such as Brilliant yellow or Cadmium medium yellow,

Burnt Sienna,

Payne’s Grey,

Quinacridone Crimson,

Carmine Lake or similar red,

Cerulean blue,

Cobalt blue

and Prussian blue

It’s possible to mix absolutely any other colors from these ones. Primary colors are yellow, red and blue. Any secondary color is already a mix and can be got.

Yellow or Gold Ochre is optional, as well as more red colors. If you can have only 1 blue, get Cobalt blue.

Set of watercolor paints

Sets of ready to use watercolor paints are fantastic for beginners.

You can use them easier than tube paints, and you most likely will have all basic colors in a set (12 color set, for instance). You can get started faster also. Which brand you choose, probably depends on how much you intend to spend on paints. Please, do not use chalky kids’ or craft watercolor paints, they do not have the specific pigments which we use and they do not have the ability to create good washes. That would be all sets which do not list name of a particular paint. Half-pans are popular, but painting is very difficult. They are too close together, and there’s too little paint.

Supplies for watercolor painting and sketching

Pencil and eraser

You will need graphite pencil. HB pencil works well. We do not want too much graphite on watercolor paper, therefore, avoid using soft and very soft pencils. We use only the soft, flexible, artist’s grade eraser which is sold in art stores. It is very important to have this eraser which absorbs graphite, not damages paper.

Extras

We need quite a lot of paper towels.

Paper towel has many functions with watercolor painting, so, definitely do not forget that, 6-10 sheets per class. You will learn how essential paper towel is with spontaneous watercolor and watercolor washes, as well correcting some areas. Finally, attach your watercolor paper to a firm, light base, thick cardboard or similar with painter’s (green) tape. Having paper for testing colors helps.

You will eventually find your brand and your most favorite brushes, paints, pencils and papers. The better quality your watercolor paper, brushes and paints are, the easier it is to paint and create good art.

I hope seeing you in my art classes: Sign up for art classes

Private art classes: One-on-one class

Check out the other benefits of drawing and watercolor art: Drawing for ageless brain

October 2, 2018October 17, 2024

Acrylic painting supplies for art classes

Painting supplies for acrylic painting classes

We do not need a lot of acrylic painting supplies to start painting, so, keep the list short and get things you do not have yet as you go.

Brushes

1 flat brush, soft, synthetic for either watercolor or acrylic painting, ¾ inch wide; or about the same size Filbert brush (it is flat with rounded corners). 1 small soft watercolor or acrylic brush, size 4-6 round, fan brush for oil painting (rough bristles). If fan brush with rough bristles is not available, get simple wall/window painting brush, 1-1.5 inch wide. We will cut it out with scissors, so that it can do more. I will show how. We can use Filbert brushes (slightly rounded edges) in small to medium sizes also.

Canvas

We use 16 x 20” canvas for regular classes and 16 x 12″ canvas for 1 day workshops. If you believe you are rather slow with brushing paint, the smallest size is 12 x 16 in. However, painting larger is easier. You will need to paint your canvas in medium dark grey or brown color before you come to class. The edges of canvas need to be covered with one layer of paint as well. That helps creating better art much faster.

Acrylic paints

The best acrylic paints for beginners are AMSTERDAM students’ grade or Liquitex Basics students’ grade paints. Artist’s Loft (Michael’s brand) will work, as well, but it doesn’t mix well with paints of other brands (curdles).

The best is to get a professional grade Titanium white and two yellow colors: one lemon yellow and the other cadmium medium yellow or similar warm yellow. White and yellow are very weak colors in any students’ grade paints. I’d not advise to get a paint set, but rather separate tubes because we use white and yellow much more than other colors. You do not need any green color..

Short list of acrylic paint colors:

You will need 6 basic colors to get started:

White: Titanium white, required more than other colors

Black: Lamp black, Mars black

Red: 1 warm red (more orange red) and 1 cold red (more purple)

Cadmium medium red, Primary magenta, Crimson pyrrole, Carmine red, Crimson lake, Carmine lake, Naphthol red medium or similar, whatever red the brand you want to use has.

Yellow: 1 cold yellow (greenish shade), 1 warm yellow (more orange shade)

Hansa or Lemon yellow (cold yellow) and Cadmium yellow medium, Brilliant yellow, Azo yellow medium (warm yellow)., 2 yellow shades are important for color mixing. If you have just one, please, choose medium yellow (warmer).

Blue: Brilliant blue, Prussian blue and/or Cobalt blue, having at least 1 blue is very important

Artist grade paints have more pigment and less fillers and binders. If you would like to use artist’s grade paints, I would advise Liquitex heavy body, Graham (satisfactory quality, not that great tubes) or Golden (also tough to open tubes).

Additional acrylic paint colors:

You can get them gradually when you know what you need more.

Ocher: yellow ocher or golden ocher

Red-brown: Burnt sienna

Warm dark brown: Burnt umber

Blue: Ultramarine blue, Cerulean blue

Dark grey: Payne’s grey

Additional supplies: white plastic disposable plates (it is important plate is white). Do not use mixing papers or tiny palettes which are not suitable for mixing wet paint. I will not accept them for art classes. Mixing paper does not work with many acrylic paint applications, especially fan brush and sponge.

At least 10 sheets of paper towel per class. It is very important you use paper towel, it is not possible to paint without cleaning your brush frequently.

We use pre-painted canvas so that painting is much easier.

Additional supplies for easing the painting process

Plastic knife

Seaweed sponge or silk sponge

Slow-drying medium and blending medium, as well as modeling paste are useful, but we use them only for certain projects and get by with water. I have my own blending medium which I create from 3 components, I will show how.

It is better to have fewer acrylic painting supplies and better quality supplies. It is recommended to get paints at the art store. Artisan liquid paints from the Dollarama absolutely do not work.

Schedule: Art classes, schedule and registration

Tag: Whitby art classes

Inese’s Art Studio reopens in Pickering Village

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Enjoyable watercolor painting ideas

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How to keep art supply list short

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Supplies for watercolor painting, sketching and drawing

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Acrylic painting supplies for art classes

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