nature

Golden hour magic and wildlife art imagination. Watercolor Clausura technique.

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel

For my artist colleagues. Workshops. Holidays spirit for creative community.


Feeling stuck? Try a 2-brush, 2-paint challenge! You might surprise yourself with the beauty you uncover. and please share your creations!

Let’s continue to learn about clausura: where creativity meets tradition

Clausura: A History of Creativity.  In the 16th century, the first academies of architecture and art in Europe set the groundwork for student evaluations. They assessed true knowledge and skills in a rather unusual way.

At the end of the semester, students entered separate rooms where they were locked up. This process, known as clausura, tested their creativity and abilities in drawing, painting, and sculpture. This system led to the creation of graphic images and layouts known as clauses. These clauses became the visual representation of a student’s creativity and talents. Today, clausura legacy continues through practical assessments. It also persists in creative evaluations in art and architecture schools globally.

Before and after images of a watercolor painting showcasing vibrant colors and palm trees, with the words 'Before' and 'After' labeled.
Before and After. Wildlife, sunset and palms.
Transformation of a watercolor painting, showcasing the evolution from ‘Before’ to ‘After’ with vibrant colors and artistic techniques.

Let your imagination run wild! What creatures do you see in this piece? Tell me in the comments:)

This is what I see: Golden hour magic. Two cheeky monkeys are totally captivated by the evening twilight! Painted with watercolor and the *clausura* technique, this piece captures the serenity and vibrancy of the sunset. What’s your favorite part of the day? What’s your favorite thing about sunsets? Mine is definitely the way they paint the sky! This palm tree art perfectly captures that feeling.

This painting just *happened*. It is a spontaneous explosion of color and emotion. The artwork captures more than just a scene. It conveys the pure, awe-inspiring feeling of being there.

Bringing the wild to life, one brushstroke at a time. The process of creating this piece is truly inspiring me.

The clausura history highlights how important practical assessments are. Hands-on evaluations are crucial to accurately gauge a student’s skills and abilities.

The next time you see a stunning painting, remember that it might be the result of a tradition. A breathtaking sculpture or an awe-inspiring building might also have origins in tradition. This tradition dates back to the 16th century.

A vibrant watercolor painting featuring a sunset scene with palm trees, displayed in a modern interior setting.
Relaxing place in a home with sunset and wildlife painting

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#watercolorpainting #sunset #monkeys #wildlifeart #clausura #watercolor #painting #goldenhour #animalart #artisticclausura #painting #art #instaart #risovatmogutvse

The magic of the holidays is in the making! ✨ Join me on this artistic adventure as I explore the captivating world of #TravelVibes #ArtAdventure

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You are welcome to visit my personal website pages. There, you can find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings. You can buy canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. November, Winter mood. Part 10

ArtTravel

This post is a collection of my October daily sketches, but we’re jumping straight to winter. Because why follow a calendar like normal people?

Toronto’s winter is basically nature’s way of saying “time to stay indoors and contemplate your life choices.” Think snow, think wind, think your home suddenly becomes a cozy fortress where you can enjoy the view from your window while secretly judging people who actually venture outside. There’s ice skating (bring your bruises), and a festive Christmas-New Years atmosphere that makes you forget your heating bill exists.

Fair warning: All paintings in this post are refugees from previous seasons. Consider them time travelers.

Ontario Place in winter, immortalized in oil. Pro tip: If you squint really hard at this painting, you can spot the CN Tower looming in the distance—you know, that charming 0.5 km tall landmark that Toronto residents can see from literally everywhere, even from their nightmares.

Spot the CN Tower. No seriously, it’s in there somewhere.

Winter at Toronto Music Garden downtown? Chef’s kiss. Fancy lights everywhere, a stunning CN Tower backdrop, and—here’s the plot twist—a couple of bright yellow summer beach chairs just casually hanging out on the frozen Ontario lake, apparently on strike from summer and refusing to acknowledge they’re in the wrong season.

Beach chairs on ice. Summer is in denial.

Queens Quay West and Spadina: The year is ending, and Toronto’s streetcar is basically in a mad dash to the finish line! This imaginary masterpiece features a Toronto tram hurtling toward the New Year like it’s late for a very important date, complete with Christmas sled deer (yes, deer—stay with me), flying gifts, and a suspiciously placed bucket of champagne just waiting to get obliterated by a speeding tram. What could go wrong? Happy Holidays will be welcoming… especially this year :)

Yet another Toronto Music Garden watercolor! Featuring: one lonesome snowman, striking a philosophical pose with the CN Tower as his existential backdrop, and a shimmering silver Christmas ball judging his life choices. This was painted during a winter when Toronto actually got snow—yes, that rare, mythical phenomenon. Spoiler: snow doesn’t usually crash this far south near Ontario lake. When it does, locals act like they’ve discovered a new planet.

Or maybe it was a family having the time of their lives, engaged in the ancient tradition of hurling snowballs at each other and collaborating on a frosty monument to their own architectural ambitions.

Behold: A breathtakingly frosty twilight of downtown Toronto—complete with the Financial district’s fortress of high-risers, a cameo by the CN Tower, and Thompson Hall photobombing the party. I even threw in some gold powder because subtlety is overrated.

Gold dust included. You’re welcome.
Toronto in winter. Beautiful. Cold. Very cold.
Holiday vibes, zero heating bills pictured.

Gold fantasy extravaganza featuring the CN Tower, Thompson Hall, and Christmas balls so large they probably require their own zip codes.

Romantic. Festive. Definitely not freezing.

The romantic holiday painting with the beautiful night view of Toronto, featuring cheerful downtown during the holiday season. Clock counts down minutes to the New Year, Champagne is ready.

…and winter sunset skyline of Toronto downtown with CN Tower and Rogers centre. My dream shows lots of Christmas balls up in the air with my favorite places in Toronto – CN Tower, Rogers centre, Zoo, ROM Museum, Thompson Hall, Union station, AGO Museum, Pearson airport balls. Everybody can find their interesting places and buildings in the city. Watercolour painting with the landmarks and museums  of the City on the Christmas balls, impressionism

Blue hour. Deep thoughts. Frozen toes.

The Toronto Music Garden at night, now in moody blue. Very brooding. Very mysterious. Very “I’m contemplating why I’m standing outside in the snow.”

The snowman has seen things. He stares into the void.

Fingers crossed that my Toronto posts successfully convince you that this city is beautiful and welcoming! (The winter part is negotiable.)

Bon voyage! Until the next adventure :) Stay healthy, stay warm, stay away from icy patches.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission. (Yes, I’m watching.)

Tools used for my painting: Watercolour by Charvin and Van Gogh brands (yes, THE Van Gogh—no big deal), Derwent watercolour pencils that cost more than my rent, and Faber Castell artist pens for the details. Paper by Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.) – perfect for when you want your masterpieces portable-sized.

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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Marine theme. Part 4.

ArtTravel

The marina theme of Toronto’s daily sketches is quite expressive. Ontario lake and Kawarta lakes are within an hour driving. It gives some rest during long summer weather from May until October. Yes, Toronto has 2 main seasons- summer and winter with short periods of spring and fall.

The city of Toronto is young, lively, developing, sometimes it is frightened as in current lockdown times.

Toronto downtown sketching was done one quiet morning with some boats near the Music garden near Ontario lake.

I painted this picture in the late afternoon at #Toronto #downtown, before another #downpour this evening.  It was quiet in the park – that perfectly calm feeling before the storm – with only lightly swaying boats creaking in rhythm on the waves. 


The scent of ozone signaled stormy weather so I ran away just before the rain started pouring- but I captured the atmosphere – see there are actual rain drops in the painting? I love summer storms.

#Ontario #Kawarta #lakes -This watercolour was done directly on the boat on a warm summer evening as my husband was fishing 1 foot away from me in the same boat :)

I aimed to catch the soft evening hues of the little cottage on the shore, and the surrounding green leaves and and the monochrome stones. The lake and two birches on the high lake shore reminded me of my motherland, the far-away #Belarus. 

Ontario Kawarta lakes- all bathed in the pre-sunset golden warmth. September forest, the season is called Indian summer. The painting was done on the boat.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

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Water ripples. Why I look at circles on the water when throwing stones into a lake.

ArtTravel

There’s an old joke—and I’m about to prove its timelessness—that there are only three things worth watching forever: fire, water, and other people working. (Presumably while you avoid doing any of those three yourself.)

Me, pretending this 5-min walk counts as ‘travel’.

So there I was, “travelling” to Ontario Lake—which is basically a five-minute walk from my downtown Toronto apartment, but let’s call it travel and feel adventurous—doing art between sips of coffee and existential dread.

Spring morning fog was performing its usual magic trick: making water ripples look like they’ve achieved enlightenment before 9 AM, while I was still figuring out which end of the paintbrush to hold.

Fog: nature’s way of saying ‘not a morning person either’.

Here’s where it gets philosophical (buckle up): when I throw a rock into the water and watch those perfect circles expand outward, I’m basically witnessing the universe’s most patient motivational poster. Each ripple is like the water’s way of saying, “Hey, something happened here. Everything matters.” Which is beautiful, except when you realize most of my “important actions” are just throwing rocks at nature. Still counts as meaning-making, right?

Throwing rocks at water. This is my art practice. I’m serious.

But here’s the kicker—and this is where my brain decided to get uncomfortably deep—if you DON’T look at the circles, if you just throw the rock and walk away, then the whole thing is pointless. It’s not the throwing that matters; it’s witnessing the ripples. Which is basically life, except we’re all terrible at the “witnessing” part because we’re too busy scrolling through our phones. (No judgment. I’m absolutely guilty of this.)

The lake’s reflection — two skylines for the price of zero effort.

Think about it: all our accomplishments, our achievements, our “I finally got my life together” moments—they’re all like circles on the water. Here today, dispersed by tomorrow, absorbed back into the lake of indifference. The point isn’t that they disappear; the point is that we actually LOOKED at them, that we paid attention to our own ripples. We cared about what we left behind. Which, admittedly, is a lot more meaningful than most of what I do on a Tuesday afternoon—and that’s precisely why this spring is giving me permission to be delightfully philosophical about it. :)

The lake’s waves are pulling off their own art project—reflecting trees, buildings, the skyline—basically acting as nature’s Instagram filter, but with better composition and no ads.

Some spring raindrops plunge into the lake like tiny philosophers themselves, joining the water’s existential crisis. (The lake is very moody this time of year.)

Nature’s Instagram filter. No ads. No sponsored content. Just vibes.

Reflection of trees and water in the lake—basically nature’s way of saying, “Let me show you everything twice so you don’t miss it the first time.”

Ripples: the universe’s polite reminder that something happened here.
Raindrops joining the lake’s existential crisis. Relatable.

Claude Monet—a man who clearly understood obsession—once said: “The essence of the motif is the mirror of water, whose appearance alters at every moment.” Which is a fancy way of saying, “Water is always changing, so you better pay attention.” He gets it. He spent years painting the same water lilies from every possible angle because he understood that meaning isn’t fixed. It’s fluid. (I’ll see myself out.)

Bon voyage to you, dear reader! May your next travel adventure be as profound as a pebble hitting water—or at least half as pretentious. Until next time, stay healthy and keep looking at your ripples! :)

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission. (The ripples, however, are free for everyone.)

The tools I use for my paintings—including Watercolour brands Van Gogh and Cotman, plus Canson Mix Media and Watercolour albums (sizes 28×35 cm and 25×35 cm). Everything an artist needs to obsess over water ripples professionally!

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