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Watercolor painting of pink peonies with a brush resting beside it

Summer flowers, its magic and beauty. Pink peonies. Part 1.

ArtTravel

Still life and urban sketching? More like “still hiding behind art supplies and questionable architectural doodles.”

Are you a flower person? Do you prefer the show-offs—those high-maintenance roses that demand constant attention? Or are you team humble-but-underrated daisy? Pink and fragrant? Wilted and questionable? There’s a flower personality out there for everyone, and no judgment here.

Three peonies walk into a painting. Nobody leaves.

So this summer, I enrolled in a Flowers painting course—a decision that absolutely upended everything I thought I knew about myself as an artist. Turns out, I’d been dodging still life like it was a personal insult for years. Plot twist: flowers are actually incredible. Who knew? (Apparently, everyone but me.) Through watercolor, ink, and an embarrassing amount of trial-and-error (hello, muddy brown petals), I discovered that my supposed “non-negotiable” artistic preferences were basically fiction. This course demolished my creative self-image in the best way possible, and I’m here to share all the glorious discoveries—and occasional disasters—in these flower-filled posts.

Three pink peonies in a garden, immortalized in watercolor and ink—because apparently, I decided to get fancy with my subject matter this year.

One peony, no filter, zero chill.

Bon voyage! Until the next creative adventure (and the next time I convince myself I can paint something completely outside my comfort zone). Stay healthy and keep those flowers watered—they’re needier than I am.

All paintings belong to me. Seriously, don’t steal them. I’ll know.

Tools used for this painting extravaganza: Watercolours by Charvin and Van Gogh (the fancy kids), GrayPas Expressionist pastels (for when I need drama), Derwent watercolor pencils (reliable sidekicks), and Faber Castell artist pens (the MVPs). Paper: Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)—perfectly sized for my wildly ambitious vision and limited attention span.

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Watercolor supplies and pink peonies on a table outside a cottage

Summer flowers, its magic and beauty. Pink peonies. Part 2.

ArtTravel

Floral Obsession: Still Life, Urban Sketching, and the Great Peony Conspiracy

Let me tell you about the time I became irrationally obsessed with peonies. Why peonies, you ask? Well, my mom had enough of these pompous pink showstoppers around my parents’ summer house to start a floral beauty pageant. I loved their tiny, adorable pink hats (yes, I’m calling them hats) and their scent—which basically smelled like summer decided to become a fragrance and live in a flower. Naturally, I had to paint them obsessively.

Picture this: A peony serving looks like a Queen at her coronation ball—because apparently these flowers didn’t get the memo that humility exists. Draped in regal reds, blushing pinks, and tender violets, each petal screams “I’m fancy, look at me!” So I painted one in impressionism style with watercolor, trying to capture that whole “I woke up like this” vibe. Spoiler alert: it took me way longer than I expected.

She’s pink, she’s proud, she’s basically royalty

Fast forward to now: I’m practically planning my next European adventure as a glorified flower reconnaissance mission. Armed with fresh art supplies and an unhealthy obsession with botanical subjects, I’m ready to sketch and paint my way through Europe—watercolor and ink in hand, zero chill about flowers. My travel companions are probably rolling their eyes. That’s their loss.

Behold: a tender pink peony in all its impressionistic glory, captured in watercolor. Yes, I made it slightly dramatic. It seemed appropriate given how peonies carry themselves.

Still pink. Still judging you. Still perfect.

Bon voyage to you! Until the next travel adventure (probably somewhere there are flowers to paint). Stay witty, and remember: life’s too short not to have strong opinions about flowers.

All paintings belong to the author and are protected by the sacred code of “don’t steal my flowers.” No image is to be copied without permission.

For the curious minds wondering about my artistic arsenal: I wielded watercolors from the fancy brands (Charvin and Van Gogh—yes, I went full art history nerd), pastels from GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolor pencils (the real MVPs), and Faber Castell artist pens. My canvas of choice? Strathmore Watercolor and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)—AKA the perfect size for portable flower obsession.

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Open Italian anatomy book beside red flowers, paint palette, brushes, and cappuccino

Magic and beauty, red peonies, cappuccino and Leonardo’s Notebook. Part 3.

ArtTravel

Still life and urban sketching. Because apparently, I can’t sit still OR leave my house without a sketchpad.

So Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebook told me something rather inconvenient: artists need to constantly find new things to paint or draw. (Thanks a lot, Leonardo—no pressure!) Thus began my endless quest to think outside the box that I’m apparently always painting inside. This summer, I had a minor epiphany: watercolor graphic technique is NOT just fancy coloring books. Shocking, I know. It was a small discovery that spiraled into full-blown artistic obsession, and now here we are.

My still life muse? Bright reddish peonies, obviously. I arranged them artfully on my treasured Leonardo da Vinci book, added my glasses (for the intellectual look), threw in a cup of cappuccino (for the vibes), and created what I can only describe as a masterpiece of self-indulgence. Voilà! Another watercolor and ink painting in my beloved impressionist style was born.

Watercolor fantasy. Cappuccino and red peonies and a book

Just imagine it: a warm Mediterranean evening, you’re wandering charming cobblestone streets, and voila—red and pink peonies spill from a straw basket on some picturesque wood door or window. That’s watercolor and ink, my friend. That’s impressionism at its finest. That’s also my elaborate fantasy about our future travels to southern France, Italy, or possibly Greece (I’m not picky when it comes to vacation dreams). Who knows where wanderlust will take us? :)

Summer flower fantasy.

Shout-out to my daughter for the phenomenal gift: Leonardo’s Notebook. This book is basically the gift that keeps on giving—centuries-old wisdom from a guy who was basically good at everything. It’s like having a Renaissance master constantly looking over your shoulder with 500-year-old advice. Terrifying and inspiring in equal measure.

Bon voyage! Until the next adventure awaits! Stay healthy and hydrated (your skin will thank you when you’re sketching in the Mediterranean sun).

All paintings belong to the author. Seriously, don’t copy them. I mean it. My lawyer says I have to say that. Just go make your own masterpiece!

Tools used for my painting: Watercolors by Charvin and Van Gogh (because apparently only the best will do for this artist’s delusions). Pastels by GrayPas Expressionist (the feisty cousin of regular pastels). Derwent watercolor pencils and Faber Castell artist pens (because one type of pen is never enough). Paper: Strathmore Watercolor and Mixed Media albums in that perfect 15×20 cm (6×8 inch) size—not too big, not too small, just right for my control-freak tendencies.

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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Weird statues-2. Part 7.

ArtTravel

Daily sketches in downtown Toronto with some funny sculptures. In this post I am adding 3 interesting sculptures and architecture that are located at one park, very convenient for the artists, locals and tourists:)

Dog Fountain at Berczy park. 2020 new reality. I saw some disposable masks on the sculptures of dogs. It is still one of the favorite meet point for friends in the city:) I added coolers of sour cream, tobacco and cappuccino to add warmth of the last days of the Indian summer. 

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-dog-fontain-at-berczy-park-tamara-vitsenkova.html

Toronto downtown beautiful Flatiron building by architector Derek Besant. It has a narrow angle from one side, but I like its facade on Berczy park, overlooking the square, like the wrapped edges of autumn leaves. I using colors salmon + rose + vanilla

https://pixels.com/featured/torontoflatiron-building-at-berczy-park-tamara-vitsenkova.html

And another weird and fanciful sculpture of hands out of the ground. Maybe they are life-giving hands of the Earth?:) In my painting I used matte and very deep black with indigo, grass is an autumn shade of flax. The background is the peach-colored building Flatiron building at Berczy park.

https://pixels.com/featured/torontohands-sculpture-at-berczy-park-tamara-vitsenkova.html

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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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Weird statues. Part 6

ArtTravel

My “travelling and art” journey in my city of Toronto, and the next chapter is some… weird sculptures:) The idea is to enjoy a city and study its history and architecture while walking around the city and making sketches.

“Between the eyes” Toronto street sculpture, Ontario. We know how the smile of the Cheshire Cat looks like from the book Alice’s Adventures popularized by Lewis Carroll. My guess that the sculpture shows how the Cheshire Cat’s eyes look like:) I added some silver powder to my painting with sea-colored and raspberry paints for the buildings on Yonge street.

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-megapolis-sculpture-between-the-eyes-tamara-vitsenkova.html 

Another weird and funny statue is “Rising” in downtown of Toronto, at University avenue. I would say that it is a combination of an animal …maybe an elk or.. a deer or… an elephant in combination with the branches of forest’ trees. The “Rising” like the Atlant carries on himself the whole colossus of a high rise building. I added spicy brown color to the wall that gives some warmth to the cold silver’s colour of the statue.

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-rising-statue-tamara-vitsenkova.html 

The next interesting composition called “Fair grounds”, consists of four pairs of stainless chairs in the middle of a street Wellington W. at John st. One pair of the chairs is “looking” in the same direction, representing a “familiar/family” relationship. The 2nd pair is “arguing” as they are set back to back, just like when two people don’t want to look at or talk to each other. The 3rd pair is “friends”: they are set facing each other, just like friends who sit down to have a chat. And the last pair is set near each other but they are looking in different directions – just like “strangers” would.

Some of these chairs are elegant, some are simple, and each has a unique style, just like people… Next time you walk by these, have a seat at this unique composition. It’d be interesting to see which pair of chairs you would chose: “Family”, “Arguing”, “Friends” or “Strangers”?:)

And adding the bright sketch of Red canoe. Why I am adding this drawing to the post with the weird statues? Because this red boat is standing on top of my neighborhood’s hill!:) Nice warm weather is helping for outdoor art. Enjoying the sun and fresh air and local sketching exersises!:)

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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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Ontario Place. Part 5

ArtTravel

Toronto daily sketches are continued…Mild autumn weather in Toronto helps my art activities.

https://pixels.com/featured/evening-golden-fall-tamara-vitsenkova.html

Ontario Place is an artificially created island park in downtown with recreation area, on the territory of which there are venues for various festivals, an IMAX cinema, a Budweiser concert stage, well this year they are quite empty..

https://pixels.com/featured/ontario-place-toronto-tamara-vitsenkova.html 

It has a small marina with snow-white yachts, and many pleasant paths for walking and cycling.

Lovely sunset in Ontario Place and its lonely standing windshare. It reminds me about its famous windmills near Amsterdam, or Cervantes Don Quichotte mills in Spain or a flour mill of my grandgrandparents as per our family’s legends in Belarus. Yes, I am missing so much our annual vacation in Europe, hope that this “stayhome” will be over soon…

Toronto’s fall is very soft and warm, so you can enjoy all this beauty, leisurely walking through numerous the local parks and the picturesque waterfront of Lake Ontario.

https://pixels.com/featured/trees-golden-fall-tamara-vitsenkova.html

Beautiful maples, painted in bright red and gold, are planted along the Ontario lake’s parks.

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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My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Part 1

ArtTravel

I am starting a new journey. This time it will be “travelling” in my own city. I am planning to do daily sketches of city of Toronto, showing my preferred places, sometimes bright spots on its streets, sometimes… weird sculptures:)))) , the multicultural megapolis that is in harmony with its people.

Woodpecker Column – Toronto, Ontario at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-pileated-woodpecker-tamara-vitsenkova.html?newartwork=true

Metro Convention Centre’s woodpecker. This bird symbolizes construction, hardworking people of Ontario. It is prophetic bird, symbol of magical power, guardian of kings and trees. Even in mythology, the woodpecker is dedicated to Zeus (Jupiter), Ares (Mars), Sylvanu. In the eternal city of Rome, the woodpecker is said to have guarded Romulus and Remus, according legends.

Monument of culturalism. The statue of a man who uses all his strength to tighten the meridians of globe in this multinational city. On the “meridians” one can notice some birds perched up.

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-multiculturalism-sculpture-near-union-station-tamara-vitsenkova.html?newartwork=true

This is a place where residents or visitors of Toronto arrive or leave by subway, tram, bus, train, or airport. It is the heart of Toronto with its historical Union station. The statistics say that it has an average of 200,000 passengers passing through it each day. However, during the lockdown, that number was only 10% of its usual stat. In my hope for the best (and healthy) future, I captured the moment when the sky har  the mixture of chocolate and rose hues. To complement it, I added some shades of coffee and vanilla to the sculpture.

https://pixels.com/featured/toronto-bike-share-toronto-near-rodgers-centre-tamara-vitsenkova.html

Bike share Toronto. Who doesn’t know these famous bicycles in the streets of Toronto the colour of green apple? There are stations all over the city, including near the Harbour Centre, CN Tower and Rogers centre. You can rent a bicycle and spend a great time cycling for example near Ontario lake.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

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

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

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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