Reproduction Art

Absamplitude Oil Painting Handfabricated Diligent Waugury

2011-03-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Karoor was a priest for 12 years after which he adjudged to accompany film industry. His admission was in the Malayalam film, ‘Nirakkazhcha’ (Waves of Colour),Animal Painting, acutected by Anish J Karinad.

“I was a priest for 12 yaerial. Right now, I am traveling to act in a movie. So, I autonomous (for) acting. My aboriginal cine which I got was ‘Nirakkazhcha’ which was absoluteed by Anish J Karinad,” said Karoor.

Karoor abnegated rumours that he was expelled from the Church after axis to films.

“Some of our advisers said that afterwards ‘Nirakkazhcha’ I was belchled from the Church; that is amiss. I was not expelled from the Church. I mycocky absitively to go out. This is the first time a priest is acting in a film. So, this will actualize a lot of botheration to the bureaucracy, the Church ascendancy,” said Karoor.

In the movie ‘Nirakkazhcha’, Karoor advises an Italian acrylicer (Italian amateur Vicenza Bocciarelli) who appears to Kerala to abstraction Raja Ravi Varma’s afflictiontings,Oil Painting Oil Paintings, and avalanche in adulation with a archetypal. The movie was appear two anniversarys ago.

After the barrage of his first film, Karoor is aiming for the advantageous Tamil film industry

Reproduction Rights for Fine Art

2011-02-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

You paid $10,000 in 1989, for an original painting at a gallery in Santa Cruz, California. Now it's 1999 and your friend wants to use a reproduction of your art in an advertisement of their landscape business in a garden magazine. She asks you if she may do so and you respond,: "Sure. It's a beautiful painting." This is no problem under California law? True or False?

False. Under California Civil Code 982, when a person buys a work of fine art, the reproduction rights remain with the artist or the artist's heirs, legatees, (persons taking under a will) or personal representative until it passes into the public domain unless there is an express written agreement otherwise. When you make prints of your artwork and/or use reproductions of it, you are infringing on the artist's rights and the artist has a right to be compensated. If you anticipate such a use, it is best to request the reproductions at the time you purchase the artwork. Usually, artists will grant such rights unless they have intentions to make prints for their own purposes.

Fine art and right of reproduction defined...

Fine art is defined as any work of visual art, including but not limited to, a drawing, (including an etching, lithograph, offset print silk screen, or a work of graphic art of like nature), crafts (including crafts in clay, textile, fiber, wood, metal, plastic, and like materials, or mixed media (including a collage, assemblage, or any combination of the foregoing art media). Right of reproduction is defined as including but not limited to, the following: reproduction of works of fine art as prints suitable for framing; facsimile casts of sculpture; reproductions used for greeting cards; reproductions in general books and magazine not devoted primarily to art, and in newspapers in other than art or news sections, when such reproductions in books, magazine and newspapers are used for purposes similar to those of material for which the publishers customarily pay; art films, television, except from stations operated for educational purposes, or on programs for educational purposes from all stations; and posters, billboards, films or television.

The exceptions listed above where the artist's right to reproduction is NOT infringed are consistent with the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law where a person has the right to use an image for educational and critical purposes.

When you said, "Sure" to your landscape friend, you gave away a right to reproduce that you did not have. However, it is the responsibility of the landscape friend to ascertain that you did actually have the reproduction rights and it is she who will have to compensate the artist unless you have deliberately misled your friend in some way as to your ownership of the right to reproduce. Remember, however, that laws vary from state to state. Check your local state law regarding its right of reproduction.

Want to Research Prints or Find Posters and Slides?

2011-02-11T02:08:00.000-08:00

Do you have a print that you want to learn more about? Since artists often use printmaking media to create "multiples," how can you tell whether what you own is an original print or a reproduction copy? It can be difficult to answer these questions without taking the item to a museum print curator, auction house or certified art appraiser. The condition of a print will also be an important factor in determining its market value. To begin your research, look for a catalogue raisonné (a complete listing of the artist's works), if one has been published for that artist.

Traditionally, printing has been defined as the transferring of ink from a prepared printing surface (a wood block, metal plate or stone carrying the image) to a piece of paper or other similar material. Techniques include three basic types—the ink is on the raised parts of the printing surface (relief), in lowered grooves (intaglio) or on the surface itself (planographic). Common relief techniques include woodcuts and linocuts. Intaglio processes include etchings and engravings. Planographic processes include lithography and serigraphy. Each technique maintains the character of the marks made by the artist during the creative process. Other techniques include monotypes and digital prints or combinations of more than one technique.

Prints exist in multiples. Each impression is considered to be an original. The total number of prints (or impressions) made of one image is an "edition." The number may appear on the print with the individual print number as a fraction, such as 5/25, meaning this particular print is the fifth of twenty-five produced.

Reproductions are often incorrectly referred to as prints. Items advertised as fine-art prints or limited edition prints are sometimes photomechanical reproductions of paintings or drawings. Such reproductions use the same commercial printing processes used in producing magazine illustrations. The artist's involvement is not required. Reproductions have the virtue of being less expensive than originals, but they are not considered original artworks.

The Post Impressionism Art Movement

2011-02-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

As the name implies, the Post Impressionism art movement followed on from Impressionism. As well as being a logical extension of that earlier movement, it was in many ways a rejection of Impressionism's impersonality and strict concern with the effects of light and colour. The Post Impressionism art movement was more interested in a very personal and spiritual form of self expression.

The link and debt to Impressionism, though, is very clear. The short strokes of brilliantly coloured paint and the move away from traditional subject matter cleared the way for the Post Impressionist artists to take modern art a stage further and lay the foundations for many modern art movements of the next century.

The term Post Impressionism was first coined by the English art critic Roger Fry, in reference to the work of some of the leading exponents of the Post Impressionism Art Movement, such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gaugin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Post Impressionism art movement was not a tight community of artists like Impressionism had been, but was made up of artists often working in isolation in regions that held their particular interest. Cezanne worked alone in the South of France in Aix-en-Provence, Van Gogh painted his surroundings in Arles and Paul Gaugin moved to Tahiti, where he developed his exotic and colourful images of the Tahitians.

The Artist Inside All Of Us

2011-01-28T05:33:00.000-08:00

I firmly believe that all people are born artists. Everyone can
remember how, as children, we all loved drawing,
finger-painting, etc. The wonderful thing was, we didn't care
what others thought of our efforts, we were just having fun!

Somehow, as we age, we often lose that creative innocence and
exuberance, and in the process, lose a very gratifying part of
our lives. I see people every day that are unhappy and don't
know why. I believe that if they could "rediscover" a creative
outlet of some form, it would so enrich their lives that they
would return to it again and again. Often I hear adults say, "I
can't do that! I can't even draw a straight line!". Well, the
straight lines don't matter; it's the curved and crooked ones
that are more interesting!

I personally have never had any formal art training. Neither has
my husband, Kris, or our daughter-in-law, April. We all three
just need a creative outlet to help us stay sane, and now here
we are! When you browse through the Artisan Shops on Ruby Lane,
you will see many very talented Artisans with different forms of
artistic _expression. Each and every one of them is exquisitely
beautiful in their own way, and all are uniquely different. That
is the wonderful thing about art. What you create is a very
personal part of you, and that carries over to your work. There
are three of us that contribute to our shop.

I started painting fifteen years ago. I had always wanted to
paint, had never pursued it, and literally just woke up one day
and said, "Today I start painting!" I did, and two months later
sold my first piece. Next thing I knew, I had a custom artwork
shop going out of my home, and later, opened a brick and mortar
store that I had for over a year, until my mother became ill, so
I went back to painting from home. Kris started out designing
book covers in elementary school for extra money. April started
out scrap-booking about two years ago, and has taken off with
her own designs and techniques. I also work in ceramics, clay,
and jewelry, and have sold items through wholesalers in Texas
and Colorado. All because I decided I wanted to paint! Go ahead,
give something a try! "If you can dream it, you can do it"!

Reproduction Rights for Fine Art

2011-01-21T05:35:00.000-08:00

Encaustic painting (or layering with wax!)

2011-01-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

Encaustic painting is painting with heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. In an era when collage is being explored deeply, encaustic is a natural medium, since it allows both painterly explorations of color and the possibility of embedding objects and layering. The technique has been around since (at least) ancient Egypt, when it was used to create mummy portraits.

In 1955, Jasper Johns used this technique to create one of the first of his flag paintings. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the process:

“The painting consists of three separately stretched panels of cotton fabric joined at the back: the forty-eight stars area; the seven upper stripes to the right of the stars area; and the long area of the six stripes below. The painting is predominantly in the wax-based medium of encaustic. Johns worked on each panel separately, first laying down the overall flag design in charcoal. After applying a thin ground of unbleached, translucent beeswax, he built up the stars, the negative areas around them, and the stripes with applications of collage: small cut-out pieces of newsprint, other paper, and bits of fabric. He dipped these into molten beeswax and adhered them to the surface while the wax was hot. He then joined the three panels and painted over the entire surface with short, deliberate strokes of more unpigmented beeswax and touches of white oil paint.”

I have been poking around the internet, gathering more information on this technique. The most fascinating bit that I have found so far is a 12 page booklet titled, “Examples of Stencils and Masks” by Linda Womack from the 2008 National Encaustic Conference. Linda is the author of a book on the topic, Embracing Encaustic (which I have not seen yet) and the teacher of a recent workshop at the John C.Campbell Folk School. She has posted lots of exciting photos of the workshop on her blog.

The Second National Conference of Encaustic Painting at Montserrat took place June 6-8, 2008. Several bloggers have posted their comments on the conference, including an online presentation of the talk, “Encaustic with a Textile Sensibility” (Thanks to Joanne Mattera for this list!):

* Linda Womack’s Embracing Encaustic: Conference, Day 1; Conference Days 2 and 3; Linda’s Critique with Kay WalkingStick)
* Judy Wise’s blog: Encaustic Conference, Part 1; And Judy’s close encounter with Norman Laliberte
* Deanna Wood’s Artist Emerging blog
* Nash Hyon’s Encaustic Process blog
* Supria’s Encaustic Musings blog
* Daniella Woolf’s Encaustifiberopolis blog, which features an excerpted look at her talk “Encaustic with a Textile Sensibility” She begins, “I opened the door to encaustic from my perspective as a textile sculptor. The encaustic “medium” energized my work, and forever changed me.”

I’m not sure that I am ready to take the plunge into encaustic, but the layerings give me some inspiration for ways to take my acrylic paintings and textiles!

Art appreciators are now at a budget savoring oil painting reproductions

2010-12-14T02:29:00.000-08:00

Art has always been an element in the lives of people at all stations of life irrespective to the ages, the recent study has depicted that it has been difficult for those without considerable wealth to afford great art. In terms of providing value, very few things add to life the way art does and this is why so many quest after such fine art pieces as oil paintings.

However, due to the price of such paintings being so high due to the labor involved in their production, average people were often left having to appreciate such art only in a museum setting. And for those who love Oil paintings, a new site is changing all of this. The average consumers now has access to oil paintings reproductions of a higher level of quality than ever before. The web is well known to be an innovative place where prices of many things are able to be reduced, and for the first in the time in the history of art. Instead of mere posters, these new oil paintings look just like the real thing, but due to the efficiency of their production they cost much less. A wide range of artists and styles are presented to viewers which allows them to own impressive reproduction art sure to add to their lives in an aesthetic and inspirational sense. The site offers a large selection of artists ranging from Van Gogh to more recent contemporary artists and encourages not only free shipping, but also prices that are half or more off the standard prices seen in today's art galleries where the vast majority of paintings are sold.

Far from mere prints, these reproductions are hand painted and of museum quality, ensuring that buyers are getting the value they had hoped to obtain when purchasing a painting. Those who want a meticulously recreated version of some of the world's top paintings ranging from Mona Lisa to The Scream can now afford to have their own.

Oil Pastel Techniques

2010-05-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

Painting can be a very overwhelming process, particularly if you are just starting out. In such a scenario, oil pastel painting could well be the respond to the question. Pastel painting is easy to create and not disordered like the other forms of paintings; in fact it is fairly easy to start with. And while it might seem that you can go on to other forms of painting having mastered this one, you really don't require to. This is because using oil pastel techniques can turn the paintings into real masterpieces, while allowing expressing effectively.

Oil pastels are the perfect selection one can make if drawing is their first love. Since oil pastel techniques do not need the use of water or brushes or any other such (sometimes messy) contraptions, the artist can continue to draw and at the same time, get the look of a painting in his work.

Oil Pastel Techniques

Choosing Pastels

The first thing that requires to be done is choosing the pastels. There are several brands in the market that recommend these pastels in different sizes. Some is going still up to 120 shades or more in a set. However, if you are now starting out, opt for a set of 24. These will be sufficient, for they supply all the shades necessary for experimenting and yet there aren't too many to confuse you. After considerable practice, however, one can move on to a wider variety of pastels.

When preferring these pastels, always look for their appearance. Pastels which are broken down or have small craters and holes in them are of poor quality. Always select a set that is even and shiny. Pick for artist quality pastels; as opposed to student grade ones. Student grade pastels tend to be really waxy and make it harder for blending. In spite of all this, it is mainly through experimentation that one can establish the type of pastels that interpret their style best.

Choosing a Canvas

A canvas is the surface on which one will draw their paintings. Choosing a surface that will best portray the artist's skill is therefore very essential. There are several varieties of paper present in the market. Different artists select different types of paper, according to their needs. Many artists prefer using pastel paper that is of weighty grade. The cause being that it has a scratchy surface that holds the pigments of oil pastels. Some others choose the normal oil painting canvas because of its raised grain - this makes it perfect for grabbing the layers of oil pastel. Some other alternatives of canvas paper are sanded paper, archival paper, hot pressed paper and cold pressed paper.

Sketching the Painting

Once your paper and pastels are in place, you can initiate sketching the painting. The pressure of strokes and the roughness of the canvas are the two most important things to remain in mind when starting to sketch. The pressure that we use will choose the intensity of colors. More the pressure used, more intense the colors and vice versa. Similarly, a smooth surface of the canvas will result in a less broken appear as opposed to a rough surface.

To start with, sketch the drawing on the canvas paper with a lead pencil. Let the sketching be in gentle strokes and not with pressure, so that it does not cause indents on the page. If indents are formed then that section of the paper gets a depression and when you paint, the indented part won't catch the color, thus giving the entire painting an uneven look.

Next, recognize the color that you want to use in a particular area and sketch over the penciled lines with it. Then, fill in the color in the whole area. The first layer of color needs to be laid down on the canvas later. Since this layer is light, it might provide a transparent appearance and you might be able to see the canvas through it. However, this 'transparent' area on the canvas will be covered by successive layers of colors.

Layering

Always has a clear idea of what the final product will be, before start painting. There are some techniques using oil pastels that can create a work of art. They are so easy that they show to be useful oil pastel techniques for older beginners:

Different Tones

Layers can be included in different ways, either by adding light colors over dark or dark over light. However, it has been noticed that it is easier to revolve dark colors into light rather than the other way round. It is simpler to keep the white areas in the painting free of any pastels to provide that whitest white feel.

Using the Side

Using the side of a pastel crayon will permit to cover a broader area of the canvas, thereby retaining an amalgamated feel to it without causing a displaced effect.

Using Linear Strokes

Linear strokes (lines) can be applied for drawing outlines, adding details, hatching (drawing lines, especially parallel lines for engraving and marking) and cross hatching. This allows controlling the shapes and saturation of the colors improved.

Even Tone

It is essential to maintain an even tone if one wants to keep a particular area dark or extremely light. In this case, darker colors should not be shaded with lighter ones or vice versa. They ought to be colors of a like tone.

Using Turpentine

Turpentine is applied to soften or flatten a painting. So, when one needs to merge pastels together on paper, oil pastels become very soft and start to dissolve when you dip them in turpentine. Thus, they can be manipulated according to the wanted density. Alternatively, the tip of a brush can be immersed in turpentine and then used to drag the pigments across the canvas - this will form washes. Likewise, several layers of washes can be created this way. The intensity of the colors can be varied by varying the quantity of turpentine used.

'Sgraffito' Effect

The 'sgraffito' effect is a technique whereby the color beneath is revealed by scratching the top layer of the color. It plainly means 'to scratch’ and to do this, a razor, a knife or the other finish of a paint brush can be used.

Ghostlike Effect

Using a razor to scrape areas in a painting will guide to a ghostlike or fuzzy look. Sometimes, the addition of too many layers can provide the painting a very heavy look; this can be resolved by using this technique.

Cotton Swab

When one adds layer upon layer, it might lead to a very disjointed appearance. To solve this, one can apply a cotton swab or the fingers to blend the different layers. This will then offer the painting a very wholesome feel.

Correcting Too Many Layers

Adding too many layers in the painting can deliver the canvas unable to grab any more pastels (muddying the surface). In case this happens, one can use a dry cloth, wrap it around a finger and then wash out the affected area.

After one has finished painting, it should be permitted to harden. The time taken for the painting to harden will depend on the amount of layers that are used in it. The life of the painting can be expanded by adding a fixative to it. Also a mat spacer can be added, so that you can enclose the painting with glass, without it affecting the pastel.

Acrylic Painting

2010-04-28T03:49:00.000-07:00

The first acrylic paint was magna paint which was generated by Leonard Bocour and Sam Golden in the year 1947. This paint was ultimately reformulated in 1960 and is the basis of all the acrylic paints and acrylic painting techniques. Acrylic paints are fast drying paints, that are primarily made up of acrylic polymer emulsion and have pigments suspended within the emulsion. The specialty of these paints is that they get reduced with the help of water, but once they dry they turn waterproof. This characteristic of the paint has been significantly used in many different abstract acrylic painting techniques. Another well-known feature of these paints is that they dry up very quickly.

Acrylic Painting Tips and Techniques

Painters and artisans are almost never out of ideas, when it appears to acrylic painting techniques.

Preventing the Paint from drying

The quick drying of the acrylic paint is often believed to be a drawback of these paints. These paints also dry faster than the normal oil paints, when utilized on a canvas surface. The technique to prevent the acrylic paint from drying at a quicker rate is spraying it lightly with water. This keeps the upper surface of the paint moist and you can easily alter parts of this surface. Some artisans also use pallets that preserve moisture. In cases where such pallets are not available, sheets of grease-proof paper or wet color paper can also be applied.

Creation of Fluid Paints

Diluted types of acrylic paints can be easily used for glazing and washes, which have a more fluid texture. Water and paint can be used in proportion to create suitable fluid textures. The mixture of paint and water is generally known as a 'glaze'. The proportion of water and acrylic paint can be changed to create different textures. Some of the prominent textures are opaque glaze and the translucent glaze.

Depth

Painting glazes are other very generally used acrylic painting techniques, where the glaze is made by diluting acrylic paint with the help of water. This mixture of water and paint is used to add a depth to the painting. The 'debt' is achieved in the painting by making a translucent glaze that can be painted over the main subject of the painting, which gives a 3 dimensional form to the painting.

Pour Painting

Pour painting is one of the most creative of all the acyclic painting techniques. The paint is initially diluted with water. The mixture of paint and water is then artistically discharged over the canvas. In some paintings this method is used to give passive finishing touches to the painting, where the subject of the painting has already been finished. Some very skilled painters have used pour painting as a medium of painting, instead of using pour paint to provide the finishing touches.

Islamic art

2010-04-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

The term Islamic art not only explains the art created specifically in the service of the Muslim faith (for example, a mosque and its furnishings) but also characterizes the art and architecture historically produced in the lands ruled by Muslims, produced for Muslim patrons, or created by Muslim artists. As it is not only a religion but a way of life, Islam fostered the development of a distinctive culture with its own unique artistic language that is replicated in art and architecture throughout the Muslim world.

The lands newly occupied by the Muslims had their own preexisting artistic traditions and, initially at least, those artists who had worked under Byzantine or Sasanian patronage continued to work in their own indigenous styles but for Muslim patrons. The first examples of Islamic art therefore rely on earlier techniques, styles, and forms reflecting this combining of classical and Iranian decorative themes and motifs. Even religious monuments raised under Umayyad patronage that have a clearly Islamic function and meaning, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, demonstrate this amalgam of Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Sasanian elements.

Only steadily, under the impact of the Muslim faith and nascent Islamic state, did a uniquely Islamic art emerge. The rule of the Umayyad caliphate (661–750) is frequently considered to be the formative period in Islamic art. One method of classifying Islamic art, used in the Islamic galleries at the Metropolitan Museum, is according to the dynasty reigning when the work of art was formed. This type of periodization follows the general precepts of Islamic history, which is separated into and punctuated by the rule of various dynasties, beginning with the Umayyad and cAbbasid dynasties that governed a vast and unified Islamic state, and concluding with the more regional, though powerful, dynasties such as the Safavids, Ottomans, and Mughals.

With its geographic spread and long history, Islamic art was inevitably focus to a wide range of regional and even national styles and influences as well as changes within the various periods of its development. It is all the more remarkable then that, even under these circumstances, Islamic art has always maintained its intrinsic quality and unique identity. Just as the religion of Islam embodies a way of life and provides as a cohesive force among ethnically and culturally diverse peoples, the art produced by and for Muslim societies has basic identifying and unifying characteristics. Perhaps the most significant of these is the predilection for all-over surface decoration. The four basic elements of Islamic ornament are calligraphy, vegetal patterns, geometric patterns, and figural representation.

Oil Painting

2010-04-17T03:28:00.000-07:00

Oil paints are extremely adaptable. They can be used densely in impasto or extremely thinly in glazes; they can be opaque or transparent. Here are a few tips to help you obtain the most from your oils.

Tip 1:
Always put your oil paints out on your palette in the same categorize so that, with time, you'll be able to pick up a bit of a color instinctively.

Tip 2:
The proportion of oil (medium) should be increased for each succeeding layer in an oil painting – known as painting 'fat over lean' – because the lower layers absorb oil from the layers on top of them. If the upper layers dry quicker than the lower ones, they can crack.

Tip 3:
Avoid using Ivory Black for an under painting or sketching as it dries a lot slower than other oil paints.

Tip 4:
Pigments including lead, cobalt, and manganese accelerate drying। They can be mixed with other colours to speed up drying and are ideal for under layers. (Student-quality paints usually contain cheaper alternatives to these pigments, generally labeled hues.

Tip 5:
Use linseed oil for an under painting or in the bottom layers of any oil painting done wet-on-dry as it dries the most methodically of all the oils used as mediums.

Tip 6:
Avoid using linseed oil as a medium in whites and blues as it has a noticeable tendency to yellow, which is most notable with light colours. Poppy oil is recommended for light colours as it has the slightest tendency to yellow (although it does dry slower).

Tip 7:
Don't dry the oil paintings in the dark। This may cause a thin film of oil to increase to the surface, yellowing it. (This can be removed by exposure to bright daylight.

Tip 8:
If, the same as the paint on your palette dries it forms a lot of wrinkles, too much oil (medium) has been added.

Tip 9:
If you're not sure whether a bottle of mineral or white spirits is suitable for oil painting, put a small quantity on a piece of paper and let it evaporate. If it evaporates without leaving any residue, stain, or smell, it should be well.

Tip 10:
If you want to clean away a layer of oil paint or oil varnish, use alcohol, which is a great solvent.

How to Fix Mistakes and Remove Errors in a Watercolor Painting

2010-04-15T00:14:00.000-07:00

Make a decision whether it really is a mistake or whether it adds an unexpected quality to the painting. Consider letting the painting go in its own direction rather than forcing your preconceived thoughts on it.
If you do want to get rid of something, and you've only just put down the paint, try stimulating it out with a piece of paper towel, absorbent cloth or sponge. Don't rub or press tough as you'll push the paint into the paper. Rather, strike very gently, using the paper towel's ability to absorb liquid (paint). A dry brush will also work -- clean it on a cloth to remove the moisture in it, then put the very tip onto the wet paint; the brush hairs will absorb the paint.
If the paint has begun to dry, leave it to dry completely. This may appear a counter-intuitive, but by leaving it to dry the paint will be on the surface of the paper and painting. Then take a clean, slightly damp brush (not one that's very wet) and gently brush on the area you want to remove, functioning into an adjacent bit of the painting, then use paper towel to lift the paint.
If the paint doesn't come off in one go, don't scrub with the brush on the paper as you're possible to damage it. Quite, leave the watercolor to dry and then repeat the process.
If you believe the whole painting is a disaster but don't want to waste the sheet of paper, submerge it in a bowl of clean water to soak out as much paint as possible. Enlarge the piece of paper again. It'll probably keep a shadow of your previous painting, so it'll be better suited to a dark or colorful scene than a light, bright one.

Buying Fine Art Oil Reproductions

2009-10-14T03:59:00.000-07:00

By Scott Miscall

Have you ever wanted to own an original artistic masterpiece, such as the Mona Lisa by Da Vinci, Starry Night by Van Gogh, or a Madonna by Raphael? As an art collector, or simply as an admirer, you probably know that most of those pieces are already spoken for at a variety of museums across the world. However, what if I told you that it would be possible to have an exact copy that you wouldn't have to pay top dollar for?

If it sounds too good to be true, then keep reading, because it isn't! The truth is that rather than going to the museum and trying to negotiate with a curator, you can purchase a legitimate art reproduction from a reproduction studio. Believe it or not, there is actually a huge market for this type of art reproduction, which means there are a handful of artists that work faithfully to create original reproductions that are affordable.

I know what you are thinking though, art reproduction like this must be printed by a machine, right? Nope! Actually, artists paint these reproductions by hand, which means you can choose from a library of over one hundred reproductions, or you can get a custom quote for a painting of your choice. Generally, these can be created for you for less than one hundred dollars!

I'm a huge fan of the Renaissance period, which means I can have my choice of dozens of the world's most famous paintings. However, if you prefer something more modern, then you can choose from any style of your choosing. Just imagine getting your own Andy Warhol reproduction to show off in your home.

This is also perfect for those of you that consider yourself art collectors. Aside from your astute friends, no one has to know that they aren't original works. Most pieces of art reproduction are exact duplicates of the original, which means that you might as well have the real thing.

It doesn't matter if you like Picasso, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Dali, or Monet. You can get your own custom reproduction, framed how you prefer, and delivered straight to your door. Use these fine pieces to create become the curator of your own art museum. Art reproduction is completely legal and can save you thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The best part is that you don't have to leave your own home to get your own oil painting. You can buy each and every one of the oil paintings online without ever having to leave your home. You can get your collection started within minutes, which sure beats struggling through an art show or fighting crowds at a local art store. For less than one hundred dollars, you can own a masterpiece. Looking through some of these catalogues, I've got a list of dozens of paintings I can't wait to purchase for my home and office. Check it out for yourself and see what you think. There is something for everyone!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Technique of Watercolor Painting

2009-09-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

By John Blenkin

Plan or not to Plan? The outcome of the painting will be vitally affected by the decision to either plan the work or starting head down without any idea how the painting will finish.

It is not a matter of preference but of personality. To a great extent the subject will decide the issue. A painting of a building – a design – a specific place - a record painting – a commissioned painting – will usually lead the painter into an approach where pre-planning naturally results.

In this type of work pre-planning will reduce errors and the target idea will more likely to be realized. Any measured work - enlarging - portraiture – anything technical – animal bird or plant illustrations – are usually best planned beforehand. Professional work to deadline is a pre-planning must.

In general where the subject of the painting has to conform to the requirements or standards of others or to a specified known standard for a fee by a certain date it is best to pre-plan.

In this context the painter will no doubt feel less creative but the painter must have the technique and professional approach to match demands.

This is especially true for the watercolor painter as reduced errors means fewer destructive demands on the paper ground and less repainting over previously washed out work. Please note that a professional buyer will approve the work by viewing it as it were dead – without glass - mount and frame.

Overpainting dulls the light reflecting back through the pigment. Without overpainting the work looks fresher and the craft of it looks easier and under greater control in your hands as a result to the painter’s credit.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How to Create a Reverse Painting on Glass

2009-08-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

By Mayanne Mackay

Introduction:

Glass is a non-absorbent painting support which does not allow paint to easily adhere to it - apart from through the paint's own drying process.

For this reason the outlines of a subject painted on glass need to be simplified when applied to an extremely smooth glass surface. Simplifying a subject does not necessarily detract from the end result after the painting is completed and the final result can often have an appearance similar to that of naive art in relation to composition and form and a certain number of other details. Many artists may find that such simplification can actually be very appealing.

Working the paint or changing outlines without smudging the surrounding areas of undried paint may require some concentration in the beginning, as well as a certain amount of skill, but with patience and the development of their skills using this painting technique, artists will find that applying and mastering the use of glass as a support will become easier as time progresses.

MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR PAINTING ON GLASS

Glass

Choose clear unflawed glass (or plexiglass) in the shape and size you wish to use. In order to begin mastering the technique of reverse painting it is advised to choose smaller sizes to begin with.

Paints

It is important to use a paint that will adhere properly to the surface of the glass. Oil based paints or acrylics are often used for this reason.There are also opaque and transparent ceramic artist colours that have been especially manufactured for using on a non-absorbent surface. Metallic colours (eg. gold, silver or copper) can also be interesting to work with. There are an increasing number of new art products available today that may be suitable for painting on a non-absorbent surface such as glass.

Paintbrushes

To begin choose a selection of small or medium-sized paintbrushes with fine, flat and pointed tips. Larger brushes can be used for working on a larger scale. Artists can also use less conventional tools for applying paint if they wish, depending on the effects obtained through experimentation that may interest them.

A penholder

Used for outlines (if required) and finer details. It can be an advantage to use interchangeable nibs suitable for creating both thick and thin outlines.

Ink for creating outlines on glass

The inks used need to be suitable for applying to a non-absorbent surface such as glass. As an alternative paint can also be thinned down into a more liquid form and used for creating outlines in which case attention must be given to to creating the right mixture of fluidity and thickness.

A painting palette or something similar to mix your paint on.

A palette knife -(optional) for mixing paint.

Artists paint cleaner or thinner - used for cleaning or sometimes for thinning, and depending on whether oil based or water-based paints are used.

A paint-drying agent - (optional) For mixing with paints to help speed up the drying process

Paper towelling or some clean rags

A mirror - (optional) can be used to check the progress of your painting while you are continuing to work. Place the mirror in a position where it will reflect your artwork from its viewing side.

Cellotape - or a similar average-width sticking tape

An easel - (optional) to prop your work on

A glass-cleaning product

PREPARING THE GLASS

Choose a piece of clear glass in the dimensions you would like to work with and check carefully to make sure the glass is neither scratched nor flawed. It is worthwhile remembering that a flaw in the glass itself will often detract from the finished appearance of a painting and may be impossible to remove after the completion of your artwork.

The sheet of glass that is to become your artwork constitutes the following:

(1) The 'painting side' - which is the side you will be painting on.

(2) The 'viewing side' - which is the side you will be looking at (or through) as you progress with your work and after it has been completed.

To render the cutting edges of the glass safe take a length of cellotape that will correspond to the length of one edge. Apply it carefully along that length (ideally so that it is folded equally over each side of the glass).

Repeat this procedure for the other 3 glass edges. The edge of the cellotape will also help mark the outer limits of your artwork.

Clean the surface of the glass thoroughly with a glass-cleaning product. Use paper towelling or any cleaning material that will not leave dust or threads on your painting surface.

Store the glass where it will be safe. If placed between sheets of newspaper it will be protected from scratches and dust.

CREATING OUTLINES

Art products in liquid form that are suitable for creating outlines on glass may be readily available in some countries. Oil-based paint,water-based acrylic and ceramic paint can also be used for this purpose.In order to create fine lines these paints must sometimes be thinned down in order to use with a pen nib or similar line-drawing tool.

To prevent lines from being effaced too easily you can use a paint that is oil based for creating the outlines of your subject if the paint you will be applying over the top of it (after it has properly dried) is water based. Reverse this procedure if your outlines are created with a water-based paint.

Always use a liquid paint product that will provide the best adhesion possible to a glass surface.

Due to pen nibs clogging relatively easily, attention must be paid to cleaning the nibs regularly.

OUTLINE METHODS

Method 1.

If you have a steady hand you can use a freehand method for applying outlines directly onto the surface of the glass.

Method 2.

Use an original subject for your painting (e.g. a drawing) and place this under the glass then copy it onto the glass surface.

Method 3.

Place a layer of carbon-paper on top of the glass then place your drawing on top of the carbon paper and with a pointed object trace the subject onto the glass. Be careful not to damage your original image (the image being copied) when using a pointed object.

Method 4.

A tracing table can be used for creating outlines. This is a table with a sheet of clear glass inserted into the top and with an electric light source situated beneath it. For those who frequently need to trace their work a tracing table can be very practical and useful.

Method 5.

You can omit outlines altogether.

APPLYING THE PAINT

Most artists have a preference for how to work when creating an artwork. Once it has been decided whether to work on a table or use a table-easel or a standing easel, it will be necessary to view the artwork regularly from its observation side in order to see its progress.

Some artists simply take the glass in their hands and turn it around to look at it directly from the observation side. Others prefer to use a mirror placed directly opposite their working area so that they can observe their progress while they paint.

Mixing and blending

If you are blending colours always do so on a palette or similar flat object before applying them to the glass. If colours are not well blended or mixed the result will be a streaky appearance in the paint on the observation side of the glass.

Avoiding smudges

When creating a reverse painting on glass it is important to watch out for smudges or particles of dirt or dust that may accidentally be transferred onto unpainted areas of your artwork as you are progressing. Unless removed these may appear as flaws that will show when viewing the artwork from its observation side. If they are also inadvertently covered with a layer of paint removing them afterwards may become very messy and difficult. When lifting off any smudges always be careful not to damage outlines or other areas of paint you have already applied.

Applying the paint

Once the outlines of your subject have thoroughly dried you can begin to apply paint to fill in the remainder of your artwork. Begin with the smallest and most detailed or intricate areas first e.g. eyes, faces, small figures or objects etc - and always keep in mind that your artwork will be observed from the opposite side to the one your painting on and that you are painting in reverse and that therefore foregrounds precede backgrounds.

When applying the reverse painting method it is a good policy to reflect carefully on the sequence in which your painting will develop before beginning to apply your paint. This will create a methodical attitude that is essential for this particularly interesting but also intricate painting technique.

Wishing you many pleasant hours of reverse painting!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mayanne_Mackay http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Create-a-Reverse-Painting-on-Glass&id=47381

Buying an Art Reproduction: The Giclee

2009-08-17T06:11:00.001-07:00

By David Lucht

If you have been shopping recently for affordable fine art either online, at art fairs or galleries, you’ve probably come across the term “giclee”. This process can produce lovely and fairly accurate reproductions of fine art, usually at very affordable prices. “Giclee” (pronounced “zhee-CLAY”) is a French term referring to the small spray from the ink-jet printer. The emergence of high quality ink-jet printing as the major method for fine art reproduction has brought with it some ethical issues for the artist, and some need for education on the part of the art public.

Currently in the community of artists there is much discussion about the fundamental validity of this medium of graphic reproduction. Many traditional fine art printers argue against presenting the giclée as an art object on the level of other fine print media in the graphics category such as fine art lithography, etching, seriography silkscreen) and the like. They are correct in stating that these methods of creating original, graphical works are a true fine art, as contrasted with the mechanical and technical reproduction process of giclée. Unfortunately, some artists are blurring the lines in an attempt to sell their reproductions as some version of ‘fine art’.

When the two worlds of original art and mechanical reproduction are kept in strict quarantine the ethical issues are not so messy. Problems arise with the various hybrids of manipulated digital prints, some of which tread on very suspect ethical grounds by claiming to be “painted by the artist’s own hand”. In some cases a forced legitimacy is attempted with rigged names like “original limited editions”. Certainly an ink-jet print that has been painted to recreate the same ‘tactile quality’ and presented as some sort of quasi-original flirts with fraud. And the outrageous price structure of some artists with international franchises that misrepresent giclées in this way as a part of their marketing strategy have to be called to account for a serious ethical lapse. These prints are on the same level as those old mass- produced “texture of real paint” posters that were printed on a paper with simulated impasto brush strokes. But at least with those you still knew that you were dealing with a commercial print.

I’ll leave aside other hybrid creations; Photoshop® manipulations, digital collage, multimedia using giclée prints, etc. These types of work need to be analyzed on their own merits, though my bias towards the physicality of traditional media leaves me distinctly chilled in front of most of these pieces born of the computer. Having said all this, the giclee has its place as reproduction. It is certainly not a work of art, rather an image of a work of art. It is also not necessarily a cheap reproduction. A properly produced, high-end inkjet print using archival inks is a much higher quality, and longer lasting, print than a cheap offset poster.

My view is that the primary issues here are those of education and honesty. The art buyer must understand the precise nature of what they are buying when they select an inkjet print. I think it is correct to state that the artist is in ethical lapse when the giclee is presented as something more than a reproduction. Issues such as documenting the use of archival inks and paper, the size of the print run, must be addressed. They require the artist to care enough, to have the ethical backbone, to provide proper credentials from their printer and stick to strict, clearly visible limits on the size of their editions.

While I understand the potential for fraud, art reproduction plays a vital role in extending the reach and impact of original work upon a larger number of potential art appreciators and buyers. My personal experience is that my introduction to the art world proceeded through a very typical process whereby I first met art in textbooks and even (no!) through cheap poster prints on college room walls. The next level involved seeking out the original (in my case finding Picasso’s “Blue Guitarist” at the Art Institute of Chicago after having a profound encounter with the image in a textbook) and noting the significantly greater impact that the original work engendered.

This process of developing a greater and more intimate relationship with works of art is natural and frequently involves encounters with these lesser quality reproductions. It can continue if the person so engaged enters the market as an art buyer. Now a new set of issues present themselves, among which are: emotional response, price and quality. Here we find the giclée meeting its most important function (if it is properly presented and understood as a high-quality reproduction) and that is; to bridge the gap between the original work of art (with its sometimes imposing price tag) and the desire to own an image of the original that provides a similar emotional impact. We can’t simply say if you can’t afford the original you are hereby banished until you can.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Fun Ideas For Stag and Hen Parties

2009-08-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

By Victoria Cochrane

It's one of the most exciting events on the run up to any wedding, and certainly an experience that'll be looked back upon for years. Indeed, a stag or hen party is a quintessential part of wedding planning - so it's worth making it an event to truly cherish and remember - both for the bride and groom to be, as well as all the party participants.

There are, of course, many ways to plan a stag or hen party. But a good place to start is with ideas of what the bride or groom might like. If he or she isn't big on parties, then planning a wild and crazy night out on the town isn't going to give them the type of stag or hen do that they'd enjoy. Get all the party-planners together to brainstorm a list of activities the bride and groom might like, and proceed with your planning from there.

If you want to veer away from the party scene - or if you simply want to include a range of activities during a stag weekend - you might want to consider a golfing getaway. Due to its affordability and availability both in the UK and throughout Europe - such as in Hungary, Latvia, and Poland - golfing is a popular activity for stag parties. Include it as a day activity on a weekend getaway, or make it the focus of a stag weekend. Either way, it's fun and a great way for the lads to bond.

On the other hand, if you're hoping to plan a low-key or classy hen party, why not opt for a spa retreat? Spa getaways are perfect for relaxing, rejuvenating, and pampering the bride-to-be, as well as all her friends. A spa retreats can also be paired with a shopping trip, a yoga or Pilates class, and a stop at the nail salon for a truly memorable ladies' day out. And, as with golfing getaways, spa retreats can be planned as a one-day event or an extended getaway.

Another great activity - both for stag and hen parties - is to go wine tasting. Aside from interesting tours of regional wineries and the opportunity to taste some exceptional wines, wine-tasting can be paired with fine dining - either at the wineries themselves, of at nearby restaurants - for a classy and cultural stag or hen do.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Most Expensive Paintings that ever sold till now all over the world

2009-08-04T05:29:00.000-07:00

Here is list of some famous expensive paintings that ever sold according to our survey. This blog contains the details like name of painting, artist drawn it, a brief detail about the painting and the cost of the painting. Millions and Hundreds of Millions of dollars are spent every year for these paintings.

No. 5, 1948
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer
Garçon à la Pipe
Dora Maar with Cat
Portrait of Dr. Gachet
Bal Au Moulin de la Galette
Massacre of the Innocents
Portrait de l'Artiste sans Barbe
Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier
Femme aux Bras Croisés

This is most expensive painting that ever sold :

Pollock had painted this painting with his own unique style in the Post-War climate that was a radical departure from his peers.

No. 5, which was painted in 1948, is was one of his most basic examples of drip painting, which consisted of using his body to move the paint over the canvas.

The details of this painting sale were kept very private, but rumor has it that the buyer is Mexican financier and art collector David Martinez, and that he paid a huge $140 million, which with inflation now totals $142.7 million.

How to Purchase Original Paintings And Other Fine Art Online

2009-07-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

By Catherine Gallegos

Original paintings can dramatically transform your home and office into a place of welcome, intrigue, or even surprise. Paintings that reflect your own personal sense of style can introduce unique beauty, culture, and comfort into the rooms in which you live your life.

In the past, it was typically necessary for a customer to visit numerous brick-and-mortar galleries to find a style and artist that resonated with that buyer's needs and preferences. Often, the cost of such gallery-represented original paintings proves prohibitive for prospective purchasers.

Today, with the explosive growth of Internet sales, it is easy to comparison-shop to determine preferred styles, preferred artists, and to find favorite original paintings. Customers can more easily discover tremendous new and up-and-coming artists, who may or may not yet enjoy traditional gallery representation. The Internet option greatly broadens a customer's choices.

Perhaps best of all, the Internet has helped make original fine art and paintings financially accessible to most homeowners, employers, apartment-dwellers, and even college students, who can now enjoy purchasing exceptional original paintings -- often by undiscovered artisans -- at wonderfully affordable prices.

Novica hosts what may be the largest online gallery of original paintings in the world. Novica features thousands of original and limited-edition oil paintings, acrylic paintings, mixed-media paintings, and original photography by hundreds of well-known and unknown artists in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

A Google-search for "original paintings" likewise leads to more than a million website links to online galleries and personal home pages for countless famous and undiscovered fine artists around the globe.

Focusing on Novica's paintings, for example, visitors easily navigate by style, subject, or region, and can also search by individual artist. Each artist's biography and photograph is provided, along with high-quality images of the artist's available paintings, and extensive descriptions, pricing, dimensions, and compositional information about each work of art. Customer reviews of Novica's participating artists provide valuable feedback, often helping new collectors make a final decision on a particular artist.

Whether the collector (or prospective collector) enjoys abstract, impressionist, cubist, realist, surrealist, modern, pop art, folk art, or paintings featuring a particular subject or medium, he or she can quickly and easily get a sense of what is available -- and at what prices -- by searching online.

For many shoppers, brick-and-mortar galleries remain the preferred place to purchase original fine art, making it possible to view favorite choices in person, before selecting a particular work.

For the brave and the bold, however, and for those who crave a broader selection and greater pricing options, today there is no place like the Internet (particularly when dealing with reputable, specialized websites) to discover and purchase exciting original art.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Basic Knowledge of Pop Art Paintings

2009-07-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

By Ispas Marin

Pop art was an art movement that initially occurred in the United States of America in the early sixties. The epicenter of this art phenomenon was New York, the city confirming its trend setting leader position. Although this movement strongly erupted in the early sixties, the attempts of change started during the late fifties in the work of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. These painters wanted to replace the abstract mode of artistic expression, aiming at making the art’s message easier to be understood by the public. The first pop art paintings contained easy to recognize images of common items. The purpose of incorporating these objects was to mock the gravity, the metaphysical dullness of abstract expressionism that had started to become out of fashion. Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg introduced amusing objects into the first pop art paintings: flags, maps and targets or stuffed animals and rubber tyres for the latter artist. The pop art movement become famously known for their main feature: mockery and irony.

Claes Oldenburg, James Rosenquist Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein were the most representative artists for this new art stream. Their pop art paintings were characterized by their original display of popular culture’s symbols: advertisements, media images or even comic strips. These new, colorful, lively pop art paintings were strikingly opposing the gravity, the spirituality of abstract expressionism. Consequently, these kinds of pop art paintings become very popular among the art loving public and among the art critics community. But the abstract expressionism continued to be highly appreciated, despite the pop art paintings’ mockery.

Although the pop art movement was popular and influential it proved to lack the strength of completely supplant the abstract expressionism, but it determined the birth of two new schools of abstraction: color-field painting and minimalist art. The color-field painting movement (mainly represented by painter Helen Frankenthaler) minimized the influence of abstract expressionism’s old features into a style completely committed to the use of pure color.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Art Paintings For Sale

2009-07-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

By Ken Marlborough

Art is an extension of man's imagination, which can be expressed in various forms such as paintings and sculptures. The type of painting will greatly depend on the way artists perceive the world. Some people purchase paintings of eminent artists to adorn their houses, while many rich private collectors buy them to form a rare collection of paintings. Art paintings are offered for sale in art galleries and exhibitions where unique collections of unknown as well as distinguished artists around the world are kept for display. Many art galleries offer some form of discount to their regular customers.

The easiest way of obtaining the best paintings around the world is the Internet. Many online art galleries offer free delivery around the world, while some may levy shipping and handling charges. Buyers can view larger images of the paintings on the website and then place an order for it. Generally, these art sites sell original paintings with an Originality Certificate as a proof of its authenticity. Several art sites also offer money back guarantee to their buyers.

Many people buy expensive paintings by popular artists to display as status symbols, and to later pass them on to the next generation as invaluable assets. These paintings appreciate over a period of time and can fetch a handsome amount. Some people invest money in promising artists who have the potential to become famous in the future. These paintings can earn them a fortune after the artist gains popularity.

There are buyers who love to own masterpieces but may not have the resources to buy them. Such people can purchase reproduction paintings that can also be a profitable investment. Hand-painted reproductions that are painted by talented artists on canvas can be almost as good as originals.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How To Make Money By Re-Selling Oil Paintings

2009-07-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

By Travis Jones

Here is a great opportunity to make money just being home. Earn up to 25% of the money made by selling Oil Paintings. Here is how it is done, its easy, enroll in a reseller program by contacting the site owner of Oil Paintings, open your very own reseller site. Sit back and let the money flow in.

Look for established sites that sell Oil Paintings, contact by email or through their contact form to make your request for becoming a reseller. With minimum effort you could be seeing enormous cash flow. But you may ask why Oil Paintings? Well the answer is simple, because material of art hardly needs marketing. People buy the Paintings for the quality work done.

Once you own a painting it is yours!!! You may not be able to reproduce the art, but you can sell it for whatever you want, I do all the time!! If you can sell it for more than you bought, more power to you. I see most artists not being able to sell their material and end up getting a cheap bargain. With the right kind of strategy you could be selling the same piece for five maybe ten times what you bought it for.

You could even auction it off in ebay because once the Oil Painting is bought by you; there is no royalty over such material. This is how paintings of famous artist such as Van Gough are sold for millions by the rightful owner, which is what you could be.

By far reselling is one of the best business practices wherein the returns are far higher to what the investment is. Reselling is legal whereas just making multiple copies of the work of art without the permission of artist and selling those is going to land you in trouble. When an artist sells you a work of art he/she has to provide you with rights for reproduction of original copy. Unless such clear agreement is made it would be a crime to make copies.

If you decide you have the killer marketing skills, you could even go in for wholesale purchase of paintings and turn them into your gallery wherein you could start building your own purchase of Oil Paintings and make profitable income.

I heard an artists once say “If he sold a picture for say $50, and the buyer then resold it for $500, then lucky for them.” An artist once sells his Painting to a person, he is entitled to sell it to others, but not make copies of it.

To begin with look for a site where you could purchase paintings that you feel can fetch you good market value. It is always advisable to start with popular items. Once you get a foot holding in the market arena then you could trade multiple Paintings after wholesale purchase.

These are just a few pointers towards making a successful career out of reselling paintings. Please remember this fair warning to read through the Copyright laws before you decide to market material that you have purchased.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/

Adolf Hitler Paintings

2009-04-30T02:57:00.000-07:00

Politics of Art

2009-03-18T00:45:00.000-07:00

Other Frankfurt School writers, most notably Benjamin's friend Theodor Adorno, worried about the resulting "distracted" relation to art characteristic of mass consumption, and argued that in losing the aura, we had also lost a space for potentially revolutionary reflection and imagination. In contrast, Benjamin argued that the withering of the aura was a more complicated historical development, an ambiguous force that also had the potential for democratizing both access to cultural objects and a critical attitude toward them. "Instead of being based on ritual, begins to be based on another practice - politics." For Benjamin, the politicization of art should be the goal of Communism; in contrast to Fascism which aestheticized politics for the purpose of social control.

Displaying Paintings In Home Interior

2008-11-07T00:43:00.000-08:00

By Prasanth Kumar

Paintings are a great way to spruce up your walls. Be it reproductions of masterpieces or self made works of art, paintings add character to a room and often, tell a story. There is art involved in how you display paintings on a wall. The arrangement plays an important role because it can change the entire look of a room. It can make a room look larger or smaller, sunnier or darker, sophisticated or bohemian.

Before getting started on hanging your wall art, it's necessary to pick out the right kind of art. Visit an art gallery and see which colors complement each other and blend well together. Notice the arrangement of paintings and determine which hues and shades are most eye-catching and which of those impress you the most. Another vital factor to be considered is the color on your wall. The lighter your wall color, the more accommodating it will be to different kinds of paintings

Once you've decided on the kind of paintings, there are certain rules you want to keep in mind.

Firstly, the center of the painting should be between 50" to 60" from the ground. The more you stick to this rule, the more balanced your room will look.

Secondly, when you hang a painting above a couch, fill up two thirds of the wall over the couch. Larger paintings look good here. Leave 5" to 10" gap between the top of the couch and the bottom of the painting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prasanth_Kumar http://EzineArticles.com/?Displaying-Paintings-In-Home-Interior&id=1063049

History Of African Art

2008-09-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

By Jason Gluckman

African art is the creation of the people in the South of the Sahara. Art is an integral part of the everyday life of Africans. It is used for dialogue, personal therapy and to communicate with the gods and ancestors. The history of African art is very rich, with an enormous collection of art forms. African art originated way back in 500 B.C., in a village of Nigeria. The African sculpture was first unearthed along with exclusive pottery in the village. The ancient African art forms are mainly masks and figures, used in religious ceremonies. The material used for most of these African Art forms was wood. The wood was decorated with clay, shells, ivory, beads, metal and feathers.

Western and Central Africa are considered the richest regions in indigenous art. They are known for different styles of art forms of the African culture. The western Sudan and Guinea coast is famous for its abstract wood- carvings.

Nigeria is well known for the terracotta statuettes found in the Nok culture era of the 5th century B.C. These statuettes are mainly human figures made in terracotta. The history of African art is a contribution by the various tribes, which presented the art different forms and styles. These tribes are known even today for their contribution. The small tribes of the Cameroon grasslands are popular for their bold and expressive woodcarvings that include large house posts, masks and objects used in rituals. All African cultures use decorative textiles and tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?History-Of-African-Art&id=407461

Oil Painting - One of the Greatest Gift Ideas

2008-09-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

By Allan Holder

An oil painting is an expression on canvas that can reflect many things, from real life to abstract, and it one of the greatest gift ideas. Painting in oil is an almost lost art medium in the burgeoning digital age. Contrary to popular belief, painting in oil does not require that the artist to be a professional. Rather oil is a medium that is malleable, making it fun - even if it’s not always the easiest medium to use.

Where to Find Oil Paintings

An oil painting can be purchased for many occasions and does not have to be expensive. Depending on the size of the painting, its age, and the artist who painted it, oil paintings can range in price and value. Original oil paintings can be found in shows, such as at an artist expo, from a private dealer or at an antique auction. Original oil paintings can even be found online.

A Great Christmas Gift Idea

Christmas is a time of giving. Why not give a gift that will be fully appreciated? Whether you commission a painting to be done by an oil painting artist or decide to paint one yourself, an oil painting is one of the greatest Christmas gift ideas for a wife or other significant woman in your life such as a mother, a sister, a daughter or a best friend. Find out what she likes – landscapes, portraits, still life, modern art or another style and contact an oil painting artist who specializes in that particular form.

Have it Commissioned

An oil painting artist will usually charge a bit more for an original oil painting, however, the cost may be worth it to have a painting that will become a Christmas gift for your wife that she will never forget. Discuss your preferences with the oil painting artist and even consider bringing elements from your home or other things that hold meaning and have the artist incorporate them into the original oil painting they create for you. When you commission a painting, the oil painting artist is paid to create an original work that reflects your choices and style, so make sure you take part in the creative process as much as possible

Do it Yourself

If you decide to create an original oil painting yourself as a gift idea, keep in mind that perfection is probably not the best goal for a beginner. Rather, strive to be true to your creativity. While a portrait may be a more difficult challenge, painting a landscape or still life is generally not seen as difficult (even if you, the oil painting artist, have little or no previous experience.)

Where to Find Supplies

Supplies such as a canvas and frame, oil paints, brushes and other necessities can be purchased at any art store for much less than it would to commission an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife. If you decide to commission an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife, make sure to find an artist in enough time to complete the project before the holiday.

When deciding whether or not you will commissions an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife or if you will be the original oil painting artist yourself, consider the cost and then think about the meaning, which will most likely be more priceless than the original oil painting itself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Holder http://EzineArticles.com/?Oil-Painting---One-of-the-Greatest-Gift-Ideas&id=325204

Print Art Techniques

2008-09-07T23:20:00.000-07:00

By Robbie Darmona

Print art is a technology used to replicate artworks on a canvas. Many ways to turn the original paintings into canvas copies exist. In the past reproductions were only made on paper, because it was easier. But with the technological advances print art is becoming more and more popular among artists and amateurs. Print art has a serious advantage over paper reproduction: it can be displayed without glass or matting, and it looks the same as the original.

What distinguishes print reproductions from the original is that canvas art prints are completely flat, they don’t have the textures you can see on the originals. Despite this, a devoted canvas art printer can put some highlighting hand-applied paint, so that the original looks are preserved to a great extent. But the most indicative way to reveal the print art copy is to see if it is basically flat or not. The hand-applied paint cannot substitute the areas of texture that you can notice on the original paintings.

Basically, there are two techniques for making print art reproductions. The first one is called “transferring”. It is the more popular one. It includes the making of a standard paper print copy first done in the traditional way. This copy is then covered with special chemicals that separate the paper from the ink. Thus, after the removing of the paper, the ink remains untouched. It can then gradually be applied to a canvas.

The second print art technique is a bit more sophisticated as it includes modern technologies. It is called PiezoGraphy and it is a digital printing technique. The original pieces drawn using a variety of materials can be digitally processed. A large number of different digital methods are used. Additionally, this technique allows for image processing to be done on the piece, for example changing of hues and chroma, so that a better-looking reproduction is obtained. By using PiezoGraphy the reproduction can differ in size from the original: printouts can be either reduced or enlarged. That’s why the digital printing technique is thought to create new originals, not just reproductions of the existing paintings. It is thus used by many artists.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robbie_Darmona http://EzineArticles.com/?Print-Art-Techniques&id=159936

7 Interesting Facts About The Mona Lisa

2008-09-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

By Brandon Fuhrmann

• The name the painting is most recognized by is Mona Lisa but that only came about because of a spelling error! The original name of the painting was Monna Lisa. Monna, in Italian, was a common Italian shortening of Madonna, meaning “my lady.”

• Most people know that Leonardo da Vinci is the artist, but many believe that the woman’s identity is unknown. Some even think that it’s him - Leonardo da Vinci himself in the female form. The most commonly believed theory is that the woman is Lisa Gherardini, born in 1479. She was 24 years old and the mother of two sons when she posed for the painting. Why he chose her is still a mystery.

• The painting actually has a recent imperfection. In 1956, a man named Ugo Ungaza threw a rock at the painting, which resulted in a small patch of damaged paint next to her left elbow.

• The unrivaled fame of this work is partially because it was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in broad daylight by an employee in 1911. It was quickly recovered two years later.

• The painting resides in its own room in the Louvre Museum in Paris and is protected in a climate controlled environment and encased in bullet proof glass. This room was built especially for the painting and cost the museum over seven million dollars. The painting is considered priceless and cannot be insured.

• It is rumored that the reason she has no eyebrows in the painting is because during one of the first times they were trying to clean and restore the painting an error was made and the eyebrows were accidentally removed. Other thoughts are that Leonardo, who was the consummate perfectionist, never finished the painting, as most of his paintings were left unfinished.

• Recent extensive studies show that there are three different versions painted under the presently viewed version. One version has her hands clutching the arms of the chair instead of in front of her.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Fuhrmann http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Interesting-Facts-About-The-Mona-Lisa&id=681478

Art Prints or Original Art?

2008-08-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

By Darren WK Chow

To answer that question, let's start by taking a look at the differences between art prints and original art.

Art prints are reproductions of an original art piece. These can be mass produced by computers and machines. The prices are usually much more affordable, since they're just a duplication of the original art work.

The quality of art prints are dependent on the manufacturing process. Since most art pieces are reproduced digitally, it's sometimes very hard to tell the reproduced art piece from the original one. Digitally reproduced artwork means converting the original artwork into a digital image so that there's little or no data loss. The more data that's retained during this conversion, the better the reproduction will be.

Technology nowadays are so good at duplicating artwork that they can even be programmed to "know" the brush strokes of an artist and reproduce any drawing or painting. In other words, with technology, an exact duplication can be achieved. Or at least the naked eye cannot tell the difference.

So if the reproduction looks exactly the same as the original and costs way much less, would it make sense to purchase an art print instead of an original art work? Would you buy a duplication of the Mona Lisa for $150, or would you rather spend a fortune on the original?

You and I know, deep within us, that the reproduction can never be the same as the original. Because we know that an art piece produced by a machine is just an artifact. It doesn't feel alive, and there's no "soul".

Collectors of art know this. They buy the original because the original is a part of the artist. You can almost feel the artist when you're intuitive enough to feel what goes into a masterpiece. It appears alive. That's something that money cannot buy.

There's only one original. The others, no matter how masterfully duplicated, are just reproductions. They bring the artist further away, not closer, from the collector.

So if you have all the money in the world, would you buy the original or an art print? The answer depends on how close a connection you want with the artist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_WK_Chow http://EzineArticles.com/?Art-Prints-or-Original-Art?&id=1136880

Painting Books - Drive into the World of Creativity

2008-08-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

By Isabel Rodrigues

We all like being creative. Our busy schedule hardly gives us any time to spent time with our self’s. Constant focus on work makes our life dull. One of the best ways to make your life colorful is by doing some painting in your spare time. A Painting Book consists of some beautiful and decorative paintings. If you are an artist it will definitely help your cause.

Today you can find many painting book outlets providing some wonderful painting books. If you would like to learn painting you can find a painting book that meets your cause. There are books for beginners that provide step by step guidance of different aspects of painting. These books also provide you with some useful information about color mixing. Painting books are also available for advanced artist. These painting books are highly advanced and drive the artist to new world of creativity.

Painting can be of different types. There are books designed specially for a specific type of painting. A person interested in face painting can find a book specially designed for painting a face. Similarly, a person interested in learning house painting can find a painting book as per his choice. Painting books are also available on tole painting and oil painting. These specially designed books provide various tips and guidelines and train a person into a professional artist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isabel_Rodrigues http://EzineArticles.com/?Painting-Books---Drive-into-the-World-of-Creativity&id=194574

Oil Painting Reproductions

2008-08-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

By Jason Gluckman

Oil painting reproductions are an affordable way to display replicas of favorite works of art in the home or workplace. A large number of companies in the US provide reproductions of almost any work of art at a surprisingly affordable price. A good reproduction can fool even the trained eye, and is far more appealing and visually satisfying than a paper reprint of any work of art.

Customers can usually order a reproduction in a range of sizes, with larger sizes being more expensive. Once a particular reproduction is requested, an artist who is skilled in the style of the original painter starts creating the reproduction with oil paints on a fresh canvas. Many artists use measurements and a grid system to help them ensure that the scale of the reproduction faithfully follows that of the original painting. Thus, even if the customer chooses a different size than that of the original painting, the dimensions can be scaled up or down to give a finished product that is as close to the original as possible in overall appearance.

Once the artist begins to paint, the canvas is completed in layers. Most artists wait for one layer to dry before painting the next layer. Creating a reproduction is therefore a time-consuming process, and an order may take two to three weeks to complete. Before shipping the finished painting, some companies send the customer a photograph of the painting for approval, and make any suggested changes at no extra cost. Most oil painting reproduction companies also offer frames.

To keep an oil painting reproduction in good condition, it should be displayed out of direct sunlight and in an environment without extreme temperatures or too much moisture. It is best to take the painting to an expert for any repairs and cleaning.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman http://EzineArticles.com/?Oil-Painting-Reproductions&id=230575

Is It a Fine Art Print or a Fine Art Reproduction?

2008-08-09T02:13:00.000-07:00

By L Elle

When it comes to purchasing art to decorate your home, there is often confusion regarding the terminology used to define different finished pieces; primarily art prints versus art reproductions.

An art print is a finished work which was created by means of a transfer of ink from a matrix (or master) onto a chosen surface. The matrix can be many things depending on the print type, a carved woodblock, a prepared screen, an etched metal plate and countless others. The final image can also be printed upon many different surfaces; most common would be a variety of high quality papers. Prints generally come in editions, and will be numbered and signed by the artist. Printmakers create their work with the intent of multiples, it is the nature of printmaking as an art form; this differs from drawings and paintings of which there is only one final piece.

An art reproduction is an entirely different thing! An art reproduction is a mechanical reproduction of a finished piece of art. In the very simplest terms, if you were to head to the local museum and purchase a poster of The Mona Lisa you would have just purchased an art reproduction! Art reproductions can vary in quality however, from posters to high quality archival images printed on canvas! Giclée prints, for example are very high quality inkjet printouts onto high quality art papers or even canvas! Artists often utilize this process to produce limited editions of their already completed 2 dimensional works.

With the advent of high quality home inkjet printers, there is yet more confusion regarding what is a print and what is a reproduction. Digital art, for example, would seem to be a reproduction as it is produced from an inkjet printer but it is not that simple! If an image is scanned as is, and printed from an inkjet printer it is indeed a reproduction, however if an image was altered or created on a computer with the intent of printing it out onto paper as the ‘final work’ then it is an original (digital) art print.

Armed with a little bit of knowledge the criteria is quite simple, if the final complete image was intended to be realized only once printed, then it is an art print. A reproduction is a piece that is a mechanical reproduction of a work that was already complete via other means. And with that knowledge, you should have no trouble finding beautiful art to surround yourself with!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L_Elle http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-It-a-Fine-Art-Print-or-a-Fine-Art-Reproduction?&id=600191