Buying Fine Art Oil Reproductions

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1. No. 5, 1948
2. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer
3. Garçon à la Pipe
4. Dora Maar with Cat
5. Portrait of Dr. Gachet
6. Bal Au Moulin de la Galette
7. Massacre of the Innocents
8. Portrait de l'Artiste sans Barbe
9. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier
10. 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

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

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

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

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

Politics of Art

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.