Posts Tagged fine

Wood Sculpture Gallery Carving Fine Wooden Masterworks

Mar 11

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Wood sculptures by woodroyal® Studio Thailand www.woodroyal.com woodroyal® is a sculpture studio and gallery of fine wood carving arts, wooden statues and bass-relief masterworks. High resolution images available on-line at picasaweb.google.com We offer unique combinations of human, animal, nature, girl and woman carvings for your home and office. Our carvers create one of a kind superior quality and rare sculpture masterworks in genuine Burmese teak. Custom commissioned designs available. To request a quote send email to www.woodroyal.com please…

-G- Speed Drawing Part One

Mar 11

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 2 Comments

Detailed Sci-fi / fantasy drawing done strait in ink by comic book Artist George Todorovski

Relief Woodcarving Demo by Artist Scott McNeill, coral reef

Mar 6

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See more at: www.scottmcneillart.com Scott mcneill is a unique artist. He combines the wood carving skills developed in Central America with a high intelligence that has allowed him to express profound ideas in carved wood relief sculptures that he then paints to create multiple dimensions and realities. * Scott has been woodcarving professionally since 1995 and apprenticed under professional woodcarving masters. The advanced techniques Scott uses are in no way meant to teach others, or imply that his style is a model to be imitated. Woodcarving tools can be dangerous and should always be handled with respect. *Specifically, Scott does NOT recommend or endorse that anyone ever carve towards their body. Thank You. www.scottmcneillart.com

The Fantasy Art of Gordon Napier

Mar 6

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A slideshow of art, mostly fantasy and mythological, but with some gothic and historical images. Mostly oil paintings but including some digital art. More may works be seen at www.dashinvaine.deviantart.com Artist is available for commissions and freelance illustration projects. Email: giaour94@hotmail.com

The Museum of Fine Arts ? Boston?s Famous and Highly Popular Art Museum

Jan 25

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If you are an art enthusiast, a visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MAF) is a must. Home to more than 450,000 art pieces, this famous museum is one of the largest in America. Streams of visitors pour in each day to the Museum of Fine Arts to catch a glimpse of its comprehensive collection that goes back to historic times. Opened in 1870, the place offers an extensive range of things to view that range from Impressionist artwork to an ancient mummy.

The museum is filled with many interesting exhibitions, interactive displays and other unique features that are bound to leave you appreciative of the true nature of art. Apart from the art work on display, the museum also hosts special gallery talks, concerts, movies, family programs and artist lectures on a daily basis.

Amid the Museum’s popular collections are those of the Art of Asia, the Art of Europe, the Art of Americas, the Art of the Ancient World and Contemporary Art collections. The Art of Asia features art starting from 4000 BC and extensively covers about half the world’s population. It includes Japanese, Chinese and Indian artwork. The Art of Europe highlights a fine collection of art by famous artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, Rembrandt and Titian. The collection of Art from the Ancient World holds over 70,000 pieces that are highly interesting to view. You will be able to see artifacts such as mummies, gold work and sculptures retrieved from historic times from places like Egypt and Rome.

At the Musical Instrument section, instruments that range from its first innovation to those that are used today are on display. Even fashion lovers have something here that they will be interested in. The Museum of Fine Art’s Textiles Collection has over 27,000 items that include Middle Eastern throw rugs, European drapes, African cloth and haute couture designs. The Prints, Drawings and Photographs section is also worth a visit to gain a historic perspective into these categories.

Boston is home to many attractions like that of the Museum of Fine Arts. If you are looking for elegant and cozy Boston luxury hotel that is well placed for exploring the city, the Langham hotel Boston is a top choice among other Boston hotels. This hotel provides a perfect blend of modern charm with classy elegance that will make your stay in the city a comfortable one.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Fine Art Nature Photography – How to Compose a Perfect Picture

Jan 24

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Just like any other type of picture , fine art nature photography is designed to communicate a message . Great photos of nature should put subjects in the light you want and communicate well. If you want great results, composition is very important . Here’s a look at some of the most important basic fine art nature photography techniques , and ways to use them. You need to remember – sometimes an amateur can get a great photo , but to do it on purpose it takes some practice !

When it comes to photography, composition refers to how the visual elements are arranged . Photographers do this using many elements, such as tone, perspective, line, color, lighting, and depth. While it can be pretty scary to think about all of them when you take a photo , it’s possible to simplify this issue . Simply ask several questions of yourself when you look through your viewfinder. What’s the message of the photo , and how can you best communicate this message? If you figure out the answers, the other factors simply fall in line.

Fine art nature photography with a clear message is more successful . This doesn’t mean all the photos you take an allegory or even a statement politically. The messages involved are most often simple, and often hard to articulate . But a message is found in good photos. You need to take a few minutes to think.

Remember to keep things simple as you compose , especially if fine art nature photography is new to you. Don’t try to get lots of subjects into a photo – just one will do . Some professionals actually look at scenes in terms of what they can remove and yet keeping the composition good. Just fine tune through the viewfinder until you’ve removed as many distractions as possible .

You must have patience. Good composition doesn’t happen quickly , although it often looks like . Some nature photos take up to ten minutes to compose . While some photography does require quick pointing and shooting , you need to slow down as much as possible .

Don’t ignore any part of the scene . Fill the frame with interesting, on-message areas . Get closer or zoom in to keep it from being too small . Remember verticals – too many people only go with horizontal shots. Mountains and trees are both important! You can find lines nearly anywhere – recognizing them allows you to use them to make your pictures better , instead of allowing them to cause problems.

Although great fine art nature photography may take practice , it’s incredible how a bit of care can take photos and improve them. Check it out yourself !

Fine art nature photography captures an instant in time and brings great memories to anyone. Keith Spangler is a professional photographer that specializes in images of fine art nature photography.

Find Fine Art for Sale to Give Your Home a Design Overhaul

Jan 23

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 2 Comments

When you find fine art for sale that moves you, you also find one of the best ways to reinvigorate your home’s décor. There are many established artists as well as up and coming painters and photographers that are regularly releasing new pieces of art to choose from, both in print and original form. Whether you prefer the soft and classical look of Pino art, which focuses on historical settings and female forms, or a more modern look such as that of Tim Rogerson, it is easy to find prints and canvases that provide the aesthetic touch you’re looking for.

With a new fine art purchase, it is easy to create a new look in the home. Take the art of Vladimir Kush, for example. This Russian artist began selling his fine art paintings and exhibiting with the Union of Artists in 1987 after drawing political caricatures for a newspaper and painting portraits on the streets in the heart of Moscow. He eventually drew influence from Salvador Dali and began showing his art around the world from Germany to Los Angeles, and is now known as a modern artist capable of producing works with great likeness, unemotional realism and deep irony. For a homeowner looking to produce a very modern look in the home, this is a great choice.

From the classic look of Pino art to the modern look of Vladimir Kush art, there are many fine prints and original artworks to choose from. Paintings like these can create a new look and feel in the home. You might even feel inspired to change the color of the walls, rearrange the furniture or completely redecorate the home to center around your new fine art purchases.

There are many places to find fine art for sale, and even if you live in a remote area you can still find it on the Internet. With a little inspiration and a few pieces of carefully placed art you can use this art to give your home a décor overhaul.

For more resources regarding Fine Art For Sale or even about Pino Art and especially about Vladimir Kush please review these pages.

Find Fine Art Prints for Sale Online

Jan 22

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There are plenty of places where you can find fine art prints for sale, but if you shop online you can find a much larger selection of prints to choose from that are often at much lower prices. One of the most important things to look for in a fine art seller is someone who offers Giclee fine art prints for sale, as this is the type of printing where there is no visible print pattern. But one of the first things you should look for is an online fine art print seller that offers a large selection of leading artists’ prints at affordable prices.

One of the leading artists to look for online is Carrie Graber, who is already considered to be among the most talented, exciting and well-collected artists in the world today despite her relatively young age. She released her firs body of work in 1998 at the age of 23 and since then has continued to accumulate an impressive amount of accolades and awards with each new collection of fine art paintings that has been added to her impressive body of work. She is known for warm tones and an exquisite control of illumination, which creates an ideal composition of light and contrast while capturing the beauty and subtlety of familiar but often overlooked environments.

Whichever artist you prefer, it is important to look for Giclee fine art prints when you are shopping online. With this screen-less technique, the image will have all the tonalities and hues of the original painting. It’s different from the standard desktop inkjet printer, and it is also much larger to give a more fine art look. This is the leading method being used for fine art prints today.

If you find an artist you love and a print that looks as beautiful as the original, whomever that artist may be, the piece can add a great deal of beauty and depth to your home at a price you can afford.

For more resources regarding Giclee Fine Art Prints or even about Fine Art Prints For Sale and especially about Carrie Graber please review these pages.

Understanding the Various Aspects of Fine Art Nature Photography

Jan 21

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A popular saying is that beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, but still some aspects exist that differentiate fine art from simply taking pictures in nature photography .

First and foremost , a photographer wanting to product real art needs to accept the fact that hundreds of pictures will need to be taken for every photo that is a contender for fine art. Often times , there is precious little a photographer can do when dealing with an unpredictable subject other than using quick reflexes and a whole lot of patience. The first aspect of fine art nature photography then is trying to capture a moment whenever it occurs . It’s easy to take a photo of a lion that is sleeping or a storm that hits a reservoir, but it’s the patient and focused photographer who can immortalize the airborne moment before a pounce , or the very first ripples as the rain falls on water.

Yet another aspect of creating nature photos that are fine art is to ensure you have the right equipment . One example, a good tripod is essential when shooting in nature not only to ensure the consistency of the shots , but to help the photographer avoid as much movement as they can as to not disturb the immediate environment . The proper lens for the type of photography one is doing is also important , for a 300/4 lens is going to produce a very different type of effect than a 20mm wide angle lens .

Lighting is another aspect that makes a huge difference between fine art nature photography and simple shots from the zoo . It’s easy to find natural light , and it’s the best, but only if it’s not midday sun that is harsh. One should also be familiar with not only the source of light , but also the ability to control it . Using umbrellas, reflective foils, and white boards might not be needed when taking nature photos depending on your time of shooting and the landscape you’re shooting. Once again , it’s imperative that you know the equipment you do and don’t need in order to produce the effect one desires .

As mentioned , beauty is in the eye of the beholder , but practices and techniques used will be seen in photos that can be called “fine art.” If your end goal is fine art nature photography, one must be patient, ready , must know what equipment is and is not needed, and in the end, must master the techniques of lighting used to get the effect desired . The rest is up to nature and chance .

Fine art nature photography captures an instant in time and brings great memories to anyone. Keith Spangler is a professional photographer that specializes in images of fine art nature photography.

South Africa Will be Host to 32 Nations this Summer for Fine Art 2010

Jan 20

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Running parallel with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, is fine art. Designed to be a showcase of global and African artistic talent, art will be be used to display the multiplicity and diversity involved with the world’s favorite sport. Kicking off in April 2010, and lasting until July 11th, the final day of the World Cup, 2010 Fine Art will be a grand intellectual accompaniment to the epic competitions. It is fitting that South Africa is hosting and organizing an art event of this scale, as the oldest piece of art ever discovered was found within their boarders; their 70,000 plus years experience gives them a type of authority in the art world.

There are two distinct mass exhibitions; they are the fittingly named 2010 African Fine Art and 2010 International Fine Art; both are being run as official parallel programs to the FIFA World Cup.

The 2010 African Fine Art exhibition will have two components. First, there will be a large commercial collection to be sold to visitors to the World Cup. Second is the Pan Africa exhibition. There is to be a group of works that will be professionally curated in select galleries, by leading South African art experts. The Pan African exhibition will be announced by the Host City concerned in the near future.

The underlying concept for the exhibition is to “to provide artists from Africa with a global platform to exhibit, market, and sell their works to a hitherto untapped international clientele base…to improve Africa’s global image and to combat Afro-pessimism – through the medium of fine art.” according to the official website for the event. With an estimated of over 450,000 international travelers visiting South Africa with World Cup Accommodation during June and July, this is the best opportunity to showcase the talent that African artists has to offer. The types of art that is set to be displayed for the even include sculptures, art photographs, paintings, etchings and many other media.

The second side of this massive art event is the 2010 International Fine Art showcase. Five artists from from each of the 32 countries competing in the World Cup will submit a painting or image. 210 high quality prints – all to be individually numbered and labeled as official World Cup merchandise – will be produced for each of the works. One of each print will be showcased in Johannesburg starting in April 2010 and the rest of the 33,600 prints will be shown and auctioned in their country of origin. The purpose of this event is to let many perspectives offer their interpretation of the global unifying activity that is soccer.

For individuals unable to make it to the galleries showcasing these works, fret not, many can be seen on http://2010fineart.com.

Jonathan Laba
World Cup Accommodation

Jungle Birds Woodcarving by Artist Scott McNeill, time-lapse

Jan 20

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 3 Comments

See more at: www.ScottMcNeillArt.com Time-lapse woodcarving demonstration of “Jungle Boogie” by artist Scott McNeill. McNeill studied bas-relief wood carving from master woodcarvers after spending two years in the Peace Corps. * Scott has been woodcarving professionally since 1995 and apprenticed under professional woodcarving masters. The advanced techniques Scott uses are in no way meant to teach others, or imply that his style is a model to be imitated. Woodcarving tools can be dangerous …

Interior Design and Fine Art Nature Photography

Jan 19

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 1 Comment

There is nothing more exciting than decorating or taking time to rearrange your home to give a new feeling to your home, even if you’ve lived in it for awhile. While artwork can be rather expensive , there’s something about fine art nature photography to give your home a sense of personal decor.

Whether you are going for an everyday country comfort feel or something that speaks culture and elegance, there is a way to use fine art nature photography to give you the look and feel you want in each room .

Check Out Various Colors
Photography of nature that shows beautiful nature images can greatly vary from muted shades of color, including white, gray, and brown, to bright colors . This gives great versatility if you enjoy experimenting with different colors for interesting effects.

If you’re decorating a room with just a couple primary colors , you’ll probably need to use an accent color to make the décor stand out . Color accents can be added by fine art photos of nature , or they can bring together the colors in the entire room.

Fine art photos of nature can also be picked that coordinates perfectly with your primary colors , or for a room that has dull colors, you can go with photos that have bright colors . When you choose the perfect colors and place them perfectly , your entire home can be set off in beautiful ways .

Incorporate Themes
In some rooms in your house, it can be fun to use themes , especially in children’s bedrooms and playrooms . Studios, sewing rooms, and other hobby or rec rooms are also great targets for fun themes .

Fine art nature photography allows you to easily pull together a theme. In fact , some prints can completely set the theme for the entire room , giving you the ability to play around with colors in the pictures to draw the entire room together .

For example , fine art nature photography featuring baby deer in high grass can inspire a unique and beautiful bedroom for a child . It may bring to mind Bambi and other Disney features that kids really love, even yet today.

Water is another theme that can be incorporated for an elegant feel . Photos that are fine art featuring oceans, rivers, or water calmly running over pebbles or smooth stones can really give you a great effect when you use fish tanks and tabletop water fountains in the room .

Create a Focal Point

Selecting the right piece of fine art nature photography and going with a framed print that is large can help you draw the eye of everyone to the focal point the photo creates. This works well if you want attention on one part of the room, or if you want other parts of the room to overlooked.

When your focal point is a fine art photo , ensure it catches the eye . It should be extraordinarily beautiful , or perhaps so odd no one can look away after noticing it .

Placing fine art nature photography in your house is fun and costs much less than paints and other types of art. They can also be combined with all other mediums of art to create dramatic effect , including paintings and sculptures, such as watercolors, sculptures, or paintings.

Fine art nature photography captures an instant in time and brings great memories to anyone. Keith Spangler is a professional photographer that specializes in images of fine art nature photography.

Marigold fine arts and fine art photography in india

Jan 18

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Art is an international language. European art has a deep foundation which dates back to the 20th century starting with the impressionists. Impressionists were the first markers of European art and were then followed by all the movements of modern art and the explosion of Contemporary Art thereafter. Because of its strong roots and extensive history, European art is insured to be a valuable and strong investment.

The key elements that establish the value to a work of art is the rarity and uniqueness of the piece Marigold fine art and art expert and international art deal (Bel-Air Fine Art, Geneva) Francois Chabanian based the choices for their modern and contemporary art collection on these key principles of European art. Since the first Delhi exhibition in November Marigold has faced a level of success that only fortifies the value and appreciation of European art internationally. The positive response is equally spread among art collectors, art lovers, those who are simply eager to see such unique and new art in their country and art students. This curiosity and keen interest is an important indicator that India is ready to open a new chapter in art, for both purposes of education and business. In the present day world where virtual investment seem to come with no security, people are starting to turn to art as a tangible and more safe way to invest and grow their money.

To conclude it is important to remember and highlight that buying and appreciating art is first and foremost with respect to emotions and passion more than it should be an investment.

For more information related to marigold fine arts, fine art photography india, fine art gallery india, fine art prints in india, fine art painting, contemporary fine art india please visit: http://www.marigoldfineart.com/

How to Sculpt a Model from Clay : How to Design a Clay Sculpture

Jan 17

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How to choose a design that will make your figurine sculpture unique; learn tips, tricks and techniques for creating beautiful sculpture in this free online art video about sculpting taught by expert sculptor Jorge Benlloch. Expert: Jorge Benlloch Bio: Jorge Benlloch is originally from Barcelona, Spain, where he received multiple degrees in art at Steban Ripeaux Academy. Benlloch works as a freelance artist, sculpting for Caesar’s Palace and Disney. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan…

Greek and Roman Ornaments in the Palace of Fine Arts

Jan 17

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The Palace of Arts in San Francisco is a unique construction that originally was built for a short-term purpose, for an exhibition that lasted less than one year, however the energy which was put in the creation of the structure stretched its existence for half a century. The Roman architectural style and structure is displayed in the columns lining the building. These columns were initially projected to be Corinthian, that is architectural design of ancient Rome. The same conscious understanding of space and surroundings can be found in Roman plan, using the organically supporting materials. The central part of the Palace is recognized as the rotunda it was situated near the pond that added extra attraction of the Palace, and gave its guests an astonishing experience.

There were more 100 fireproof display rooms; numerous types of artworks of artists that worked in a variety of parts of the globe were held in there. This area had been raised at the back of the domed area in order to provide a bigger space for the main spot of the Palace, which is the central rotunda. The eight Roman columns and the circular dome make up the pergola connected by a bridge to the middle rotunda. Such form of construction can be found in Roman holy places of the early times. This symbol shows the dignity of the Roman architecture even though it is debased by the obvious reconstruction of the ruins. This contact of elements causes a mood of “melancholy” to spectators.

The Greek culture has its elements in the added designs and decorations of the Palace of Fine Arts. The ornate decorations, the murals, and the sculptures indicate the architectural motif of the Greeks revealed in the Palace. Some of the valued artworks consist of frescos of Robert Reid. The murals consist of four pieces describing mostly the improvement of art in the various parts of the world, as planned by the original purpose of the exhibition. Other art pieces of the Palace represent the excessive architectural design classically seen in architecture of Greece. The statues show the strong emotion in the absence of talent, as the ornaments mostly portray the culture. Besides to the decorations, the last panel situated beneath the dome stands for the Greek specifically, culture, the significance of arts in the culture.

Andrew Shwartz is staff-writer at Custom-Writing.org, essay writing. Andrew has been providing assistance to students with essays custom and Custom Paper Research for over 2 years. He is always willing to share his own experiences, provide quality custom writing services and writing tips to students of all academic levels

Jungle sloth Relief Woodcarving Demo by Artist Scott McNeill

Jan 17

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 3 Comments

See more at: www.ScottMcNeillArt.com Time-lapse woodcarving demonstration by artist Scott McNeill. McNeill studied bas-relief wood carving from master woodcarvers after spending two years in the Peace Corps. * Scott has been woodcarving professionally since 1995 and apprenticed under professional woodcarving masters. The advanced techniques Scott uses are in no way meant to teach others, or imply that his style is a model to be imitated. Woodcarving tools can be dangerous and should always …

-G- Speed Drawing Part Two:straight in ink

Jan 17

Posted by ArtFanatic in Art | 5 Comments

Detailed Sci-fi / fantasy drawing done straight in ink Part Two by comic book Artist George Todorovski … Britains Got Talent 2009 Susan Boyle Interview Great Voice Cool stuff here George Todorovski Drawing Sci-fi Art Comics comic book books Animation fantasy women illustration fine art nice awesome detailed picture Artist Comic

Creating a Fine Art Image and Stock Photo With Photoshop

Jan 16

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Siri Stafford, my art director at the time, suggested this stock image for me. She asked me to make the image because she thought my specialty of using Photoshop to create conceptual stock images made me a logical choice for the job. I truly loved the idea; but what the heck would lightning hitting a tree really look like?

I turned to that technological development that has so radically changed the world of commercial photography…the internet. I simply typed in to Google’s image search “lightning and tree”. In just a few minutes I had found some obviously amateur images…but ones that were nonetheless stunning actual images of lightning hitting trees. Now I had something to work towards.

In my mind I pictured a lonely expanse of land with a single oak tree. A lightning bolt is caught as it hits the tree and illuminates the scene around it. The bolt travels down the trunk of the tree illuminating the leaves both from above and from behind at the same time. The sky is dark from storm clouds gathering at dusk.

Photographing the Oak Tree

There are many oak trees near my home in Marin County just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. I scouted an open space nearby and found an oak tree that suited my needs. I photographed it just before noon with a slight back lighting. At that time I was still using film and captured the image with a Hasselblad medium format camera on Kodak Ektachrome film. Due to the steep slope of the land I couldn’t get the whole tree in the frame, despite my wide-angle lens, unless I turned the camera to a diagonal angle. In the same space I found and photographed an open expanse of land with a foreground of wild oats. From my files I found a photograph of cloudy skies and some distant low mountains—shot in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a dirt road winding through the composition.

Getting a picture of a lightning strike

During a recent winter trip to Ladakh, a region in Kashmir often referred to as “Little Tibet” I got my lightning. It was long after dark and I was suffering both from altitude sickness and a case of the flue exacerbated by the extreme cold in my unheated guest room. A flash of light lit up the room and immediate rush of thunder testified to the closeness of the strike. Being as how I had never managed to shoot lightning (rarely do we get lightning in the San Francisco Bay Area), I managed to drag myself out from under the covers and grappled for my camera. With my head spinning from my physical condition I groggily shoved a roll of film in my F100, steadied on the windowsill, open the shutter and waited. Boom! Another flash. I repeated the procedure until I had shot a roll then climbed, shaking, back into my cot. As a stock photographer using Photoshop to composite so many of my images together, I am always on the look out for elements that I will be able to using in my stock composites. That effort finally paid off, I thought, as I scanned two of those lightning shots for this image. I made the scans using my Scanmate 5000 drum scanner and scanning the images at 100 megabytes each.

Using Adobe Photoshop to combine the images into a stock photo

I began assembling the image by using layer masks to paint together the landscape and cloud images. I merged the layers, duplicated the new layer, lightened it up with an adjustment layer of curves, and then used the layer masking to paint in the area to be “illuminated” by the lightning. The Tree was selected using the Color Range, magic wand, and lasso tools in conjunction with alpha channels. Making a selection of a tree with thousands of leaves is quite a challenge and in this case required not just the above sequence of operations, but also considerable time going in at 100% magnification and by hand, using the lasso tool, “cleaning up” even more of the tree selection. With the tree selected I copied and pasted it into the background. I duplicated the tree layer twice, darkened one with the curves and lightened the other. I then used layer masking to create the effect of light and dark areas where the lightning would be lighting up the leaves closest to the lightning bolt. Finally, I brought in the lightning bolt itself, pasted it in, and then setting the layer mode to “lighten” only. By setting the mode to “lighten” the pixels in the lightning image that were lighter than the underlying pixels of the rest of the image become the only ones visible…thus there was no need to “strip” the lightning bolt out of it’s dark background (I used the curves to darken the image enough to eliminate all but the lightning bolt itself). I used the liquefy brush to “fine-tune” the path of the bolt.

A timeless fine art image or stock photo

In the end I have not just a pretty picture, but a conceptual stock image that can be used to illustrate a number of marketing concepts. The image is exactly the kind of image that I strive to create, dramatic, useful and timeless.

For hundreds of pictures of funny animals and great stock photography Fine Art Prints & Stock Photos Fine art prints and printed merchandise also available at his site.

Making a Fine Art Painting – Which is Best, Acrylic Paint or Oil Paint?

Jan 15

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Trying to decide which type of paint to use to paint your next art masterpiece? Should you go with the tried and true oil paints, or should you try the newer medium of acrylic paint? Each of these types of paints has their pros and cons which you should investigate so that you can choose the medium that suits your painting style. You are the artist, you make the call.

Oil paint, the traditional medium, is basically powder pigments mixed with clear linseed oil. This paint is slow drying and for that reason is perfectly suited for blending colors together smoothly with plenty of time to contemplate the painting’s progress and still have time to edit and adjust the image before the paint dries. Another plus of oil paint is the luminous quality of the paint which is achieved from the linseed oil medium which allows light to pass through the paint and bounce thereby illuminating the paint on the surface. Additionally, oil paint has been proven to be the most permanent medium for fine art painting. Most paintings on canvas and wood were made with oil paint from early Renaissance times until the 1960′s when acrylic paints were introduced.

Acrylic paint is only about fifty years old, and is the new kid on the block. This paint is made from powdered pigments and a liquid acrylic plastic medium. Unlike oil paint, acrylic dries fairly quickly and you will need to plan ahead and move quickly if you want to do much modeling or blending of colors with this type of artists paint. However, the quick drying quality of acrylic paint can be an advantage if you paint in layers or paint in such a way that does not require the blending or colors. You don’t have to wait for several days for paint to dry before you paint something on top of a previous layer with acrylic. If you want to mix several mediums together, like acrylic drawing paper and found objects, then acrylics are the perfect type of paint for the job. There are also a wide variety of specialty paints and mediums that can be used with acrylics such as modeling paste for texture, gloss and matte mediums for thinning and mixing, iridescent and fluorescent paint, and many other special effect mediums and additives that could broaden the range of your creative artistic expression.

Some artists begin their paintings with acrylic paint and when that dries, they finish the artwork with oil paint. Hopefully, this will give you enough basic information to make an informed choice about what type of painting medium is most suited to your type of artistic expression.

George McKim is an award winning Fine Art Painter with an MFA from ECU, a BFA from VCU and Post Graduate study at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the country. George has created a new and rapidly growing Artist Social Network and Online Gallery at http://www.myartfriends.com

Fine Art Giclee Prints, What You Should Know Before You Buy so You Can Get Your Moneys Worth

Jan 13

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A fine art reproduction (giclee print) consists of three elements; the medium, the ink and the top coat. If any one is compromised, the whole print is compromised.

THE MEDIUM

The medium is whatever the giclee is printed on. It can be anything from photo paper, a range of art papers, to canvas. Due to the nature of paper itself, all art printed on it, must be framed under glass. That is, if you want to get any longevity from your print. The glass will protect your paper from moisture, fingerprints and anything else that might find its way onto your art piece. And if you have kids you know what I’m talking about! Canvas on the other hand, is gloriously resilient. It can be displayed in an open frame without the glass. The breathable cotton and cotton/poly blends allow the fabric to dry should it get wet. It’s strong enough to stretch tight over wooden stretcher bars, flexible enough to resist punctures and tears with normal handling, and it doesn’t warp! Sounds perfect doesn’t it? There’s a catch. Most giclee printing canvases on the market are infused with optical brightener additives or OBA’s. The additives make the canvas bright and white. Giclee art needs bright white medium because ink jet printers do not use white ink. All the white in your print is the absence of ink with the medium shining through. So why would you care? Because the OBA’s break down over time when exposed to light, turning the canvas strange hues of blues and yellows. Your art print goes from beautiful to bazaar…How much did you pay for that piece?…Thankfully there is OBA free giclee canvas on the market. If the outfit you’re buying your art from does not tout the benefits of their OBA free canvas, you can bet their not using it.

THE INK

Almost everywhere you read about ink on the Internet, you’ll hear about them being ‘archival’. The claim is that they will last for 75-100 years or more! Well…we just don’t really know do we? They haven’t been around that long. Let’s assume that modern technology can simulate a “100 year” test and conclude that the ink will actually hold up. One thing I can tell you from first hand experience, ink is not water proof. Some sellers will tell you the ink is water resistant all by itself and doesn’t need a top coat. It’s not. I’d hate to see the neighbor kid blow a PB&J sneeze on one of those prints! Also, giclee inks deteriorate significantly when exposed to light. Sound familiar? That brings us to the next element of our print.

THE TOP COAT

Top coat doesn’t sound very exiting does it? Oh, but it is! The right top coat applied to your print can mean the difference between life and death (for your print, that is. Or maybe you, if you happen to be an overly emotional Artist). A top coat serves two ESSENTIAL purposes. Protection from ultraviolet light and protection from water. Did I mention essential? I’m trying to make a point here. A giclee print not treated with a top coat is doomed to a short life. Glass can protect the print from moisture but not from light. Most sellers of prints will tell you not to hang your print in direct sunlight. Even a giclee printed on water color paper or photo paper under glass should be treated with an ultraviolet / water resistant protective top coat. Here we go again back to modern technology. ‘Testing’ has shown that a UV top coat SIGNIFIGANTLY increases the longevity of ‘archival’ inks under exposure to ultraviolet light. For canvas giclee prints, one of the top performers in top coats is Glamour II. What it does for a print is just as the name implies. It makes the colors pop, acts as a barrier to all things evil, and virtually gives your print that rich oil painting feel. If the seller isn’t bragging about Glamour II or a high grade equivalent (like BullDog), their probably not using it. Or worse, they may not be using any top coat. Yikes!

So there you have it; the medium, the ink and the top coat. If any one of these three elements are compromised the whole giclee print is compromised. You don’t want to get stuck with a mess that was once called called Art. When you’re looking for that perfect print for the wall above the mantel, just make sure you’re getting your moneys worth.

Cathy Robertson is an Artist and writer for Fine Art Castle. Have fun, informative decorating & design articles delivered to you! Sign up for our monthly Newsletter today at http://www.fineartcastle.com/decoratingtipsanddesign.aspx . Or stop by and take a peek at our Fine Art Prints for your Canvas Art decorating needs at http://www.fineartcastle.com

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