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Posts Tagged ‘paintings’

I read an amazing article by Grayson Perry entitled “How art appreciates - it’s a class act”. In a nutshell he reckoned that art finds its true monetary value from what the experts say. But I can see something more from what he says.

If a piece of art is to be labeled as having any “value” at all it is what is said about it that establishes it as a work worthy of an individuals attention.

In other words … if you see a picture and it relates to you in some way (this can be either positively or negatively) - then you should say so … and write it down.

So once one remark has been made then others will follow … plus other people will look at the work and make their own minds up about it, and they will also read about what you have said … and they will include your critique in their weighing up of the image.

I am not necessarily talking only about financial worth, no, here is a far greater opportunity which is all inclusive, wonderfully mutual, and offers the chance for anyone - and everyone … to add to the worthiness of any piece of art - and eventually to the whole of society. What YOU have to say about a particular artwork is very important … even vital not only to the work, or the artist, or that particular type of work, or to your locality, or to your region, or to your country … but to the World! (I am referring here to the butterfly wing beat theory … if you don’t know about it then you must look it up … it really puts value onto the individual within a world context … fantastic - but I believe it’s true).

Let’s look at this in a bit more detail, first from the artist’s point of view …

If, when you exhibit your art, you value what people have to say about your work (and I don’t mean if you want everyone to love everything you do otherwise you will sulk and withdraw into yourself), and are happy for observers to voice their opinion about it - make sure you have a visitors book easily available for any remarks to be made (remember … even someone who only wants to deface the book is actually saying something about themselves - and their society … and your work might be evoking a challenge to them so much that their only response can be a defensive one such as vandalism - therefore even this has a value in itself - and strangely actually places a value upon your work). These can have a use later on in publicity, and in some cases can be seen as endorsements for your style of work.

If you have a website then a well placed, easy to understand and use, guest-book or visitors book, or comments page are very useful reference points for you and your work. If visitors refer to a particular image then their critique might be worthy of adding to the page that the picture is on. That way other observers can get to read observations coming from different points of view. Of course, if a visitor does not want to be influenced - then they can just simply ignore anything that is written. However, others may well find such additional information from the “man-in-the-street” helpful to them as they try to assimilate what they see. What is written will be of far greater value to them - and to you the artist in may other areas too. And if you are trying to sell your work then a timely encouraging comment from a third party might persuade an otherwise hesitant buyer into making that sort after commitment.

Now from the visitors point of view …

It is a truly wonderful thing to be “touched” by a piece of art in a gallery. When ever I have found myself slowly being drawn into a painting I immediately want to verbalize what I am receiving - I might want to shout or laugh loudly … but more likely I would want to put down in writing a description of what I am seeing, what I am feeling, and what kind of inspiration I might begin to cultivate … and what intention I might want to start getting in motion (which is why I always carry a notepad around with me).

So I would encourage, even exhort, the viewer not to just take a back step and move on to another picture. But rather I want them to commit their thoughts, frustrations, emotions, decisions, resolutions … anything which has come directly from looking at a piece of art, commit these to paper - find the visitors book and, if necessary, fill it with your reactions to the work. By doing this the visitor is rightly placing themselves into the “experts” chair. So any thoughts and points of view are worthy of note. If you have a view on a piece of work then it should be heard.

It is the same - or should be - when visiting a website. In fact it can be easier to make an anonymous comment on the internet. A lot of sites give you the opportunity to make a comment without having to give your name, email address - or any information other than the words you want to type. So if you are that sort of person then don’t be afraid but try to get into the habit of writing down your views. You might actually WANT to reveal who you are or put down your area of expertise … be it the university professor or the “public highway hygiene technician” … because what you say matters … whoever you are.

What will happen here is that as comments are made and attached to a work others will read them and, having viewed the piece themselves, they will make their own point of view whether for or against other comments … and the work will gain its own merit from what is said.

So while the top artists are busy vying for that hallowed multi-millionaire-and-totally-famous-artists kind of place - the rest of us can get on and work, and receive a much more valuable encouragement … that of the humble, if not down-to-earth, endorsements from our fellow human beings.

Don’t be afraid … be truthful … tell it like it is … and watch what happens.

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at the some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:

The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:

The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30

Conservation is defined as remedial attention given to extend the life of a work of art. The process often reconstitutes missing material by additions. These additions may be either visible or invisible and serve to restore the work’s unity.

One of the most noticeable defects the public observes on a painted surface is craquelure. Craquelure appears as a minute crazing pattern on a painting’s surface. The following layers make up a painting:

1. Stretcher bars are covered by a canvas support

2. Canvas is coated with a sizing medium

3. Gesso (a ground layer) is applied over the sizing medium

4. Paint is layered over the sizing medium

5. Varnish is capped over all these layers

Ideally all these layers dry uniformly. When the harmony of these layers is disrupted, a problem results, requiring conservation. For instance, as the different layers absorb and release moisture, expansion and contraction take place. As the materials age, the ongoing process of change can take its toll. Vibrations when art is transported can be harmful to one or more layers, even though temperature and humidity are controlled.

Returning to craquelure, it is understandable that the canvas has responds to a change in climactic conditions by either shrinking or swelling. The amount of stress might differ from the ground or paint layer. As these materials react to change differently, they result first in craquelure and finally become cleavage. Cleavage is the paint layer lifting from the canvas.

When craquelure appears as a function of age, it is generally left untouched, provided the painting is still legible. Should this condition become cleavage, a professional conservator must be consulted.

Another easily noticed problem is a slackening of the canvas, producing more “play” than was originally intended. Examine the stretcher bars. If all the corners are fixed by glue or nails and cannot be adjusted mechanically, your painting is attached to strainer bars, not stretcher bars. Stretcher bars have keys (wedges of wood that permit adjusting of the bars) or sophisticated metal elements that allow for adjustments. A canvas left for many years on strainer bars could rip once the canvas becomes brittle.

Yellowing or darkening varnish is another readily recognizable issue. About every 25 years, review canvases for a re-application of varnish. First the original varnish must be removed by a professional conservator.

Frequently-Asked Questions

How do I find a good conservator? American Institute of Conservation in Washington, DC 202 452-9545 is one source of competent people. Call your local large museums for recommendations as well as art appraisers in your area.

What can I expect from a conservator? It is customary for you to be provided

a) Estimated cost of treatment

b) Estimated time to complete the treatment

c) Conservator’s steps to complete treatment

d) Anticipated result from the treatment (identification of what is possible to remedy and to what degree)

How are the fees assessed? Conservators guestimate the number of hours needed to complete the work (based on their past experience).

Word of caution: Find out if your conservator has insurance and if so, how much and what are the limitations of their coverage. If they do not, call your insurance company to find out their position on insuring your property while it is in the hands of a conservator.

Just a few years ago it seemed people thought the idea of purchasing “clothing” through the internet was absurd. How would you know if it fits? What if it doesn’t fit? What if my credit card number gets stolen? Those were just a few of the many questions I personally had five or so years ago. Hopefully this article will help enlighten some of your inquiries.

The internet has significantly changed the art market. Significantly, meaning people now have choices at their fingertips. The sometimes intimidating and cold art galleries, is now an option. With many art websites offering money back guarantees, secure shopping and customer support, people do not have to feel as though purchasing anything off the site is Russian roulette.

Here are some hints and tips I feel might be useful:

Search and Search Some More: Without the hassles of walking/driving from one gallery to another and limiting gallery hours you have more time at your disposal to do your research. You will have the ability to view hundreds of artworks within the average time someone will be able to see a dozen by actually going to a gallery. For me that means a greater chance to find a new painting I will fall in love with.

Take your Time: Yes buying off the internet is far from perfect so follow your heart and take your time. Send the image to your friends, research the artist and take advantage of the many gallery website features available at your disposal, such as “view-to-scale, background colors, zoom, etc”. Ask questions if you want by emailing the website and also you can compare shop. Remember if you like one artwork and its too expensive for your taste or pocketbook there is surely another painting that is similar and can fit your budget.

Protect Yourself: Read up on the website. Find out how long its been in business. See if the website provides secure shopping and secured online purchases. Read about what the customers and any articles have to say about the website and its artists. Check if the artwork will come with an authentication that you feel comfortable with and find out if they have a return policy that you find reasonable. When you have done your homework, buy the artwork and enjoy your new artwork purchased through the future of art shopping with confidence.

Original paintings by Renoir, Chagall, Picasso, Rembrandt and Mary Cassatt at a discount buying club??? Embarking more than 25 miles each way to experience possibly original prints by these artists, I figured the press release was probably only slightly errant. Almost no Rembrandt paintings in private hands are available for sale anywhere in the world, much less as part of a 3 day art trunk show at a discount buying club.

The named art dealer was from a seemingly swank Southern California locale. Some degree of suspicion results, as mention of this location is designed to trigger a certain poshness. There are reputable art businesses in this locale alongside those who consciously prey on the uninformed spontaneous art buyers. Other potential victim zones in the U.S. are Carmel, California; Honolulu, Hawaii and Scottsdale, Arizona. Travelers far away from the pressures of work, often in the company of a favorite companion, spend dollars with relative abandon. In short, they don’t comparison shop or do their homework.

There were paintings by an artist with a French last name, a relative no-name artist. The omission of this individual’s last name caused me to wonder. Didn’t the seller know his/her first name? Was the viewer to think “If I ask, he’ll think I don’t know who the really famous French artists are?”

The remaining golden opportunities consisted of original lithographs by Marc Chagall, unsigned meaning they were originally tipped into books. These have some value but are generally not rabidly pursued or priced so aggressively. The Rembrandt etchings were 19th century impressions. As Rembrandt lived and worked during the 17th century, his etching plates were frequently re-etched over the next two centuries, seriously altering the appearance of the resulting etchings. Practiced art buyers do not knock themselves out to acquire the later impressions, especially for the prices presented.

The Mary Cassatt etchings were replica etchings made in France from the original plates long after Mary died. The Louvre has a division that creates and sells posthumous prints from plates residing there. These typically sell for a few hundred dollars, not thousands as they were priced in the discount buying club.

In short, these opportunities were fool’s gold. Here are some tips that will help you avoid getting hurt:

If unsure about a purchase, ask for a photograph and description then hire a Fine Art appraiser to carry out research pronto!

To find a designated Fine Art appraiser, American Society of Appraisers’ website is .appraisers.org.

No self control? Ask about their return policy and make sure your receipt includes artist’s name, title of work, date of work, medium, condition of art and frame and the price plus all the dealer’s contact information.

Remember, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.

In the French dictionary a giclee (zhee-CLAY) will be defined as meaning “to spray or squirt.” However others might say “giclee” doesn’t mean “to spray,” that “Giclee” isn’t an infinitive and that it is the feminine of a past participle. So if there is some argument over what the term Giclee means I believe that the intention of the term is to define a printed copy of an original artwork. Giclee is basically scanning the artwork and then using that scan to print it out on a special printer. This printer is not the same as a standard desktop inkjet printer, and is much larger. Giclee prints are a little over a meter wide and are often referred to as a “knitting machine” as they look very similar.




Giclees are produced from digital scans of existing artwork. Also, since many artists now produce only digital art, there is no “original” that can be hung on a wall. Giclees solve that problem, while creating a whole new vibrant digital medium for art.




When printing there are any number of media for example canvas to watercolor paper to transparent acetates. Giclees are better then the traditional lithography in many ways. The colors are brighter, last longer and are so high-resolution that they are virtually continuous tone, rather than tiny dots. The range of color for giclees is far beyond that of lithography, and by viewing in comparison with each other you will find that the details are far crisper in giclee.




Lithography prints use tiny dots of four colors–cyan, magenta, yellow and black; to fool the eye into seeing various hues and shades. Colors are “created” by printing different size dots of these four colors.




Again Giclees use inkjet technology, but more sophisticated than your desktop printer. The process employs six colors–light cyan, cyan, light magenta, magenta, yellow and black–of lightfast, pigmented inks and finer, more numerous, and replaceable print heads resulting in a wider color gamut, and the ability to use various media to print on. The ink is sprayed onto the page, actually mixing the color on the page to create true shades and hues.




Giclees were originally developed as a proofing system for lithograph printing presses, but it became apparent that the presses were having a hard time delivering the quality and color of the giclee proofs. They evolved into the more popular form over lithography’s and are now the cheaper and more common way to make a copy print. They are coveted by collectors for their fidelity and quality, and desired by galleries because they don’t have to be produced in huge quantities with their large layout of capital and storage.




In addition, Giclees are produced directly from a digital file that is created by scanning the original. This will save generations of detail-robbing negatives and printing plates, as with traditional printing.




View our Fine Art Gallery at

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Purchasing framed art to many can even affect the decision they make in purchasing the artwork itself. However art is fairly simple to frame and is relatively inexpensive. Many of the art frames can be purchased to match your d

Identify what kind of art you like. The following techniques can help you determine what that is:

1. Visit 3 to 6 museums displaying different types of art. Finish your visit by purchasing postcards in the gift shop that reflect artworks that are attractive to you. Toss these cards in a bowl, and don’t look at them again until you have visited all the museums on your list. Once you have done so, review all the cards and look for similarities among them in terms of mediums chosen, time period of the artists, or the style of the artworks.

2. Visit your local library and find an art history book that spans at least four centuries of art from many different countries. Use sticky notes to mark your favorite pieces. Again, look for common elements to determine what you like the best.

• Match what you like with what you can afford and what is currently available to buy. Consult with knowledgeable art dealers or art appraisers about costs and availability of what you have selected. Determine your annual budget and the number of pieces you want to be able to purchase with that amount.

• Gather information about the quality of what you like, what you can afford, and what is currently available. Consult with museum personnel and knowledgeable art consultants about what they consider to be quality work.

• Join ancillary museum groups that offer lectures and exposure to valuable information.

• Subscribe to magazines that focus on the type of art you want to collect.

• Don’t rush to acquire art. For many, it’s a lifelong pursuit.

Starting a Contemporary Art Collection

Contact museum curators or art professionals in your area who do not sell.

1. Build a relationship with these professionals by attending lectures where they assemble.

2. Discuss your interest in collecting contemporary art and ask for their recommendations.

3. Listen for names being repeatedly identified as quality artists.

• Attend exhibitions at contemporary art galleries in your area. Ask for information about any work that interests you. This will help you understand what the artist intended for his or her work “to say.”

• Go to national and international art fairs to gain additional exposure to contemporary art. Ask for information on work that interests you at these events as well.

• Contact prominent local contemporary artists working in a medium you like and ask them to identify their “hot picks.”

• Supplement your efforts by reading art publications such as Art in America, Art Forum, and Art News, as well as magazines directed toward just one kind of medium, for example, Fiberarts or types of art for example, Latinarte, Native Peoples and American Indian Art magazines.

• Join ancillary museum groups focused on contemporary art. These events allow you to experience what experienced collectors of contemporary art have chosen. Travel to other cities with these groups to gain an even greater understanding of contemporary art.

• Do MOST of the steps described above before purchasing for your collection.

In this article, I write about some of the different art galleries which people can visit when they are in London. I would very much recommend that you make time during your trip to have a look around some of the places mentioned, as they are sure to add to your experience of visiting the capital city of England.

London is fast becoming a very popular weekend break destination with its long history and many attractions. As well as all of the most popular tourist attractions, such as Big Ben and The Tower Of London, there are number of quality art galleries which people can and should also visit.

The art galleries which I would recommend people to visit in London:

Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

This gallery shows various pieces from the Royal Collection including famous works by Leonardo and Vermeer.

Their have been many additions to the amount of items on display after a recent extension. I personally like viewing the jewels that are on show, which are very impressive. The whole place is steeped in history and some of the pieces of furniture on display are not only worth huge sums of money, they are also extremely old and superbly maintained.

The National Gallery

There are a number of superb and famous paintings at the National Gallery including:

The Ambassadors

A Woman Bathing In A Stream

Virgin And Child With St Anne And John The Baptist

Rokeby Venus

The many paintings in this gallery date from 1260-1900.

National Portrait Gallery

This gallery opened in 1856 and houses many paintings and also some very famous portraits such as:

Margaret Thatcher

Germaine Greer

Shakespeare

Horatio Nelson

The Serpentine Gallery

This happens to be my favourite gallery as it tends to show more contemporary artists. It is located near Kensington Gardens and is a must in my opinion.

Tate Britain

Many people believe that this gallery has the best collection of British art in the world.

This gallery offers a free guided tour and there are films every day of the week.

Some of the paintings on show at the Tate Britain are:

Sancta Lilias

Flatford Mill

Norham Castle, Sunrise

Elohim Creating Adam

Pink And Green Sleepers

The Tate Modern

This is a fairly new gallery which is located on the South bank of the Thames.

It shows modern art from early 1900 to the present day.

As you can see there are a number of galleries which people can choose from. The ones I have mentioned above are among my favourites, however there are many more which people can also visit including:

Kenwood House

The Dulwich Picture Gallery

The Royal Academy

I hope you enjoy your time in London and find these art galleries as interesting as I do.

How To Buy Oil Paintings

I have a custom made oil painting displayed in my living room. I gaze upon it each day. It’s a portrait of a woman during sunset and half turned. Every single day I look at it and I am amazed as to what she might be thinking, sometimes I feel as though the painting has changed somehow. It gives new meaning every time I see it. Every person who has looked at it had a different interpretation of what the Painting suggested. It sparks the imagination. It triggers your emotion and makes you think. Such is the power of those glossy portraits created by the brilliant artists.

Oil Paintings give the visual appeal to your home or work place. Placed strategically this could mean a serene atmosphere at home or an inviting ambience to your office, which definitely makes your client at ease in your office. This could be the edge over the rest of your competitors.

Did you ever wonder how you could buy those high quality-stunning oil paintings? Most galleries present you with only a limited range of painting. Only the exclusive and famous artists have the opportunity to display the art in such places. The only place you could find work of art from both prominent as well as upcoming artist are real high quality websites.

At first even I was of the opinion that online purchase of such work of art may not be the best-suited method to get genuine high quality work. But when I heard about custom designs from well-known artists that could be offered right to your doorstep I was just thrilled. There is also a money back guarantee if there is any dissatisfaction towards the delivered material.

The online shops have a wide range of portraits, themes ranging from landscapes, still life, abstracts, cubism, religion, and much more. The list is endless. The Painting include real popular artist like van Gough, Jack Vettriano from early 19th century to the most recent celebrity artist. The catalog shows snapshots of the real work so you would know what to expect from the real McCoy.

They even have a Portrait Service. With Portrait Service the artist turns an old photograph, which has lost its graphic details into a real looking image of any size. With this we could keep our memories framed forever.

Custom paintings are made with just an idea that you have. It is amazing how artists could turn your vision into reality. They make a drafted version for your approval and in about a week the final Painting is ready and shipped to you.

The purchased painting is shipped home in sturdy tube containers for a small additional cost. Every care is taken to deliver the work of art safely to you. There is also choice for of Framing Service so you could portray the images in apt background. Even the range of frames available is displayed.

Well we always are worried that a transaction is not going to be safe over the Internet. It is just not so. With SSL technology you could make the transaction without having to fret over hackers taking away all your money. Agencies such as 2checkout bring about some of the safest payment methods.

The shopping carts provided are very user friendly. It is very easy to just keep adding your favorite picture and make the final purchase when you checkout.