Four Things You Absolutely Need to Know before Buying an Oil Painting Reproduction
October 30, 2007
“You’ve decided to invest in a beautiful oil painting reproduction. You have an idea of the type of painting you’d like, but you’re still unsure about making the purchase. This anxiety is normal when considering a reproduction purchase for the first time. Knowing the right questions to ask will enable you to make a wise purchase. Unlike machine-generated copies, oil reproductions are hand-painted replicas of original paintings, which are created by an actual skilled artist. You’re naturally concerned about getting great quality. Here are four things you should know... Read more »
Abstract Act
October 28, 2007
Abstract art is often an acquired taste. The article below is actually quite cute in displaying how art value and art taste can be in contrast with one another in the theater of life and family. Enjoy! “Abstract Paintings, You Either Love Them Or Hate Them I’m a buyer and collector of abstract paintings. There are few things I like more than finding ones that appeal to me. My favorite type of painting is done in gouache and I have several favorite artists. I know a lot of men spend their weekends playing golf or lurking in home improvement stores. I spend mine prowling garage sales.... Read more »
Learn how to Draw 101
October 27, 2007
I have a friend, who has a strong sense of design and home decoration. However, when you talk to her, she would be most adamant about NOT being creative. So, one day, I’ve given her an art class, i.e. for 1/2 an hour I made her to sit still and draw from memory the million little lines of a crumbled ball of waste paper. A turning point, as it taught her how to look. It taught her how to relax and ‘just do it’. It was the start of her art development. She has thanked me since many times over. This article ‘Diving Into Drawing‘ reminds me of this little investment... Read more »
Books As Art 101
October 25, 2007
This article “Scrapbooking Ideas to Make a Wonderful Scrapbook” is a perfect start for Fine Art Book makers. Get over any ‘oh my goodness, it’s about craft not art’-feelings you may have as a fine art student, and read on to learn about mood boards. “Scrapbooking can be compared with a unique form of art. Each scrapbooker has his own scrapbooking ideas, taste and style while reflecting a personal image in the scrapbook. Knowing the right style can help a scrapbooker save valuable time, money and liveliness required for scrapbooking. One of the easiest ways... Read more »
Art Quilting Explained
October 24, 2007
Quilting is a popular craft, which made me decide to include it here. Author Linda Matthews just wrote this helpful article Art Quilting – What is it Exactly ? (2007). This informative article has a number of useful links for further research, as well as a general description of what this craft-fine art is all about. ** “These special art quilting techniques can be studied through books or in live workshops or on-line classes. They are fun to learn and provide the art quilter with their own unique art quilter’s palette of skills. There are also many on-line art quilt groups offering... Read more »
Getting Around The Louvre
October 23, 2007
“The Louvre is the book in which we learn to read.” - Paul Cezanne once said. I could not agree with him more. The Louvre in this sense is one of the best books you’ll ever read. Museums houses a visual language explaining the world, of the past, of timelessness, of love and compassion, and more. — A. Lee ** Below is an article by Audrey Akeman is a unique review of the various parts of one of world’s largest art paradises: THE LOUVRE. It is a help for any visitor to Paris’s wonders of the world as well as a resource for art lovers in general. “A Guide... Read more »
Paris Art Exhibitions
October 22, 2007
As a very frequent gallery & museum-goer myself, I am often intrigued how popular (or unpopular) certain fine art exhibits are. The article “Art for Art’s Sake (it’s All About Paris)” by Vasilisa (03-10-2007) gives a glimpse into what’s going on in the art world in Paris today. She particularly highlights the happenings in one of the prime galleries in town. “Let the numbers speak for themselves. In 1996 about 90,000 people visited Parisian galleries and antique trades. More than 13 million were recorded in museums. Paris is the capital of France and art as well.... Read more »
Indian Block Printing
October 21, 2007
The article “Indian Block Printing: Three Main Techniques” that Author Rajneesh Dubey wrote in 2007 is a great resource for this fine art technique. “Block printing, as name suggests, is the use of wooden blocks in the process of dyeing and printing. In India, block printing has been in practice since 12th century. Even before that in 6th century BC, there are references that India was maintaining trade relationship in cotton with Babylon. Thus we get the idea that India has very old heritage of cotton clothes. Block printing is so renowned for use of rich and vibrant colors.... Read more »
XMAS Art Shows — Tips for Selling Artists
October 20, 2007
Yesterday Belinda Stinson wrote an excellent article ‘7 Reasons Why Using Jewelry Display Stands Get You More Expo Trade Shows Sales’ , which I believe will really be of help to jewellers (and other artisans) who are planning to participate in the numerous upcoming XMAS art & craft gift shows. “The question of how to sell and display jewelry for the best results is one asked by all of us who attends trade shows, craft fairs, bridal expos, basically any retail or wholesale exhibition where we are selling jewelry. For me I have found that using creative jewelry display ideas... Read more »
Art Expression
October 15, 2007
An art collector has many things to consider, one of which is: what theme and ‘rules’ for collecting art. Within this context, I found this article on the many ways that art is expressed. Some Of The Many Different Ways Art Is Expressed Art is defined in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Addition as skill acquired by experience, study or observation. In other words art can be described as seen through the eyes of the beholder. Many forms of art have appeared over the years and newer more abstract art of modern days is often described as contemporary art. Art over the... Read more »
Best Art Museums in Europe
October 14, 2007
Today, I have to add a new museum to my list of favorite art museums in Europe. It is the Maeght Foundation, in Saint Paul de Vence, in the French Riviera. After this afternoon’s sight of gorgeous sculptures by Miro and Giacometti, to name a few, as well as Chagall’s huge painting ‘La Vie/Vive”, I decided this museum is definitely on the ‘worthwhile’ list. The museum with the private collection of exquisite world famous art of the Maeght Foundation is delightfully set adjacent to the pretty medieval hill-top village. Prior to today, my list included the following... Read more »
Choosing an Art School for Interior Design
October 13, 2007
Interior design is one of the subbranches within the school of design. Choosing how to go into such a career warrants research. This interesting article provides an overview and some essential information for those interested in pursuing a career in interior design. Interior Design School - Overview and Essentials The field of interior design is always changing. Not so long ago, you had to go to a formal design or art school in order to learn the field. Today students can attend almost any college or university and major in interior design. Professional interior designers today must be licensed... Read more »
Craft Tool 1: The Glue Gun
October 12, 2007
If you have never made any fine craft, please excuse us. This article is for the advanced fine crafter wishing to hone the skills in his game. It is one in a series of articles on unusually versatile fine craft supply tools. Hot Accessories for Glue Guns! There is an entire line of accessories for glue guns that people may or may not know about. Each of these accessories is designed to make the process of using the glue guns an easier and more efficient experience. Many are also designed to make using glue guns more ergonomic which is an excellent benefit for those people that must use these... Read more »
A ‘How to’-article: Techniques for Creating an Art Book
October 10, 2007
The following example on how to create an artbook was found on a polymer clay fine craft supply website: http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_AsianProverbBook.htm Of course, you can completely tailor the techniques to provide your own messages and do your own detailing. Having said that, this Asian Proverb book project offers a myriad of art techniques that are useful to know and are applicable to other things. I suggest you first try to create an Asian Proverb book much like the one suggested here, and then use the techniques learned to create an artwork of your own. btw. while you are at... Read more »
Where to Study Art in the US
October 9, 2007
This article contains a list of well-known Art Schools in the US, East-coast and West-coast. Academy of Art University. San Francisco, CA San Francisco Art Institute , San Francisco, CA California College of Arts & crafts, Berkeley, CA California Institute of Arts, Los Angeles, CA Art Center College of Design , Pasadena, CA NYU Tisch shool of the arts , New York, NY School of Visual Arts , New York, NY Rhode Island School of design University of the Arts , Philadelphia, pa School of The Art Institute of Chicago , Chicago Cranbrook Academy of art , Bloomfield Hills, MI Maryland Institute... Read more »
Polymer Clay Beads
October 8, 2007
If you are looking for practical examples, look for specialist websites, such as the Philadelphia Area Polymer Clay Guild . Browsing through their picture pages, offers a wealth of specific and rather advanced ideas. Not that advanced in creating polymer clay beads yet? Below is an article which offers a practical guide into the world of polymer clay beading. “Making Polymer Clay Beads: A Fun New Craft Idea the Whole Family Can Enjoy Polymer clay beads are getting a lot of attention in the crafting world. Suitable for both adults and children (ages 8 and up), working with polymer clay... Read more »
How to Collect Affordable Art: online
October 7, 2007
Collecting art does not have to cost a fortune. Below is an article that again shows that the Internet can be a great resource in putting your art collection together. Art Can Be Affordable Particularly On The Web Art is a very personal thing. One person likes landscapes, others like portraits, others have different styles- Impressionism, Realism, Pointillism and they are all meaningful in their own ways to different people - or even the same person depending upon where they are in the timeline of their life. It’s always interesting- no matter the artist- how and what they create. How they... Read more »
A History Lesson in Glass Bead Jewelry
October 6, 2007
The article below is a short art history class for fine craft jewellers. A seemingly well-researched article on glass beads. “GLASS BEADS -The History and Making Of Beads are amongst the oldest human art and technology, dating back 30,000 years. They have been dated back to at least Roman times. Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay with a self-forming vitreous coating. Glass beads are usually categorized by the method used to manipulate the glass. Most fall into three main categories: wound, drawn, and moulded. There are composites, such as millefiori,... Read more »
Book As Art 101: Page Layout
October 5, 2007
This article “Scrapbooking Page Layout Ideas and Suggestions” written by a scrapbook art instructor discusses page layout ideas and is a good complement to the Book As Art article on this website on ‘mood boards’. “Scrapbooking is one of those things that keep our memories alive and brings smiles to people’s faces for years to come. It allows you to relive the feelings and occasions as if they happened yesterday. What is Scrapbooking? Scrapbooking is basically a journal in which you keep your records thru out your life. You can capture events that mean the most... Read more »
Abstract Art Defined II
October 4, 2007
Defining abstract art is such a magnetic topic, it seems. This article called simply “Defining Abstract Art” by Lynne Taetzsch (April 07, 2006) is a rather more educated attempt, that nicely contrast with the other article on the same subject on this site. “The term “abstract art” is like the term “modern music” in the sense that it is a very broad umbrella sheltering a wide variety of art. But like “abstract math,” the general sense of the term is that it is the opposite of the concrete, or “realism.” At one end of the continuum is a painting of a violin so... Read more »
