A Brief History of Caricatures
January 31, 2008
By Natalie Aranda A caricature is a portrait of a person that exaggerates certain features in order to express the essence of the person and still make the subject easily identifiable. Although it is often viewed as a comic type of art today, it has a rather long history. The earliest forms date back to ancient days. In the excavations at the Roman city of Pompeii, crude pictures were found drawn on the walls of some buildings that very much resembled caricature. At least, the purpose was obviously the same. The word comes from an Italian verb that means “to load.” The true purpose of caricature... Read more »
Reverse Glass Painting - Centuries Old Art Form
January 30, 2008
By Alan Beggerow Reverse glass painting is the art of painting an image on the reverse side of a piece of glass or glass object so that the image can be viewed from the unpainted side. It has been done since early in the sixteenth century in Europe, and was known in China during the early 18th century. This style of painting has been used for religious art, abstract art, clock faces, realistic landscapes, and scenes with people and portraits. It is a very exacting art form, especially when done as a realistic painting. The image is actually painted in reverse order on the glass. The finishing details... Read more »
What to Look For in Monumental Sculpture
January 29, 2008
By Beau Smith Monumental sculpture is exceptionally large sculpture. It is called “monumental” because monuments are often large sculptures. But such sculptures are not just monuments. Any large public sculpture, or any large sculpture, for that matter, is monumental. What should you look for? It should be sturdy and long-lasting. It should have a powerful presence. It should be the product of a big idea. Last but by no means least, it should be safe. I will review these criteria. A public sculpture has to be a lot sturdier and a lot more structurally sound than a sculpture that goes... Read more »
Julian Beever - Video of Creating a Chalk Artwork
January 29, 2008
Julian Beever is a contemporary artist who has made pavement drawings for over ten years. He has worked in the U.K., Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Australia. The pavement drawings have included both renderings of old masters plus a wealth of original inventive pieces of work. We all have to live, and sometimes, Julian takes on corporate advertising projects. Whether you like his work or not, whether you call it art even, it is neat to see this time-lapse video of of how chalk artwork is created. See Julian Beever creating the Aveeno Fountain of Youth chalk drawing in... Read more »
Sotheby’s and Christie’s - Are They in Conflict of Intrests with the Natural Art Market? - part 2
January 28, 2008
I would like to reiterate my ‘warning’ posted at part 1 of the article: this is an unusual rant/rave article, that nonetheless gives an insight in the functioning of the art market. I therefore consider it relevant for publication. Personally I am neutral in the conflict. Further, this situation is now a few years old, and I will follow this article up with up-to-date information, when possible. Continuation of part 1 of the article by Gerard Van Weyenbergh: My investor, is in love with the painting, but still wants to have Sotheby’s and Christie’s opinion about the value of... Read more »
Sotheby’s and Christie’s - Are They in Conflict of Intrests with the Natural Art Market? - part 1
January 28, 2008
Warning: the below article is a ‘rant and rave’-article, which you will not usually find on this site. I do however consider it a worthwhile read for all art investors to help better understand the art market, including art auctions. Besides which, it’s not a bad read to boot! By Gerard Van Weyenbergh “Are Sotheby’s and Christie’s or all major auctions houses still the reference to establish the value of your art works? It is not my intention to have them sue me for my thoughts in this letter. Nonetheless there are so many events these last months that I want to bring in daylight some... Read more »
Who Needs TV When You Can Watch a Painting? -2
January 27, 2008
Continuation of part 1 of the article by : Sometimes a painting really draws you in. Growing up, being fascinated by the Civil War and looking at illustrated histories of it, there was always a specialness to the naval battle scenes. I could spend hours looking at the pictures and playing the scene in my head, famous scenes such as the Monitor and the Merrimack. I could see the smoke, hear the distant resounding shots of the guns, the splashes of the missed shells, the crackle of the grapeshot, and the orders of the officers on both sides, sometimes within earshot as a maniacal maneuver such as... Read more »
Who Needs TV When You Can Watch a Painting? -1
January 26, 2008
By Daniel Kretschmer When I look at a painting, the artist speaks to me. I can picture the painter at work at his easel, making the brush strokes, mixing the paint and pigments. I see the blank parts of the canvas and the colors and I can almost imagine what they are thinking. And I listen carefully. Whatever the picture is, its elements are telling a story, conveying a feeling, offering a sensation of the mind, or giving a message. Sometimes it reveals a secret, a chance to look into the artist’s mind. Much like a writer is vulnerable, and bleeds onto the pages, the painter bleeds himself... Read more »
Tips on How to Buy and Shop for Authentic Native Indian Carvings
January 24, 2008
By Clint Leung Many visitors to the Pacific Northwest will be exposed to Native Indian art while touring the region, especially in British Columbia. Among this aboriginal artwork are the magnificent hand made Pacific Northwest Native Indian wood carvings by the Canadian aboriginal artists in BC. While in some of the major Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) or other tourist areas popular with international visitors such as Banff, such carvings will be seen at various retail shops and displayed at some museums as well as some public areas such as parks. Since Pacific Northwest Native... Read more »
Leonardo Da Vinci - A Legacy of Immortal Genius - II
January 23, 2008
By John Keaton – part II of his article on Leonardo Da Vinci: MONA LISA DEL GIACONDA Began in 1503, the Mona Lisa was a commissioned portrait of the Florentine nobleman, Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi de Giocondo’s third wife, Lisa di Antonio Maria di Noldo Gjerardini at the age of twenty four. Painted on poplar wood, the iconic imagery of the Mona Lisa is so ingrained into western culture that the enigmatic smile of the mysterious woman is nearly synonomous with art, itself. As with many of da Vinci’s works, this painting has a stunning history. The allure and myth of the... Read more »
Constructionist Artist Varvara Stepanova
January 23, 2008
By Astrid Lee The great Russian artist Varvara Fedorovna Stepanova (1894-1958) delved into to a wide range of artistic trends from Social realism to Symbolism. However, Stepanova is mostly known for exploring and furthering Constructivism. New Abstract Art in Russia began around 1909 – some say, actual Constructivism started in 1919 when first mentioned by Rodchenko. The term ‘Constructivism’ was actually used by the Russian artists themselves. In some ways, Constructivism was influenced by Cubism, Italian/Russian Futurism and traditional peasant art. Constructivist artwork is... Read more »
Leonardo Da Vinci - A Legacy of Immortal Genius - I
January 22, 2008
By John Keaton LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452-1519) Heaven smiled and he was born Da Vinci, Leonardo. The impact and resonance of his contribution to humanity is not measurable in mere mortal terms. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his life’s work is an awe inspiring synthesis of art, science and technology. How is it that a figure who lived nearly five centuries ago, continues to fascinate and engage our interest today? With the recent discovery of a studio of a Da Vinci’s that had been sealed for centuries and the ongoing debate regarding the true origin of the alleged Da Vinci... Read more »
Regarding Rene Magritte’s Letter to Michel Foucault
January 19, 2008
By Rajesh Shukla Surrealist painter Rene Magaritte After reading postmodern philosopher Michel Foucault’s book ‘the order of things’ wrote a letter to him with some photographs of his paintings. Letter was about relationship between things and words, thought and visuals, resemblance and similitude, Magaritte seeks confirmation on what he believes about thought and things. He says things do not have resemblances; they do or do not have similitude, only thought resembles. It resembles by being what it sees, hears, or knows; it becomes what the world offers it. Agreeing what Foucault discussed... Read more »
Rembrandt’s Religious Art
January 18, 2008
Throughout his long and prolific career, Rembrandt repeatedly turned to the bible as a source of inspiration. He produced many paintings, drawings and etchings that depicted scenes and characters taken from the Old Testament and Apocrypha. He also devoted his talents towards bringing to life people and places found in the New Testament, but most particularly the faces and events that pertained directly to the life of Jesus Christ. Rembrandt was a deeply religious man, and his connection to religion was a source of comfort during the dark times of his life. The period of Rembrandt’s religious... Read more »
Salvador Dali Art - Surrealism At Its Best And Weirdest
January 14, 2008
By Alan LeStourgeon Whether you are a fan of the eccentric Salvador Dali or not, most everyone agrees his work is brilliant in its scope and intense imagination. Salvador Dali started his life as a reincarnation of his brother also named Salvador. At the age of 5 Dali was taken to his brother’s grave and began to believe this strange tale as told by his parents. Thus influenced the thinking of the enigmatic and unique existence of the greatest surrealist painter the world had ever seen. At the age of 10 Salvador Dali began to paint and at age 12 he received his first formal training by attending... Read more »
Canadian Art Resources
January 13, 2008
There are several resources that are dedicated to serving the Canadian Artist community. These include, but are not limited to: CARFACCARFAC stands for Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC). This great organization supports and unites artists. They have an array of forms and services for artists to help them be professional and to negotiate with others in the art world. For one, they have good copyright support and will help you with cross-border paperwork for internationals shows and overseas sales. Federation of Canadian Artists. The title of this... Read more »
Rembrandt Impasto - A Master in the Shadows
January 12, 2008
By Jessie Corbett The Baroque period is characterised by dramatic art pieces that are direct and visceral. Paintings of that era depict scenes that imply energy, tension and movement. Rembrandt, a major contributor and forerunner of this period, was a virtuoso with luminosity, as well as a master at infusing his paintings with sympathy and spirituality. Chiaroscuro and Bold Impasto Few Baroque artists can rival Rembrandt in his use of painting techniques such as chiaroscuro and bold impasto. Chiaroscuro, the distribution of light and shadow, was Rembrandt’s method of making his subjects appear... Read more »
Art Patron William Bowmore, who gifted $17+ million to museums, died.
January 10, 2008
William Bowmore was a life-long art patron and one of Australia’s most generous philanthropists. He died at age 98 on January 9. Bowmore’s fine art gifts to the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) and other Australian museums such as the Newcastle Region Art Gallery have been valued to be in excess of $17 million. Following his heart and lifelong passion for art, Bowman started collecting Australian art. In the late ’60s, he began traveling to London. There he made the connections at auction houses and beyond enabling him to purchase international paintings from old masters,... Read more »
Edgar Degas - Biography of the French Artist Renowned for his Figure Painting
January 9, 2008
The career of Edgar Degas was a long one - about 60 years out of his total 83. And his style, unlike that of most famous artists who worked into their old age, never ceased developing, always seeking out new means of expression and technique.The art dealer Ambroise Vollard one day asked him why he had never married, to which he replied that he would live in constant fear that, whenever he completed a new painting, he would hear my wife say ‘That’s so pretty what you’ve done there!’. In fact, despite today’s almost universal appreciation and popularity of his images,... Read more »
Quality Art Materials Benefits Art Professionals
January 5, 2008
By Astrid Lee As an artist myself, I have found that whenever I choose quality artwork, somehow the artwork gains a new dimension of worth. I find that I am mentioning little quality factors to buying candidates that just help things along. Of course, potential buyers have to first find the work and love it. Then, they need to be coached to actually purchase it. It can be scare decision for some buyers, as there is sometimes not much to go by other than their own personal taste. Their taste is of course of overriding importance, but they are not always sure of that. So, when I can bring in... Read more »
