Buying Modern Art Paintings For Your House

Buying paintings for your home is the first step in adding your personal touch to an interior decoration. Decorating your personal living space is a vital need; we all want to live in a space that makes us feel good and relaxed. Our homes are small havens and sanctuaries; therefore displaying art in your home is a way to personalize and mark the space you live in. Modern art paintings are a great way to make your space breathe artistic creation and style.

Modern art paintings have been the most popular art pieces the last few years, either displayed in art galleries for random visitors and enthusiasts, or as part of the decoration in our living or working space. There are thousands of avid collectors of Modern art paintings all over the world, who are willing to spend some serious amounts of money in order to buy the objects of their desire. Whether you see them as an investment or as art pieces for personal pleasure, original modern paintings are an absolute must have.

Displaying modern art pieces and paintings on the walls of your living or working space, can be a significant move in order to completely change the tone in the room or enhance some of its features: a landscape painting can automatically create a more serene and peaceful atmosphere, a painting that depicts water and sea can add to your desire for travelling or help your mind escape; artworks featuring animals or trees can be the perfect complement of furniture in a rural house or help you create a more informal and lodging ambiance, always in a very sophisticated way.

No matter what their subject might be, modern art pieces and paintings can have a quite soothing effect; they can also be perfect decorative pieces. Even if you have never been a savvy art person and lover you cannot help it but value their uniqueness.

Modern art paintings are considered to be the most essential pieces of decoration since they can differentiate and enhance the atmosphere in your space, helping you personalize it according to your particular artistic orientation, style and taste.

Oil, for example, compared to all other painting media, has the ability to add warmth and liveliness in any room: every modern art painting, no matter what the subject is, features a rather unique way of depicting reality, which is always eloquent and lucid, communicating their message in a rather life like and unique way.

It comes as no surprise that most people have been intrigued, at least once in their life by an art painting; this media is known to intrigue the viewer and lead him in their atmosphere and particular world, due to its liveliness and aesthetics. Especially when referring to authentic and modern pieces of art, the result can be even more beguiling.

Modern art painters and artists have been creating pieces already characterized classic and timeless; just think of artists like Warhol, who created modern art paintings so many years ago, but still today they are modern and stylish, although considered some sort of classic pieces. Modern art doesn't need to be extravagant.

Al Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from pop art paintings [http://www.modernartpaintings.org/pop-art-paintings/] to American football. Thanks for reading!

Mural Painting

Mural painting, as distinguished from other forms of decorative artwork is a painting applied directly to a wall. It is a concept that been used by humanity from the most ancient times up until the present day.
The earliest known history of this type of decoration was the cave drawings and paintings of the neo-lithic period. In this way early man used mural art to bring nature or fantastic-nature into his living space. In later times the Byzantines, Egyptians and almost all ancient civilizations used murals to describe not only the nature around them but also their interpretation of nature through sacred myths and stories.

A characteristic of this later, more sophisticated mural art was the use of decorative features such as frames, borders and geometrical patterns, which might accompany the theme of the painting and help it sit comfortably in the architecture that it decorated.

In modern times we still see murals being painted, but now often as political propaganda or commercial advertising. The availability of wallpaper and other commercial decorative features has made painting an expensive option but fortunately there still exists a market for purely decorative murals. In popular culture spray can graffiti has created its own heritage of mural art.

Trompe L'Oeil.

The late Greek and Roman period discovered the decorative the use of trompe l'oeil - that is making a flat wall surface seem as if it is 3D architecture, simply by painting it on with light and shade. Impossible architectural fantasies became possible in the hands of an artist. In Pompeii and Herculaneum there are many surviving murals using fantastic trompe l'oeil. The technique really came into it's own in the Renaissance period. Ceilings became decorated as skies full of clouds and cherubs, walls had balustrades and pillars giving onto fantastic landscapes with battles raging and mythological creatures roaming. In the hands of the great Italian masters churches and palaces were decorated with masterpieces in this style at which we still marvel today.

Mural Techniques.

The techniques of the earliest painters were not necessarily best for the survival of their works. The cave painters most probably drew directly onto the rock with blocks of pigment or charcoal, using no medium to adhere the paint to the surface. Where examples survive, such as Lascaux in France, the limestone ground has become calcinated with natural dampness over time and has spontaneously adhered the pigment to the wall.

It is known that the Ancient Egyptians had Gum Arabic (resin from the Acacia tree - which we still use as the binder for watercolours). They also used egg tempera (pigment bound with the white of an egg). Most importantly where murals are concerned, they understood how to paint 'fresco'. That is, painting raw pigment into fresh lime plaster before it dries. Most surviving murals of antiquity and the renaissance have used this technique. The great advantage of this technique is that the pigment colour combines with the natural calcination of the plaster as it dries, so it never fades. Subsequently, the technique of fresco was passed down from Greek to Roman and Roman to the Renaissance, so it has left us with a rich legacy of ancient art with which to understand the psychology and wisdom of our ancestors.

For examples see www.paulraymonde.com

Drawing, Painting, Design, and Sculptural Art Textures

We see textures all around us everyday. We know whether something is soft, smooth, rough or bumpy. Part of painting and drawing is the addition of texture, whether the piece is realistic or abstract. Seeing the interplay of each against the other makes for an interesting and attention-grabbing piece whether in decorative design or visual fine art.

There are various kinds of textures in art and design. Actual or real textures are those that can be touched such as the smooth surface of a metal sculpture or the spiky surface of a cactus. We can readily identify a material by its texture: glass is smooth and slick; sand is gritty and fine. In three-dimensional works, artists use actual texture to add a tactile quality to the work. On canvas, artists sometimes apply paint thickly (impasto) in order to achieve the desired texture. Other artists create a collage, which is added papers or fabric and other materials to create a textured surface.

Visual textures are those that can be created to look like real textures. They are the roughness of a rock in a photograph or the fluffiness of a cloud painted by an artist. In a two-dimensional work of art, texture gives a visual sense of how an object would feel in real life if touched

Invented textures are two-dimensional patterns created by the repetition of shapes and lines. The patterns do not represent real surface textures but the patterns of light and dark suggest texture. The purpose is to create decorated surfaces that evoke memories of unusual textures.

Artists have an arsenal at their disposal for creating textures in drawing media. Various methods include:

Irregular strokes with varied pressure

Unusual shapes

Cross-hatching

Scribble

Soft blended lines, dots, dashes, and irregular strokes

Contrasting different textures that work in opposition to each other like the smoothness of glass next to a rough piece of driftwood. Or soft blended strokes contrasted with finely drawn wisps of hair on a portrait.

Various media such as ink, charcoal, graphite, marker that render textural effects differently

Highlights, shadows and contrasting darks for reflective surfaces

Creation of texture will allow your drawing to come alive with visual interest. Instead of the same kinds of strokes, use unusual dots, dashes, scribbles, small shapes, or wavy and angular lines in order to define the beauty of textural surfaces. Suggest texture by inventing your own using patterns. Let yourself go and look at the subtle surfaces of objects to create the realism or the visual qualities you want.

Textures in painting are many and varied as well. In watercolor, using the dry brush method can describe very textured wood surfaces such as the side of a barn or an old roof. Using splatter is another method that works well in watercolor. The softness of a feather needs delicate handling in order to achieve the visual qualities of the feeling of the feather. Use of a sponge also creates interesting textures in watercolor or acrylic paint.

Abstract painting or sculpture benefits greatly with varied textural surfaces to hold the viewer's interest. Paint strokes can be made into real textural surfaces when applying very thickly with large bristle brushes. Clay has the benefits of easily applying a number of textures to the surface before adding glazes whether in pottery or sculpture.

Consider the addition of texture or patterns in your next painting or drawing. It will add heightened visual and tactile interest to any work of art.

Beth cook is an artist who loves to write about art. She suggests you also check out art classes McKinney, TX and Allen TX art classes.

Here Are Some Tips to Visually Transform Tired Walls Using Paint and Metal Wall Decor Art

With just a few changes you can transform and create a new look and visibly bring new eye appeal, enhance, and improve an interior or exterior living space.

Where to start?

Start with picking the wall that you want to transform. Remove the items you have displayed on that wall. When removing all the items on the wall you are creating a new canvas to work with. Just as it is very difficult to try to redo or improve an existing painting or a piece of art; it is also difficult to bring a fresh look to a wall with the existing items still hanging on it. So remove what you have and start with a fresh canvas.

This is a great time to also repaint that wall with a fresh paint color. Fresh paint on a tired looking wall will yield immediate results in home decorating. If this is a room that you spend a lot of time in, make sure you choose a color that will enhance the mood you desire. For instance, white is a color of, innocence, cleanliness, and is referred to as a sanitary color. There have been many studies about color and how primary colors (red, yellow & Blue) and secondary colors (green, purple & orange) affect our mood. Take this into consideration and do a little research and explore how room colors are affect mood.

Now is the opportunity to retire old family pictures that are tired and outdated. As much as we love the pictures of our kids and grandkids it is refreshing to bring updated improvements to a tired looking wall. As you will see, not only will you enjoy it, but family and friends will appreciate your eye for design and your fresh and transformed wall with its creative and decorative new look.

You know your style of likes and dislikes, so start with products that appeal to your design sense. As much as home wall art decor, such as, pictures, paintings and single dimensional wall art are nice, consider some 3 dimensional wall art as well. When you include, on your wall, metal wall art, you are introducing very creative elements in design. Don't be leery in displaying pieces such as wrought iron or metal wall art. There are some beautiful and creative metal wall art products that are eye pleasing, transforming and will create that new look you will enjoy.

You can introduce large pieces of wrought iron wall decor art, providing you have the space to carry large wall art. Some walls cry for a single large dimensional wall decor. This is a good opportunity to be bold and to test your creative side. Remember you can always change wall decor pieces and remove those pieces, which just don't work. Transforming a wall is sometimes a process and it takes patience for some of us to pull it off. If you are totally uncertain bring in a friend that you think has an eye for interior design for arranging and display.

Wall art comes in all sizes and shapes, so experiment in putting different sizes, shapes and elements together.

One thing you don't want to do is Overdo the wall. Sometimes less is best, and simple - but bold is better. If the wall is too busy you will not accomplish a comfortable or relaxed feel to the room.

This fun project will renew appreciation for your living space and you will be eager to continue, with creating a new look in other areas of your home. Your home will get your creative attention with have gratifying results.

Once your wall is complete you may be wondering what to do with the pictures you removed before you started. You may consider reframing pictures that are in those old tired looking frames, downsizing by consolidating small pictures into a single frame, and relocating those family memories to another part of your home. You will enjoy them that much more as they bring another fresh new look and keep your creative juices flowing.

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Culture in Canada, Top Five Cultural Communities

The top 5 cultural communities in Canada are

1 - Edmonton, Alberta - in the more than 125 000 population category

Edmonton, Capital city of the province of Alberta is known for its thriving arts and cultural communities including a downtown arts district where several major centers are located.

2 - Comox Valley, British Columbia - in the 50 000 to 125 000 population category

Comox Valley is a thriving arts and culture community with painters, potters, theatre and dance troupes perform in parks and a myriad of venues including renovated heritage churches, warehouses, sports arenas, resorts and restaurants.

3 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - in the less than 50 000 population category

Moose Jaw is famous for its Murals on buildings all over the city. Scenes depicting Moose Jaw's early history can be found on the sides and fronts of buildings throughout the downtown core.

4 - Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec - in the less than 50 000 population category

One of Quebec oldest municipalities, the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, a favorite of Canada's Group of Seven painters, and a heritage town with over 85 century-old homes, this city still draws
artists to this day.

5 - Wendake, Quebec - in the less than 50 000 population category

Located 10 kilometers north of the city of Quebec, the Carrefour des Nations is a festival of contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, showcasing the First Nations artists and their unique culture. Theatrical productions, exhibitions, literary readings, musical performances, and a traditional pow-wow are testimony to Wendake's commitment to the arts and culture.
These five communities were unanimously recommended by an independent advisory committee. The Cultural Capitals of Canada program celebrates the unique character of Canadian municipalities and recognizes the important role they play in highlighting the richness and diversity of our culture."

The Cultural Capitals of Canada Program highlights the achievements of communities that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. These prizes are awarded for merit, for the quality of proposed projects, and for past achievements of the communities. The 5 communities receive anywhere from $ 500,000 up to $ 2,000,000 to finance projects that celebrate arts and culture in those communities.

Portrait Painting - Get Your Photo Painted by Portrait Artists

Every culture has its own way of understanding the social reality. One of the "hallmarks" of the popular culture became the portrait painting, and portrait painters contributed to the first universal culture in the history of humanity. By portrait painting, portrait painters have started to develop a system of values, myths and representations dedicated to the subjectivity, which emerged in the bourgeois family. Portrait painting from photos is a reaction undertaken by the portrait artists towards the current conditions of creating such paintings, which is influenced by the technical and audiovisual civilization.

Painting from photos has adapted successfully towards the current diversity in the cultural reality. In addition, the portrait painters create illusions of the public and aesthetic communication. The portrait painters give the subject/ object of portrait painting intellectual existence, which serve as reference to the differently situated in the time interpretations. Painting emanates the need of the individuals to express their personality and qualities and in this way this art creates importance of the existence of the individuals. Through their artworks, portrait artists develop existential projects, which have its ground on the popular culture. By portrait painting- portrait artists also defend the right of every person to become subject of happiness and dreams.

Drawing on Jose Ortega y Gasset, I claim that painting from photos represents a salvation from the life shipwrecked and by creating a painting, the portrait artists help the individuals to live without their life to become a meaningless tragedy or a total failure. Portrait painting creates such "salvation gestures" as long as portrait artists are relating their expression and technique to the experimental and talented usage of the traditions in their oil portraits.

Oil painting from photos has a vast number of followers and oil artists have the power to transmit accumulated cultural experience to the public. The flourishing of painting from photos might be explained with the invention of photography and the advantages it gives to the portrait painters and by the invention of Internet. Nowadays you can find the best artists for your subject on Internet, with turnaround times of 1 week until your painting is completed, and costs under $100 for a custom oil painting.

Jack Sam White is a vastly experienced writer. He often writes about Portrait Artists and painters. He has a great understanding about Oil Portrait Painting and Oil painting reproduction.

This Is the Most Enduring Inspiration to Keep You Painting

Patriotism means a simple, heartfelt appreciation of Homeland. It's a mindset distinct from jingoism: that extreme bias against anyone whose values are different. Normal, healthy people value all children. Yet, our own must come first. It's the same with our Homeland.

• For artists, the impulse to celebrate the culture, people and landscapes of your country can prove the most enduring inspiration.
• Your art will feed itself in serving this idea. Painting after painting springs from this over-arching influence: love of your own place, fascination with its folklore.

Painters who dedicated their art to this impulse include names famous in the world history of Art. On Australia Day, I'm sure you'll understand if I list a few countrymen here.

• Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin and Arthur Streeton, founders of the 'Heidelberg School' brought a form of Impressionism to Australian art.
• David Davies, Elioth Gruner and Hans Heysen freighted their landscapes with a spiritual sense of Nature as a force acting on the Australian psyche.
• Russel Drysdale, Sidney Nolan, Hugh Ramsay, William Dobell and the great draughtsman Lloyd Rees led the way prior to the advent of Abstract styles in mid-20th century Australian art.

My country celebrates Australia Day on 26 January each year to commemorate the landing of the First Fleet. 227 years of history makes a brief record in comparison with most nations. We are a young nation, built on the planet's oldest dry land, shared with descendants of the world's most ancient people.

The Aboriginal population is estimated at 300,000 when the First Fleet arrived. Their place of origin, and the routes used by their ancestors to reach Australia, are yet to be confirmed. Scientists generally agree to date their arrival around 40,000 years ago.

Discoveries in caves across this vast island continent show rock art recognised as the oldest paintings on Earth. The artists' purpose is unknown but their present-day descendants continue to maintain and refresh the images of Dreamtime.

• Fewer than 2,000 people formed the first non-Aboriginal population of Australia. They arrived in October 1786, as crew or passengers aboard 11 ships of the British Royal Navy.

Passengers included 700 British convicts sentenced to exile on a distant continent in the Southern Pacific. Only 16 years earlier, legendary explorer Captain James Cook charted and claimed this new territory for the British Crown.

Fare-paying settlers on board came from the Old World of Europe and the New World of the Americas. They aspired to prosperity and freedom greater than they could expect in their countries of origin. These pioneers established farms, small industry, schools and embryo-institutions of Science and the Arts.

• Out of this multi-cultural beginning, the colony progressed from a penal settlement to modern nationhood. In 1900, Federation sign-posted Australia's independence from Britain.

All Australians honour those nations everywhere who act with goodwill to achieve the goal of democratic freedom for all people.

Dorothy Gauvin is an Australian painter in oils who specialises in an epic theme of Australia's pioneers. 35 years as both artist and gallery director helps her to guide Beginners.Check out her blog-artlife for tips on becoming a professional artist.

http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/blog-artlife

See images of her 'Life-Story' portraits, an ABC of homemade tools for painters with arthritis on her website at http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/

Art and Culture in Australia and Oceania

From the historical perspective, culture has defined Australia and Oceania. Oceania is a group of many islands in Central and Southern Pacific Ocean. Australia, which is one of the smallest islands here, is rich in culture and has a lot to do with understanding of art and culture. With Australia being the main nation dominating Oceania, an exploration of the unique Australian cultures more interesting.

Art and culture of Australia and Oceania is creatively built around the traditional setup of the indigenous people of these societies. The Australian indigenous inhabitants were settlers of the first wave of people in the area. The arts of these indigenous people were mainly inclined to religion. Making of masks was one of the arts that they appreciated and kept.

They also practiced painting, wood carving, tattooing, stone carving and petroglyphs among others. The society's arts were mainly passed from one generation to the other and their main theme of creating arts was to praise the supernatural. They described their culture as united and hence the name Aboriginal Australian-which included almost all native cultures in Australia in one unified culture.

The Aboriginal Australian culture had a belief and strong spiritual attachments to the environment. It is interesting that the indigenous cultures had only one part to create in their arts-masks. These are even available today in these places as preserved cultural practice.

European colonization disrupted the formation and much practiced cultures of this society. Their paintings and carvings were not respected by the colonizers as they did. They were also forced into several and uneasy cultural forms that diverted their former unified state. Even with this, art and culture in Australia and Oceania were still preserved (but not as original as before).

The contemporary culture had introduced several ways that differed with their original settings. The arts of Australia were never erased by colonizers. Rock art, which is the traditional art known in Australia, remained to unite the Aborigines. They could still practice rock art and hold to their cultural practices like sports. Rugby is one of the most enticing sports that Australia and New Zealand is known for.

Theatre, dance and music are other arts that Australia and Oceania have immensely developed. Classical musicians and performers have since history translated the historical set-up of Australia to the present day. With valued culture in music, the Aborigines kept a unique style of music that is still copied in the contemporary styles.

Their music was respected, especially because it was a way to send messages and praise their unique culture and belief in the supernatural. Their religion was really important. Theatre and film have also shown great developments from simple and local performances to world-class and recognized art.

Kenth Bender artist, http://www.fine-art-bender.com Want to read more about Art and Culture Go to: http://www.fine-art-bender.com/art-and-culture.html

Western Painting - Folk Art - The Cultural Pulse of Mexico and America

Western Painting includes the art forms originated in European countries. Folk Art is the subtle and traditional art form that emerges out of a rural or country scene. It has a naïve enduring style that captures the simplicity and innocence of the places, people, or things. Western Folk Paintings, as the name suggests, depict the rich cultural grandeur of Europe and Americas. Western Folk Art has many fascinating features and can wondrously depict the rich colorful natural landscapes, green forests, and life at the local level. Renowned western artists, such as Goya, Picasso, and Rembrandt derived heavy inspirations from Western Folk Art. American Art is especially prolific and notable. Famous Mexican and American artists use many types of canvas or bases such as wood or handmade tiles, to display their talent. This article picks up the best wings of Western Folk Painting, American and Mexican.

Mexican Folk Paintings: Mexican Folk Art though western, is mingled with ancient Indian tribe culture and Spanish traditions. Every single region in Mexico has its own artistic side, handed down through ancestry. Some Mexican Folk Painting types are:

Bark Painting: Also known as Papel Amate, Bark Painting originated from the Guerrero Mountains of Mexico. These paintings are specialty art works of skilled Nahua Indians.

Clay Paintings: Mexican Clay Folk Paintings are usually done with and on pottery, plaques, and clay masks. The themes here are varied, spanning from a general village life to their gala festivals and rituals.

Wood Paintings: Wood Paintings employ Pyrography techniques. For this purpose, handmade special tiles are hand painted, depicting the interesting lives and scenes of Mexican pueblos.

American Folk Paintings

American Folk Paintings are done on glazed surfaces and Masonite bases. 18th and 19th century American paintings richly depicted village life, simple homes, vast farmlands, animal portraits, and sketches of fruits, flowers, & plants. Many American artists also dabbled in painting Biblical scenes of holy churches and the inner peripheral wonders of a church. Some important features of American Folk Art Paintings are:

o Competence: Due to their simplicity, originality, and great visual appeal, American Folk Art forms, such as polychromed wood based paintings and sculptures done during the 18th century, became very popular in the 20th century and have managed to gain prominent space in many American art museums.

o Themes: They are centered on local life, mainly young Americans, wild nature, cultural sequences, and ancient churches.

o Quality Artists: Gifted artists such as Barbara Steele Thibodeaux have given new life and meaning to Contemporary American Folk Art. American Folk artists mostly depict rich American culture and places of interest. The scenery down Old South, Louisiana, grand biblical sketches, and the portraits of American people are captured effortlessly by the talented artists of the new American Folk Art generation.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com.

Annette has bonus offers on her work only. Buy 2 paintings of any size and receive 1 painting of your choice for free of equal size and value. SHIPPING IS FREE IN CANADA AND US ON SMALLER ITEMS.

Please feel free to subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com.

Art and Culture in South America - And the World

Art and Culture in North America

Diverse - this probably characterizes the works of art in North America. Considered the melting pot of different cultures, we see works of art in various forms. The Northwest boasts the wonderful sight of totem poles; the Southwest regions offer the sight of figurines like the notable Kachina dolls; the arctic regions are known for its masks; and in the southwest, sand painting and pottery are famous. All of these art forms reflect the kind of culture that sustained the people who lived to create something spectacular.

Art and Culture in Europe

Rich - the right word to describe the works of art in Europe. Considered as the center of artistic revolution, Europe is home to the renowned paintings, sculptures, architecture, music, books, plays, and natural wonders. The Coliseum, the Stonehenge, and St. Peter's Basilica is only a few examples of how great Europe was in history. Until today, works of arts serve as remnants of the continent's colorful past.

Art and Culture in Asia

Magnificence - a term that may even be an underestimation when it comes to the architectural feats of the Asian continent. In the Islamic world, famous mosques create a panoramic skyline. Equally remarkable are the Buddhist stupas, Chinese pagodas, and the Hindu temples. In the Indus regions, figurines and seals abound. The unique eyes of early Asians also boast naturalistic images of bird and flowers. When it comes to handicraft, the Ming ceramics are precious to behold. This breadth of artistry illustrates the sort of early civilizations around the world who took to the arts in order to preserve their historic identities.

Art and Culture in Australia

Mesmerizing - a word that captures the spirit in the arts in the Oceania. In Australia, paintings by early settlers animate rocks and caves. In Melanesia and Polynesia, cloth painting is very much alive in clothing called the "tapa." The meeting houses built by the Maoris speak about the history of the continent's native people. And who would forget the enigmatic statues gracing the coasts of Easter Island? These art forms bring life to history that only the ocean waters have witnessed.

Art and Culture in South America

Mystifying - a word fit to describe sights like the Nazca Lines, the Tiwanaku, Machu Picchu, and Chan Chan. Considered works of arts, these were created through a succession of cultures starting from the Chavins, Nazcans and Moche cultures, the Tiwanaku-Waris, the Chimu, and the Inca cultures. Such are perfect sights to behold that their mystical qualities equally match the rich culture of the continent's most famous people: the Incas. It animates, it brings delight, and it educates. These are characterizations of the effects of arts. And as long as these works continue to exist, our minds will continue to be in awe.

Kenth Bender artist, meet him at: http://www.fine-art-bender.com Want to know more about Fine Art: Get the Free Report - The Deep Meaning Of Painting http://www.fine-art-bender.com/fine-art-free-report.html

Art And Culture In Antigua And Barbuda

It was also a resource for supplies such as crops and timber. With 96% of the population being descendants of African slaves, the language, music, and art have strong ties to their African heritage.

The British influence can be seen all over the islands. It can be seen in architecture and design of historical buildings and cobblestone roads. Although the modern dialect is a diverse one, the prominent language there is English. There are several religions among the residents, but the majority of the population is Christian.

Artists abound on the islands, from painters to sculptors, pottery designers to basket weavers, musicians to dancers. Art is important to the people and is evidenced in the number of museums, art galleries and cultural centers located there. The cultural centers offer classes in art, dancing and music. You can attend musical events, art exhibitions or see a play.

There are several museums on the islands. One museum has a display of carved jade pieces. Jade was mainly used to carve symbolic figures. The local jade was the only source for the early artisans.

Another natural resource available to the artists is clay. Clay is collected from local pits and used to hand craft pottery. The local clay is also used for sculpting. The art of Indians who populated the area before the British settled there has been incorporated into pottery, sculptures and other works of art.

The music of the islands is one place where you can find a strong African influence. Calypso is a lively type of music the slaves brought from their native home. It has an upbeat and happy rhythm though the words are usually satirical. Slaves working in the fields could not talk to each other. The plantation owners did not understand the native language of slaves, so they sang as they worked and communicated with music.

Drums were an important part of the slaves native music.. Since there was no bamboo available to make the types of drums played in their native land, they invented the steel drums that are featured in Calypso bands today. In 1834 the British government abolished slavery in the islands. Every year since, there is a huge celebration featuring a carnival and Calypso music.

As in most places, the art and culture in Antigua and Barbuda is closely tied to the ancestors of the people. The cultures that populated the area before them hold a place in the history of their land. The people celebrate their diverse culture, and keep it alive in museums, culture centers and art. As with most cultures, their history and ancestors define who they are today.

Kenth Bender artist, Want to know more go to: http://www.fine-art-bender.com

Pop Art Paintings - Art Pulled From Popular Culture

The visual art movement known as Pop Art began in Britain during the middle of the 1950s. It later moved into the United States culture by the end of this same decade. Pop Art paintings are usually of characters that are popular in advertising, comic books, and anyone else who plays a large part in mass culture. Irony tends to be used extensively in Pop Art design. Even the most mundane objects can be painted or drawn in such a way that they are truly a work of art.

Sometimes the most intriguing paintings are of images that are common in everyday advertising. A prime example of this would be the painting of cans of soup that Andy Warhol made. Each of the 32 cans in the painting depicted the type of soup offered by a certain company at the time the painting was created. Andy Warhol played a large part in boosting the movement. His painting titled Eight Elvises, which is also considered Pop Art, brought 100 million dollars.

Paintings done in the Pop style varied between Britain and the United States, even though this movement was referred to as the Pop Art movement in both locations. In Britain, the paintings reflected what was popular in America and also added onto some aspects seen in Abstract Expressionism.

In America, paintings included irony, parody, and mundane reality. Pablo Picasso was considered a partial founder in the Cubist movement, but is also thought to have partially paved the way for future Pop Artists.

The Independent Group in London consisted of many young sculptors, writes, painters, critics, and architects. These individuals approached culture with the idea that it should be challenged. Discussions revolved around popular culture and often gave rise to various works of art that also focused on popular culture. It is this group that inspired paintings in the Pop style.

Paintings during the movement weren't always created from paint on canvas. There were other visual arts that came to be as well. Paint applied to paper or material backgrounds, faces painted onto furniture or on many other objects were also considered Pop Art. These works of art took an ordinary object and forced the viewer of the painting to take this simple item into consideration. An example would be the flag painting made by Jasper Johns.

The American flag was made from a combination of oil paints and collage pieces, and then these were placed on canvas. This painting is of what looks to be a plain American flag, but it is actually a collage of materials that are red, white, or blue. These pieces of material gave depth and texture to the painting, causing it to be more than just a flag painting.

Many museums have a section of Pop Art paintings that includes something that is very well known to the public. Most people can identify what is being displayed in the painting, due to the image being pulled from popular culture. Depending on the age of the painting, it may focus more on what was popular during the decade that it was created. Nonetheless, these works of art are extremely fascinating for all to experience at least once in a lifetime.

Al Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from abstract art paintings [http://www.modernartpaintings.org/abstract-art-paintings/] to American football. Thanks for reading!

Far Eastern Painting - Contemporary Chinese - The Modern Age Creative Fundamentals

Contemporary Chinese Painting - The History
China has a lot to boast about when it comes to art and culture. The traditional Chinese paintings offer a clear picture of the periods they belong to. Great philosophers, religious figures, teachers, and political leaders have always inspired Chinese artists. However, with modern technology securing its place even in the genre of Chinese Art, there is a lot that stands altered about Contemporary Chinese Art, also called Chinese Avant-Garde Art. The relatively newer forms of Chinese Art, dating back to 1980s, are largely influenced by the 'New Culture Movement,' which not only adopted Western techniques, but also employed Socialist Realism.

The Details
The subjects for Contemporary Chinese Paintings are varied. The artists have ventured into painting everything, including common people, animals under the sea, portraits, and the day-to-day activities of people. Contemporary Chinese painters use ink, watercolors, and oil paints for their artwork. One of the commonest features of the Chinese style of painting is the free hand use of the brush. Painters dexterously transfer their ideas onto the canvas, while letting their sense of expression take command of their talent. Not being limited to the ink and brush methodology, they bring into use the technical help to reform and recreate old style ink shades. Therefore, Contemporary Chinese artists are quite open to experimentation and make use of modern tools in the course of their work. They employ multimedia installations and technical sketching in their paintings.

The Artists
Ai Weiwei, Cai Guoqiang, Cai Xin, Fang Lijun, Huang Yan, Huang Yong Ping, Kong Bai Ji, Lu Shengzhong, Ma Liuming, Ma Qingyun, Song Dong, Li Wei, Christine Wang, Wang Guangyi, Wang Qingsong, Wenda Gu, Xu Bing, Yang Zhichao, Zhan Wang, Zhang Dali, Zhang Xiaogang, Zhang Huan, Zhu Yu, Yan Lei, Ma Kelu, Ding Fang, Shang Yang, and Zhang Yue.

The Business Value
In today's world, the market for Contemporary Chinese paintings has emerged as one of the most popular and fastest-growing art industries worldwide. Owing to their vibrant color schemes and life-like representations, the artworks attract millions of buyers globally. It has been reported in the 2006 issue of the 'Voice of America' that Contemporary Chinese art has managed to sell at record prices both, in the international and domestic markets. Few of the largest fine art auction houses have claimed that Contemporary Chinese Art has long been selling like hot cakes since quite some time now. A scenario like this has rapidly transformed the world of the Contemporary Asian Art in general, by turning it into one of the most dynamic sectors in the international market. In fact, some experts also fear that the market for Modern Chinese Art might even be overheating.

Statistics therefore, reveal that the future of Contemporary Chinese Paintings is very bright. Through these exquisite works, people not only get to see the illustrations from the Chinese culture, but they also get a glimpse of the brilliant adroitness of Chinese artists.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited.

Amitabha Thangka - Indian Artistic Culture

Are you aware of the Indian artistic culture where emotions, culture, feelings, sentiments and religious beliefs play a major role? Do you want to know how India is ahead in this painting world where every religion has its own artistic culture deep hidden within certain areas of the country? If you do not know then this article will show you one of the major artistic cultures in India...

- Do you know what is Amitabha Buddha? It is nothing but the true Buddha who possesses the infinite light.

Amitabha thangka is nothing but the presentation of the wordily riches owned by Buddha.

Thangkas show how Buddha used to sit in his palace named Sukhavati where he displays his hands, as if he is sitting in meditation and also holds a bowl of the Buddhist monk.

The bowl is the representation of true kindness and peace.

The Thangka paintings have their great importance to the Buddhist community.

The beautifully painted banners are displayed on the temple most of the times and is the main part of the processions conducted by the Buddhist community.

The definition of 'Thang' means a flat surface and 'Thangka' means painting which is done on a flat surface.

These are scrolling types of paintings which literally mean that they are done on a flat surface and can be easily rolled up when they are not to be displayed.

The famous thangka painters have never been known along with the tailors who have created its mountings.

The thangka paintings are mainly made in the areas of India where Buddhism exists. Dharmashala has many Tibetan inhabitants and is the hub place where Thangka paints are made.

It is also created in the west side where Amitabha Thangka is nothing but a simple decorative artistic form for so many years.

However, now people's view point for Amitabha Thangka is literally changing as the west side is slowly and steadily getting aware of the Buddhist philosophy.

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