The Art of Painting

Have you ever wondered what it takes? To create a work of art? Is it artistic genius, talent? Or can it be taught? Some people like to believe that it can, but let's be honest: a real work of art can only spring from the artist herself. Painting is just another form of art, but the talent it requires is unfathomable. From the moment an artist carefully picks up their brush to that last stroke of color... that is what creates that unique piece... that is what art is all about: creation. Anyone can copy a drawing, attempt a painting but only the artiste can pull it off. Only she can bring her thoughts and her emotions together to form a whole. Whether it is decorative abstract art, original landscape paintings or original flower paintings, these are just labels but they are still paintings and works of art. Artists aren't made, they are born. Paintings are a piece of their soul and their history laid out on canvas... they tell a story and are shared with the world. Any work of art needs to be appreciated for what it truly is: a unique masterpiece.

And then we come to the second part of the process: selling the art. For centuries, artists starved themselves to death before receiving a good enough price for their art. They were looked up to for their talent, but they barely survived from day to day. Portraits were the kind of paintings that were recognized for their valor; the rest seemed to be merely tossed aside. The beauty of many artists' works was recognized merely after their death: it is a sad, but true fact. As time passed, art progressed. It started creating form, imagination was unleashed. Art stopped being about conformity and started expanding the limits of one's imagination. Modern artists came along such as Picasso, Matisse and Derain. They lived like true artists but recently more people are discovering such new beginnings in the field of art. Middle class citizens that want to provide for their family. A painter or an artist from humble beginnings whose art is still not widely recognized is emerging day by day. Their talent is obvious but is still in the starting stages of it being formed. Creating the art becomes like a second nature to them, they are so absorbed in the process of creating. It is all very difficult, from making the art to selling to shipping it and to making profit. It's as stressful as any other job. In today's times, art has become something that can be easily bought and created, real artists are few but true talent can still be found.

Original article

How To Make A Beautiful Candy Paint Job

Close your eyes and imagine a radiant candy orange sports car glimmering at a car show. Now picture yourself in a gallery and you open your eyes to see the most beautiful sunset painting with a silhouette of palm trees in the background. Today I'm going to tell you how you can make a beautiful candy paint job. I've painted radiant red candy racing stripes on a dodge truck, blazing realistic fire, awe inspiring silhouette on tail gates, and relaxing beach sunset paintings on canvas. The one thing these all have in common is I used candy colors.

You will need a small list of art workshop supplies depending on what you want to paint. First with candy paint you need a base color. There is an unlimited combination of base colors but the three most popular are white silver and gold. For instance I mix white with a little yellow to make real flames, and if I want a light metallic candy color I use silver as a base and if I want a dark metallic candy color I use gold as my base. Candy colors and candy concentrates can be mixed with a transparent base, integrated clear coat or even regular clear coat. I don't recommend using a regular clear coat because it is mixed with a catalyst or hardener which will shorten the life of the candy and must be used right away. House Of Kolor uses an integrated clear called SG100 which when mixed with the candy will still have a very long pot life because it does not use a hardener. House Of Kolor uses solvent based materials that work well but are toxic. If you want a similar product that is non toxic or a waterborne paint you should use Auto Air Colors products. Auto air colors uses a non toxic transparent base. When mixing your paints you will need to add a reducer to thin the paint to a desired level. Reducer usually comes in either fast medium or slow. Fast is a quick drying reducer that should be used when it is cold painting conditions. Medium is an average drying reducer approximately 70 degrees in painting area. Slow is a slow drying reducer that works well in hot painting conditions. Well now that you have a base color, candy colors, integrated clear, and reducer you can prepare for the next project.

You can paint on anything from t-shirts to canvases to automobiles. Candy colors can darken with more coats of candy so you will want to spray as consistent as possible to avoid a cloudy or blotchy look. When candy is sprayed correctly your beautiful paint jobs will stand out like a sore thumb. Almost any clear coat can be sprayed over your candy paint job. Can just anyone make a great candy paint job? No!, I'm just kidding. Anyone who is willing to put in enough time to read this article has the determination to to create an amazing candy paint job. Do you know what always makes me want to do something? When people tell me I can't do that. It makes me want to prove that I can even more whether I originally wanted to or not. My only problem I have now is convincing people I'm the one who painted it. I remember shortly after I graduated high school I told my friend I want to paint a car and you know what he said?" You can't paint a car." After that I went to Sears bought an air compressor, a paint gun, bought a 1981 Z28 Camero project car, and some paint. Well unfortunately that project didn't go so well but it did motivate me to go to college and learn the right way to paint cars and since then I've taken custom painting classes and now I teach custom painting.

Its my turn to teach you its never too late to learn. I'm telling you to get off your computer get some candy paint and lets go paint something. I love painting. In fact this week I 'm going to paint a 1984 Toyota p/u. I wish it was a custom or a candy paint job but sometimes people want plain paint jobs too. For $25 per hour I teach airbrushing, painting or just about anything auto body related you want to learn.So if you have questions you can always e-mail me or come visit my shop. In just a few sentences I'm going to teach some tricks to help you along the road to your artistic side. I don't care if you have never painted at all because now is the time you start and your going to be great.

Lets paint a nice sunset or beautiful silhouette. I'm going to paint a tailgate but you can start with a canvas or a piece of sheet metal if you want. first paint your background black or use a really dark color. second cut out a stencil or a paper of a tree, some grass, or even a elk or deer. There should be just an outline but no inside detail of these. Third place your stencils over the bottom of your project and spray a white over the sky area of the stencils. Fourth spray the painting with candy yellow followed by candy sunset leaving some traces of candy yellow. Finally spray some candy apple red leaving some traces of both the candy yellow and candy sunset. Protect your picture with a clear coat. Another tip to help you avoid runs is to paint with your project flat and help keep gravity on your side.With these 3 candy colors and white you can also paint some flaming hot realistic flames. If you would like to paint a complete vehicle keep your spray patterns consistent and evenly overlapped as possible. Painters make mistakes or sometimes get a run but with a little knowledge any of these can be fixed. Never be scared of a challenge but hit it head on and if you ever get asked "How can I make a beautiful candy paint job?" Tell them with candy paint, a base color, some transparent base to mix with the candy, reducer, a clear coat to protect it, and a little bit of knowledge to help you along the way.

Original article

Vermeer the Boy From Delft

Vermeer was born in Delft in the south of what is today Holland in 1632. He stayed and lived and worked in Delft for his entire life, marrying Catharina Bolenes there and having 14 children with her. His ties to Delft are documented in works like View of Delft. However, on the topics that are today of more interest, his artistic career, not that much is known. It is for instance not known whether he was an apprentice of a local painter of whether he was self-taught. A number of theories have been presented, ranging from him having been the apprentice of local painters from Carel Fabritius to Abraham Bloemaert, but nothing has been firmly established. We do know that he became a member of a local painters trade organization, the Guild of Saint Luke, in 1653. He was furthermore elected head of this guild in 1663, 1670 and 1671, which is a clear indication that he was not just a local painter but actually well respected and established among his peers. However, with a financially strained small family business, a very slow pace of painting (about three paintings per year) and time spend raising a large family, he was never a financial success.

Vermeer was also not well known beyond Delft and The Hague. This can probably in part be attributed to the fact that local patron Pieter van Ruijven bought up most of his paintings. While that of course helped him financially by giving him direct income from his art, it also kept that art from spreading. As such, by his death in 1675 he was only a small local celebrity and that soon made room for obscurity as local painter Johannes Vermeer was quickly forgotten. As such, Vermeer was not even included in source books on the art of Holland for the next two centuries.

This however changed in the 19th century when Théophile Thoré-Bürger and Gustav Friedrich Waagen wrote an essay which attributed 66 paintings to Vermeer (63 of which are today recognized as being his work). This led to an increased interest in the works of Vermeer and the mastery behind them. Following this increased interest, the reputation of Vermeer as a master painter has only increased, to the point that he is today considered one of the greatest of the Dutch masters. It is quite a change for the local painter from Delft who led a local life and was never much known beyond his immediate surroundings. Today, Vermeer's works have inspired novels by Proust and artwork by Dali, just like both a novel and a movie has been made around the painting The Girl with a Pearl Earring. The boy from Delft has indeed arrived on the world scene.

Fine art oil painting reproductions with an online gallery showing all the great art from the ages including great Jan Vermeer Paintings.

Original article

Advanced Oil Painting Techniques

Alla prima: The words alla prima mean "at first try". So alla prima painting is completing a painting at one go or at the first try. Alla prima works are almost invariably small canvases as it is difficult to complete a large canvas at one try.

Many alla prima paintings are painted in the open air and the reason why the painter uses this technique is because of the light. The light changes from one part of the day to another and if the light is an important component of the painting, the artist has to complete the painting before the light changes. For instance, if the artist is painting a sunset scene, he or she gets only a little time to complete the work as the light will change soon.

Not only must the artist paint quickly, he or she also has to mix the colours quickly. So alla prima is for experienced painters. But even advanced painters may find themselves caught out when they attempt an alla prima. They then have no option but to go back to the same location and wait till they get the light exactly as it had been the first time. This means that the weather must be the same too.

Frottage: Frottage means "rub" in French. To use this technique, take a sheet of paper (first try with a small sheet) and crumple it hard. Then open it up and smoothen it flat. After doing this, lay a coat of paint thinned with medium on your canvas. Take the smoothened sheet of paper and place it on the wet paint. Press lightly and remove. A textured pattern will be left on the paint. This is frottage. You can try the technique with materials other than crumpled paper and also experiment with how and where in your painting you want to use frottage.

Palette knife: This technique of using a palette knife instead of a brush is an exciting one with which you can try to get new effects in your painting. It is a technique particularly suitable for oil paints because they are thick, soft and creamy and will not trickle or run. You can spread paint where you want it on the canvas with a palette knife. The effect will be very different from what you would get if you spread paint with a brush. Take paint on your knife and use the edge to make a straight line of paint. Then pull the paint away. You will get what seems like a smooth sheet of paint which reflects quite a bit of colour.

Another thing you can do is to spread paint around on the canvas. This is particularly suitable for abstract painting or when texture plays an important part in your work. Using the knife to mix your paint is also interesting. When you use a brush to mix paints, the mixing is complete, but when you use a palette knife you will be piling different colours together rather than mixing them. The effect of this cut paint on the canvas will be unique.

Fat-on-lean: First paint with thin (lean) colours and then paint on top of them with thick (fat) paint. The effect will be a stunning mixture of colours. But you must be careful to let the first coat dry before you cover it with the second layer. Since it can take up to six months for this to happen, you have to be very patient and keep your interest alive and your ideas for your painting, fresh in your mind. Artists often work on several canvases at the same time to allow for drying time. Keep in mind that "lean-on-fat" will not work. The thick paint underneath will crack under the thin paint as it will take longer to dry.

After using the thick paint on the thin paint allow the thick paint to dry and then apply a coat of varnish to bring out the colours and to protect them. This technique is also called wet-on-dry.

Praveen owns and operates several websites, the latest being a Website for Indian Women where he shares tips and guides on topics related to Beauty, Parenting, Pregnancy and more...

Original article

How to Make Natural Pigments

Knowing how to make your own pigments is a great thing for painting and dying things.

The process of making pigments is pretty simple. Find something that dries the color you want, dry it very slowly(The slower you dry it the more color will be preserved) then grind it into a very fine powder. For grinding you're going to want something smooth, flat and nonporous. A thick bit of glass works, but a stone that fits probably wouldn't be hard to find. Now for the grinding stone, you still want smooth and nonporous, but go for something with a bit of a curve on it so you can rock it around. Start with small bits of what you're going to grind and work it into a very fine powder. If you Start with something too big it will be hard to break up and grind into small particles. Once you have a fine powder gently dump it into the container you wish to hold it in.

Now, knowing how to grind something up isn't very useful if you don't know what makes colors. Here's a list of a few different things to start off with, but experiment, try to find different colored things and grind them up.

Black - Black pigment is almost always made from charcoal ground up. Sometimes cooking bone over a fire is used too, this gives a slightly different tint of black. Burning coal or tar work as well too.

White - Chalk or Gypsum work great for whites. Bone and horns give a slightly off white to yellow color as well.

Red - Traditionally red is made from the dried bodies of Dactylopius coccus but there are other options if you don't want to chase bugs around. Resin from some palm trees work great, but for ease of use go for any red fruit or berry. They almost always make nice reds.

Blue - Blue pigments have always been rare and hard to come by. Ancient Egyptians were famous for "Egyptian Blue" one of the first blue pigments that involved mixing copper, lime, sand and natron, then baking it in a furnace. Now since this will probably be hard for you do to, your best bet is indigo leaves or duck poop. But really, there was a reason most ancient art didn't have blue.

Yellow - Yellow is made from dried urine, yellow clay, or a few different berries. Take your pick on what you want to gather.

Green - Most plants and unripe berries can be dried and turned into different shades of green.

Original article

The 'Salvator Mundi' - Has Playful Leonardo Left Us a Clue?

We humans are suckers for babies - of any kind. No matter how fearsome a species they will develop into as adults - Polar bear or Grizzly, Leopard or Lion - they beguile us by their cute curiosity as babies.

Their playfulness is the trait of baby animals we humans find so endearing. We recognise the antics of baby animals as being just like that of our own babies and we are hard-wired to love babies.

Sooner than our human offspring, the young of other animals lose that gambolling, tumbling sense of pleasure in just being alive. All too soon, they must knuckle down to the serious business of eating, fighting or fleeing from those who would eat them, and finding mates to fill the world with copies of themselves.

Of course, our lives are governed by the same basic program and most of us 'grow up' soon enough and leave behind the playfulness of youth. Not all of us, however. The ones who never lose that sense of play are the adults we call Artists and Scientists. The labels divide those folk into two camps but their members share a common motivator: curiosity.

For scientists, the question is 'Why is it so?'

For artists, it is 'What if...?

I was lucky enough to have landed for life in one of these camps, though had circumstances allowed it, I think I would've been just as happy in the other. Some thirty years back, I had a - very rare - flash of what seemed a genius insight. It was in a field way outside my skills base.

It was a proposal for an exchange particle that might be a useful addition to the then-current theories of how Gravity works. Although I had no training in this area at all, still it seemed a likely line of inquiry. I figured that if I could come up with this, surely people in the field must be working on it and I really wanted to find out what progress was being made.

How could I dare to enter the debate? Who would listen? I did dare. I wrote to the head of Physics at my State capital's university with an outline of my wacky idea and how I'd reached it. He actually replied, telling me of experiments which were underway around the world to find such a particle. Physicists had already given the elusive particle a name - the Graviton.

It's happening for me again, an 'Emperor's New Clothes' moment. This time it's an idea that fits within my own field of Painting. Yet this time, I'm completely at a loss as to how to test it. You see, it's about a mysterious work recently identified as by that towering genius and trickster, Leonardo Da Vinci.

Since it's no longer physically possible for me to travel, so as to go to see the original, I can only muse on printed reproductions of the painting titled 'Salvator Mundi.'

So, in hopes of getting a reply from someone who can enlighten me, I'm throwing my possibly ridiculous thought out into the ether of Cyberspace. Here goes:

In every report I've read, experts refer to an object held in the left hand of the Jesus figure as a 'globe' or as a 'sphere' of crystal, representing the world. To my eye, this is clearly a round lens, such as that which is a component of the camera obscura, which Leonardo described in his notebooks and is now thought to have utilized in making the Shroud of Turin.

Can this crystal object be the playful clue he left - out in plain sight - to another of his cryptic jokes on us all?

Dorothy Gauvin is an internationally acclaimed Australian painter in oils who specialises in an epic theme of Australia's pioneers. See images of her 'Life-Story' portraits, an ABC of homemade tools for painters with arthritis, plus tips and advice for aspiring artists and collectors on her website at http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/

Original article

Acrylic Prints: Get an Original Art

Wondering what are acrylic prints? What are the best benefits? Well, acrylic based prints are those paintings or artworks that are printed on a specific type of material known as the photographic vinyl. These prints are of the best quality and can be easily cleaned. They are quite versatile too. They can be placed in any nook or corner of the room. An acrylic painting is a wonderful decorative masterpiece for your homes. In fact, these paintings are seen as a status symbol in the society. Well, the canvas print artwork is called of stretched canvas art and is quite popular too.

The acrylic prints are quite known among many artists. This is mainly because of its crystal clear picture clarity and durability canvas art works. The prints do not fade in any weather conditions. The material used to form canvas painting is quite cheap. In fact, it includes cotton and poly canvas which is used to create photographic images of high quality. These prints offer eye popping clarity unlike other prints. By using the light gathering capabilities of crystal clear acrylic, your paints would look the best. These prints would even magnify the beauty of a printed image too. The photographic images are actually printed in a process called as giclee. This ensures maximum depth, detail and saturation. This is how they are affixed to the back of the acrylic panel. The effect provided by such artwork is stunning.

The acrylic prints are a great way to transform the look and style of a room. They are unique and beautiful. Whether you want an acrylic based prints or block, it becomes easy to do with the help of the online source. The acrylic paint is a luminous synthetic paste that combines and enhances the best characteristics of watercolor and oil paints. This is how it would create a versatile substance with outstanding coverage, drying power, flexibility and resistance too. In fact, the testing suggests that the essential features in acrylic paint have been proven superior to other types. You would be amazed to know that the clear acrylic is a desirable material and is often used for high endurance functions such as airplane windshields too. The acrylic signs are the best solution for any business and are an exclusive interior sign used to presenting your company logo, building layout or even represents the photos, maps, etc. In fact, these paints are resistant to water damage too.

Acrylic prints are quite the special type because of two major reasons. The first is due to its pure sex appeal. Yes, anyone who has seen would explain you that there is nothing like them as a vehicle highlights the beauty of powerful image. The second is its physics. The acrylic panel gathers and easily magnifies the light in much similar fashion as a glass globe around a candle. The acrylic holds the ability to transform the image into a stunning gallery piece. They are sleek and stylish pieces. You can check out the web sources!

Mandy Roscoe is the author of this article on Acrylic Prints.

Find more information on Acrylic Signs here.

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Find Your Interior Paint Color Ideas

Are you having difficulty coming up with paint color ideas for your home? Choosing the right colors for the rooms in your home is one of the most important decorating decisions we are often confused about how to find the right colors. That's why it can be helpful to bounce off some color ideas to jumpstart the process and get some creative ideas!

Your Favorite Colors

Your home should be a reflection of your personality, and it does not matter whether it is a brand new home or an old colonial. The colors you choose should have your signature and that is why you should always begin with your favorite colors. Most people tend to have preferred color combinations or a single favorite color, and that should be used as the basic to draw your palette from.

However, it doesn't mean that if your favorite color is red, every room in the house should also be red. The concept is to begin with your favorite colors. There will also be colors that you dislike and these should be avoided within your home. The last thing you want is to be surrounded by something that you do not feel good about.

Popular Paint Colors

Paint color ideas are more varied today than ever. Visiting a paint supply store, you can get to view what are the most popular colors are for homes and keep up with trends on what people are doing for their various living spaces. Some colors such as neutrals tend to retain their popularity over the years, and may be a good option for those who only intend to paint once in a long time.

Current Color Trends

Along the same line as understanding what the popular colors are at the moment, paying attention to the current color trends for different types of homes can set your imagination on fire.

Color trends for homes evolve on a regular basis, just like those that set the color and look for fashion houses. Color trends reflect the moods and emotions of the year, and can be used to create a home that is in synonymous with the times.

The Best Combination of Colors

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the best combination of colors for your home. Your personality is just as important to the decision making process as the architecture of the home. When you have paint color ideas, do not limit yourself by ruling out any permutations; just try out the colors with the help of our experts before making that final decision. The right color combination can make every room in your home stand out yet feel inviting.

Unleash your creativity with a world of colours by visiting our paint colour ideas guide. Test and preview the colours before painting by using Nippon Paint Singapore's home colour visualiser technology tool.

Original article

Techniques on Painting and Painting Tips

The following techniques on painting should help you to create beautiful artwork. I suggest that you practice on something other than your final painting. A pad of canvas paper works great for practice space. Yes, you will make mistakes and paintings that you simply aren't happy with. The goal of this article is to give you some techniques on painting so that you can make fewer of those mistakes and that you will love all of your paintings! You'll find as you practice just how easy it is to make images using acrylic paints and a brush.

Tips for painting trees

When painting trees and tree branches, I first use a round brush to paint in the main trunk; then I use a smaller brush to add branches and finally a script liner to add the smallest branches. Some of the branches should overlap each other. If you are adding leaves or foliage, don't stress over the branches because many of them will be covered up anyways. Always remember that you are painting the "indication" of items in a painting. So when it comes to branches, just paint the indication of them!

To paint pine trees, use a fan brush. Start by holding the fan brush vertically to dab in the trunk of the tree. One reason that I do this is so that I have a nice vertical point to base my tree on. Then use the flat side of the fan brush to dab in branches. The branches do not need to be even or symmetrical and will actually look unreal if they are too perfect.

Other techniques on painting nature

To paint rocks, start with a solid under-painting. Purples, blues, and some burnt sienna or browns work well. Round the tops of the rocks and keep the bases flat. Now with a dirty white color, paint over some of the under-painting. Let some of the dark show through. You can add just a tiny touch of orange or yellows for highlights as well.

Painting birds requires nothing more than a small amount of paint on a small detail brush and then small, v-shaped objects. Because these birds are often added as finishing detail to the background, the birds themselves do not require much detail at all. They can be made using whatever blend of colors complements the picture you are painting

For dew or rain drops, with a color slightly lighter than the petal or leaf, paint an oval. This will be the center of the drop. With a color slightly darker than the petal or leaf, paint a half moon in the top portion of the oval and a half moon under the oval. With pure white add just a touch of highlight on the top of the oval. On the drops that are just about to drip, don't paint the bottom oval. With pure white, pull down a couple tiny little rays of light.

When painting grass, under-paint the area where you will have the grass in a darker shade of green. Fill your brush with the green paint and use upward brush strokes. Use your No. 10 or No. 6 bristle brush. Add individual blades of grass in a lighter green shade (mix green with white or yellow to attain your desired color) and use a thinner brush or script brush to paint in blades of grass using upward strokes.

To add shadows: whenever you are painting a picture, even if there is no sun or light source represented in the painting, you need to consider what direction the light would be coming from. The surfaces of the objects in your paintings that would be hit by the light should be lighter, while the parts of the object in shadow should be darker.

These are just a few techniques on painting and painting tips that may help you develop wonderful artwork. I hope your paintings benefit from it.

If you want to see exactly how to paint people and landscapes in step-by-step lessons, follow the link here. Painting People and landscapes with oil, acrylic or watercolor paint. The best way to begin painting is to follow prescribed instruction and get your feet wet. With a little practice, you will be well on your way to a rewarding hobby of painting. Let http://www.iampainting.org/ show you how!

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JMW Turner's The Fighting Temeraire Painting

Fighting Temeraire is one of the most impressive pieces of British art in history and was produced by Romanticist JMW Turner. It remains his best known work of all which an impressive title considering the impact of this innovative painter over the direction of European art in the 19th century. It was thanks to expressive paintings like Fighting Temeraire that we now enjoy more modern art movements such as impressionism and expressionism. The National Gallery now holds the best collection of JMW Turner paintings and that is the best place to head for those who still follow his career.

The Fighting Temeraire painting features a war ship on it's last voyage before being broken down into scrap, so in some way this painting could have a sad feeling surrounding it but in fact it is more about a triumphant ship which served in the successful Battle of Trafalgar marching on through the seas whilst captured amongst a stunning seascape scene which enables the artist to show off his exceptional technical talents with regards the multi layered sky and sea sections of the painting.

JMW Turner remains a significant entry in the history of British art and whilst part of the Romanticist art movement, there were significant changes with in the direction of European art which started to move away from sterile realism styles towards all that we have today with the likes of impressionism and then later the various types of expressionism. John Constable alongside Turner played crucial roles also in the greater acceptance of landscape painting when previously it had not been seen as the equal to other genres such as religious based paintings and portraits. It now seems unimaginable the landscape art would not be treated as equal to these other genres because it is so much loved today and easily accessible to all, regardless of their understanding of painting techniques or art history.

We can conclusively accept that Fighting Temeraire was a significant work with in the career of Turner and is a good example of his impressive technical depictions of seascapes as well as offering more information on this famous ship which at the time was on it's final voyage having previously served in the Battle of Trafalgar. The is a great amount of British history found with in this painting and it happily takes centre stage with in the career of this highly innovative artist who brought new ideas into European art and was key to a the greater academic acceptance of the landscape painting genre.

You can find out more on the Fighting Temeraire painting by JMW Turner at Fightingtemeraire.com as well as learning more about the artist's career in general.

You can also read more about the Fighting Temeraire painting in this additional article.

Original article

Online Art Galleries Vs Traditional Art Galleries

Times have changed since the IT revolution and these days the rest of the world is just a click away. Gone are the days when you had to travel long distances in order to admire a piece of artwork, or perhaps sometimes never getting to view it just because you were unable to make the trip.

Online art galleries have successfully solved such problems for art enthusiasts. Not only is it now possible to see work from artists all around the globe, but it is also an excellent platform for both budding and renowned artists to showcase their work on a much larger scale.

These online art galleries are a virtual platform to view, sell and buy pieces of art. The ease of every transaction is unimaginable. Now, irrespective of the time, you can browse through the gallery and place a bid with the click of a button. If you do not wish to be known then there is no better way of buying art than on an online auction, because here your identity is kept private. The payment gateways are completely secure and you can rest assured that your money is in safe hands.

In a traditional art gallery, there is always the risk of a piece of art being inauthentic. This is certainly not the case with online art galleries. Firstly, as a buyer, you have the option of interacting with the artist before making a purchase. Secondly, every purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity that guarantees an original purchase.

Obviously, there is much charm and intrigue associated with actually seeing a piece of art in person, but how many of us can actually do so? Daily commitments, travel costs and work related issues are just some of the reasons why most people cannot visit traditional art galleries. There may be others reasons too, but reasons related to daily living are the main reasons why you cannot indulge in your love for art in person as you would like to. This is where an online art gallery has a definite edge over a traditional art gallery. Now you can buy your art without spending a single extra penny on travel expenses because your only expense is the price of the artwork.

The advantages are not just for the buyer but for the artist too. A physical display in a traditional gallery would mean that only a select number of people would actually get to see the art, compared to the millions of viewers that would get to view it if displayed in an online gallery. When it comes to exposure, availability and recognition, a comparison between an online art gallery and a traditional art gallery is pointless. Apart from the exposure, online galleries also have various contests and awards for recognizing the talent of the artists and give handsome prizes to the winning artist or artists.

Even having your own personal website will not bring you as much traffic as an online art gallery. You may add your personal website's hyperlink to your art pieces and people who would like to contact you or view more of your work will have the option to do so. Times have changed and so have consumers. Today's buyers want instant gratification without wasting any valuable time, and online art galleries amply provide for these needs.

To view an extensive collection of quality artworks online, visit http://www.mounart.com/. Moun'Art Gallery allows you to search for works by a particular artist and make purchases securely online. If you are not completely happy, return an item within 5 days to receive a refund! To know more about latest collections please visit http://www.mounart.com/

Original article

How to Market Your Art Effectively

The main goal of artists today is to increase the traffic to their websites so that people can view their artwork, which in turn generates sales. None of this is easy. So what can artists do to exhibit their work and to get the most exposure? Your artwork may be wonderful, but what is the point if nobody ever sees it? And remember, you are not the only artist in the world: you have to be able to compete with millions of other artists all around the world.

The main thing you need to be clear about is that you are not just an advertising website which survives on passing trade. You also have an online art website that needs traffic, but more than numbers, it needs visitors who buy. What would be the purpose of getting thousands of people to visit your website but none of them makes a single purchase? The bottom line is that your marketing campaign has to be of such a nature that it attracts those people who are keen and interested in buying and investing in art.

Here you have to decide on your business model, which will decide the structuring and pricing of the items for sale. If you are a budding artist then it is safer to have lower prices in order to attract more buyers. Higher prices may give you better profits, but only if you actually make a sale. Initially, lower prices are advisable to help create a consumer base. After a while, as your art starts generating demand, you may start looking at raising the prices. Low cost reproductions can prove to be quite beneficial in terms of generating revenue too.

You should also showcase your art to the local neighborhood by organizing shows and exhibitions. This will help create more awareness in your own community and if things go well, your reputation will spread to other communities. You can also work with online art galleries in order to sell your own work. These galleries are among the places where genuine buyers go and your presence there will help a great deal in selling your work and directing buyers to your personal website if you add your website's hyperlink to all your artwork.

In addition, you should have your art webpage on popular social networking sites and actively participate in discussions and debates on topics related to your field of work. Along with giving you better visibility, it will make people curious to know the person behind the discussions and in this way you may get some potential buyers to visit your webpage. It is important to include your latest works and to give any information concerning the inspiration and story behind the production of your latest artwork. Create an aura around you to generate interest.

All of this is not going to happen in one day and it will require you to keep up a good and consistent standard of work for a long time in order to be successful. Do not compromise on your standard of work at all, because at the end of the day the art you create has to sell, irrespective of the marketing strategy.

Moun'Art Gallery is a successful online art gallery, which specializes in showcasing and selling artwork for individual artists just like you! To find out how to sell your artwork with Moun'Art, visit http://www.mounart.com/.

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Acrylic Painting Techniques

When people search for a fun hobby, they often experiment with painting. Many begin with oil painting and quickly get discouraged because oil painting is messy and the results take several days, weeks or months to be achieved. Acrylic painting is a better choice if you are like me and don't like to wait for results. When you understand the versatility and flexibility, you'll probably choose this medium for your hobby needs. Painting techniques come as you practice and follow the suggestions in this article.

If you are taking up painting for the first time or looking to switch to an easy-to-use medium, acrylic painting is a wonderful choice with a lot of flexibility. Faster-drying than oil paints, acrylics are easy to use and even easier to clean up, requiring only soap and water. There is special soap however, that you can purchase if you choose to.

A quick-drying medium

Because acrylic paints tend to dry more quickly than oil paints, an entire painting can usually be completed rather quickly. If you need your paint to stay wet longer, they can be mixed with "extenders" that prevent them from drying too quickly. Acrylic paints can be purchased either in tubes of a thick paste or bottles that are thinner than the paste, depending on your desired consistency.

The versatility of acrylic paints allow you to add mediums like floaters and glazes to gain a watercolor-style look or texture to achieve an oil-painted look without having to invest in the more expensive and more difficult to use oil-based paints. (Oil paints must be cleaned using paint thinner and can take as long as six months to finish drying!)

Because acrylics do dry out more quickly, it is important to only put a small amount of paint on the palette at a time. Close the container when you're not using it. Tupperware and other plastic storage containers work well for storing the paint. I always use a mist or spray bottle and wet the paints before storage.

If you find that you work too slowly for the paint to stay workable, you can invest in a "stay-wet" palette to lengthen the time that the paint remains in workable condition or use a palette that has a lid that closes to protect the paint. I also sometimes use a large seal-able gallon size bag and slide my paper plate with paint inside for storage.

Painting surfaces for acrylic

The versatility of acrylic paints allows them to be used on many different surfaces, from the traditional artist canvas to unique surfaces like wood, saw blades, or slate. Canvases can be purchased already stretched on a frame or in rolls or sheets. Don't be afraid to use your imagination - acrylic paints can even be mixed with a fabric medium and used on fabrics (read the directions; they may require heat to set the paint).

If you choose to paint on porous surfaces like wood, prime it first. Every art supply store carries a variety of primers from which you can choose. While you can use acrylic paints on an un-primed canvas, they do come pre-primed and in my experience, this is preferred.

Acrylic painting is a wonderful medium. You may hear people complain about the paints drying too quickly, but I find that to be an advantage because I can finish paintings much more quickly and have more artwork out on the market or on display faster than if I used oils or watercolors.

So if you are looking for a great hobby, follow these tips and acrylic painting techniques to make the most out of this great activity.

If you want to see exactly how to paint people and landscapes in step-by-step lessons, follow the link here. Painting People and landscapes with oil, acrylic or watercolor paint. The best way to begin painting is to follow prescribed instruction and get your feet wet. With a little practice, you will be well on your way to a rewarding hobby of painting. Let http://www.iampainting.org/ show you how!

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Art Shows - Will They Help or Hinder Your Art Career?

The basic thing to remember about Art Shows is: they are not about winning the Blue Ribbon. If your painting is awarded 'Best in Show' it means that particular piece ticked the boxes for that particular judge on that particular day - that's all. It does not mean you are the best of all artists showing their work at the show, anymore than the crown for Miss Universe means the winner of that pageant is the most beautiful or charming woman in the world.

The real value of entering Art Shows is: the experience of putting your work out for public scrutiny.

It's invaluable practice for the days when you begin showing at a gallery, whether public or private. The elation you'll feel when you first win an award is a pleasure you'll remember for the rest of your life. If you can relish it while not letting it go to your head, and use the experience to understand the frustration felt by those artists who never gain recognition, then the experience will deepen your development as an artist and as a person. The disappointment you'll feel at not taking a prize or in not having anyone buy one of your pieces is bitter indeed. But it will help you accept - with dignity - the same result if it happens in the professional arena. Either way, you'll mix with other hopefuls at the shows, pick up tips from the experienced ones and learn how to overhear - without taking offence or undue pride - the comments made about your work by the public.
A prize won at such shows does confer on you an extra degree of confidence in the work you're doing. It is definitely taken into account by staff at the public galleries.
Does it count with staff at private galleries? From my experience - on both sides of the desk - the answer is: not a great deal.
Much more important to the commercial galleries are the quality of your work, the consistency of your style, and the seriousness of your focus on your career.
That said, the very fact that you've put your work out 'on the chopping block' as it were, to be judged in public, tells the gallery director a lot of good things about you and will encourage him or her to take a chance on you.

Art shows offer you another benefit - one I can best describe with an anecdote from my first experience of exhibiting in a group show at a private gallery.

When I arrived, the director/owner asked me to stack my paintings along the wall. He prowled along them, then turned on me with a sentence that stopped my heartbeat: 'You can't be an artist!'

He answered my choked-out question with this: 'You've brought the number of canvases you said you would. They're all dry, varnished and framed. And you've brought invoices, in triplicate!'

That morning, the most popular artist in his 'stable' had turned up with about half the promised number of works, many of them still wet, unvarnished and unframed. Because he was the-then 'star' on the Brisbane scene, he regularly behaved in this unprofessional way, leaving the gallery people to fix up his messes.

So you can see, getting early practice at being professional is the major value of taking part in art shows at the beginning of your career in Art.

What I'm mulling over for the next article is: how to use the Internet to promote or sell your artwork.

(c)Dorothy Gauvin

Dorothy Gauvin is an internationally acclaimed Australian painter in oils who specialises in an epic theme of Australia's pioneers. See images of her 'Life-Story' portraits, an ABC of homemade tools for painters with arthritis, plus tips and advice for aspiring artists and collectors on her website at http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/

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The History Of Body Painting

Body art is the decoration of the human body. The most common forms of body art are tattoos, professional makeup, body painting, fashion makeup, face painting and temporary airbrush tattoos. Body painting is a form of temporary body art. Unlike permanent tattoos, body painting can lasts for several hours. Body painting has been a significant part of rituals dating back thousands of years. Body painting and face painting, along with dancing and drumming, were the means for some cultures to reach specific altered state of consciousness. In this state, group members would lose the sensation of fear and pain and become fully dedicated to the group interests. This state was crucial for physical survival and as a defense from predators, enemies or other forces of the nature.

In today's world body painting is largely used in the fashion and film industry. It is also commonly used as a method of gaining attention in political protests or expressing rage, beliefs or feelings. Painting that is restricted to the face is known as face painting, professional makeup or fashion makeup. Traditional face painting is applied with face makeup, brush and sponge. The more contemporary form of face painting utilizes Vibe airbrush face makeup and an airbrush. Fashion makeup, also known as extreme beauty makeup, consist primarily of designs applied around the eye area using highly pigmented colors and shimmers.

While permanent tattoos have been around for thousands of years, the desire to remove or cover permanent tattoos has likely existed almost as long. The same desire that exists to remove or cover permanent tattoos also applies to scars or skin imperfections that may exist on an individual's skin. Typical processes for removing permanent tattoos or correcting or hiding scars or skin imperfections include painful and expensive surgical procedures, such as laser removal, that can result in scarring. Less permanent methods involve the application of professional makeup. There are many different types of professional makeup including foundation, powders, lip sticks, mascaras and bronzers. Most of the professional makeup media can be applied with a brush and sponge. Yet, the fastest and smoothest application can be achieved with an airbrush.

The most common form of body painting is temporary airbrush tattoos. Temporary airbrush tattoos are quickly applied using an airbrush and stencils. Airbrush tattoos can last for days and are removable with rubbing alcohol. Temporary airbrush tattoos have been applied for a variety of different purposes, including decoration, social status, and as a sign of endearment.

European Body Art? manufactures professional makeup and products for body painting, temporary airbrush tattoos, and fashion makeup industries. For face painting ideas visit European Body Art.

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Photos to Paintings

Visual history was only recorded mainly by painting before the photograph back in the early 1800's like canvas paintings, frescoes, wall paintings - bas-relief or sculptures for example, but then the first photograph changed everything as far as the way history could be conveyed to future generations. Just like the last supper: Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519) caught a monumental time in history so now can a photograph and even better, that photo can be turned into a beautiful portrait.

Any style can be painted and requested to be edited in the photo before the artist starts to paint which adds another dynamic. As long as the photo's resolution is high enough they can enhance it so that when it goes to paint the outcome will be nothing short of spectacular due to all the available details the artist can see and also the vibrant colours added to accentuate old photos to fabulous paintings.

I needed to have an old photo restored of my Grandfather when he was in the navy during the second world war, I asked if it was possible due to the condition of the black and white photograph being of quite poor quality because of it's age, and thankfully they said it was of good enough quality to do so, and asked if I would like it to be in colour. I thought on that and excepted as it would bring a more contemporary feel to the painting.

I chose watercolour and they made a start. The edited photo came out great, I only made a few minor changes to the brightness of the colours and then once I approved it was off to be painted.

Then I was advised that watercolour would be a better medium for a landscape painting of a house for example or something similar to that and would not translate well with my Grandfathers' photo in all his navy regalia. So in light of that advice I opted for Oil as it is more robust, more rustic, not so subtle specifically for this type of style from photo to painting.

Eleven days and it was done, they sent me the first draft and I was gobsmacked! All that I requested was to have a message incorporated at the bottom of the canvas to my Grandmother as she is still here, my Grandfather passed over 3 years ago.

After the Oil had dried properly (which takes a day) they shipped via DHL and it was at my door two day's later. It looked even better in the flesh, so to speak. Then when I presented it to my Nan on her anniversary and she cried with joy.

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The Church at Auvers

The painting "The Church at Auvers" is dramatic in its form. The land in front of the church is lit up by the light of day. The rays of the sun reach the ground here, and lush green vegetation thrives as a result. However, as we move closer to the church, the rays of the sun disappear as the church seems to rest in its own shadow. No light reaches or is reflected from this dismal building. The angles of the church building also seem warped, as if by an unholy hand. The roof beams are not strait and neither are the tiles and this warped exterior gives the church a somewhat menacing look. A threatening sky can also be seen rising behind the church, further illustrating this feeling of impending doom.

The deep brush strokes of Van Gogh are visible throughout the painting, both on the sunlit road, on the wavy growth in front of the church and on the roof of the church itself. The brush strokes depicting the sky are also visible and help create a movement in the sky above the church which helps to create the menacing impression. It is the sort of church one would mostly expect to find in a nightmare, and it cannot be ruled out that Van Gogh, at this stage in his life and with his sanity in question, could have indeed felt as if he was living in exactly such a nightmare.

But the painting can also somewhat refer to Van Gogh's own religious career. After having been dismissed from the evangelical career he had earlier envisioned, he wrote his brother Theo how the church seemed to emphasize "empty and unenlightened preaching". This is also the sort of preaching one could probably find in this particular warped Church.

Another feature of "The Church at Auvers" is how two paths are diverging in front of the church. One peasant in the painting has already chosen the left of these paths. The presence of diverging paths is also found in "Wheatfield with Crows" by Van Gogh. We see these crossroads in Van Gogh's art at a time when the artist himself must be said to have been at a crossroad, deciding whether to fight for his sanity or give in to the impulses of his insanity. It is a recurring theme for Van Gogh as both sides battle for his soul in the last year of his life.

It should also be noted that the interpretive look of the church, as it was probably not quite as warped in reality, is based on the expression Van Gogh wanted to create. As such, the painting helps illustrate why Van Gogh was so important in the movement towards expressionism and why modern art still owes him a debt of gratitude.
The ominous look of "The Church at Auvers" has inspired the paintings use in popular culture. In the British TV drama "Doctor Who", the good doctor e.g. spots an evil creature in the window of the painting and decided to go back in time to the time when The Church at Auvers was painted.

For those without time machines, the painting can today be seen at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, France.

To see a online gallery of hand painted oil painting reproductions from all the great artists please check out the site which has a wide selection of Van Gogh Reproductions.

Original article

Professional Makeup At The World Bodypainting Festival

The World Bodypainting Festival (WBF) is the World's largest body painting event and Championship including different professional makeup categories such as special effects makeup, sponge and brush and airbrush, UV effects and face painting.

The 14th annual event was held at a new location in Pörtschach. The city of Pörtschach is located is located by the lake Wörthersee in Carinthia, the Southern part of Austria and can be reached within 15 minutes from the Klagenfurt airport.

Apart from attendees, sponsors and competitors many vendors from around the world gather at the Bodypainting festival to showcase their newest products including professional makeup supplies, special effects makeup, face painting supplies and airbrush tattoos.

This year, the festival attracted over 24,000 visitors. Professional makeup artists from 42 countries competed for the World Championship. Apart from body painting, the WBF brings art, music and different shows together making this a magical experience.

The event is a great opportunity to attend several different workshops including professional makeup, special effects makeup, airbrush makeup, sponge and brush face painting and airbrush tattoos.

This year the WBF kicked off with the WBF academy which is a great opportunity to see professional makeup artists from around the world in action while offering classes and demonstrations in different categories including professional makeup, face painting, airbrush body painting, special effects makeup, professional makeup, photography, airbrush tattoos and more. Virtually hundreds of participants attended the workshops and took classes from the world's best instructors.

The themes for 2011 were "Renaissance - Rebirth" on the first 2 main days and "Haute Couture" on Sunday, the final day.

Friday was the first day of the event and it started with the category of Special Effects Make up and the preliminary round to the World Award in the category brush/sponge. The internationally renowned jury consisted of Mike Shane (Luxembourg), Craig Tracy (USA), Jinny (Canada), Filippo Loco (USA), Patrick McCann, (Germany/USA), Denis Penkov (Germany) and Ernst Wieser (Austria).

The event followed by fluoro competition and awards, sponge and brush, airbrush competition and amateur contest. The main categories which included brush/sponge, professional makeup, airbrush and special effects bodypainting were awarded with the World Champion title on the final day on Sunday.

The highlight of the show, the after party, took place on the final day of the event, and it is depicted by many as the "craziest party in the world". By no doubt the WBF is one of the most sought after events in the face and body painting industry.

The 2012 is going to be the 15th anniversary of the World Bodypainting Festival and it will be held in Pörtschach. Austria. The event week is scheduled for July 2-8, 2012. It is highly recommended to register early especially for the WBF academy as there are limited seats available for each workshop in 2012.

European Body Art? manufactures professional makeup and face painting supplies products for the special effects, beauty and airbrush body art industries.

Original article

Portrait Painting Techniques - How to Paint Hair

Painting Hair

Painting portraits is a great hobby that gives both the artist and the model much pleasure. It is better for both however if the texture, color and flow of the hair closely matches the model. Follow these steps to obtain more realistic colors in your next portrait.

Before painting hair, you should always have the rest of the face finished first. The flesh color extend into the hairline. This is so that the flesh color shows through and the hair does not look unnatural. Remember that hair is much more than one layer, therefore, you need to paint it in layers. There are also hundreds of shades of hair color. To keep it as simple as possible try to base each portrait with, blonde, brown (this includes red), black or gray.

Under paint the entire hair area with a very light mixture of one of these colors. These are called undertones. This under painting will actually be the highlights because as you work you will not cover all of this. Notice where the dark or shadowed areas are and paint them in. Now use a darker color and start stroking in hair strands. Black is the opposite. Start with the darkest as the undertones, then add lighter layers. Continue until you are satisfied with the results. It is very easy to overdo hair. Know when to stop!

Here are the colors you will use for any hair tone. Remember to apply the undertones first

Blonde (Reds) Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Medium, (Alizarin Crimson)

Use Burnt Umber to darken blonde and red hair

Brown Titanium White, Burnt Umber

Use Cadmium Red or Ivory Black for red or blackish tones

Black Ivory Black Undertones

Warm Black - Ivory Black & touch of Brown

Cool Black - Ivory Black & touch of Blue

Gray Titanium White, Ivory Black for a Gray Undertone

Warm Gray - Ivory Black & touch of Brown

Cool Gray - Ivory Black & touch of Blue

Start the first layer, or undertones with a very watery mixture of paint. Use a medium to large brush because you are not painting details. Don't try to paint in individual hair strands at this stage. Start adding more paint color to your brush and add some more layers. Pull the brush in the direction of the flow of hair. Use a liner brush to add some indications of individual strands. Add any deep pockets of color to really give the portrait depth. I added some deep shadow on the side of the neck.

Congratulations! You should be well on your way to being your own master portrait painter. As always, don't forget to sign your painting.

If you want to see exactly how to paint people and landscapes in step-by-step lessons, follow the link here. Painting People and landscapes with oil, acrylic or watercolor paint. The best way to begin painting is to follow prescribed instruction and get your feet wet. With a little practice, you will be well on your way to a rewarding hobby of painting. Let http://www.iampainting.org/ show you how!

Original article