Paintings Exhibition: Goya - The Man Who Saw War in All Its Nakedness

Plato believed that it's only the dead who see the end of war. Some are fortunate enough for death frees them but some horrors that men witness are destined to stay forever. Highly disturbing and extremely visceral Goya: Chronicler of All Wars features the Spanish artist's etchings that form the Los Desastres de la Guerra or the Disasters of War series and even though separated by centuries these images man's contempt of his fellow hit as hard as images from present day war.

After the French plundered key Spanish locations during the Peninsular Wars, Goya and a few other artists were invited to witness the massacre and "paint the glories of the inhabitants". Unpublished till 35 years from his death, Goya's stark imagery is now seen as a protest against the violence he witnessed. Goya took almost a year before he started etching and viewing the macabre depiction it's clear why Goya never exhibited them during his lifetime.

The series is divided into episodes that centre on incidents from the war, its aftermath, the famine that hit Madrid in the 1811 and the disillusionment that ensued with the rejection of the Spanish Constitution by the monarchy. The severity of Goya's monochromatic strokes hardly leaves anything to be imagined. In fact the imagery is so raw the one finds it difficult to believe them. Goya bares the chaos of the battlefront; the shock of the soldiers and the turmoil in great detail and one segment of the exhibition highlights the details to show the artist's process.

Goya's brush shows an almost equal amount of dismay in the perpetrators as well as the victims. In the segment Las Victimas with bodies strewn across the streets, Goya represents the loss of identity amongst the death and even recreates classic Biblical icons of pain while drawing the burials; these images are ominous and leave you profoundly unsettled.

Disenchanted and dreary, Goya's strong dedication to show post-war life as it were comes across clearly in the segment where he uses animals to parade the rule of Ferdinand VIII.

It wouldn't be incorrect to call Goya a harbinger of photojournalism as contemporary photojournalists use the same level of commitment to reveal present day war. Brutal sounds emanating from the accompanying video installation; the darkness of the room with just enough light to reveal the savagery of war and its utter uselessness, as an exhibition Los Desastres de la Guerra is beautifully designed and presented.

Goya: Chronicler of All Wars. The Disasters and War Photography is on display till the 15th of October at the The Instituto Cervantes, Hanuman Road, Connaught Place (CP), New Delhi

I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com, while I also wear the hat of a documentary film maker. To know more about paintings exhibitions Mumbai or paintings exhibitions Bangalore please visit Buzzintown.com

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The Online Art Gallery - A Great Resource for Art Lovers

They say that art is one form that gives immense pleasure by its mere presence. It is one silent form that combines hearts across various cultures and continent. Read on to find out about the modern rage called online art gallery in India and also about the varied things it houses for lovers of art. An online art gallery is a web based version of the traditional gallery.

The only difference being that the former exists in virtual space and of course comes with the benefits that modern cyber science has blessed it with. If you have been thinking that the online art gallery is only a place where there is an assorted collection of canvases you could not be more wrong. The Online Art Gallery houses a lot more Among the other attractive pieces that these online at galleries stock, the most poplar one that can be cited are the decorative interior accessories.

More and more interior designers are developing their own set of unique pieces and these galleries are on of the best resources to display them at. Not only typical wall hangings and mere decorative items, there are interesting decorative interior accessories that combine style with functionality. If you had been wondering where exactly a coconut shell book rack could be available, then the online art gallery could be a possible answer. There are wide arrays of quirky, offbeat accessories that may be found at these galleries.

Can one buy Online? Since the online art gallery is more like an online retail outlet, there is a scope to buy by a mere click. The process works like any other online shopping sites. All you need to do is select the items that you want to purchase and then pay by credit card. Every separate online art gallery has specific payment related terms and conditions that are variable. Hence the answer to the question in the subheading is in the affirmative. What are the points of Concern? A huge boon as the online art gallery may appear to be, there are still some discerning questions in the minds of common men. Most people tend to question the authenticity of the art works and decorative interior accessories found online. However, the genuineness and authenticity can be assured once you deal with a gallery of repute. Check for online reviews as well as customer testimonials.

The best online galleries have proper contact details and the like. There are copyright specifications available too for the ambiguous buyer. Conclusion Given the popularity of the online art gallery, one can say that it is not a mere overnight phenomenon. This is one resource that uses the boon of technology to bring artists and art appreciators close to each other. A favored artist shall display his work online while a buyer may simply wait for a few seconds to seal the deal on its purchase. If you are an art lover, it is time to log in today without wasting a single second. Good luck!

Naina Sharma is an expert author on contemporary Indian art and online art gallery. She has a forte in writing excellent write-ups on art and home décor with art forms.

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Painting Flowers - How to Paint Blooming Roses

Roses in various stages of blooming can make a beautiful watercolor painting. For this lesson, let's use yellow roses in a clear vase. If painting a dozen roses, only a few need to be in full detail. Others can be seen in the background, giving your painting depth and interest. Some will be facing forward, others to the side and back. Different heights and angles keep the viewer interested.

Start by making a pencil value sketch of your composition. Indicate where your lightest lights and darkest darks will be placed. Decide where your focal point will be. (try placing it off-center.) Show the rose petals curling and turning on the edges. Some may be more open than others. Carefully draw the center petals. Once your sketch is complete, you are ready to pencil it on to your watercolor paper.

For the roses in the foreground aureolin yellow and cadmium yellow will be your major colors, but each flower may have two or three different hues. For instance, the yellow of your rose may be complimented with soft violet in some of the folds and shadows of the flower. Painting flowers allows for much creativity, since no two will be exactly alike. Use a light wash of aureolin for your lightest lights. Mix together aureolin yellow and rose madder genuine for another soft, transparent color. Use this where your values are a little darker than where you used aureolin only. Add cadmium yellow for your deeper yellows. If some of your flowers are casting shadows on others, indicate this with a light wash of violet, made from combining rose madder genuine with cobalt blue.

Use a variety of colors for your stems and leaves. I prefer to mix my own greens, but there are some good greens available from the art supply stores. Viridian green is a nice transparent cool green. This can be mixed with aurelin yellow for a lighter green. Experiment with mixing greens. Your painting will be much more interesting if you don't use just one shade of green. Have your stems curve slightly and remember to indicate your light source throughout your painting.

Use some of your colors from your roses as a soft wash for your vase. Show one or two highlights on your vase where the light lands. Don't overdo. This is a case where less is more. Remember to paint the shadow cast by the vase. Use some of the colors from your painting for this also and you should have a lovely painting of yellow roses.

Sue Doucette, Author/Artist

I have been painting with watercolor for many years, and am happy to share with you what I have learned. For more helpful painting tips, please visit http://www.CapeCodWatercolor.com/Hints-For-Painters.html

To see more examples of watercolors, visit http://www.CapeCodWatercolor.com/portfolio.html.

I welcome commissions and can work from your photograph.

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