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Abstract art, Contemporary art and most other forms or art is now an open field. Common opinions of bad and good often are directed by the fashions of the times and art is now clearly a subjective thing.

However within the world of art, there is a troubling trend. Many people have become scared to say, “I think that is good or that is bad.” Viewers go into galleries and say, “I don’t know what I like. Please tell me what is good. But how it is possible for people to abdicate their own opinions. The truth is many people are intimidated by the over-intellectualization that has gone on among critics, to the point where the real art is in the written prose of the reviewers’ essays instead of the particular piece they are reviewing. Even worse are the viewers who are influenced by the pseudo-politically-correct “open-mindedness” attitude that scares them from passing judgment or are uncomfortable with the uncertainty in art.

The truth is that good merely means “I like” and bad means “I dislike”. The , contemporary art and other art worlds require the concepts of subjective good and bad, because that is what drives the desire for improvement and the hard work that goes with it. Without judgments, we would be surrounded by mediocrity.

We need to be comfortable with the terms good and bad, and also understand their meanings and limitations. We need to be accepting of others’ opinions, and be willing to listen and possibly change their own. Opinions, shared ideas, and discourse drive progress and keep great art flowing forth.

Robert Henri in The Art Spirit, 1923

“The man who has honesty, integrity, the love of inquiry, the desire to see beyond, is ready to appreciate good art. He needs no one to give him an art education; he is already qualified. He needs but to see pictures with his active mind, look into them for the things that belong to him, and he will find soon enough in himself an art connoisseur and an art lover of the first order.”

What is art? What makes it good or bad? What makes it appeal to the people or repel? Who decides?

It is the medium where creativity is infused with reality and is brought into life. Talk about culture, traditions, views, expressions- there is one platform to express it all and that is art and art materials serve this purpose of getting the expressions on the piece of paper or board.

Art materials come in wide range of variety. The spectrum of colors which are available would leave you awestruck. To get your perfect art into life there are acrylic colors, oil colors, water colors, easels, grounds, artistic brushes and various different accessories. There are also eco friendly art materials which would give an environment friendly artistic touch to your art painting. The pastels to lighten the shades of your art, the bright colors to glorify your painting- you name it and it’s out there at your disposal.

Even the magnitude of variety which is offered in the oil colors is quiet astonishing. Artistic wooden boxes oil colors, griffin alkyd fast drying oil co lours, drying oils which would help you in dry the painting easy and soon, solvents, varnishes, oil colors when mixed with water are the newest when talking about oil colors. This was only talking about oil colors. When you want more range of colors you can always opt for water colors, and acrylic colors.

There are palette knives which are also used as art materials which are used in painting. They come in different blade shapes and help in giving you the finishing touch to the painting. These are some fine equipment which would help you in achieving the artistic stroke.

When dealing with the paper sizes and the quantities there are some standard norms which are to be kept in mind while you are ordering for art materials online. The sizes of paper available in the market range from A0 to A10. Their weigh range starts usually from 72 lb’s and extends to 200lb’s. Even in the paper texture you have rough paper which would be the natural surface of the paper when it is dried. There would be cold pressed paper and hot pressed paper. The finest of the paper is the hot pressed paper which would be smooth in finishing and lining.

There are offers everywhere online where you have discounted prices on all the art materials. So it is usually better to look for art materials online and get benefits which you are unaware in the offline world. Get online, browse the products, check out the brands which you want for making your art a masterpiece and color the world.

Be it abstract art, symbolism, realism, surrealism, pop art- you need the right source to create it. The source is art materials. And if you want to check more on art materials UK then browsing online could be the best option for you.

Art needs exposure and survives on appreciation. Art has always appealed to a niche category and remained confined to the interests of a particular segment of society. For years, art galleries have been the only platform of exposure for artworks. Thanks to the global technological development, art has found a new platform to gain more exposure and popularity. The World Wide Web has given way to multiple internet art galleries that offer all kinds of information on art- art events, exhibitions, artists, auction, etc.

Online art galleries are a treasure house of paintings by renowned masters as well as new artists. Now you don’t have to go far and wide to visit an art gallery. Amazing masterpieces are just a click away! The best part of online art galleries is that it serves as a direct platform for artists to showcase their paintings for sale. Supported with modern technology, artworks by budding artists are displayed in an attractive fashion.

Online art galleries are the favorite hub of art connoisseurs who want to own highly prized masterpieces but cannot afford to buy them at exorbitant rates. Art reproductions are being enormously acclaimed worldwide and are highly demanded by art lovers. Modern day geniuses reproduce the masterpieces of veteran artists like Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci, Van Gogh, or Rossetti, that you hang in your living room and lose yourself in its magnanimous charm.

There is yet another avenue that has been opened up by online art galleries, i.e. exposing viewers to all possible genres of art and artistic movements. Today we know more about abstract art, fantasy art, gothic art, or modern art on account of internet art galleries.

Art is the natural manifestation of human feelings and passion. It is the medium to vent out your expressions. Art is very diverse and varied in nature. Go down exploring it there is a fear that you might get lost in it.

This article would be a layman guide to art materials and art. Art would be given various definitions according to a person?s perception. Sculptures, photographs, illustrations, installation art, applied arts, abstract art, digital art the variety in art goes beyond one?s figment of imagination.

Art helps relieve stress and divert minds from useless thoughts. The medium to express your art is the art materials. The medium is never the restricting factor in art. The variety and range of art materials which are nowadays offered satisfy the quench of art designers and lovers.

Art materials could be expensive or inexpensive depending upon your research work and knowledge of art.

Victor wrinkled up his nose as an unexpected gust of wind almost knocked him sideways. What on earth had possessed him to come to Switzerland in June? Most normal people came here in the winter to visit the ski resorts; then again, Victor had never been skiing either. He was a businessman through and through; a workaholic; a steadfast cog in a machine. He did not find it easy to take holidays, especially those that did not involve physical activities or some kind of sport. But then there was Lidochka; she had got caught up on the idea of going to a music festival in Lucerne and he was, of course, compelled to go.

He contemplated how lovely it would be if he could be at his yacht club on the River Neva. The flags would be gently blowing in the breeze and groups of well-proportioned, suntanned ladies as well as
little children would be congregating thereabouts. They exuded a youthful vivacity, a strong sense of optimism, mixed with the sea air and sun. But the main thing about the yacht club was that there was a pile of things to do and a mass of people to see, all of which Victor felt comfortable tending to. These duties depended on Victor just as the yachts depended on the wind.

Wagner got on Victor’s nerves and for the remaining part of the concert he drifted in and out of sleep; much to the horror of Lidochka. She tried with all her might to convert the former “work horse” to the world of contemporary living and music, but to no avail. The day before they had even had a huge argument about it; hence the reason why, today, Victor had gone out for a stroll in the town. It
was on this stroll in that Victor was brought to such a quivering excitement that he rather forgot himself. The bridges and archways were laced with beautiful antiquity and the houses displayed a
wondrous architecture; all of these were mounted by the turquoise blue mountains and Lake Firval’dshtetsky.

It was cool on his stroll. Victor took note of the stylish summer coats that people had taken to wearing whilst looking around for a nearby cafe. Needless to say, cafes did not seem to be that prevalent in this area. Nevertheless, there was a very modest sign that someone had put up nearby announcing an exhibition of abstract art by the Armenian artist. “It seems as though I am destined to become familiar with the art world,” Victor smiled wryly as he immersed himself in the noisy crowd.

In the gallery, Victor was hit by distinct smells of sandalwood, dust and oil paintings. There were also hints of other smells that were difficult to discern. “This is the smell of antiquity?” Victor
instantly recalled Kandinsky’s abstract monsters and expected to see something similar, but these paintings were different; they attracted and fascinated him straight away. The warm beige and reddish tones; the fragments of old yellowing photographs showing charming young
girls which the wind had tarnished long ago; a watch; a chair; patterns that had been etched in stone years ago. An ornament, wonderfully imprinted with elegant violins. A fish – a strange stone
fish. The canvas invited its audience to contemplate, just like in childhood when we contemplate our senses, by feeling the velvets and the smoothness of the pictures. The audience was invited to study each fragment of the picture, experiencing pleasure at the juxtaposition of the textures.

Just like in the fragments of a mosaic, the artist had merged the colours and textures of old photographs, adding to the patina of antiquity and breathing new life into the works of art. “I’m going to buy these” Victor decided with a feeling of satisfaction. “I can buy them for the yacht club, after all, I seem to spend more time there than at home.” The aroma of antiquity will add to the vital and lively
atmosphere and will appease the state authorities. “And I? will look at them. I will simply look.”

Most people dread going to clinics. Clinics are for the sick and the injured, and people, especially children, do not like the feeling of dread upon entering such facility.

Another factor why people do not want to go to clinics is because most of these offices lack a personal touch. The next time you go to a clinic, check out the walls and decors while waiting for your doctor to attend to you. You will notice that most have posters on walls dealing with cancer prevention, breastfeeding, reminders for checkups, warnings and details on certain diseases and vices, tips on how to live a healthy life, and others. These posters remind us of our frailty and vulnerability. Yes, we all agree that they are there for a good reason, but they give us a feeling of negativity and fear.

Just imagine, you are there to seek for help in getting treatment, worried about the illness you are afflicted with. Then you are bombarded with posters regarding illnesses! How would you feel?

Indeed, the clinic, or doctor’s office, can be a stressful, frightening place. We need something positive to make us feel good in this dreadful office. Wall art, for example, that is placed in these offices will surely help.

Positive decorations like artwork can calm down a patient and reduces his apprehension. Instead of being bombarded with messages of dread, why not instill a positive aura? Remember that patients are there because they know that they are sick; doctors don’t need to rub that fact in.

If you are a doctor and own a clinic, here are some ideas on how to make your clinic a more cheerful place.

1. Put up a sound system and pipe in soothing music. Good music always calms the heart and relaxes the soul. There are lots of instrumental, inspirational, and soft music available in CD stores. Or you can download an mp3 file from the Internet. Remember though that blaring music can cause more stress and can be annoying. Lower down the volume.

2. Repaint the entire office with a light color. A lighter color is easier to the eyes. Whites and yellows are okay, but pastels are also good choices.

3. Lighting plays an important part of calming a patient. Natural light coming through large windows is best, but this can be harsh during noontime, necessitating the use of blinds. Avoid harsh fluorescent lighting; use soft pin lights and spotlights instead.

4. Add delightful flowers and plants. They can surely add life to a dreary place.

5. You can replace medical posters with office art wall. You can also use art that depicts peaceful meadow-paradise scenes. Abstract or contemporary art is also a good choice. Abstract art, composed of patters which does not represent anything, will keep patients busy trying to interpret the painting. Choose something with soft, light colors.

6. If you do photography as a hobby, print and enlarge pictures. Frame them and hang them on walls. You can take pictures of something pleasant-flowers, scenery, a cute kitten or a puppy, a mother and a child.

Creating the new, purely for newness’ sake, can bring academic significance but offers little long-term weight. Truth and beauty, on the other hand, have longevity — they affect the viewer and the resonance of that experience lingers for a long time. All three need to be combined to create contemporary art, abstract art or any other forms of art that has impact as well as freshness.

What is truth? Like everything in contemporary art, abstract art and other forms of art, the concept of truth is completely subjective and people will define their own truth. Truth is not simply honesty, but also an emotion or expression that has a deeper, more powerful effect on the viewer.

So many works today are trying hard to be innovative but are inescapably derivative. They are “neat” and “funky” rather than emotional and hard-hitting.

Is it not true to say that we now live in an era of disposable art to match our reality TV? More difficult is the struggle to create something greater than ourselves, something that can outlast ourselves. The imperative of being better, making better, expressing better drives you on. And just as we hope for brilliance in ourselves, we like to touch it as well, whether in a conversation, reading a novel or staring at a canvas.

There are still more Cezannes, more Dostoevskys, to come. We will spot them more by their truth and their beauty than by their passing trend.

THE USE OF X-RAY AS ART

In my younger years I was Professor of Surgery at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine with a research interest in

The debate of whether original thoughts still exist has gone on for centuries and one can but wonder if we are just rehashing what we’ve collectively forgotten. It’s a fear that resonates among many artists, especially painters these days because we’ve run the full range from purely representational to abstract art

But we cannot for one moment assume that we have done everything that there is to do. It’s a much safer bet that we are continually going to be tossed on our backs by something new.

Originality and individuality cannot exist without its opposite.

Keith Haring, the late pop artist, wrote “No artists are part of a movement unless they are followers. And then they are unnecessary and doing unnecessary art. If they are exploring in an ‘individual way’ with ‘different ideas’ the idea of another individual, they are making a worthy contribution, but as soon as they call themselves followers or accept the truths they have not explored as truths, they are defeating the purpose of abstract art, contemporary art or any style of art as an individual expression – Art as art.”

You can say something old in a new voice, and you can say something new in an old voice. Originality still exists in art and painting, although it is getting tougher. Originality exists in something as simple as your signature. Too often we close off our creativity by over-thinking and seeking approval. Yes, we are social creatures, we need approval, we need community. But to those of us who are hard-wired to seek our own path, you have to remember to put aside the comments of fashion and the criticism of the establishment.

That is, of course, not to say that the opinion of critics have no substance ?a well placed opinion can drive the market.

The truth is that there are many levels at which you can purchase and you should never lose sight of the fact that all art is subjective?including the critic?s opinion. Do you actually like the type of art you are considering? Is it within your price range? Would you prefer contemporary art or perhaps abstract art?

Start by asking yourself the question ?why are you buying??

If you like it then you are off to a good start as there are many artists, styles and formats so deciding in which direction to go can be difficult.

Two key considerations are whether you are buying from a purely decorative point of view or whether you are you looking to buy for investment.

Lets take the first of these?.decorative. It sounds demeaning and somehow implies the art is worth less. It is not meant in that way. It just asks you to be honest about why you are buying the piece. Here you are buying not because it will become a high value item on your home insurance policy but rather because it forms an integral part of your interior design scheme.

And there are many paintings and well known international artists who could ruthlessly be grouped into this category. It is important to consider the environment in which you are going to display the piece of art. The wall-space, colour scheme and the furniture are all considerations to be taken into account. Do you want to create a traditional or modern environment?

The simplest route would always be to be complimentary?a traditional oil with traditional design values. A large powerful abstract would sit well with the lines of minimalist furniture.

However this does not always have to be the case. If you choose well there is nothing that has more impact on a room than a well painted modern piece but placed in a traditional setting.

Planning the interior decoration and making buying the art as part of the planning process is the fundamental point here. You can plan the room around the art as much as buying the art to compliment the room.
Contemporary art for investment is a completely different matter and not something to be taken lightly. The market is awash of depreciating values and great care needs to be taken before venturing into this area. You should seek the advice of the specialist teams within the major art auction houses and start to get a feel for the kind of work and returns you are seeking. The more knowledge you can acquire before parting with your cash the better and remember it can be a long slow burn with no guarantees?.