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It is nothing new. Commercialism maybe somewhat more aggressive now than in Rembrandts day, but the studios of his era were just as equally skilled at producing the same painting many times over, than a digitally enhanced limited edition of today’s genre.

The question it raises is that as technology moves apace where is the line drawn between what could be described as an artists preparation and that which is computer generated origination More specifically does it matter?

One could argue that artists have always sought to enhance their work and utilizing today’s technology is no different to the past. The fact is that what can be achieved today is far greater than anyone could have possibly imagined even 20 years ago.

It really all comes down to how you define what is art and what constitutes an artists preparation.

Projection and scaling tripods through to Obscura cameras were commonly used in the works of many of the masters, so why should using photoshop be viewed any differently.

Photography and art are like two cousins, related disciplines. But that ignores the fact that painting was the photography of its day. Royal courts would send ambassadors with realistic miniature portraits for prospective suitors, in much the same way as a photographic portfolio captures the lines and cheekbones for a model agency.

People often forget where they have come from and this is also true of all types of art including abstract art and contemporary art. It was as much about advertising, marketing and politics as the beauty or skill of its creator.

To me the use of any technique or process by the artist must be seen as part of the work and methodology. Surely the point is this. It is not the technique or process that is important, it is how you use them. Indeed there is a whole separate area of creativity here.

A good artist will always try something new. They will embrace techniques and use them to create and whilst a purist may not agree, they do so out of ignorance to the past.

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.”

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.

The Meaning of Art

When I refer to art here, I am referring specifically to visual art, and more specifically to painting because that’s what I do. But I’m sure it applies to other forms of art as well.

Art can have very concrete, literal meaning to it the more representational a work of art is, the easier it is to attribute a meaning to it. Everyone understands realistic representations of things from real life for example, paintings of trees when looking at one, you can say, It’s a painting of trees, and trees are lovely to look at that’s the obvious purpose of this art no mystery there.

This is why purely abstract art tends to appeal to a smaller audience. It is common to want to know what you are looking at so you can place a literal meaning on it. But art, even art that is fairly straightforward in its subject matter, has a larger and deeper meaning that goes beyond the literal.

This larger and deeper meaning is not intellectual in nature?it is emotional. All you need in order to get art is to look at it and become fascinated, motivated, influenced, impressed, inspired, or otherwise stimulated by it. All you need is to feel a connection to the art.

Most people do feel a connection when looking at art (not all art, of course, but the art that particularly appeals to them personally.) Putting this feeling into words can sometimes be difficult, but just because you can?t always explain it in concrete terms does not mean it?s not real or important, and it does not mean you are missing anything. If you look at a piece of art and feel nothing, all it means is that particular piece of art is not meant for you. If you look at enough art, you will learn what you like and what has the most meaning for you.

The artist has the job of living, feeling, and processing her unique experience and then finding a way to express that to others. The viewer may or may not get the same feelings that the artist meant to express?and that is okay. One of the fun things about art is how different people interpret it differently. Art is the physical manifestation of a mysterious human force: imagination. If it sparks your imagination or puts you in a certain mood, then you get it.

And that’s nice but how does all of this apply to real life? What is the point of art what is its use? Well here’s where choice comes in. Once you look at enough art to realize what you like, what you connect to, you get to make the choice to surround yourself with those things that inspire you and help you in your life.

The trick is to figure out what you really, really love when you find it you will know. If you realize that a certain shade of red makes you happy and energized, making the conscious choice to put something of that color in your living room so you see it every day will, in theory, make you a more happy and energized person. When your spirit feels heavy and sad, art can help lift you out of that. When you feel bogged down by apathy or lost in painful frustration, looking at art can bring you back to yourself and help you keep going. Deliberately creating a mood in your immediate surroundings can help you to create the life that you want, in a very tangible way.

This interpretation of art’s meaning is obviously the result of my optimistic, existential outlook on life. I try to apply my energy mental, emotional, physical and spiritual, towards personal transformation and growth.

But art has a myriad of uses: it is used as a tool for psychological healing, a symbol in spiritual rituals, an impetus for political or social change, an expression of inquiry, a form of entertainment, evidence of status or identity, a reminder of what’s important, and most commonly, a simple celebration of beauty.

You can decide what meaning art may have in your own life. It’s up to you! So, what does art mean to you? How will you choose to use it?

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.

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 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?.

Nowadays, Posters have become a quintessential part of every room decoration. People like decorating their rooms with attractive posters to add all the more life to their rooms. However, pop art posters are most popular among people from all age groups. A majority of pop art posters are attractive images that are reduced to only two tones for example black and white.

They use various living and non-living objects to depict a certain feeling or emotion. Hence, they are highly popular among abstract art lovers. The pop art posters are highly expensive due to their royal feel. Thus, you’ll need to arrange for a decent amount of money, in order to purchase one for yourself. However, if you don’t have enough money then you can purchase them from an art gallery or an exhibition.

You can also purchase them through various poster auctions. However, if you don’t have any time to visit an art gallery or an auction then you can purchase them through various Online poster portals. These Online poster portals give you the opportunity to choose from the finest collection of pop art posters at highly reasonable prices. You can also purchase vintage pop art posters through various Online auctions at genuine rates.

Nowadays, you can also find pop art posters of famous musicians and singers. Thus, you can bring home the posters of your favorite artist in different tones and shades. You can also give these attractive posters to your friends and relatives on various occasions. Therefore, if you come across the most exclusive pop art posters then purchase them immediately and make them an essential part of your room decor.

So, what are you waiting for? Purchase classic pop art posters from an Online poster portal or an Online auction in order to appreciate these wonderful piece of abstract arts.

Your office is probably the place where you spend most of your week in. 5 days in a week, nine hours (or more) a day; it’s almost like a second home. It is thus important that we at least try to make our office space an attractive and conducive place to work in. To take away the monotonous setting of the typical office, where there’re heaps of files and folders stacked everywhere, you can try to use art to spice up the place and make it a little bit more interesting. Read on as this article provides some tips on good places in the office to hang wall art.

Waiting Area

The waiting or reception area is often the first place anyone will see as they walk into the office, so it is important to give a positive impression of the organization. Art work displayed at the waiting area will not only project a good image of the company, but it will also be a welcome treat for any guests who are coming for meetings and presentations. In Addition, it also serves to calm the nerves of the anxious applicant waiting for that job interview.

Office Cubicles

The main office area is the place where all the hard work is done. Instead of the usual “motivational” posters to spur the employees to work harder, why not use contemporary wall art prints instead? Looking at abstract art soothes the soul and can be just as inspiring as any motivational message.

Conference Room

The conference room is the place where fierce decision making takes place. Having beautiful art hung on the walls will definitely be a form of stress relief and a source of inspiration as the pressure mounts on the management team to move the organization forward.

Pantry

The pantry is another interesting location to hang wall art. As you’re enjoying a break with your colleagues, sipping your coffee or having a snack, you can feast you eyes at the beautiful artwork on the wall, while also have an interesting conversational topic to talk about.

Let’s face it. Finding the right décor for your office can sometimes be a pain. There can never be a perfect working environment. Having beautiful art in the office environment will certainly make your office a more interesting and dynamic place to work in.

Enjoy the art – and your work!