Discovering Fine Art Photography

Fine art photography is an art that is taking the world by storm and this fact has done much to raise the living standards of people who are involved in this kind of art. Unlike previous times when large institutions and galleries such as MOMA based in New York was the only place to know what was happening in the world of fine arts, today there are other places such as websites and internet blogs. Some blogs are quite educative and informative as their owners are known to put up different photographs on a daily basis. In addition to this, there are those who will have a number of features which makes the artist known to the public and this includes some text and a number of pieces. Word of mouth has always been a great way of knowing what is going on and if one needs to know more about fine art photography they should also put their ears on the ground so as not to be left out.

In their quest to know about this brand of art that is on everyone’s lips, a person can identify the established artists and seek for them on the internet as many of them have their own websites and blogs that detail what they do and how their work can be accessed. It is common for people who do the same thing to form an association and in this regard, fine art photography artists have not been left behind and have their own associations which are known to hold group exhibitions monthly or yearly that shed limelight on the artists who are not very well known. Artists have also gained from this organization in the form of expanded selling opportunities and yearly grants that are given twice every year.

Fine art photography is great for home decoration and it is possible to frame the pieces using different framing and matting solutions to suit any office or home. For the people who have simply fallen in love with this kind of art and they want to use it as their main pieces for home decoration, it is possible to find limited editions from a number of websites or magazines at very low prices. As decorative pieces, the photographs can be used to convey certain feelings and among the common pieces are the white and black ones that are very evocative and show cities such as Rome, Paris and Venice that are known to be romantic. Another great thing about fine art pictures is that it is possible to reproduce them by use of the current printing technology. This often makes the space look modern. In some quarters fine art photos are seen as investment and this is especially by collectors. Photos that bear natural landscapes are known to bring out soothing feelings. Such photos often include color landscapes, beaches, seascapes, lakes. Growing very steadily, fine art photography is the in thing.

Abstract Art - The Beauty Of A Touch

Whether you are drawing or painting, touch has always been an important element in anyone’s art especially when it comes to abstract art. Lately people artists work on pen and ink drawings, using Zig memory calligraphy pens and Koh-in-noor fine tipped pens for fine lines.

Therefore, viewing much of the current Art produced today, many people will refer to it, colloquially, as Abstract Art. However, Modern Art has many facets, and there have been many different styles and concepts, which have brought around metamorphic changes, within Abstract Art, since the beginning of the twentieth century.

An abstract art as the name suggests is intangible in concept and style and open to many interpretations and is very subjective. While many find abstract art work complicated and not as refined as a good old straight forward art work like the painting of natural scenery in the form of flowers or landscape, there are many others who find this form of art intriguing and intellectually challenging.

Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. The arts of cultures other than the European had become accessible and showed alternative ways of describing visual experience to the artist.

Art can be bought in many different forms, one very in vogue at the moment is canvas art. The canvas is stretched over a wooden frame and oil or acrylic paint can be used or even mixed media. The canvas stands away from a wall and enables the painting area to go right to the edge. Painting around the edges can also be done for an enveloped look.

Art is the perfect gift for someone very special. Some artists offer the service of recreating a memorable photo into oil or acrylic. This is a highly personal and special gift and something completely unique. Such a service has been enabled to be found through the internet. The internet has been the most influential part in enabling art to be reached to the masses and now being more accessible. Galleries that were once confined to purely the premises can now sell and advertise their work online and reach the whole country in fact, the world. Artists that may not have been able to afford a gallery premises can now sell their art online, reaching a far wider audience. In the respect of the consumer, a huge variety of artistandrsquo;s styles, genres, media and themes can be chosen from. Mail order has enabled the artwork to be sent when collection is not obtainable.

Its evident at the end of the day that the touch can make an effect to the society’s beauty.

On a budget? Fine art prints can give your home a classy makeover!

I daresay not many of us can afford pricey home decorating or redecorating just now. So, it's time to think outside the box. It's really not necessary to spend loads of money to make a big difference in the looks of your home environment. Here, we've got some great ideas on using fine art prints to meet the demands of your goals, while pleasing your pocketbook too!

Many people tend to believe that if they're budget conscious, enhancing the look of their home is simply out of the question. Not so! How are your walls looking? Too much blank space? A few pieces decorating your rooms that just don't do the trick?

Furniture, carpeting, woodwork and new kitchen cabinets can surely bring a cry of woe from your budget. On the other hand, fine art prints are relatively inexpensive and can make a huge difference in the general ambience of your home. Not only is this approach doable for your wallet, it can take a heck of a lot less time to locate, purchase, frame and hang fine art prints than it will to find and choose an armchair - which, incidentally, won't make a fraction of the impact you're looking for in a cheap redecorating project.

If you don't believe me, try this 10-second task: do a Google image search on 'fine art prints'. What you'll get is about 44 million results! You can scroll through pages and pages of images in just minutes. When you find an image that you find pleasing, just right-click on the text below the image and select 'open in a new tab'. Then go check out that site's wares to see if their services and prices suit you. Bookmark those sites which you find outstanding. Let's say that you're really fond of Impressionist paintings. Work that in to your search query to quickly zero in on fine art prints by your favorite artists.

Many websites which sell such prints offer reasonable framing services as well. Some allow you to do a mock-up of the print of your choice in a variety of framing materials, giving you a good idea of what the finished piece will look like. You may also be able to choose between a fine quality paper or canvas as the reproduction medium. Still other vendors offer 'exhibition quality' fine art prints.

Using this simple strategy to upgrade the appearance of your home - or office - is one of the most budget friendly ways to redecorate, all accomplished at any hour of the day or night, right in the comfort of your favorite armchair. Hey, get comfy and select a few - or more - fine art prints for a classy and economical makeover!

Abstract Art Paintings Laid Bare

Abstract art paintings baffle quite a number of people and it is not a strange sight to see a person staring at an abstract art painting vacantly with no clue of its expression. Abstract paintings are pieces that basically seek to bring something different to the art world other the usual monotonous art pieces that abound. They also deviate from the norm that only entails painting pragmatism and instead advocate for themes such as intellectualism and spiritualism. Abstract paintings do not entail any kind of figurative reality but instead depict real forms in reduced or simplified ways thereby creating a good allusion of the subject. There are two kinds of abstract paintings; partial abstraction paintings and total abstraction paintings. The former involves paintings that can be easily understood by people as their designs and shapes are recognizable. The latter on the other hand involves paintings whose images do not bear any resemblance to any familiar objects.

In the past, there were art movements that were associated with abstract art paintings and they include Expressionism, Impressionism and Romanticism. All of the above movements belong to the nineteenth century but it is Fauvism and Cubism that can be credited with paving the way for abstract art paintings into people’s hearts. The best thing about an abstract art painting is that it does not have to make any sense it only needs to have some sort of appeal to the eye. While to some people such paintings evoke specific feelings in them, generally, they are known to just attract onlookers. One does not have to be very imaginative to come up with an abstract painting as just applying anything onto a canvas can result in an abstract painting.

Canvas is the best material on which to create an abstract painting and it usually goes with acrylic paint. Using acrylic is advisable as it is quite thick and there is no risk of it running into the other colors on the canvas. One can create 3D effects using acrylic paint as well as it has a very high level of viscosity. Acrylic paint can be applied suing various tools as well and this can be quite convenient for any artist. Such tools include a spatula and a brush. The thickness of the acrylic paint will also allow for a layering effect on the painting. When dealing with abstract art paintings it is very important that a person starts in a simple way. People who try very hard to come up with master pieces often get frustrated which in the end works against them.

For those people who love abstract art paintings but are not painters themselves there are quite a number of places they can buy the mater pieces of their choice. Such places include online and offline galleries, flea markets and directly from the artists. Finally, the art pieces come in a wide variety and one can therefore look for the one that suits their affordability.

Custom Metal Art

I initially started making custom metal art as a way to relax. In my job as a manager, I mostly deal with people and problems that are sort of abstract in nature. I try to increase productivity, streamline communications, solve interpersonal conflicts and that sort of thing. Having a really hands-on hobby like making metal artwork is really good for me because it allows me to deal with very concrete goals. Making a particular piece involves designing an actual physical object. You follow the steps, do the work and when you are done, you have something shiny and attractive to display on the mantle piece. I find that tremendously gratifying

I was first inspired when the office bought a new 3 dimensional sculpture incorporating our logo rom a well known local custom metal artist. I was part of the group assigned to find and commission the outdoor display advertising our company. Our core business is in industrial manufacturing, so we immediately thought of custom metal art as a way to advertise it. Having a unique display would distinguish our company, making it stick out despite our bland office in a typical Midwestern office park.

I had originally thought that I would be restricted in my choices – that my job would be hard because there weren't many options out there. In reality, I ended up having exactly the opposite problem. There were custom metal art workshops which used forged iron, welded steel, pounded copper and many other different materials and techniques to produce unique looks. The custom art world catered to a huge variety of tastes from simple, tin folk art inspired works to huge sculptures that evoked the massive mechanical power of factories. It was almost impossible to chose!

In researching the different kinds of custom metal art available, I got a great opportunity to learn about some of the techniques. I learned about the durability of iron and steel, the weathering of copper and the workability of aluminum as I prepared to brief my company on the choices available. We eventually chose something with a more classic look that I would have guessed; It is made out of copper, and has ornate curves and a rich patina from heat treatment and weathering.

My own forays into custom metal art were inspired by the piece we chose. I found out that I liked copper best because it is so workable and has a color I really like. With simple hand tools and occasional help from a torch, I've learned to work it into boxes, signs, statues and other creations.

Abstract Metal Sculpture

I got into abstract metal sculpture quite by accident. At the time, I was actually trying to make a penguin out of wires. I spent about a week on it, working for an hour every day after school. It was a life-sized penguin with what I thought were compelling and detailed features that anyone would recognize. When I showed it to my friend, however, he seemed to think it was a piece of abstract art. He commented on the line quality, the texture and the composition but, when I asked him what he thought it was, he sheepishly admitted that he didn't know. I realize at that moment that I had no future as a realist, but I might make a decent abstract artist.

I made my next abstract metal sculpture out of pieces of recycled cans. I would cut them with tin snips, bend over the edges so that they would not cut anyone, and solder the pieces together. It was not a very good sculpture, since I didn't really understand metal soldering at that point. It fell apart pretty quickly, but it lasted for long enough for me to get a couple compliments. I was hooked.

As I learned about new ways to work metal, I became more and more intrigued by abstract metal sculpture. Soon, I was making multimedia sculptures by building complex metallic forms on top of wood blocks, stools and other wooden bases. At that point I hadn't really come up with a style for myself. Every abstract sculpture was different, and the quality was really hit or miss. It took me about a year before I finally found my voice.

Strangely enough, my current style is more like that first abstract metal sculpture than the wildly imaginative things I was making for the next year. I finally realized that I liked wire a lot better than anything else I have been using for the simple fact that it is easy to work with and gives clear, structured lines to the piece. My Abstract metal sculptures also incorporate pieces of tin and, occasionally, strips of copper, but they are mostly made out of bent, flattened, filed and otherwise manipulated lengths of wire. The nice thing about it is that I don't have to spend a lot of money for supplies. There are almost always old coat hangers, broken electronics or other things to scavenge for wire so I really only need to spring for solder, paint and an occasional new tool.