Landscape Painting is a distinct genre of painting that captures nature in its natural form. The paintings are reflections of the skies, seas, rivers, sun, moon and greeneries on the canvas. One of the earliest and traditional painting forms, landscape paintings touch the heart of the modern art lovers with all their purity, naturalness and aestheticism.

Visual documents of the panorama of nature the paintings with their timeless appeal have grown over the years as inspirations to the generations of artists. Landscape paintings from India are famous for representation of wilderness and unspoiled beauties of nature.

The word landscape originates from the Dutch word “landschap” denoting areas of arable lands. Depicting natural sceneries in a medley of lines, colors and tones was the outcome of the natural inclinations of human beings to reflect what they mostly found around them.

The early civilizations with less industrialization and urbanization presented nature in its complete bounties. Artists and poets admired them in their creations. Life was not at all complex and it was only nature and its diverse facets that formed the central theme of the paintings.

Landscape painting in its antiquated form can be observed in the pastoral sceneries of the Roman times. The paintings gained prominence with the emergence of Renaissance Art. Nature was romanticized and portrayed as philosophical and spiritual elements. Various religious and mythological events were represented via nature. Though the spiritual tones were absent in the Reformation times the paintings became more uniform and realistic in this era.

The seventeenth and eighteenth century led to the flourish of the paintings with some master artists like Watteau, Gainsborough and Thoams Girtin. The breathtaking creations reached their acme in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Various movements of arts like abstract expressionism, impressionism and surrealism influenced the painting and brought in some new styles and techniques.

Nature was observed scientifically and more importance was given to its hostile aspects. In the modern and postmodern landscapes nature is synchronized with human psychologies and complexities of life. The various facets of nature resemble the moods of human beings in manifolds.

Landscape paintings have several classifications. The skyscape paintings depict clouds, skies and weather conditions. Moon is aesthetically represented in moonscape paintings. The rivers and seas find visible expression in seascapes and riverscapes.

The images of urban landscapes, industrialized cities, towns and streets are carved in cityscapes and hardscapes. The aerial landscapes offer an aerial view of the objects in the ground. Inscapes are visual images of the psychoanalytical mind as a three-dimensional space.

Roberto Matta, Ajmes Gleeson and Jane Farnk are the specialists in inscape paintings. Various innovations and experiments with the landscape paintings are still going on. The paintings with all their connotations and aestheticisms are a connoisseur’s delight and a prized legacy of art.

Visit www.india-crafts.com to get More information on Landscape Paintings

Long ago the Montmartre used to be famous not for Bohemian cafes and cabarets, cancan and polka, and even not for tourist restaurants with disgusting food. It used to be known for…nunneries. The name to the area was given by the students who also lived there. A nice neighbourhood. For the both sides…

In XVII century “Closerie des Lilas” was a coaching inn on the way from Paris to Fontebleau and Orlean. Until the beginning of the 20th the café was a favourite meeting place of the poets-symbolists. From 1905 to 1914 the place hosted an “editorial office” of the “Poetry And Prose”. This almost self-publishing magazine was the first to publish Andre Gide and Jules Romains. Bodler, Verlaine and Maeterlinck appointed the meetings at “Closerie des Lilas”. The next literature generation to choose the place was a generation of Dadaists and Surrealists. The place entered the annals not only European but also Irish literature: James Joyce and Samuel Becket often came here to drink a cup of coffee as well as to get inspiration. The café also contributed to the American literature: Hemingway worked here over “The Sun Also Rises”, Dos Passos wrote his great trilogy “The USA”. Thomas Wolfe also used to pop in (he even mentioned the café in his novel “Of Time And The River”).

Young poets and artists called “Le Coupole” an “academy of the Bohemian life”. The café appeared in 1927 replacing the coal storehouse and quickly became very popular attracting the audience by a) cheap food b) dance floor in the ceiling. Here Louis Aragon got acquainted with Elsa Triole and Henri Miller tried to give his wedding ring as a payment for the dinner. In “Le Coupole” Ilya Erenburg wrote for “Izvestiya”, here worked Francoise Sagan and Gabriel Garcia Marquez…

Neighbouring and the most famous Paris café – “Le Rotonde” is a real mecca for those who want to see the place where was born and developed painting of the European avant-garde. Nowadays it is a luxury restaurant, and there’s no bitter, hungry and smoky atmosphere of bohemia there…it was over 90 years ago when this café opened its doors to public. Nobody thought that it is destined to become one of the most famous places in Paris as well as in the whole Europe.

At that time anise vodka cost 5 sous, a breakfast – 10 sous. Low prices attracted the Bohemia. Besides they got tired of the Montmartre and started wondering across Paris in search for a better place. Picasso was the first to choose the place, and he was followed by Chagall, Vlamink, Kandinsky, Leger and Gijom Apolliner.

There was always hot soup, coal, and warm stoves. The atmosphere was free and easy, although there were some rules: the ladies were not allowed to take their hats off and to smoke. On the other hand, they were allowed to dance on the tables.

Haim Sutin painted his best works at the cafe (at that time they cost a cup of coffee, nowadays they are sold for millions of dollars). Modigliani painted portraits of all the habitués of La Rotonde. His portraits cost nothing to friends and hot dinner of a shot of vodka for the other visitors of the café. Jean Cocteau distributed poems, making fun of the snobs, which were destined to enter the history…

When Paris welcomed “Russian seasons”, legendary Dyagilev and Nizhinsky came to La Rotonda to order music to young composers (Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie). Young poets Max Voloshin, Anna Akhmatova and Vladimir Mayakovsky were also frequent guests of La Rotonde.

In 1903 Gabrielle Chanel sang there folk songs to the rapture of the audience. This is at La Rotonde, where she met her rich sponsor with whom she would live at aristocratic Vichi and become a fashion queen, a personification of style.

Between the two wars the café was favoured by the writers, such as Hemingway, Breton, Fitzgerald. They smoked, drank and created masterpieces…

Legends about “Dingo Bar” appeared in the 1920s. When a young poet or a painter came to “conquer” Paris he visited the café in the first place! Here Hemingway got acquainted with Fitzgerald. In 1924 the café was bought by the Americans who turned it into the meeting place of famous poets and painters.

Musee d’Orsay is one of the best-known museums in France as well as in the whole world. It houses many French art works of the 19th-20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography. The collection of the impressionist masterpieces is one of the best in the world.

The museum is situated on the left bank of the Seine River, not far from the Louvre. The building used to be a railway station Gare d’Orsay with the hotel attached to it. But in the 1939 the station was closed, and the hotel ceased to exist in 1973. The Paris government allowed to turn the building into the museum, and in 1973 Musee d’Orsay was opened to general public. The museum is a home for the collection of the 19th century art as well as French avant-garde of the beginning of the 20th century. Its pride and joy are the collections of impressionist and post-impressionist painters, who felt free to create after the French academy lost its total control over the French art in the revolutionary year of 1848.

There is a wonderful selection of works by such revolutionary painters as Manet, Millet and Courbet. Manet, one of the founders of the Impressionism, is represented by his famous and scandalous “Dejeuner sur l’Herbe”(1863) and “Olympia”(1863). Courbet’s two monumental canvases, the Funeral at Ornans (1851) and The Painter’s Studio (1855) hang opposite each other. Millet is also represented by his best works.

Impressionist and Post Impressionist galleries on the top floor have always attracted much attention. Many of the pictures hanging there need no introduction. The names of the artists are famous to everyone: Manet, Renoir, Monet, Renoir, Callebotte, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Degas and Cezanne…more than enough to enrapture an art admirer!

If you get tired of exploring the galleries, go to the cosy café upstairs. After a well-earned rest, it is worth going on to subsequent work by more esoteric artists – the symbolists Redon and Moreau are well represented. There are also marvellous darkened rooms devoted to pastel drawings – Manet and Degas made particularly beautiful examples.

More compact and manageable than the Louvre, the d’Orsay benefits greatly from the huge iron-clad atrium that hangs over it, flooding the paintings with natural light. With the whole building brilliantly remodelled by architect Gae Aulenti in the 1980s, it is a joy to visit.

Musee d’Orsay is situated at Rue de Lille, 62. It is open daily except Monday from 9.30am to 6pm (until 9.45pm Thu). The entrance ticket costs €7.50; concessions €5.50; under 18s free; free first Sun of every month.

Smile is the latest release from Rock Superstar Brian Wilson, and is another great one by this talented musician.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Smile. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Rock music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors on the project including Dave Stone and Paul Martens plus a few other notables as well.

Overall Smile is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 5 – Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine, track 11 – I’m In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop, and track 17 – Good Vibrations.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Our Prayer/Gee. Great track!

Smile Release Notes:

Brian Wilson originally released Smile on September 28, 2004 on the Nonesuch Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Our Prayer/Gee 2. Heroes And Villains 3. Roll Plymouth Rock 4. Barnyard 5. Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine 6. Cabin Essence 7. Wonderful 8. Song For Children 9. Child Is Father Of The Man 10. Surf’s Up 11. I’m In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop 12. Vega-Tables 13. On A Holiday 14. Wind Chimes 15. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow 16. In Blue Hawaii 17. Good Vibrations

Personnel: Brian Wilson (vocals, keyboards); Jeffrey Foskett (vocals, guitar, hammer dulcimer); Probyn Gregory (vocals, guitar, whistle, brass); Scott Bennett (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion); Nick Walusko (vocals, guitar); Nelson Bragg (vocals, whistle, percussion); Darian Sahanaja (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Taylor Mills (vocals, sound effects); Stockholm Strings ‘N’ Horns (strings, horns); Paul Mertens (harmonica, woodwinds, saxophone); Dave Stone (acoustic bass guitar); Bob Lizik (bass guitar); Jim Hines (drums, percussion, sound effects, musical saw).

Recording information: Sunset Sound, Hollywood, California (04/13/2004 – 04/17/2004).

For everyone the definition of painting differs. For some it is the art of expression for others it’s a source of breakthrough or entertainment. The art of painting sustained through several civilization and cultures. Paintings have been a source of liberalization, livelihood, exploration, expressionism and hobby. Though the ages we have seen the evolution in painting from cave painting, cubism to modern art. There have been some masterpieces that are regarded the finest and famous paintings. Painters glorified their name and became immortal with their creation.

Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci)

Mona Lisa is also known as La Gioconda. It is the most famous painting in the history of art. It is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. The painting hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. The painting hangs with the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Mona Lisa painting has achieved the celebrity status around the globe.

The painting depicts the portrait of a woman.

The Last Supper (Leonardo da Vinci)

Leonardo da Vinci is a well known for his masterpiece The Last Supper. It is a 15th century fresco created by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Duke Ludovico Sforza and his duchess Beatrice d’Este. The Last Supper represents the scene from the final days of Jesus, when he announced that one of his Twelve Apostles would betray him.

He painted the Last Supper on the back wall of the dining hall at the Dominican convent of Sta Maria delle Grazie in Italy in order to "extend the room."

The Old Guitarist (Pablo Picasso)

The Old Guitarist is a painting by Pablo Picasso. He painted it in 1903 in Madrid, in a distorted style. The painting is popular for the skeptical presence of a mysterious image of the face of a woman painted underneath. In the image only the face and legs of the woman is visible. The old guitarist painting is currently placed at the Art Institute of Chicago in the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection.

The Persistence of Memory (Dali)

The Persistence of Memory (1931) is one of the most famous Salvador Dali paintings. The painting is collection of ideas and its contents are enigmatic. It is the interpretation of dreams, perception of reality, time, birth, death and sexual desire. The Persistence of Memory is places in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in the New York city.

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon:

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is a large painting depicting five prostitutes in a brothel. It is Picasso’s pivotal work in the development of modern art. It is placed in The Museum of Modern Art’s in New York City. To make this painting, Picasso drew each figure differently. The woman pulling the curtain on the far right sows a heavy paint application throughout. Her head is the most cubists of all five, featuring sharp geometric shapes.

 

Not many people know that counter tops can be painted. For approximately $100 in paint supplies you can create the look of granite or marble very easily and quickly. You do not have to be a master painter by any means but you do have to be careful what you use and of course the surface has to be prepared to paint.  I created the a unique painting process called Countertop Transfauxmations and it proved to be so successful and a great way to save on a huge kitchen remodel that I made a DVD to teach you how to do this yourself.

 

Over the years, I have faux painted so many different Formica countertops. Just about every color, from dark purple and yellow to light green with sparkles. Even textured Formica.  My process covers every color Formica and will also cover nicks, chips burns and scratches.

(Feel free to look at the wonderful before and after pictures my customers have sent in to my website, www.byyoullc.com )

 

This is a four step process that can be completed in about a weekend. As you are using regular paint, your color options are limitless and for the biggest concern of all, this is extremely durable. In fact, the countertop in my own kitchen was refinished three and a half years ago and it is still in the same condition as when I first did it. I painted the counter top a beautiful faux granite. I started out with a dark brown base and added beige, bronze and white. I painted the dark wood cabinets white, changed the hardware and we later changed the sink and stove to white. It is a great kitchen and very workable so for us, there is no need to change it. Our three children were three, (twins) and five years old when the counters were refinished and they have really held up to family wear and tear…not to mention the parties and gatherings at our home.

 

Countertop Transfauxmations was featured on The Rachael Ray Show earlier this year in a quick budget kitchen makeover.  I have heard so many times, “This is too good to be true.” But you can see for yourself at www.byyoull.com.

 

I know this might be a little nerve wrecking for some so with your DVD demo. I provide a full color manual to keep with you while you work so you will not forget the details. There is also a full shopping list of materials, which you can buy at most paint stores. I am always happy to answer questions so feel free to email me at michaela@countertoptransfauxmations.com

 

Happy painting and I wish you much luck selling your home.

 

By Bryon Zirker

Interested in painting a piece of original abstract art (art created by you)? You know that you have never done so before. Well read on for a few some tips that may be able to help you reach that goal.

To create an piece of original abstract art, you must develop a strong imagination and good sense of creativity. Original abstract art skill include the ability to mix different colors, shapes, and textures together and create a complete art piece that represents something in particular. When putting down paint for this form of art, a lot of skilled artists begin in different ways which depends upon what they might be feeling and how their imaginations flow. One simple way to begin is to think of an object that you wish to paint. Now take that same object and abstract it.

Imagine in your minds eye that the object is a blur and paint these shapes and colors. Add different shapes and colors to the painting to make it more abstract. Another tool to assist you is music. This helps many artists begin their artwork.

The rhythm of which the music is played usually influences how fast or slow an artist paints in a session. Music also influences the actual painting. If for example, the music is loud and fast, the painting can be bright and loud. When the music is of a slower type, the painting might come out dull and somber. Abstract Art is the most freely formed type of artwork, no right or wrong about it, it just is. You must let your mind take control and do the work. Surprisingly you can come up with very creative spontaneous work when applying this thought.

First time, get started this way…… One you are going to need gather your materials. This allows you to get all your thoughts together into a visual state for others to see. Get over to your local art supply store. Pick up a the best paint brush you can afford. The paint brush will be an important tool to getting your painting started.

Two is going to be the paint. Some abstract pieces are full of vibrant colors; while others could be black and white…this is your choice and your choice only! That is the beauty of abstract art, you can do whatever you would like, there are no rules to follow. Go and buy the best professional paint that you can afford, no the student paints.

If you opt for acrylic paint remember that it dries very quickly so you can over paint your creation many times.

Three would be what you would like to paint on. Anything from basic paper to primed paper, or even a canvas. Since you are a beginner, and painting on a canvas could be a bit expensive, I would start by painting on paper. There are many different types of paper depending on which medium you choose to paint with. Ok now start your original abstract painting. abstract expressionism is a very popular type of abstract art. Painting with no plan at all. Painting by the seat of your pants if you will. This creates true one hundred percent abstractness as your brush takes over and thoughts from your mind go right onto your paper.

Take time to study your original abstract art painting while painting it. Take time to stand back and see what you have created. This is important as you will be able to see where you wish to go with it and to justify the image you are trying to put down.

Use these points as a guideline when selecting the painter you want to employ for your home or office.

1. When you first contacted the painting company, were they prompt and and efficient in responding to your request?

Some of my clients have expressed dismay at inviting three or four painters to give a quotation and having not one turn up at the agreed time. Reliability at this beginning stage is critical. If your painter turns up on time to this appointment it is highly likely they will continue to be reliable throughout the job. Our company’s motto is “Courtesy and Reliability go hand in hand,’ and we often get the job because of the way we conducted ourselves from the start.

2. Did they turn up on time and what was the condition of the company vehicle?

Simple points indicating the quality and professionalism you might expect. Turning up on time shows they respect you and your time and the condition of the vehicle shows pride in themselves and theit company. Both are often good indicators of the quality of their workmanship.

3. Are they offering a typewritten quotation on a professional letterhead, setting out the specifications they intend to follow if selected to do your work?

Too many times you hear of people accepting a hand written quote scribbled on a torn off sheet of note paper or, worse still, a verbal quote. No specification, no reference to the number of coats or type of paint to be used. Yet these people often get the work, usually because the price is cheap, but sometimes out of fear or intimidation. Too often, when this happens and nothing is in writing, there is a dispute and the home owner is left with a half or shoddily finished job and no recourse to have it remedied.

4. Is the painter or company a member of a trade association?

One of the main advantages of selecting painters from the likes of The Master Painters or Painting Contractors Associations is that they are held accountable by their association and you, as the client, do have some come back if things go wrong. Don’t get me wrong, there are many fine painters who, for their own reasons, choose not to join such a group. But you do need to protect yourself from bad workmanship or generally being ripped off and proof of membership to a professional trade association is one way of doing this.

5.Where did you find the painter or company who is to provide your quotation? In the local paper in the classified ads? The yellow pages, or perhaps the Internet? Or was it a referral from someone you know?

Anyone can pick up a paint brush and run a local advert, and many do. But those who invest in long term advertising like the yellow pages or their own website are generally serious about their business and, consequently, have invested substantial money into them. As a painting contractor with a website and Yello Page advertising my favorite is still referrals. I love it when people call and say we have been referred by so and so. It shows that person has been pleased enough with our service and workmanship to pass it on to others. So take note of what people say about the tradespeople they have used. It could be the difference between getting a great or a miserable job done.

6. When reviewing the quotations do you go for the lowest price?

There may be a wide price difference in the quotes you receive. Look closely at what’s being offered. Is one price quite a bit higher than the others? How well is it presented? Does it itemise what you are paying for? Does it offer a guarantee of any kind? Do they allow a period for remedial work? Perhaps they are more expensive because they have included the waterblasting in the price. Maybe they have incorporated the scaffolding also. A cheaper quote may not include these items but may not state so. When reviewing your quotes remember your gut feeling at the original meeting. Pick up the phone and ask about anything you are unsure of. And make sure you get it in writing. A professional operator will be happy to send a revised quote detailing the things you have discussed and including anything that has been missed – and, to be fair, adjusting the price if you are asking for something extra they had not included.

Mike Smith, Director. North South Interiors Ltd

Painters and Decorators.

Mike is a past president of a local city painting contractors’ association and was a board member of the Auckland Painting Contractors’ Association for a number of years. He was first registered as a Master Painter in 1985. Mike acts as a Consultant and Project Manager as well as running his own company. He prides himself on meeting deadlines, giving value for money, and having a large data base of satisfied customers, many of whom refer him to others and return to him for all their painting needs and advice.

visit http://www.north-south.co.nz

Portrait painting is the art of depicting a human face. The features and characteristics of an individual are depicted in fine detail. The artist pays close attention to the features of the individual, especially eyes which are the most expressive of all the features, and presents them in finest of detail.

At times people confuse portraits with representation of a face only. A portrait can depict the face of the subject or the entire body of the subject too. A portrait painting tries to capture the emotion of the subject. The emotion can be of sorrow, happiness, dismay, despair etc. The challenge lies before the artist to capture the emotion of the subject in true, unadulterated form.

History

The art of making portrait paintings originated in ancient Egypt. Kings, emperors and nobles in high positions used to get their portrait made in order to immortalise themselves in the painting, save it and pass it on to the future generations.

It was during the Renaissance period that portraits were valued and were given due importance. Portrait paintings evolved during this time and the works of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael further added to the popularity of portraits.

For decoration purpose

Portraits are a great way of decorating a home and also gifting a beautiful portrait to someone is a great idea. A portrait; be it of a single person or of a group can enhance the beauty of a room further and makes it even more vibrant and lively.

Before buying a portrait check out the layout, colour and frame of the portrait painting and make sure that it gels with the wall in the room. However, if you come across a portrait of your choice on some fine online art gallery then don’t let go of the portrait just because it is not matching with the colour of the wall or the theme of the room. It is better that you change the shade of the wall rather than letting go of the portrait. After all it is not everyday that you find a portrait which appeals to you in the first glance.

The best places to hang a portrait

? Generally the living room and dining room are the first preferences of people to hang the portrait. As apart from family members, guests too can have a look at them and admire their beauty.

? The entrance of a home is another good place to hang a portrait. There is no better way to welcome guests than with a beautiful portrait.

? You can also display portraits on the staircase. Portraits give life to the otherwise dead staircase.

Check the internet and you will easily find an online art gallery from where you can buy beautiful portrait paintings and original paintings. Browse the online gallery, have a look at each of the pieces of work done by contemporary artists and then buy a portrait with which you can immediately feel a connection.

Wherever you find yourself and whatever language you speak, you will always find people singing and rejoicing. Joy is the contentment of the heart, and to shout for joy calls for singing from the heart. ‘Is any merry? Let him sing Psalms,’ says the word of God. In another place it also reads: Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice. This shows that singing and rejoicing mean a lot to the soul, and also a good health to the body.

But do you have access to good music? Gone were the days when we depend on radios before we can listen to good music. The old methods of doing things are changing. New things are happening, and we can get new music and artists of our choice at any time. Just by browsing through the net we can find ourselves in the world of opportunities to grab the latest information and entertainment. You can check it out now: http://www.moreinfo247.com/8928947/TF