Experience of comissioning a portrait
December 20, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Every one of us has dozens of photographs that we see only on rare occasions whenever we feel like reminiscing. Some of them are the ones that really cherish the moments, which always stays fresh as memories. But to make it more memorable, imagine having an oil painting of that Photograph hanging above your mantle or other places in your home or office.
Let me just briefly depict my experience of commissioning a portrait. It was the birthday of my grand mum and I wanted to gift her with something that she would really cherish. I was utterly in loss of ideas, as she either has all that she needs or just doesn’t care to have anything. Then my wife suggested why not gift, her with a life size portrait of my grandpa. It was the best idea, so I went out looking for people who could blow up the photos I had of him and make it into a six foot tall image. I found that lt was virtually impossible even with the latest photo resizing and enhancement to make the old paintings which I had to be converted to what I wanted it to be. Then when I chanced upon a site that offered to commission a portrait and make it look alive. As if when hung the portrait could speak to you.
I decided to commission a portrait. It turned out to be the best gift I had bought ever to anyone. My grandma was in literal tears when she saw the Image come alive in front of her. She felt as if my grandpa was standing right in front of her. It was simply awesome. This was when I realized that Oil paint portraits are more than just work of art but a reflection of a persona coming alive.
From then on I have been a avid fan of Oil paint portraits I have suggested it to over a hundred people and most if not all agreed with my views and ended up commissioning a portrait.
Why a Portrait?
Many people from all over the world Commission to hand paint, portraits of their family or of their Children or wedding portrait. It always reminds us the pleasant memories or event that we shared. Commemorating these experiences with traditional oil painting is a unique expression of love, respect and admiration for a time or event that may never come around again, it can be shared by your family and your descendants.
Commissioning a portrait:
Because an oil portrait will be a treasured heirloom the goal is to create a painting that will stand the test of time as a compelling work of art. Portraits are intended as a celebration and affirmation of the life of the sitters; each is an exploration of their unique character and personal strengths.
Oil paintings capture qualities that are quintessential dynamic with authenticity and compassion. Painting portraits is about exploring the lyricism of character and levels of personality within the painted surface. More than a photograph made to look like a painting, portraits are the real thing. A love of people and a deep interest in the human experience is the key to a painting that lasts forever. The time necessary for a commissioning a portrait varies with the length, scale, background, medium and the material available to work with. Allow the leeway of a couple of weeks then see the wonders come to life right in front of your eyes. Capture memories make them last for eternity.
A look at famous paintings of George Washington – Part 2
December 20, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
In the United States the paintings of our first president George Washington are familiar. His face is easily recognized and the painting that is the one mostly shown that is representative of him is the painting by Charles Wilson Peale. It was painted by in 1779. One would think, were it not for reading online more interesting facts about this painting that it was a one time affair; the president sat for a few days, whenever he could find the time, the artist readied his canvas and his oils and he painted the portrait. Not so fast.
I learned that Peale’s son Rembrandt, when only seventeen years old, was allowed to paint a portrait of our first president while the elder Peale painted along side him. (This was the seventh portrait the elder Peale had painted of the president and they both look somewhat alike. From my view of the online pictures, the sons painting is lighter than that of the elder Peale.)
One asks, where in the world did the President get so much time? It is also stated from my online sources, (senate site) that while Peale was painting the president while sitting for his portrait, he alternated with Gilbert Stuart who also was painting his portrait. In other words, the Peale’s painted one day on the next day Stuart painted. Surely this was only for a few days. I don’t like to think our president was kept away from his duties for long periods of time.
However they did it we do have the paintings. It is said that Stuart makes about seventy copies from the original he painted from the sittings of the president. Peale, likewise did about the same number counting his live sitting and his copies. The younger Rembrandt Peale. Twenty five years after his youthful experience with painting with his father while George Washington posed, tried again. This time not from a sitting but he studied the paintings of Gilbert Stuart, John Trumbull, and his father, Charles Wilson Peale and the “sculptural portrait by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The finished work apparently was successful. This one is still considered to be the best portrait.
This effort was carefully thought out by the now seasoned Rembrandt Peale and the effect, the background carefully wrought to represent Greek symbolism with Christian ideas thrown in for good measure. Actually, he painted an idyllic painting of a symbolic window and sat a painted bust of Washington in the window. The words,”PATRIAE
PATER”, meaning (Father of his country) is engraved on the window ledge.
It appears
Portrait painting tips – Part 1
December 19, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
I believe the portrait artist should learn to reveal the inner soul, this is what I term ‘Artists Vision’. True portraiture is not just a face reproduced.
To paint a portrait is one of the most challenging subjects for an artist. The feelings of exhileration to capture the expressions of the human likeness are wonderful rewards. Remember, an artist should not see wrinkles, only character lines. One should aim to produce a memorable likeness and mystique beneath that likeness. Every successful portrait is successful because of the rapport the artist build with the subject. I advise a ‘getting to know you’ period, prior to the beginning of the painting.
An artist should cultivate an inner memory file to store the attributes of their subjects. Those distinquishing characteristics that make up the individual.
Choose the most attractive and striking features, these will be dominant, focal points of the portrait; every nuance of the face and figure must be observed, but not necessarily painted.
The pose of your subject is important, it can say as much about the person as their facial expression. Remember that a well executed portrait will interpret the inner quality of the person.
To encourage ‘chat’ throughout the painting session is a good idea. Lead the sitter to talk about themselves: their work,hobbies,ambitions and achievements. These discussions usually bring some animation to their expression.
Every new subject is an adventure and challenge as no two people are exactly alike in appearance and temperament.
Enjoy your experience as a Portrait Painter.
How to Find Free Pets
December 19, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Anyone who has ever started looking around for an animal to add to the family knows that getting a new pet can be very expensive, and it seems almost impossible to find a free pet. Many breeders ask for several hundred dollars, even for the smallest dogs or cats. Golden Retrievers are usually $700 to $800, Maine Coon cats can cost up to $900 or $1000, and rare exotic animals run much higher.
However, considering all of the pets in the world who are currently homeless, and are living in animal shelters without a loving family, it seems unreasonable and nonsensical to spend hundreds of dollars for a pet when there are so many who need to be saved.
While there are a number of animal rescue organizations and pet shelters around the country, there is only one resource which you should always start with, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Healthy Pets Aren’t Always Free
Before we examine why it’s best to start with the ASPCA, which does charge some fees for adopting and rescuing pets, it’s important to note that it is possible to find a free pet, if you are careful and follow a few important guidelines.
Searching through the classified ads in the newspaper or online classified ads like PetsAds or PetsClassifieds.us, you can locate listings for free pets that people are giving away. It’s critical to understand that most free pet ads are from people who are giving away their pets for the following reasons:
They are moving to a place that doesn’t take pets.
They can no longer afford to have a pet.
They found a stray, but can’t keep it.
These are usually well-meaning people, but keep in mind that if they have a pet that they can no longer afford to keep, the pet may not be 100% healthy. If you do decide to take the classified ad route, just remember that most of the things that the fees pay for at the ASPCA, you will have to pay for anyway – including all shots, medical checkups and neutering.
It is perfectly okay to find free pets on your own, just remember that pets are never “free”. You will need to pay for the up-front (and continuing) health care for the rest of it’s life.
ASPCA and Pet Adoption
The ASPCA is a wonderful organization that helps to promote animal shelters and rescue organizations that take excellent care of animals across the country. At the ASPCA Website, you can adopt and save homeless animals in the following ways:
Find a Shelter
By clicking on the “Find a Shelter” link, you are taken to a search page where you can search for local animal shelters by city and state. The ASPCA doesn’t technically endorse the shelters listed by this utility, but it provides the search function to animal lovers who need a resource to find local shelters.
This is a very comprehensive National Shelter Directory, and it is a service to help families with lots of love to offer to connect with animals that need the love. Buying a pet from a local shelter is essentially like getting a free pet, because the fees to adopt a pet cover many of the upfront medical costs you were incur if you’d picked up the animal as a stray or free from a classified ad. Animal shelters take care of the upfront health concerns, so that when you adopt a pet from a shelter, you can be certain that the animal is healthy and well cared for.
In addition, many shelters offer a unique incentive for people to have their pets properly neutered by offering a discount or refund for the procedure with local vets.
ASPCA Adoption Center
The ASPCA Adoption Center provides listings of hundreds of cats and dogs who need a home. The main page of the adoption center explains everything you will need in order to adopt a pet. This is good to read even if you aren’t going to the ASPCA, because most shelters require the same information. Things you will need if planning to adopt a pet:
· Two forms of identification with your address on it (at least one picture ID)
· Two personal references who can be reached by phone
· Proof of vaccination for the pets that you already own.
· Proof of income
While this may seem excessive to some people, it’s important to understand that there are a lot of people out there who would not think twice about harming or being cruel to animals. The job of the ASPCA and all animal shelters across the country, is to protect animals from cruelty, and to make sure that animals are placed in homes where they have the best chances of being as loved and cared for as they deserve to be.
The benefits of adopting through the ASPCA (many animal shelters offer these same benefits):
14 days of free follow-up vet care
A leash, collar, and pet carrier to help bring the animal home
Educational literature about pet behavior and pet care
Free spay/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and registration, all provided as part of the adoption fee.
Obviously, the only good option for finding a free pet is going through the ASPCA, or through a local animal shelter. This will ensure that you are getting a healthy pet, and you can feel good about doing your part to save an animal from a live without a home, and without love.
Support Animal Rescue Efforts With a Portrait
When you adopt your new pet, show people how much you love your new furry friend by having a pet portrait done by professional artist Nikky Hughes of Los Angeles. Nikky was classically trained at the Mission Renaissance art school, and she focuses on capturing not only the beauty, but the unique character of each animal. She will accept photos through the mail of pets, and then create stunning portraits from those pictures. Pet portraits are ideal because they can be done from a photo (as apposed to getting the pet to “pose” at a studio.)
The great thing about Nikky is that she’s a pet lover herself, and this is reflected in how she runs her business. Nikki donates 5% of every commission to an animal rescue foundation. This is a wonderful way that you can help to support the cause of animal rescue – and receiving a stunning portrait of your new pet in the process.
France, Not Just For Lovers
December 18, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Traveling to France can the fulfillment of a life long dream for many tourists, but what’s a foreigner to do when they get there? The myriad of tourist attractions and cultural events can make narrowing down your options into your vacation time frame difficult.
Very Paris
A must see for the tourist visiting Paris is of course the Eiffel Tower. It was completed in 1889 and was once a hated sight for most Parisians but now serves as a symbol of french civic pride. The Musee du Louvre houses the famous Mona Lisa portrait painted by Leonado da Vinci and is a staple on any tourists itinerary. The Musee d’ Orsey is interestingly located in a former railroad station and hosts impressionistic art. The Notre Dame Cathadral is a gothic masterpiece of architecture located in the heart of the city and should not be skipped. The Luxemborg Gardens were once only open to French royalty and are a delight for nature lovers. Sainte Chapelle is a thirteenth century church that hosts classical music concerts as well as the Opera Garnier. Staying in Paris can be tricky. These hotels are recommended by other tourists who have visited Paris: Hotel Residence Focho, on average $214 a night, the Royal Magela Etoile Hotel Paris at about $218, the splendid Etoile Hotel averaging $331 a night, and the Hotel Bassano for around $312 a night. Marvelous Marseille Locations that will provide hours of entertainment for the whole family while visiting Marseille are in abundance. The Old Port, with it’s caravelle atmosphere and boardwalk setting is a great choice for drinks, dinner or live music. The Cathedrale de la Major and the Musee Historre de Marseille are both worthy sites for enriching your French experience. The Chateau d’ Iff is a sixteenth century chateau located on a small island off the coast of Marseille and is reported to have once imprisoned the famous Count de Monte Cristo. The famous Baslique Notre Dame de la Garde is a popular religious site that will inspire visitors.
Including Cannes
Cannes is widely known for it’s art community and is a favorite hot spot for tourists. Visiting the Forville Market, you will find a wonderful French open market featuring local produce. Other popular attractions are the Carlton Casino Club and the Plague du Martinez beach. The Musee de la Mer is an interesting maritime museum located in Cannes. Cannes abounds with art and craft galleries and can provide hours of quiet enjoyment for the art lover. Lodging in Cannes is recommended at the America Hotel for an average price of $151, The Hotel Florian Cannes for about $98, the Hotel Belle Plage at around $219, the California Hotel for $211 and the Riviera Hotel for about $91.
Discover Munich – Visit the Most Famous Landmarks of Munich
December 17, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Munich is the capital city of the state of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany. It is well known for its culture, architecture and the “Okoberfest” (the annual beer celebration). Getting around is easy because of its modern and efficient public transport system. On all major streets there are bike lanes, so it is safe and easy to travel by bike through the city. In Munich there are several interesting landmarks to visit like a large number of museums, art galleries, concert halls and historical buildings.
The most famous attractions in Munich are:
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the largest museums in Europe. It houses a large collection of paintings. This collection contains 800 paintings by European painters from the 14th century till the 18th century. Famous paintings in the museum are: Dürer’s “Four Apostles”; Rogier van der Weyden’s ” columba-altar “; Altdorfer’s “Battle of Alexander at Issus”; Botticelli’s “Pieta” and Rubens’ “Self-Portrait with his Wife”. The Neue Pinakothek is Munich’s museum of 19th century painting and sculptures. The collection consists mainly of German Romantics and French Impressionists. Goya, Manet, Renoir and Cezanne are some of the painters which works are on display.
The Deutsches Museum contains over 13 acres of exhibitions containing invaluable original machines and equipment, models and reconstructions, from classical mechanics to telecommunications, from a full-size reconstructed coal mine to space travel technology. Making the museum one of the largest museums of technology and natural sciences in the world. You can see airplanes, submarines and the first X-ray machine among other things. The live demonstrations and hands-on instructional aids are fun and informative for the visitor.
Built for the Olympic Games in 1972 with its tent-roof covering 75,000 square meters,the Olympic Park had become a well known landmark in Munich. This landscaped park contains sport facilities, lakes, bicycle paths, concert venues, restaurants and a football stadium. Don’t miss the fascinating BMW Museum across the street, right next to the companies headquarters – which was constructed in the shape of a four-cylinder engine.
The Oktoberfest takes place every year late in September and runs to early October. The duration of the festival is two weeks.
Located at “Theresienwiese” you can drink beyond your limits, meeting folks from all over the world. All beer tents close at 11 p.m., so make sure you start your trip early enough. About 30% of the yearly beer production of all the big breweries in Munich are consumed during these two weeks. You can also visit a giant fun fair, side shows and souvenir stands. Every year the Oktoberfest welcomes nearly 7 million visitors. This makes the Munich Oktoberfest the largest festival in the world.
Give Your Best Pose For The Best Portrait Photograph
December 15, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Are you getting ready for posing for a photo shoot? Be extra prepared since this is not just an ordinary photo shoot. You are planning to give out this photo for being reproduced into a portrait. Portrait is a life long and treasured memory. So extra preparation will be imperative.
Does the extra preparation for posing mean having bath for a longer time and styling your hair a new way? Yes that sure is a necessity to some extent. But two important elements need to be born in mind while posing for a portrait photograph. The first is that the pose must be natural. Second, the character and spirit of the subject must be undistorted.
Being natural while posing means trying to be less conscious of the camera lens before you. It is generally seen that when people are asked to smile, they give out a forceful smile. No! They have no stress and they may be feeling that they are giving their best. But it is not. And here comes the role of the photographer.
The photographer transforms the three dimensional human shape in a two dimensional form. A good portrait photographer must be aware of all the nuances of photography to result into a fantastic picture.
A few basic guidelines will always be resourceful for a photographer to create a magnificent portrait photograph.
Eyes are the focus of areas of any good photographer. Stick to the eyes. You shift focus from the eyes and you will find the entire picture as having shifted focus. How will a portrait of Abraham Lincoln look when a bar tender in the background is the center of attention. Look into the subject’s eyes and try to figure out what story they tell.
Next come the heads and shoulders. Tilt the shoulders at an angle to the camera. The photographer must decide the angle according to his requirements. This is a particularly challenging issue since having the poser face the camera will make him look obese and sometimes clumsy. Keeping both shoulders in a linear fashion is not recommended. Instead, raise one shoulder than the other.
Now comes the head. Tilt the head in the angle opposite to the angle that your shoulders have been turned. The effect of this is that an incline occurs in the natural line of the subject’s eyes. This too has a different significance depending on the subject being shot. When shooting men, the head is often tilted towards the lower shoulder, which signifies their masculine traits such as assertiveness and muscle. In women, tilting the head towards the high shoulder will make them give out a more mysterious charm.
Do not slouch when you are posing for a portrait photograph. If the photograph depicts subject in a standing position, put the feet apart from each other. Putting weight of the subject on the back leg will give a good impression. When sitting, incline forward from the waist to fashion a slopping line to the shoulders.
That will surely make for a good portrait photograph, which ultimately will be your best portrait painting.
Innovative Portrait Photographers
December 15, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Ever since photography was invented, there have been famous names associated with it. Ansel Adams, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Dorothea Lang are just a few of those who have changed how we look at the world and at photography. What about famous photographers today, those who are currently changing the way the world looks at photography, especially at portrait photography.
One of the all time great portrait photographers was Don Blair. He was known as a master in the field of portrait photography where he used lighting and composition to create timeless images. His interest in photography came when he was in sixth grade, when he went to work for a photography studio carrying equipment and helping in the lab. He learned all he could from the owner of the studio and eventually took it over and named it Don Blair Photo Studio. He was an advocate of continued learning and growth. He was known for his kindness to amateur and professional alike, and was willing to share what he knew with everyone, if they had the desire to learn. He was a mentor to many contemporary photographers.
One couple that he mentored is Joseph and Louise Simone out of Quebec, Canada. They learned the skills of seeing light and paying attention to composition and use this to not just take pictures, but create art with their photography. They met while working at Don Blair’s photo studio in the 70’s. The experience they had at his studio and the things they learned set them on their photographic path and they are still creating beautiful photography today. They are unique in their photography in that Louise “paints” their portraits after they have been photographed. She uses both Corel Painter and Photoshop tools to do her painting digitally, creating timeless, lasting portraiture.
Anne Geddes is another photographer who has chosen a different subject and path for her art, with a very successful outcome. It wasn’t until age 25 that she really started into photography. She had always loved looking at images and when she finally started capturing them, the results were spectacular. She specializes in infant and childhood photography and keeps the prints simple and clean. She often times uses props or adds in props digitally after the shoot. Her style is innovative in that she is the first to pose infants in such simplistic, unique poses. As a mother herself she knows and understands children and her photography reflects this. Each of Anne Geddes photos capture more than just a stunning image, it is difficult to look at Anne Geddes photos and not feel an emotional connection to the image.
Capturing portrait photographs of individuals is more than just capturing an image, it is about capturing facets of the subject’s character and those subtleties that make them a unique individual. Great portrait photographs speak volumes about the person. Great portrait photographers capture not just the likeness of the individual, but also preserves the person’s personality.
Portrait photographs are cherished because they capture and preserve an individual at a specific point in their life.
Miniature Painting – Art ‘In Miniature’
December 14, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
Summarized briefly, miniature painting is a form of painting that is deeply rooted in many cultures and spans centuries. The Lathams are a family of American artists practicing it in todays modern art market of galleries and exhibitions. As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are painted in miniature. Early BeginningssMiniature painting is a traditional style of art that is very detailed, often referred to as painting or working in miniature. Because of their origins as illuminations, they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome as well) Miniature art can be traced back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England’s Lindisfarne Gospels (both of which measure around 9″ x 12″). Some early manuscripts contain miniature paintings on their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower arrangements on their borders. The history of miniature painting is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures. sMiniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many were not able to, before printing was invented. The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written word. Therefore, the art of miniature painting is directly connected to the book arts. The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature, portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to as hand held miniatures. Portrait miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all painted works that were of a larger size.SizessMiniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered miniature art, though this is not the case. It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term “miniature” have nothing to do with a size. The word miniature comes from the terms ‘minium’ (used for the red lead paint used in illuminated manuscripts) and ‘miniare’ (Latin for ‘to color with red lead’).Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and as such, a wall sized work could be painted in miniature. Authors of the Yale University Press publication, The English Miniature have stated that miniatures have been painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirm that miniature paintings are not restricted to smallness. Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to detail is observed. Miniature art is also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniature painting.sExhibitionssToday, there are miniature art societies in western society to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the spirit of miniature. Their exhibitions feature the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of it’s natural size, or the 2 rule, that an object in the painting may not exceed 2. Scale rules were initially put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for society miniature works as well. All of these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size, such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical criteria of the miniature’s definition. The world’s experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.The term “miniature”, as it addresses miniature painting, is often confused with “miniaturize” and some miniature art exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it’s initial meaning of techniques, but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or intimate hand held works.Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, & Patrick Noon.–Rebecca Latham is an accomplished realistic painter working in finely detailed watercolors (in miniature) & primarily prefers to render wildlife & the natural world in her paintings. She holds memberships in numerous prestigious societies & has earned many awards for her artwork. Her works are exhibited in galleries, exhibitions & collected globally works can be viewed online at her familys art website and her blog of miniature paintings, prints, drawings & events
Changes in Art Forms
December 14, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Portraits
This naturally translated itself into the canvas art scene but not all artists today who enjoy the right to diversity would accept the label of “Post-Modern”. It is better described as “an altered mood” rather than a new style. Perhaps it is always misleading to think of styles as following each other like soldiers on parade. It is more generally recognised that artists have the right to go their own way.
In recent years artists have taken up the medium of photography for the creation of novel effects that has previously been the preserve of painters. Thus David Hockney has enjoyed using his camera for multiple images somewhat reminiscent of Cubist paintings and abstract art such as Picasso’s picture of “Violin and Grapes” of 1912. His famous portrait of his mother was a mosaic of various shots taken from slightly different angles and also records the movement of her head. One might expect such a combination to result in an incoherent jumble but the portrait is certainly evocative. After all, when we look at a person our eyes never stand still for any length of time and the image we form in our minds when we think of a person is always composite. It is this experience which Hockney has somehow captured in his photographic experiments. It looks as if at the present moment, this conciliation between the photographer and the artist will increase in importance in years to come. To be sure, even painters of the nineteenth century made a good deal of use of photographs, but now the practice is acknowledged and widespread in the search of novel affects.
What these recent developments have brought home is that there are tides of tastes in contemporary art and abstract art no less than there are tides of fashion in clothing or decoration. It is undeniable that many of the old masters whom we admire and indeed many styles of the part failed to be appreciated by very sensitive and knowledgeable critics of former generations. This is certainly true. No critic can be entirely unbiased, but it is wrong to draw the conclusion that artistic values are altogether relative. Granted that we rarely stop to look for the objective merits of works or styles that have failed immediately to appeal to us, this does not prove that our appreciations are entirely subjective. We can recognise mastery of art, and this has little to do with our personal likes and dislikes. You may like Raphael and dislike Rubens, or the other way around, but should recognise that both were towering masters in their own right.