Biography: Vincent Van Gogh – Part 4
December 18, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Impressionist
“When I have a terrible need of-shall I say the word- religion.Then I go out and paint the stars.”Now who has not seen and been awed by Vincent Van Gogh’s
stunning painting,”Starry Night”?
This poor soul who has become the Archetypical “artist persona”
only painted for the last ten years of his life and only sold one painting!
Yet he has altered the history of art forever.
How could this be so?It is so because Van Gogh distilled all of his emotional
torment into his paintings.His terrible inner struggle with madness and his inherent spirituality gave his canvasses a surface tension never seen before.
He was born in Holland in 1853 but didn’t become an artist until 1880.
After he met several impressionist painters he began to change his palette
and paint in a lighter mode.
Having cut off his ear with a razor he began a downward spiral into madness.
His brother Theo was his champion and best friend.He supported Vincent to the end.
However he could not protect Vincent from himself and after a long bout with severe depression,Vincent shot himself in the stomach.
He died two days later saying it was ,”For the good of all”.
His paintings were definitely for the good of all.
He made our world a more special place.
May he rest in peace in the grave next to his brother Theo forever.
Vincent Van Gogh Genius or Mad man or Both
September 22, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Old Masters
Vincent Van Gogh lived a hard life, poor as dirt yet kept on painting with unmached passion and ceativity. Sometimes he would create many pieces in a one day. There is something different about Vincent Van Gogh’s amazing works. His drive and passion to continue when he could not afford to eat was more then most would have endured. His brother an art dealer Theo could not sell a Vincent Van Gogh his own brothers work.
Today his paintings are sold for more money then any artist of any time how ironic. i have seen his works when touring thru the US and they are brilliant in person just magnificent. if you have never seen a Van Gogh you must treat yourself and find the closest museum with one or if you can go to Amsterdam this is where the collection for this Dutch master collection is housed. There are also films on his life if you are more interested in his story. You can always visit us at www.ezmuseum.com
Creative Tips for Selecting Stunning Artwork for Your Home’s D
September 17, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Impressionist
The Wow Factor
Did you ever walk into someone’s home and look around and suddenly become embarrassed by your own homes d?r? It just seems that some people are artistically gifted while the rest of us suffer from some form of artistic dysfunction. It can be irritating to have to try so hard just to hang some pictures. But once you get the knack of things, it is really not so hard and your home’s interior can remind you of those homes with that special Wow factor.
Artwork, by its very nature, is a personal expression and every individual will receive it on a personal level. Some paintings just call to you and you simply have to have it while others just do not make sense. This is true for everyone, and not just the artistically challenged.
Start Small and Simple
If you are ready to tackle some new and improved decorating ideas, and ready to start with the artwork that hangs on your walls, then pick a room and jump right in. It is usually best to start with your favorite room in the house simply because this room is probably a place that you already have a vision, even if it is very small. Most people have white walls, but if you have a bit more splash to your room, that will work just fine as well. Start small and just pick a color scheme. Just like that. Something that will compliment what is already painted or wallpapered to the room, but one color that really works for you. It is okay to be daring and go with reds, greens, blues, or even yellows and oranges. Often, once we have latched onto a basic color scheme, us artistically challenged can work through our dysfunction and move forward. However, part of our dysfunction is the tendency to over use our color. Start small, but stay simple.
For instance, we were having a bold day and so we chose orange for our color scheme. We do not need paintings and artwork that are completely orange. Maybe just one nice piece that is mostly orange, but the rest should just have a little of that color reflected in the work.
Themes, Clashes, and Other Artwork Disasters
Rule number one in overcoming artistic dysfunction is never mix styles and themes in the same room. Some people can naturally get the knack of it and it turns out to be something fabulous. Since we are not so fortunate then we must keep it simple. If your orange room has one lovely impressionist piece in it, then stay with various forms of impressionist artwork throughout the room. Some experts say that you should maintain the same style throughout the entire home. Others say to vary but only room by room. Too much repetition is boredom so it is highly suggested to work room by room in order to avoid boredom.
Some colors work well with others and other colors are an atrocious disaster when blended or even in the same state as another color. I have yet to see a well blended sample of orange and pink, although I am sure some highly creative type compiled them beautifully.
If you are not sure, ask. The best way to learn is by asking questions and gathering ideas from other people. Ask specific questions if you are looking for specific answers. Explain that you are looking for something that will compliment painting well and not necessarily match it, if possible, bring a photo. Part of learning the fine art of decorating with artwork is learning to compliment pieces rather than match them. You do not have to be pushed in purchasing something you do not like, but the experience of watching someone find you a painting that compliments the one you started with can be very beneficial. In fact, after a few tries, you may even begin looking yourself, with confidence. By enhancing your decorating talents step by little tiny baby step, you will be able to put together impressive themes and d?r without wasting money on pieces that do not work.
Practical Tips for choosing stunning Artwork for your Home
August 12, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Impressionist
The Wow Factor
Did you ever walk into someone’s home and look around and suddenly become embarrassed by your own homes décor? It just seems that some people are artistically gifted while the rest of us suffer from some form of artistic dysfunction. It can be irritating to have to try so hard just to hang some pictures. But once you get the knack of things, it is really not so hard and your home’s interior can remind you of those homes with that special Wow factor.
Artwork, by its very nature, is a personal expression and every individual will receive it on a personal level. Some paintings just call to you and you simply have to have it while others just do not make sense. This is true for everyone, and not just the artistically challenged.
Start Small and Simple
If you are ready to tackle some new and improved decorating ideas, and ready to start with the artwork that hangs on your walls, then pick a room and jump right in. It is usually best to start with your favorite room in the house simply because this room is probably a place that you already have a vision, even if it is very small. Most people have white walls, but if you have a bit more splash to your room, that will work just fine as well. Start small and just pick a color scheme. Just like that. Something that will compliment what is already painted or wallpapered to the room, but one color that really works for you. It is okay to be daring and go with reds, greens, blues, or even yellows and oranges. Often, once we have latched onto a basic color scheme, us artistically challenged can work through our dysfunction and move forward. However, part of our dysfunction is the tendency to over use our color. Start small, but stay simple.
Let us say we were having a bold day and we picked orange for our color scheme. We do not need paintings and artwork that are completely orange. Maybe just one nice piece that is mostly orange, but the rest should just have a little of that color reflected in the work.
Themes, Clashes, and Other Artwork Disasters
Rule number one in overcoming artistic dysfunction is never mix styles and themes in the same room. Some people can get away with that and it looks fabulous. But we are not so fortunate and we must keep it very simple. If your orange room has one lovely impressionist piece in it, then stay with various forms of impressionist artwork throughout the room. Some experts say that you should maintain the same style throughout the entire home. Others say to vary but only room by room. I am in favor of room by room because I do not like boredom, and too much repetition is boredom.
Some colors work well with others and other colors are an atrocious disaster when blended or even in the same state as another color. I have yet to see a well blended sample of orange and pink, although I am sure some highly creative type compiled them beautifully.
If you are not sure, ask. Asking questions and gathering ideas from other people is the best way to learn. If you are looking for specific answers then you have to ask specific questions. Bring a photo and explain that you are looking for something that will compliment painting well, not match it. Part of learning the fine art of decorating with artwork is learning to compliment pieces rather than match them. You do not have to be pushed in purchasing something you do not like, but the experience of watching someone find you a painting that compliments the one you started with can be very beneficial. In fact, after a few tries, you may even begin looking yourself, with confidence. By enhancing your decorating talents step by little tiny baby step, you will be able to put together impressive themes and décor without wasting money on pieces that do not work.
8 Monet Quotes to Celebrate Claude Monet’s Birthday
June 10, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Old Masters
Claude Monet was an artistic genius and it is only fitting that we celebrate his birthday with some great Monet quotes to remember him by. Here are eight to give us insight into what made this talented artist tick.
1. “We’re having marvelous weather and I wish I could send you a little of the sunshine. I am slaving away on six paintings a day. I’m giving myself a hard time over it as I haven’t yet managed to capture the color of this landscape, there are moments when I’m appalled at the colors I’m having to use, I’m afraid what I’m doing is just dreadful and yet I really am understating it; the light is simply terrifying.”
2. “I know that to paint the sea really well, you need to look at it every hour of every day in the same place so that you can understand its way in that particular spot; and that is why I am working on the same motifs over and over again, four or six times even.”
3. “Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.”
4. “It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.”
5. “I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”
6. “For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life – the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value.”
7. “I am completely absorbed by my work. These landscapes of water and reflections have become an obsession. They are beyond the strength of an old man, and yet I am determined to set down what I feel. I have destroyed some…I have begun others over again…and I hope that something will come of so much effort.”
8. “I would advise young artists to paint as they can, as long as they can, without being afraid of painting badly. If their painting doesn’t improve by itself, it means that nothing can be done — and I wouldn’t do anything!”
Hit paintings are treasures and some have tried to imitate, but none have been able to match his mastery. Let us remember to appreciate true genius when we see it and remember Claude Monet with these 8 great Monet quotes.
How to Choose Abstract Art
June 3, 2009 by Portrait Painter
Filed under Abstract & Cubism
Art is one of those really personal things. We all choose art with a particular room or space in mind – we know what we want, we know what will go.
However, it is not always that easy and there are a few simple rules that will ensure that you choose the right piece of abstract art.
Abstract art is very popular. And there is a good reason for this popularity. Abstract pictures go very well in most situations. There are no connections or concrete images – the art is expressive and suggestive and adds drama to any situation in which it is placed.
When choosing the perfect piece of art for your home or office – consider these simple steps to make sure you choose the perfect piece:
1) The Room/The Space – Choosing the right place for your art is very important. Making sure the canvas is centered on the wall and captures the vision of anyone entering the room will ensure that you make the most of your new acquisition.
2) The wall – make sure you assess the colour of the wall on which you plan to hang the painting. Dark colours will usually require pictures with a lighter colour whereas walls that are painted in white or creme can support darker paintings.
3) The style – Abstract art can come in a wide variety of different colours and styles. Make sure you choose one that complements your room or office perfectly. If your room is quite minimalist then you can probably choose a painting that has more action to it whereas if the room is quite busy then you might want a simple deisgn.
4) Size – Finally, make sure you choose the right size canvas for the space you have. A painting that is too big will overtly dominate the room which is not necessarily what you want. On the other hand, you will want to ensure that the canvas is not so small that it gets lost in the room.
So there you have it. These are mostly simple suggestions but are still important to bear in mind. Don’t forget to visit our abstract art gallery to see if we have something that might fit the bill!