Art Articles

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Tuesday, 29th January 2008 @ 3:08 AM

The world of modern art is changing. Just visit a contemporary art auction for a clue. Unknown artists find the value of their works quadrupling within years. Chinese and Indian artists are finding greater audiences, and wealthy patrons of the arts aren't just paying thousands - they're paying millions. Traditionally, an artist's older works garnered higher bids and more frenzied requests. However, painters like Brice Marden are changing the status quo with a whole collect... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Anna Stenning @ Friday, 25th January 2008 @ 2:10 PM

Tattoos have been around in the world for many years. It is an old form of body art and has continued to be practised in almost every single region of the world. The idea of having a permanent mark on drawn onto your skin became a fashion trend and a mark of gaining a certain kind of authority. Britain is best known for its popularity in creating elaborate tattoo designs, using various advanced tattoo supplies and demonstrating a passion for indelible ink art. However, another trend was set to b... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Thursday, 24th January 2008 @ 9:08 PM

Art collector Eli Broad once said, "People always say congratulations. When you're a successful bidder it means you're willing to spend more money than anyone else. I'm not sure if that's congratulations or condolences." To avoid overpaying, one can find auction results online, even if he or she has never attended an art auction house or an art auction online. Before looking to buy original art or participate in auctions on ebay, one should find some intriguin... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Thursday, 24th January 2008 @ 7:00 PM

Art auctions online are gaining widespread popularity because it's easy to browse and buy original art. Some people may enjoy the activity, but others can relax in the comfort of their own home, while joining the bidding war and experiencing the auction from their computer screens. It's a happy medium between going to the art auction house and impersonally phoning in a bid on watercolor art, an oil painting or sculpture, to name a few. A great place to start bidding is iCollect... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Thursday, 24th January 2008 @ 4:26 AM

The appeal of art is universal, but the marketplace is as diverse as painting styles. Auction houses around the world enjoy varying levels of success, with some promising new businesses located in Canada, England and Australia. Some of the neatest home decor evolves from the wealthy, world traveler's eye for detail, while jet-setting from country to country. They pick up their treasures on vacation and cherish that special memento for life, all the while impressing guests with their art inv... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Tuesday, 22nd January 2008 @ 2:50 AM

Many art appraisals can be done on your own if you're utilizing auctions on eBay, for a small piece worth a few hundred dollars. Other times, you may want to consult a professional who will help you get the most out of your investment. An art appraisal is important for determining "market value" for sales purposes, as well as "replacement value" for tax or insurance purposes. There are several steps in getting an art appraisal. First of all, note whether you have ori... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Monday, 21st January 2008 @ 12:03 PM

Investing in art is a great way to save money for a rainy day or pass down something substantial to future generations! Once purchased and affixed to a wall, an art investment painting will require little maintenance in order to appreciate in value. It's hard to predict trends, but one thing is for certain, no matter what the country's economic situation may be, people's love and appreciation of it and attendance at art auctions have not diminished. However, one should und... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By MIKE SELVON @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:37 PM

Art lovers often further explore their passion with a subscription to an art auction magazine. Whether they're reading about its impact on the Middle East in Art + Auction Magazine or browsing Lari Pittman's portfolio on ArtNet, these people are effectively increasing their knowledge and becoming experts. After all, it's a great way to find artwork for sale and build a winning investment collection. Art & Antiques focuses on its crimes, travelers in search of internationa... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Helen Hecker @ Thursday, 17th January 2008 @ 7:29 PM

Laser engraving got it's start in the early sixties when scientists discovered they could create a light source, focus it's energy and yet have a tool powerful enough to affect a variety of materials. If you've heard the term laser etching it's basically just another name for laser engraving. In today's engraving industry, CO2 lasers, which are named for the gasses used to create the light source, are the tools of choice. Like many inventions of modern times, las... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Roger Munns @ Tuesday, 15th January 2008 @ 1:08 AM

New Yorkers are in for a Spanish treat this January and February if they visit an art exhibition to celebrate the Balearic Island of Mallorca's display at the Spanish Institute. Situated in central New York's Park Avenue, the Institute was set up in 1954 with the intention of promoting Spanish culture, and moved to it's current building after it was donated by Margaret Rockerfeller. As well as art exhibitions the Institute offers New Yorkers lessons in speaking Spani... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Art Gib @ Thursday, 10th January 2008 @ 11:12 PM

The Museum of Fine Arts first opened its doors to the public in Boston in 1876 in the Copley Square Building in Copley Square. With the square having limiting space, and the museum gaining more and more pieces, the need to expand was inevitable. The trustees at the Museum of Fine Arts settled on a new area where there was extra land to compensate for its projected growth. It was moved to Boston's Huntington Avenue and the new museum was completed at the site in 1909. When the museum ... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Shaun Parker @ Friday, 4th January 2008 @ 5:24 PM

The modern phenomenon that is Canvas Art has developed into a major international fashion movement in the avant garde sphere of the 'noughties', the term adopted to refer to the Millennium decade. In the 60's all fashionistas were obsessed with the bright aesthetics of Pop Art, whilst the 70's saw the rise of the 'Flower Power' cult. The 1980's were dominated by the Punk movement and it's bright, stark monotones which evolved into the 'chintz&... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Jack Deal @ Wednesday, 2nd January 2008 @ 3:11 AM

I think it was the original old man Getty that said some find oil and others don't. As you probably know the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has one of the finest collections of art in the world. The 1930's, 1940's and 1950's were great decades for the nouveau riche to splurge on dirt cheap European art. Getty bought boatloads of some of the best. Actually art everywhere back then was cheap. And it is on that end of the spectrum that I collect and play the market. ... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Helen Hecker @ Tuesday, 25th December 2007 @ 2:39 PM

Laser engraving history: It was in the early sixties that scientists first discovered they could create a light source, focus its energy and have a tool powerful enough to affect a wide range of materials. You can think of a laser as a light source that's similar to a light bulb. A light bulb will emit energy all around it. The favored marking method is a laser marking when permanency or aesthetics are called for. And with advanced software today you can laser engrave practically an... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Julian Wayne @ Monday, 10th December 2007 @ 4:30 PM

Although we live in the 21st century and the Information Age, there's no doubt about it...people still love to go see a live play. There's just no substitute for seeing real people perform on stage. And Christmas time offers an opportunity to see one of the oldest (and most beloved) live performances of all - the nativity play. Across this land, in church basements, school gymnasiums and other venues, dozens of nativity plays will be performed. Unfortunately, many of these plays will b... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Nicole Maschwitz @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 1:12 AM

Lets face it times have changed long gone are the days of knitting and crocheting. Lets admit it now with the introduction of computers & X box the next generation is more interested in helping Scratch from ice age rather than doing embroidery. In addition, with mass production of goods from China and other countries unique is becoming more rare. Well I have made it my personal quest to find Unique. Let me start by saying that on a trip to Africa, I most definitely found it. The Afri... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Helen Hecker @ Wednesday, 28th November 2007 @ 10:04 PM

Lasers can engrave on just about any material. The most popular materials in the engraving fields are coated metals, wood, acrylic, glass, leather, marble, plastic, and host of synthetic materials made specifically for lasers. You can think of a laser as a light source similar to a light bulb - a light bulb will emit energy out all around it. Laser marking is also referred to as laser etching. Unlike conventional etching, laser etching needs no masks or chemicals. Some people just call i... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Eric Bramlett @ Tuesday, 27th November 2007 @ 7:03 PM

A mainstay of Austin culture and art since 1916, and in its present location since 1996, the Austin Museum of Art has provided the community with accessible artwork to enlighten and educate its citizens. Echoing the words of museum patron Clara Driscoll, the museum is a place that "brings pleasure in the appreciation of art to the people of Texas." Today, the Austin Museum of Art-Downtown continues to educate a broad audience on 20th century and contemporary art, with a world-cl... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By Kathy Austin @ Tuesday, 27th November 2007 @ 3:39 PM

A beautiful home can be livened up by not just paintings but creative thinking. An artful home is a place that oozes with the owner's personality and breathes life into the inanimate objects lying around. The artistic possibilities are endless and project a sense of style and elegance to anyone living or visiting that home. Turning a wall into a work of art is one way to do this. Wall Art can be a number of things. Pictures, paintings, pressed flowers, bits of lace from the veil and ... more...

Culture and Society » Art | By David Urmann @ Sunday, 25th November 2007 @ 3:02 PM

Various craft ideas give you an opportunity to make the most from your free time using your creative instincts. In fact, craft is one such hobby that brings the most rewarding experience of creating something new and interesting and the best part of it is you can share the experience and time with your kids introducing them to the fascinating world of crafts. Christmas is a one such perfect occasion to fill up your home with lively Christmas crafts. There are hundreds of ideas for this o... more...