Sundown Roatan

Posts Tagged ‘oil paintings’

Abstract Art – Contemporary Art For the Modern World

Abstract art encompasses a variety of colors, forms, lines and shapes in order to develop a composition that may or may not have certain associations with any existing visual references. This type of unique art came about as an alternative way of seeing and visualizing an artist’s concept of reality. Rather than depicting true human forms such as those paintings that were predominant during the time of the Renaissance, abstract art took a different take on art, and how certain objects or ideas are depicted.

Artists who create abstract art are often the type of artists who choose to create things with a unique and individual take on an object or its subject. This type of art encompasses the relationship between colors, shapes and lines, which most often cannot possibly be duplicated. Often, there is deep meaning behind each abstract art piece that an artist creates, which can often be difficult for other people to interpret. Often, deep seeded ideas within the artist are brought about on canvas or other mediums, therefore making it quite challenging to identify its true meaning.

Art With No Definitive Subject

A lot of abstract art is an interpretation of a certain subject, but often it is just a random collection of various shapes and colors blended together. Some different forms of abstract art paintings include:

Expressionism – This type of abstract art is quite impulsive and displays an artist’s brush stroke and color ideas.

Neoplasticism – Artists who engage in neoplasticism tend to use vertical and horizontal primary colors to express their vision of the absolutes in the world.

Cubism – Modern artists enjoy this type of abstract art which emphasizes bright colors and the use of light within the art.

Interpreting Abstract Art

A rather common reaction to abstract art is the idea that a child can create these types of works. Artists of abstract art, in turn, defend their art by saying that it is the lack of mental and emotional abilities within a person that prohibit them from understanding and appreciating abstract art.

Many times the abstract art piece is simply an expression of the artist’s feeling or inner ideas, that may be almost impossible for the average person looking at the painting to understand or figure out. For this reason, it is important for the artist to include attractive and engaging components to the art work in order to keep the viewer interested and attentive.

There are a few things to consider when looking at abstract art paintings. First of all, rather than trying to determine what the painting means or what it is supposed to depict, try allowing something from the painting to emerge in front of you by keeping your eyes fixed on the painting for a certain period of time. Find abstract art paintings that incorporate colors that you love and that keep you intrigued.

Consider how the colors, textures and elements of the art interact with one another, and how or if they arouse some sort of emotional response on your part. Perhaps the name of the painting will have some amount of influence on what you are seeing in the painting. Give yourself enough time to look at the painting before determining what it is that you are interpreting from the artwork.

Using Abstract Art in Your Home

Abstract art paintings are wonderful pieces to use within your home to create a sleek, sophisticated and contemporary look to any space. The dynamic color and shape combinations can really make any wall pop, and will certainly provide a conversational piece for guests.

Since abstract art is created with many different colors and possible geometric shapes, you’ll want to consider the color of your walls, the type of furniture you have, as well as any rugs that are present within the room. It’s best not to hang abstract paintings that are larger than the furniture, as this can create some incohesion between these elements.

Buying Abstract Art Paintings

There are seemingly endless options of abstract art paintings. Many galleries – whether local or online – offer a variety of abstract art to choose from. One such online gallery that you an purchase original art from is GalleryToday.com. Their roster of abstract artists is vast, and as such, their gallery of available paintings is also considerable.

“Abstraction 2″ is a mixed media abstract art painting on cardboard that combines bright and sharp colors. It’s priced at $800, and is available at GalleryToday.com. More information about this painting can be found at their online gallery.

“Pathway” is an oil on canvas abstract art painting that measures 31″ x 24″, and retails at GalleryToday.com for $700. You can find more information about this particular piece at their online gallery as well.

My Take

Abstract art is contemporary, modern, bold and colorful, and makes great pieces for any home, office or gallery. Because of the uniqueness of such paintings, it really is up to the viewer to determine what the painting is about, or what it means to the viewer.

Oil paints are an extremely popular medium used on paintings, and have been used for centuries as the medium of choice for many artists. The Mona Lisa herself was painted using oil paints by the infamous Leonardo Da Vinci. All levels of artists use oils, from the beginner to the elite. Whether you paint for a hobby or as a profession, oils can provide you with the perfect medium that will accentuate detail, light and gleam on any painting.

Buying Oil Paints – Your Shopping Guide

One thing is absolutely certain – it is essential that you only buy oils that are of high quality. Failing to do so can compromise the art you are trying to create. There really are multitudes of paints and supplies that are available for the artist, whether amateur or professional. Here we will guide you though choosing and shopping for the best materials, as well as proper ways of using them.

You need to understand what is available to you at art supply stores – whether local or online. After you’ve come to understand what you need to purchase, you can then dabble in a variety of painting techniques to really make the most of your oils.

Quality Oil Paints From Bob Ross

The Bob Ross line of oil paints are of the highest quality. Especially for those who are rather experienced in oil painting, you’ll want to get your hands on Artists Grade oils.

Using Artists Grade Oils From Bob Ross

Those who paint for a living or simply want only the best quality paints will opt for Artists Grade oils. These paints are much more expensive than the Student Grade oils, but the quality is much more bright and impressive, and will last literally for hundreds of years. The most pure pigments of Bob Ross oils are available, and able to be used on any backdrop, whether it be canvas, board, or any other material you choose to paint on.

The colors of Artists Grade oils are categorized into a series, such as 1,2,3 and 4, or even A,B,C, and so forth. As the number or letter gets higher, so does the quality and the price tag. Despite the much higher price as opposed to Student Grade paint, Artists Grade oils will go a lot further, and will be a lot more rich in pigment. In this sense, the difference in price is much more comparable considering how much more you can get out of a tube of Artists Grade paint from Bob Ross in comparison to Student Grade paints.

Those who are serious about painting in oils and truly have a passion for this type of art and medium will see the cost of the oils they purchase as more of a wise investment rather than an expensive price tag.

The Bob Ross Oil Painting System

The Bob Ross range of paints is very popular and unique, and has been used by serious artists for years. Bob Ross was an avid painter who starred in his own art instruction show entitled, “Joy of Painting”. On this show, he would show his audience how to paint and complete bright and vibrant landscapes with oils in that short half-hour.

From there, he coined the series of artists materials that is now available for purchase at hundreds of art materials retailers, such as BobRoss.com.

The Bob Ross line of artists materials includes all sorts of tools and paints, such as:

• Paints
• Frames
• Brushes
• Knives
• Palettes
• Easels
• Canvases
• Kits
• Brush cleaning systems

Serious artists will benefit greatly from the use of Bob Ross paints considering their rich pigments and their thick consistency. Anyone will be able to tell the quality of these paints simply by picking up a tube and feeling how heavy it is. Dark colors tend to be very thick, and get continuously thinner as the colors get lighter. The purpose for this change in thickness is to allow the artist to complete a painting in one session without having to wait for the underlying darker colors to dry. After dark colors are used, the lighter colors used to accent and highlight will adhere to the darker colors.

Buying Oil Painting Sets

Purchasing oils in sets can help save some money as opposed to buying each item separately. These kits generally come with everything you need, including a palette, storage case for your paint, and other basic art supplies. Keep in mind, however, that you may not necessarily need or want some of the items contained within the kit. Just make sure that most of the supplies in the kit are items that you need, or else you may as well purchase individual items separately as you need them.

My Take

Every artist has his or her particular medium that they enjoy working with. For those who like working with oils, purchasing the best quality oil paints will make a difference on the outcome of your painting. Of course, if you are just starting out and learning, you probably won’t be creating any pieces that will initially be gallery-worthy. In these cases, using Student Grade oils is sufficient as you learn and develop your skills. For those who are creating artwork that needs to be displayed, using top notch oils such as those from the Bob Ross line are your best bet.