http://articles.fineartstudiodesigns.com/rss.xml A blog about fineartstudiodesigns.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.fineartstudiodesigns.com/?a=35363 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Are you thinking of buying a painting for a relative? There are some things you should know that will help to make your gift be better appreciated. There is more to buying a painting for someone than just the right size and color.<br /><br />One of the most important considerations when buying a painting for someone else is the content or theme of the painting. If the relative you are thinking of buying a picture for has a home that has modern furnishings a painting of the old west would probably be out of place. The opposite is true as well; a Picasso would look dreadfully out of place in a home furnished in early American or country decor. <br /><br />Of course you have to think about the size of the painting too, if the person has an average size home with eight foot ceilings a six foot tall painting is just not going to work. You should know where the painting would be placed before you buy so you can choose one that will fit the wall properly. <br /><br />Sometimes religious themes can work well when buying for relatives. In contrast to buying for a friend when you may not know their religious background you will in all likelihood be very familiar with the religious preference of a relative.<br /><br />Another very smart idea is to buy paintings from artists whose works the relative already has. It is pretty much a guarantee that if they like an artist enough to have his paintings hanging on their wall, they would welcome another.<br /><br />If you know that the person likes a particular area or vacation spot that can make for good subject matter to look for in a painting. If their favorite vacation was in a small town in Italy, a painting of a quaint little cafe would go nicely. If you know that they have a penchant for the Caribbean and their home would receive such a painting in good taste you could buy a seascape of a Caribbean beach or island.<br /><br />Some people really like the paintings by the Old Masters like the Dutch artist, Rembrandt or the romantic styles of Monet. While buying an original is quite likely cost prohibitive, you can find reproductions that are very well done and will be loved by the person you are giving them to.<br /><br />The best thing to do is to make sure of the style that the person or persons prefer and be sure that you know the size of the area where the painting can be displayed.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about art and fine art prints at <a href="http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com/">http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com</a></p> 2006-08-06T18:51-04:00 http://articles.fineartstudiodesigns.com/?a=35362 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Realism in art is defined in the same way as it would be in literature; it is the rendering of the subject matter as it really is without being embellished or putting one's personal influence on it. The whole emphasis with realist painting is to portray the scene or the person as is in a no frills and unromantic fashion. What is sought in realism is to relay exactly what the artist is seeing to the future viewer of the painting without adding to or taking away from the subject.<br /><br />Many of the paintings done my realist painters tend to deal more with situations or subjects that are a little abnormal or even sordid. Realist photography is the same way, for example some of the photos from Vietnam portraying an actual shooting, while shocking, were also very real. The idea of realism is to say this is all I know, what I see with my own eyes, whereas idealism is more concerned with a philosophy that our world is just a reflection of something greater.<br /><br />Realist painters are more likely to work in subject matter that is commonplace and everyday such as farming, fishing, and other normal everyday pastimes as well specializing in painting the elderly. The colors chosen are completely non embellished and even border on being drab compared to other styles of painting.<br /><br />In the 1500's mannerism was probably the most practiced from of art in Europe and depicted figures that were exaggerated and abnormal appearing in unrealistic positions. The work of Caravaggio changed all of this when his paintings of average everyday people involved in the doing normal activities became popular. All of his paintings were simply like photographs or snapshots of real events of everyday ordinary people.<br /><br />The Dutch were famous for embracing realism and the detail of the paintings from the Dutch Masters is unsurpassed. Rembrandt was one of the most famous of these realist painters whose works are admired and studied to this day. I look at these paintings and am amazed by the attention to detail that they were able to show.<br /><br />Today, realism is still a major force in art as well as all other forms of media. Some of the largest draws at museums are the realist photographers who are portraying subject matter from the Gulf War and other similar tragic landscapes in a way that tugs at the heart. Realism can make you feel like you are there and at the same time, glad you are not.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about art and fine artwork at <a href="http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com/">http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com</a></p> 2006-08-06T17:26-04:00