Category: Resources

Most Famous Women Paintings in the World Part 1

Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

With unlimited subjects and inspiration in the world, famous artists at some point in their careers have created paintings of women. Here’s a list of the most famous of them all:

1. Mona Lisa (1503-1519) by Leonardo da Vinci
Who doesn’t know the Mona Lisa? The woman’s identity is still a mystery and there are different speculations made about the painting’s subject, including that it’s Leonardo da Vinci in female form. But the most accepted and highly plausible explanation is that the Mona Lisa is the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo who may have commissioned the art. Many are fascinated with this masterpiece because of the subject’s ambiguous expression, subtle forms, and illusionism. Also, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, emphasizing the piece’s value and its importance in art history.

2. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) by Gustav Klimt
The Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is oil, silver, and gold on canvas. It is one of the most expensive paintings sold in 2006. The portrait depicts Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of a wealthy industrialist, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer who commissioned the art. Klimt used the Jugendstil style, also known as the Art Nouveau, in creating the portrait.

3. Dora Maar au Chat (1941) by Pablo Picasso
This painting depicts Pablo Picasso’s lover, Henriette Theodora Markovitch, also known as Dora Maar. It shows the subject sitting on a chair with a small cat on her shoulders. It is one of the world’s most expensive paintings, being  sold at $95.2 million and currently valued at $109.5 million.

4. Whistler’s Mother (1871) by James McNeill Whistler
The original name of Whistler’s Mother is Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 and it is displayed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It is one of the most famous works of an American artist outside the US and is considered an American icon. The woman in the oil painting is of the painter’s mother sitting since she got uncomfortable posing while standing for long periods.

5. Portrait of Gala (1931) by Salvador Dalí
The Portrait of Gala depicts Salvador Dalí’s wife, Gala Dalí. The painter adored his wife who acted as his business manager and he said that she saved him from madness and untimely deaths. Unlike the previous paintings of Gala, this portrait lacks the usual sympathetic and adoring images of his wife due to Gala’s extramarital affairs which left him insecure.

Image source: www.britannica.com

Guidelines for Artists Before Starting to Work on Commission

reading_a_letter_on_the_beach
Reading A Letter On The Beach by Dominique Amendola

Doing art on commission is a big step in an artist’s career. It boosts an artist’s pride in his work, knowing another person aside from his mother appreciates and is willing to pay for his work. It can be a very exciting and thrilling experience, especially for first-timers. Before you get all excited, here are some important things that you have to keep in mind before you start creating art on commission.

Communication
As with any relationships, communication is vital between an artist and the party commissioning his work. Meet with the other party to discuss the project. Make the specs of the project clear from the beginning and ask questions if some details are not clear to you. It’s best if you meet at your studio, gallery, or cafe where your art works are displayed so he’ll know your style and the types of work that you do.

Here are some ideas on what to ask the other party:

  • Have you commissioned art before?
  • What are you looking for in a commissioned art?
  • What do you want and don’t want to see in your art?
  • Who will approve the art?

Contract
In any business deals, a contract is very important. If your meeting goes well, you have to prepare a contract for the painting which both of you must sign. Be concise and clear with both your expectations. Define what the project entails, the characteristics of the painting, payment schedule, milestones, completion time, and delivery time. This contract will protect both parties and hopefully prevent disputes in the future.

Payment
If it’s your first time to do art on commission, asking for an advance payment may be intimidating but you have to ask for it and discuss it on your meeting. Normally, 1/3 of the commission can be required upfront and should be non-refundable. This is a great incentive for you to start with the project and obligates the other party to push through with your agreement. An advance payment is non-refundable so if the other party backs out of the agreement, the time, effort, and materials you’ve used are still compensated.

Revisions
A painting can take days or months to finish, it’s natural that the other party would like to see the developments in the project. You can make it clear in the contract when the other party can visit you and your work so if there are issues to answer, any revisions, or concerns, both of you can discuss about it right then and there. It’s a waste of both your time and resources if you present an artwork which is entirely different from what’s on the other party’s mind.

Image source: www.fineartamerica.com

Choosing a Frame For Your Canvas Artwork

Choosing a frame can make or break the total look of your canvas art. They should accentuate and add character to your most prized artwork. More than an accessory, frames protects your favourite art from dust, moist and other elements and conserves them for generations. Here are some things to consider before buying frames for your artwork.

floaters

• Where will it be displayed?
Before deciding about what color or texture you want to use in your frame, consider the place where your framed artwork will be displayed. There should be a balance between your artwork, the frame, and the color of the room or wall. The idea is you have to create a backdrop for your framed art and that it should match the other decor that you already have in that room.

• Frame style
There are different types of frames that you can choose from. But the thing is, a beautiful and expensive frame might be over-powering your artwork or doesn’t blend with the character of your painting and the surroundings. Never use frames that are of the same hues as your walls. Once again, you have to balance it out. Remember that you want your artwork to be the center of attraction and not the frame.

exotic_woods_28

• Never put glass over a canvas art
Yes, you want to preserve your precious artwork so it will last for generations but putting glass over a canvas painting is the biggest mistake that you could ever do. The canvas itself creates that distinct character of your artwork. You don’t want all that texture to be trapped behind glass because it is the reason why images created in canvas is different from other kind of art.

• To frame? Or not to frame?
Canvas prints can be equally striking without a frame. If you have not quite got the budget for a good frame, this may be an excellent alternative. Big prints work best without any frame because they will look smaller than they actually are when they are displayed with frames. Small prints most probably need framing and you can always make them look larger by putting a mat.

Framing your canvas art doesn’t have to be expensive. All it takes is a little research and a lot of imagination. Ask and window shop around to your hobby stores to see what’s available before making the final decision.

Image source: www.ursulahobsonframing.com

Different Types of Brushes in Oil Painting

Aside from canvas, paintbrush is one of the most important material an artist has to have. You have to have good brushes with you to create good paintings. Even a good painter cannot come up with wonderful pieces is he’s using bad brushes so make sure you have good brushes with you. For oil painting, a good brush will retain its shape when dipped in paint, will bend in each stroke, and return to its original shape after each brush stroke.

Brush Hair
Oil painting brushes are available in bristle and sable hairs. Bristle brushes come from pigs’ hair and are used to begin a painting. The bristles are strong and the tips are naturally split, allowing the brush to hold more paint. Use bristle brushes which are half an inch wide or wider. Sable brushes are soft-haired brushes made from the hair of the tail of a sable marten which are a bit expensive. These brushes are perfect for painting details and small areas.

There are also brushes using synthetic hairs which are also cheaper than brushes with natural hair. If you are against using animals in your art, use synthetic brushes for your peace of mind.

artistpaintbrushtypes

Brush Shapes
Brushes come in different shapes. The most common shapes are: Flats, Filberts, Brights, and Rounds. Other shapes are the Fan, Angle, Mop, and Rigger. Each brush is used for a variety of techniques in applying paint.

Flat brush. A flat brush has long bristles arranged in a rectangular shape. It is a primary blending brush and used for spreading paint quickly and evenly on a canvas. It is considered as the most versatile among the brushes.

Filberts. A Filbert is a flat brush with an oval shape. It is used in blending and creating areas with softer edges. Many artists have advised on using filberts with natural hairs since the hairs stick together better when wet.

Brights. Brights are flat brushes but with shorter and stiff hairs than flats. Use this brush if you want your strokes to show in the painting. It is used in thinner painting styles and also, thicker applications of paint such as impasto.

Rounds. Rounds are brushes with a pointed tip which provides little variation in the size and shape of the brush stroke. It is used for painting small details and line work.

Fan. As the name suggests, a Fan brush is shaped like a fan. It is used in blending large areas, creating soft blends of several colors. It can also be used to soften brush strokes on the canvas.

Angle. Angle brushes have short bristles and longer ones at one end, creating an angular shape. It can be used for general application of paint as well as detail work.

Mop. Mop is a large brush with a rounded edge. Larger sized Mops look like a blush-on brush which are great in broad soft paint application.

Rigger. A Rigger is a round brush with long hairs used in painting delicate lines and dots.

Image source: www.emptyeasel.com

5 Best Canvas Manufacturers

1. Winsor and Newton, London
Founded in1832, Winsor & Newton has always been “The World’s Finest Artist’ Materials” . Up to this day, they strive to keep up with the latest developments in the art world and take an active interest in what artists say. They have built their reputation on the quality and reliability of their products, combined with continual product development, improvement and innovation.

cavas2

2. Top Value Fabrics, US
Established in 1974, Top Value Fabric is a leading international supplier of Industrial, Recreational and Print Media fabrics for a wide variety of applications and industries. They carry an impressive collection of stock programs in addition to finishing fabric to meet clients’ specifications. Their product lines include Nylon, Vinyl, Canvas/Duck, Print Media, Activewear, Marine, and Polyester.

3. PICASSO, Indore, India
They manufacture canvas rolls from 100% cotton fabric with a double coating of acid free acrylic titanium priming. They also give an extra anti-fungus treatment to ensure safety from fungal infections for a long time. Artistic canvas rolls are widely used for acrylic and oil paintings by students and artists. Offered at industry leading prices, these canvas rolls are highly demanded by artists and students.

4. Russell and Chapple, London
Specialise in supplying the highest quality Fine Art, Scenic, and Digital canvases, sourcing and importing our canvas fabrics from all over the world. They have themost comprehensive range of these canvas materials in linen, cotton and polyester, and they supply the professional and amateur artist with the best art supports at the most competitive price. Whether you are making a mural, painting or miniature they have thecanvas for you.

stretched-canvas-157

5. Deasung, Shanghai, China
Provides linen canvas, wholesale canvas rolls, hemp canvas . If you are looking for the good quality of canvas that is available you should shop for linen canvas. Linen canvas makes for a superior painting surface and its strong fibers hold together and last longer than other materials. A range of canvases is available from the tightest weave, finest tooth quadruple primed handkerchief linen to robust heavy toothed linens ideal for large format works.

Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s and Famous Works

Abstract expressionism is an art movement that boomed after World War II, during the 1940s and 50s. It is the first American art movement that influenced the international art scene. The name came from the German Expressionists which is known for emotional intensity and the European abstract schools such as Futurism and Cubism. The movement is known for its spontaneity, energy, and messiness. Works done in the movement show an unconventional application of paint, loose writing, and colors that create tension. Paintings do not show recognizable subjects, instead, you’ll see colors, textures, lines, forms, and mixed media.

No._5,_1948
No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock

The years prior and during the World War II, European artists took refuge in the United States. Paris, previously the center of the world’s art culture, was damaged after the war and New York replaced Paris as the art capital of the world. Most artists in this movement live in New York, giving the movement another name, The New York School. They created new ways of applying paint on canvas, such as Jackson Pollock’s “drip” technique, Willem de Kooning’s “Action painting,” and Mark Tobey’s “white writing.”

Famous Works

No.5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock is one of the most influential artist in the Abstract Expressionist Movement. His No.5 painting is the second most expensive painting in the world and is considered as the best example of artworks in the movement. Pollock drizzled yellow and brown paints over the fiberboard, using his emotions take the lead of how the paint was put on the canvas.

The Liver is the Cock’s Comb (1944) by Arshile Gorky 
Founder of the 1920s cultural movement called Surrealism, André Breton considered this painting as “one of the most important paintings made in America.”

The Gate (1959-60) by Hans Hofmann 
Hans Hofmann painted The Gate from 1959-60. The painting is part of a series inspired by architectonic volumes. Hofmann painted rectangles in several bold colors which may seem subjectless but studying the piece, you will see that the relationship among the shapes in the painting resembles a gate as stated by the title.

No._2_Franz_Kline
Painting Number 2 by Franz Kline

 Woman Series (1950-52) by Willem de Kooning 
In the 1950s, Willem de Kooning, a famous “action painter,” exclusively painted women as subjects. He used strong brush strokes and high-key colors which produced blatant images of women. The paintings exaggerated the features of women such as huge limbs, big eyes, and toothy snarls.

Painting Number 2 (1952) by Franz Kline 
Franz Kline is best known for his paintings in black and white. Many think that his pieces are influenced by the Japanese calligraphy but he denied it.

Image source: www.wikipedia.org

Top 10 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

Buying a painting costs a lot of money. A private collector can spend  millions of dollars for a coveted painting. Find out more about the most expensive oil paintings in the world sold at auction houses or private sales. The list is ordered according to the inflation-adjusted value of the paintings and the prices indicated are the original prices when the paintings were sold.

Card_Players_(5th_version)_1894-1895_Paul_Cezanne
The Card Players by Paul Cézanne

1. The Card Players by Paul Cezanne ($259 million)
The Card Players was sold in 2011. It is a series of oil paintings by Paul Cezanne, a French post-Impressionist artist. The paintings show peasants in Provencal smoking pipes and playing cards, eyes cast downward, serious on the game at hand.

2. No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock ($140 million)
The 8′ by 4′ painting by American artist Jackson Pollock shows his “drip” technique, drizzling brown and yellow paint over the fiberboard to create a nest-like appearance. This was done at the height of the Abstract Expressionist Movement.

3. Woman III by Willem de Kooning ($137.5 million)
Woman III is one of a series of size paintings by Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning. The painting is of a woman, and measures 68′ by 48 1/2′. Displayed at the Tehran Museum of Art from late 70s to 1994, it was then traded to David Geffen in exchange for the remainder of the 16th century manuscript called the Tahmasbi Shahnameh.

4. Le Rêve by Pablo Picasso ($155 million)
Le Rêve is a painting by Pablo Picasso in 1932 depicting his young mistress. The painting was done during the time when Picasso painted distorted depictions using oversimplified outlines and bold colors.

5. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt ($135 million)
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt in 1907 that took three years to complete. Klimt was commissioned by a wealthy industrialist to paint the portrait and he used oil and gold on canvas that measured 54″ x 54″.

6. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh ($82.5 million)
This 1890 painting of the revered artist Vincent van Gogh portrays Dr. Paul Gachet who took care of the painter during the months before his death. The painting shows the doctor leaning his head on his elbow on a red table. Two authenticated versions are available of the portrait and the first version was sold at an auction in New York.

7. Bal du moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir ($78.1 million)
Bal du moulin de la Galette is the painting commonly known as Dance at Le moulin de la Galette done by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876. It is one of the most famous masterpieces during the Impressionist movement. It portrays a typical Sunday afternoon in Paris where Parisians would dress up and relax at the Moulin de la Galette.

The_Scream
The Scream by Edvard Munch

8. Garçon à la pipe by Pablo Picasso ($104.2 million)
Garçon à la pipe (Boy with a Pipe) is a 1905 painting by Pablo Picasso which portrays a Parisian boy holding a pipe while wearing a wreath of flowers on his head.

9. The Scream by Edvard Munch ($119.9 million)
The Scream is created by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch between 1893 to 1910. The painting shows a figure with an agonized expression. There are four versions of The Scream using several mediums such as oil and pastels.

10. Nude, Green Leaves and Bust by Pablo Picasso ($106.4 million)
Nude, Green Leaves and Bust is a 1932 painting by Pablo Picasso. It is one of a series of paintings depicting his mistress.

Source: www.wikipedia.org

Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners

water_lily_acrylic_painting
Water Lily Acrylic Painting by Karen Margulis

Acrylic paint is a fairly new medium compared to oil paint, only having been around in  the 1950s. Since it’s a flexible medium, acrylic is continuously being experimented and explored in the art world. If you’re starting your hand at acrylic painting, here are some of the painting techniques that you can utilize:

Watercolor Effects
Watercolor effects is a technique where acrylic paint is diluted to reach the consistency of watercolor paint. Many artists use this technique, but unlike watercolor, acrylic washes can be layered on top of another without disturbing the colors underneath. To achieve this, you have to wait for the first pint to dry first before applying another paint color on top. Once dry, the acrylic paint becomes water-resistant.

One drawback of this technique is it’s difficult to modify the color once the paint is dry and sometimes, washes dry with unwanted hard edges. Two tricks to solve this problem: dampen the canvas or use another brush moistened with water. Apply the paint with one brush and soften its edges using the other moist brush.

Pouring and Dripping Technique
Master painter Jackson Pollock popularized this technique in the 1940s and 1950s. This technique doesn’t require the use of paintbrushes or palette knife. You use gravity to move a very fluid acrylic paint across the canvas. You can pour the paint directly on the canvas or you can dip a brush in the paint and let it drip down on the canvas. You can use this formula in creating a fluid paint for this technique: 50% acrylic paint, 20% clear water-soluble varnish, and 30% water.

Sgraffito Technique
Sgraffito comes from the Italian word graffiare which means to scratch. As the name suggests, this is a scratching technique. You scratch the top layer of the paint to reveal areas on the surface underneath. A thick layer of paint is applied onto the canvas and you can use a blunt tool like a screwdriver or an end of an old paintbrush to scratch into the top layer and reveal another color underneath or the white surface of the canvas.

Using a Squeegee
You can use any regular squeegee from any hardware store for this technique. To do this, put some paint blobs on your canvas, you can lay out several colors. Using the squeegee, swipe it across the surface, dragging the paint across the canvas, mixing and smearing all the paints as you go.

Acrylic painting is a good starting point for beginners. It offers versatility and flexibility to an artist.

Image source: www.dailypainters.com

Jackson Pollock: Master of the “Drip” Technique

Jackson-Pollock
Jackson Pollock, famous 20th century artist

“It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.”
– Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock is best known for revolutionizing the world of modern art with his unique abstract techniques, specifically the drip painting technique. Born in January 28, 1912, Paul Jackson Pollock, more popularly known as Jackson Pollock  was a major influence in the abstract expressionist movement. He studied under Thomas Hart Benton, an esteemed painter and muralist, before exploring abstraction expressionism. Pollock died in an alcohol-related car accident in December 1956. He was 44.

The “Drip” Period

In 1936, Pollock attended a workshop by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros in New York City and this is where he was introduced to the use of liquid paint. He used paint pouring as a technique and he began painting with his canvas laid down on the floor and the “drip” technique was born.

The “drip” technique is a combination of Pollock’s body movements, flow of paint, gravity, and paint absorption. It was a technique which merges the controllable and uncontrollable factors in painting. Pollock moves around his canvas while dripping, pouring, splattering paint onto it until he’s satisfied with the result.

Pollock’s paintings became famous during the “drip” period, between 1947-1950. The Life magazine published an article on Pollock in 1949  which asked, “Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?” that made him distinguished in the art world. His exhibition in the sames year at the Betty Parsons Gallery sold out and he instantly became the best paid avant-garde painter in the US.

Here are some of Pollock’s most famous paintings during the “Drip” period:

full-fathom-five
Full Fathom Five, 1947

Full Fathom Five is one of Pollock’s earliest drip paintings. The top layers consist of poured skeins of house paint, creating a lace-like image. Pollock used a brush and palette knife to build up the underlayer of the painting.

number-1
Number 1, 1948

Number 1 is the masterpiece of the drip technique. This is one among Pollock’s largest works, pulsing with energy, with an intricate web of hues that suggests speed and force.

composition
Composition (White, Black, Blue and Red on White), 1948

Composition (White, Black, Blue and Red on White), 1948 is a great example of Pollock’s “drip” technique or flung paint. When Pollock was creating this masterpiece, he placed his canvas on the floor and painted in a rhythmic, undulating style. This piece represents pure abstraction, a painting with no focal point and thus making all areas of the painting important.

Image sources: www.biography.com and www.jackson-pollock.org.

How to Clean your Paint Brushes

Canvas-textureAside from canvas, one of an artist’s most important tools is his/her paintbrush. Your paintbrushes are your investment and you have to take good care of them so you can use them for a long time and you get your money’s worth. It’s a waste of money if you just leave your brushes after painting and they end up worn and unusable next time you paint. If you clean your brushes and store them properly, you can lengthen the lifespan of your brushes.

After painting, it’s wise to clean your brushes and store them well. Here are steps on how you can clean your paint brushes.

1. Prepare the things you need. Get your paint thinner, turpentine, or mineral spirits, a small container, and some old newspapers or tissue.

2. Wipe off excess paint from your brush using the newspaper or tissue. Gently squeeze the bristles from the ferrule (metal part of the brush) to the tips. Keep squeezing the brush but not too hard as to pull on the bristles.

3. In a small container, put some thinner, enough to dip in your brush. Rinse the brush to loosen more paint. You can use lukewarm water if you used a water-based medium in your painting. Important: Don’t use hot water since it can expand the ferrule which causes the bristles to fall out.

4. Wipe off excess paint with more newspaper. Squeeze off the thinner from the brush.

5. Wash the brush using a mild soap (liquid soap can also be used). Put soap on the brush and gently create a lather in a container or your palm. Let the soap penetrate the bristles to loosen more paint. Use disposable gloves if you’re concerned about possible absorption of Cadmium into your skin.

6. Rinse and repeat until there’s no trace of coloring coming out of the brush.

7. Shake off excess water and use the newspaper to get most of the water out of the brush.

8. Gently re-shape your brush head to its correct shape using your fingers.

9. Leave the brush to dry at room temperature and store it bristles-up in a jar.

Important:

  • Clean your brushes immediately after painting.
  • Don’t leave your brushes soaking in thinner since it will weaken the glue holding the bristles together.
  • Be patient when cleaning your brushes. Rinse it several times to get off the paint.
  • Use separate brushes for oil painting and water-based mediums.

Image source: About.com