“Solvent” is the term most commonly used to identify the liquids that are added to oil paints to temporarily change the way they work when put on canvas. Solvents dilute oil, and dissolve fats and grease from oil paints. Aside from diluting oil paints, artists use solvents to dissolve resins and clean up the work area and paint brushes.
Solvents may have different uses but they have common characteristics:
Liquid
Volatile
Produce vapors
Flammable
May be hazardous to health
You may think that you should forget using solvents since they are harmful to your health, but with proper precaution and care of use, you’ll appreciate the benefits solvents bring to a painter’s work. There are many solvents available to an oil painter but you can just select a few for your work.
Turpentine. Turpentine is the traditional solvent used in oil painting and is commonly found in hardware stores. It easily evaporates and gives off harmful vapors which causes skin irritation. When buying, choose artist quality turpentine which is colorless, since the industrial type of turpentine may contain impurities. Turpentine is mostly called as “turps” and can also be called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, genuine turpentine, English turpentine, distilled turpentine, and double rectified turpentine.
Mineral Spirits. Mineral spirits or paint thinner is best used for cleaning paint brushes and thinning paints. It is less expensive and less abrasive compared to turps but it still releases harmful vapors so take precaution when using it. Mineral spirits is also called “white spirits.”
Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS). As the name says, Odorless Mineral Spirits doesn’t have an unpleasant odor which makes it more expensive than ordinary mineral spirits. It is used for thinning paint and cleaning brushes. OMS is available in different grades, depending on the amount of aromatic properties removed from it. The more refined the OMS, the safer it becomes.
Paint thinner. Paint thinners are synthetic-based solvents. Contrary to its name, it is more effective in cleanup than as a diluting substance of oil paints.
Citrus-based thinner. Citrus-based thinner has a pleasant smell and is used to clean brushes and dilute oil paints. It has a yellowish color and a citrusy smell. Use it with oil paints to dry the painting faster. It is a more environmentally-friendly solvent than turps.
Turpenoid. Turpenoid is a popular synthetic solvent that is odorless and colorless which is used as a substitute for turps. It is great for diluting oil paints as well as cleaning brushes.
Acrylic paints were introduced in the 1950s, much later than oils, but museums, galleries, and art collectors have included many acrylic paintings in their collections. Artists have experimented and used acrylics on canvas for its versatility of use and quick drying time. The properties of acrylic paints differ from oils so the maintenance and caring for acrylic paintings is different from oil paintings. Since acrylic paint is relatively new compared to oil paints which have been used in art for centuries, people are just starting to know its aging characteristics. For now, the best way to preserve and lengthen the life of acrylic paintings is by preventive care.
Here are the tips for caring and handling acrylic paintings:
Cleaning
Currently, there is no concrete guideline how to clean an acrylic painting. Below are just suggestions that you can do at the moment.
1. Use a clean towel or a feather duster and lightly remove the dirt on the surface of the painting. Acrylic paintings gather dust more easily than any other medium so you may have to dust them frequently.
2. If you want to keep off the dust, put the painting in a protective frame. Acrylic paintings have electrostatic charges on the surface which attracts dust and a protective frame will prevent dust from accumulating.
3. Don’t use water, soap, or household cleaners when cleaning acrylic paintings. Most cleaning agents have ammonia which can damage your painting. When you use cleaning sprays in your house, make sure that your acrylic painting is not nearby when you are cleaning to avoid excess droplets of the spray go to the paintings.
Maintenance
1. Keep acrylic paintings away from direct or extreme heat, cold, and humidity. Acrylic paint becomes soft around 60° so display your paintings far from ovens, stoves, heating lamps, or any other source of heat inside the room.
2. Don’t touch the surface of an acrylic painting. Your fingernail may accidentally leave a dent or put extra pressure on the painting which will lessen the value of the piece.
3. Mold growth is a common issue in acrylic paintings. There is no solution for it yet that would retain the original paint of the piece. The best way to lessen mold on the surface is to hang the painting in a room where there is less humidity.
Transporting
1. Put the acrylic painting in an effective packing case that would protect it from damage. According to this website, a packing case should be able to do the following:
Support the painting, insulation and cushioning foams
Protect the contents from impact and puncture without serious distortion
Maintain a sealed environment
Protect against intrusion of moisture
Provide handles for lifting and moving
Survive a multi-venue tour without compromise of any of the above functions
2. Include instructions for unpacking and repacking outside the container. The recipient may not know the proper way of unpacking the painting so proper instructions should be provided by the sender. These instructions are important especially if there is a dispute about any damage caused by shipping, unpacking, or repacking of the painting.
3. If you have to transport the painting by rolling it, here are tips:
Allow enough time for the painting to be completely cure.
Put a polyethylene plastic onto the surface of the painting before rolling.
Roll and unroll the painting at room temperature. A heated room will melt the paint while a cold room will cause cracking.
Roll the painting loosely and evenly to prevent adhesion or ferrotyping.
Oil paintings, whether you created yourself, acquired from an auction or an heirloom, have much value. You have to take care of its maintenance, handling, and storage. Paintings last a long time and to lengthen its beauty and life, proper care must be given to them. Museums and art galleries spend a lot and they go at great lengths just to keep and safeguard their paintings. As a painter or as an art collector, you must know some information on the maintenance and correct handling of your pieces. Here are some tips:
1. Handle the oil painting by the frame. Don’t touch the painting surface to avoid leaving natural oils from your skin.
2. An oil painting canvas is pliable, so don’t put an object at the front and behind the painting which could press the painting and leave a dent, or worse, cause a tear. If there is damage in the painting, you could do your own repair but if the piece is an heirloom or has much value, it’s better to ask a professional art restorer to do the repair.
3. When transporting an oil painting, place cardboard or thin plywood on both sides of the painting and put bubble wrap around it to secure the painting. Don’t stack paintings on top of the other.
4. When you are permanently storing a painting, put it in a custom-sized plywood container and brace the painting to avoid movements. Don’t store the painting in your attic or basement since the environment in these rooms are not favorable for paintings.
5. Don’t expose your painting under direct or extreme sunlight, cold, or humidity. These conditions will cause the paint to fall off, weaken the canvas in time, and ultimately damage your painting.
6. The best place to “store” a painting is by displaying it on a wall. Paintings are created to be viewed and admired, not to be hidden under the basement. Hang it in a place without extreme temperatures. Don’t hang it near or across a window, fireplace, or any room with much humidity.
7. Don’t hang paintings in hallways or any room where there are lots of movements and where it can be knocked or scratched. The best room for a painting would be a room where people are comfortable, a room where the temperature is controlled, not much heat or cold. Keep your paintings away from fireplaces, heaters and radiators.
8. Use two hooks when hanging a painting to provide enough support and balance. The painting should be high for people to see but not too high to put a strain on the viewer’s neck. If you are hanging a painting in your living room, the best spot is above the sofa, above head height of anyone sitting.
9. Use a soft-bristled brush to dust the surface of the painting to prevent dust from accumulating.
Every city in the United States have their own character and vibe when it comes to art. It is true that large cities and metros dominate in terms of sheer numbers of artists and museums but you’ll be surprised to know that even the smaller cities are moving up the list when it comes to being an artistic centers. Here are ten of the most artistic cities (random) in America.
1. New York City
The city is an art friendly city and known for its diverse contemporary art with regards to medium and styles of the artists. Aside from arts enthusiasts, other artists around the world travel to New York to experience visually stimulating work of art. The city is also the home of some of the major art institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Arts & Design and The Museum of Modern Art.
Christus, Petrus (ca.1410-1475-6). A Goldsmith in His Shop, Possibly St. Eligius (1449), oil on oak panel, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection
2. Chicago, Illinois
With its eminent architecture, public arts and its arts institutions, Chicago continue to draw tourists in year after year. The art of Chicago is not confined inside their great museums but you can also find them in every street corner and you can’t walk down the sidewalk without encountering art. Major museums with permanent collections and special exhibitions include The Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
3. Washington, DC
Known to be the land of the free museums, DC is the home of The Smithsonian Institution which offers open admission to all of its 19 museums and galleries, including the American Art Museum, the Portrait Gallery, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens, and the Renwick Gallery, which focuses on decorative art and American craft. The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are also a must-see in this perfect art destination.
4. San Francisco, California
The city houses a variety of unique museum such as The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is the only museum in the world to host two exhibits of 200 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The Asian Art Museum boast a comprehensive collection of 6,000 years of art of Southeast Asian art and history. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art recently acquired more than 1,100 modern artworks by Lichtenstein, Warhol, Marden, and others.
5. Santa Fe, New Mexico
This small city houses more than 240 art galleries, at least 80 clustered on Canyon Road alone. The Museum of International Folk Art has the world’s biggest collection of folk art with more than 135,000 artworks, crafts, and textiles from over 100 countries. Others include the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the New Mexico History Museum. Annual markets also features works of Native American Artists.
From the Alexander Girard Collection
6. Dallas, Texas
Dallas is a must in any Art lover’s bucket list to visit because of its precious art collections. The Dallas Museum of Art features a mind-blowing collection of Renoir, Pissarro, Van Gogh, and Cezanne. A big 19th- and 20th-century European and American art collection ranging from Piet Mondrian to the Hudson River School, and Asian, African, and Pacific art. One of the biggest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain is found uptown at the Meadows Museum, spanning Cubism by Picasso and Miro, Goya and Velasquez royal portraits, and Renaissance altarpieces.
7. Houston, Texas
The Museum District is a cluster of 18 museums, most notably the Museum of Fine Arts, the biggest museum in the Southwest, where an astonishing gold jewelry and artifact collection from Africa, Indonesia, and Latin America is displayed, as well as Roman, Egyptian, and Greek antiquities. The Menil collection featuring a large surrealist collection, starring Magritte, Ernst, and Picasso. Other offbeat art includes the Orange show and the Car Art Museum.
8. Boston, Massachusetts
In a Venetian palazzo-style building with a lovely fountain-filled courtyard, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum displays Italian Renaissance, Old Masters, and Post-Impressionists like Degas and Matisse. The encyclopedic Museum of Fine Arts features the biggest Monet collection outside of France, plus outstanding Egyptian, Nubian, and American art collections. Edgy, innovative art is found in a striking waterfront building at Institute of Contemporary Art.
Photo: Courtesy of Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
9. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio Museum of Art features Latin American art collection donated by Nelson Rockefeller. Considered North America’s biggest, the museum offers Mexican folk art to pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial art. The McNay Art Museum, former home of oil heiress Marion Koogler McNay, houses a captivating collection of Post-Impressionist, early 20th-century European and American, and Medieval art. The Blue Star Arts Complex are renovated warehouses that houses contemporary art galleries and artists’ lofts.
10. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles houses 841 museums and art galleries and that is more museums per capita than any other city in the world. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art which is the largest art museum in the Western United States, the Getty Center (part of the larger J. Paul Getty Trust, the world’s wealthiest art institution), and the Museum of Contemporary Art are some of the sought after museums in this city. A Downtown Art Walk is being held on Gallery Row which is attended monthly by various artists and art enthusiasts.
You’ve finally finished your masterpiece. After hours and days laboring on your painting, carefully putting your inspiration on canvas, you’re excited to display it. Unfortunately, you or someone else accidentally ripped a small area on your painting. What do you do?
Don’t panic. There are two ways to repair a torn, ripped, punctured, or damaged canvas: patching or lining. Before fixing your canvas, you have to consider some factors that would affect the end result of your repair. If the damage is small, patching would be a good remedy. Patching is a quick and easy solution to tiny punctures, L-shaped tears, and small tears. For damages affecting a large area or if the small tears are located in several areas, lining is the best way to fix the canvas. For old oil paintings, professional art restorers prefer to do lining since most aged canvas are brittle, fragile, and more susceptible to damage when not reinforced.
Patching
Here are the steps for patching a canvas:
1. Smooth out the area where the tear is located. Clean up any fibers that may have unraveled.
2. Cut a piece of canvas with at least an inch wider than the tear. If you have a lighter weight canvas than the one you’re repairing is best to use.
3. Glue the patch at the back of the tear. Use acrylic-gesso or an acid-free glue in patching. Apply a thin layer of glue to the patch. If you use too much glue, it will only squeeze out of the patch and get on the front of the canvas which will leave an unnecessary stain.
4. While the glue is still wet, check the tear at the front of the canvas. Use a pair of tweezers to put back loose threads in place. Carefully arrange the threads to fill the damage.
5. Inpaint the patched area, if needed. If it’s your own work, it would be easier to repaint the repaired area.
Tips:
Work with patience and care.
Hire a professional art conservator or restorer for fixing valuable and antique paintings. They can do a more refined repair of an old painting.
Patching done in a busy area of the painting is less noticeable than a patch in a solid area.
Just because the patch is located behind the canvas, doesn’t mean you will do a sloppy repair. Make the patch neat and professional-looking so if someone sees the repair, they won’t be dismayed with the whole painting.
Here is the rest of the list of the most reproduced oil paintings according to Overstockart.com. You can read the first half here.
6. Le Rêve (The Dream) by Pablo Picasso Le Rêve is a 1932 oil on canvas masterpiece by Pablo Picasso. As one of the most illustrious painters, art students have used Picasso’s paintings in training. Picasso used oversimplified lines, contrasting colors, and distorted depiction of his mistress. It was painted during the period when he was using women as subjects, different from his earlier works in the the Blue Period and Cubism period.
7. Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre August Renoir Luncheon of the Boating Party portrays a group of Pierre Renoir’s friends relaxing and having lunch on a balcony at the Maison Fournaise restaurant in Chatou, France. Renoir effectively used color, texture, and shapes to convey space among the characters. He used mostly warm colors, from red to gold, the colors primarily used during the Impressionist period.
8. The Scream by Edvard Munch The Scream shows a somewhat neurotic, hairless figure who is shouting. Edvard Munch created four versions of this piece (in oils, pastels, and tempera). Many interpretations have been given to this painting — the iconic figure is in turmoil, desperate, shocked, anxious, or frightened. The painter used explosive strokes, contrasting colors and lines. He used soft curves in reds and oranges to represent the sky, and strong, straight lines in black and brown paints for the bridge.
9. Red Canna by Georgia O’Keeffe Red Canna is an artistic representation of a flower. Georgia O’Keeffe depicted natural sources using abstract patterns. The painting shows the enlarged petals of the flower, as if under a microscope. Colors used are mostly reds, yellows, and blues. O’Keeffe said flowers are small that nobody notices them and this painting shows how she sees a flower, and she painted the size bigger than reality.
10. Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali Persistence of Memory is a surrealist painting, showing images of soft, melting watches. The presence of ants in the orange watch represents death. Looking at the painting, it seems like an image from a dream. It is the best example of Salvador Dali’s theory of “softness” and “hardness.” Dali clarified that contrary to some interpretations that this piece was inspired by the Theory of Relativity, the painting was just a depiction of a Camembert cheese melting under the sun.
If you are a beginner in painting, you can try to copy any of these paintings so you can experiment on different techniques and color palettes.
For artists and art enthusiasts, finding great new inspirations from artworks from various artists is a must. For 2013, here’s a list of the best exhibits that made admiring art into new dimentions.
1. Angles, Demons, and Savages: Pollock, Ossorio, Dubuffet
An exhibition of work by American artists Jackson Pollock and Alfonso Ossorio, as well as French painter Jean Dubuffet held in Phillips Collection, Washington, DC last February 9- May 12, 2013. The exhibit displayed around 53 paintings and drawings that show a visual friendship enjoyed by all three artists.
IMAGE: Enamel and oil on canvas The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
2. William H. Johnson: An American Modern
An exhibition of the work of modern American artist William Henry Johnson, the self-described “primitive and cultural painter” held in Georgia Museum of Art last February 16- May 12, 2013. The exhibit included some of the artist’s famous artworks such as Twenty landscapes, still-lifes and portraits including the iconic “Blind Singer” and “Aunt Alice.”
3. Chagall: Beyond Color
A look at the paintings, sculpture, ceramics and collage of the Russian-French artist, Marc Chagall held in Dallas Museum of Art last February 17th – May 26th, 2013. The exhibit also includes a display of costumes made by Chagall in 1942 for the production of the ballet “Aleko,” choreographed by Léonide Massine with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
IMAGE: Marc Chagall, Double Portrait with Wine Glass (Double Portrait au Verre de Vin)1917-1918 Oil on canvas
4. Kehinde Wiley: The Memling Series
Displays a new series of paintings by the New York artist Kehinde Wiley, who is known for his knack for re-envisioning classical styles of portraiture held in Phoenix Art Museum, N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ last February 20th – June 23rd, 2013. The exhibit includes eight paintings based on the work of Hans Memling, the Flemish master painter of the Northern Renaissance.
5. Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity
The exhibit displays survey of the fashion trends that appeared in the works of the Impressionists and their contemporaries held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art last February 26th – May 27th, 2013. Around eighty major figure paintings seen in conjunction with period costumes, accessories, fashion plates, photographs, and popular prints that also show the relationship between fashion and art at this time.
6. Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Masterpieces of Modern Mexico
An exhibition of works collected by Jacque and Natasha Gelman, Eastern European ex-pats who became Mexican citizens in 1942 and subsequently acquired art by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro and more. The exhibit is now being held in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art started last May 25 all the way through August 18, 2013. There are more than 100 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and drawing in the exhibit.
7. Fernand Leger and the Modern City
Using Fernand Léger’s 1919 work, “The City,” as a jumping off point, the exhibit showcases the French artist’s array of paintings, all of which incorporate forms of cultural production central to modern cities, like graphic and advertising design, theater, film, and architecture. To be held in Philadelphia Museum of Art on October 2013 – January 2014. The exhibit will display over one hundred Leger works from collectors and institutions across Europe and the US.
8. Wayne Hollowell’s “Drama Queen”
This exhibit features a dazzling display of pop culture portraits just in time for NYC Pride held in Michael Mut Gallery, New York last June 26-30, 2013.
9. Enrico David
An exhibition of Italian-born artist, Enrico David, known for his figurative multimedia works that reveals a dark underworld of surreal, craft-informed creatures held in Hammer Museum last January 12th – May 5th, 2013. The collection included paper mummies, hand-crafted tapestries and cavernous paintings.
10. The Artist and the Poet
Planned to coincide with the institute’s “Picasso and Chicago” exhibition, the array of prints and drawings reveal the collaborative relationship between artists like Pablo Picasso, Robert Motherwell and David Hockney and poets such as Max Jacob, Rafael Alberti and Wallace Steves, respectively. Held in The Art Institute Chicago last February 1st – June 2nd, 2013. The collection includes “Skin with O’Hara Poem” (1963–65), a print by Jasper Johns that was inspired by the poet Frank O’Hara.
Art students can learn painting techniques and styles by copying famous paintings in art history. Copying trains your hand and eye coordination and lets you get a deeper appreciation of the arts. You can learn the different styles and painting techniques by studying these notable paintings. It inspires you to create something beautiful as well.
In 2010, OverstockArt.com, an online business that sells painting reproductions, revealed the top 10 list of most reproduced paintings. If you are thinking which painting to copy, check out this list for inspiration.
1. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh The Starry Night is among Vincent van Gogh’s most celebrated works. The subject of the painting is the night scene in the village Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, southern France. It was painted during the time Van Gogh spent inside an asylum in the same village. The painting is filled with movements and contrasts, from the colors used to the quietness of the village vis a vis the swirling night sky.
2. Café Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was fascinated with nocturnal motifs and Café Terrace at Night was no exception. He was known for his innovative use of lines, textures, and colors. You can see the contrast between the yellows and blues to black paint he used in this piece. The roughness of the cobblestone street is a direct contrast to the smoothness of the cafe.
3. The Kiss by Gustav Klimt The Kiss is an oil and gold leaf on canvas. It depicts a couple embracing with elaborate robes and ornamentation. Gustav Klimt used the Art Nouveau style in this painting. The male figure is identified with squares and rectangles while the female figure has circles and soft lines. The couple is intimately entwined while the rest of their bodies dissolve in a shimmering flat pattern.
4. Poppy Fields near Argenteuil by Claude Monet
Claude Monet lived in Argenteuil, France from 1871-1878. The countryside became a great inspiration for Monet. The vast, bright landscapes around the region allowed Monet to experiment plein-air painting. In the painting, you’ll notice that he used blobs of paints to represent the poppies and trees, creating just an impression of the landscape.
5. The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
One of the most famous paintings in history, The Mona Lisa has been reproduced and copied by many artists. Leonardo da Vinci used the technique called sfumato wherein he used subtle gradation of tone and color. This technique blurs and softens the contours of the outline, creating an atmospheric effect and the facial features seem real.
Selling your art is no different from selling other items. All you need to do is to find the right people who want to buy them and the right places to display your art and make it look good, where art buyers tend to congregate, and places where you know the client can afford your asking prices. Here are some of the best places where you can find your buyers.
Galleries
Still, the best place to find a buyer for your artwork is in an art gallery. You can look around to find an art gallery exhibition and display your work. Find a good art gallery to represent you, and who can arrange an art show for you. Art buyers often show up at the opening just to see if there is anything that they like. There are always potential buyers who come to these exhibitions looking for good paintings.
Social Media and Art Websites
There are many social networks, online galleries, and other websites online to market art. There are by far too many to mention here, but the major ones are Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and many online gallery websites. Sign up and start advertising online. If you manage to sell many, you are not only making money, but are receiving free advertising! People will be talking about your art, or share it through the mail. Many will see your artworks, who would not have been able to before.
Art competions, Auction sale and Art Expos
Try to join as frequent as possible in competitions and art events. Even if you do not win, you and your artwork will get exposure. Whoever is on the judging panel will see it, be it gallery owners or curators. The more they have to judge your artworks the more they will be familiar with you and know how serious you are about your art career. Its usually best to show alongside other artists who work in the same style as you. That way, the art buyers that often buy from them, may purchase artworks from you.
Neighbors, Family and Friends
Of course, the first people who have to see your artwork are the ones who are nearest to you. Show them what you are creating. Show them to your family members, friends and you neighbours. . Even if they do not buy artwork from you, they may tell others about your creations.
It’s best to never pressure someone into buying though. If they like it, or can afford it, they will most likely purchase from you without any convincing. Observe how art is sold in as many different circumstances as possible. Watch how people sell at all types of galleries, art shows, art fairs and other venues where art is for sale. See what sales techniques work to different kinds of buyers and take note which one doesn’t. Research on what sells best and why and learn everything you can from gallery owners and fellow artists about how they present, market, and sell art to clients.
If you’re stuck in a rut, without inspiration for a theme of your painting, why not look at these night landscapes to get your creative juices running. Many artists have used the night as motif in their works. The night sky evokes mystery, secrets, and coolness. Here are some famous examples:
The Night Watch (1642) by Rembrandt
1. The Night Watch (1642) by Rembrandt The Night Watch is an oil on canvas created by Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. It is one of the most famous paintings in the world, known for its gigantic size (11.91 ft × 14.34 ft), effective contrast of light and shade known as chiaroscuro, and perception of motion. The painting depicts a group of military men out to protect the city. Even though the painting involves many people, you are still directed to the three most important characters in the piece: the two men at the center, Captain Frans Banning Cocq (left) and his lieutenant, Willem van Ruytenburch (right); and the girl in the background. The impressive use of chiaroscuro allowed Rembrandt to create these focal points.
The Third of May 1808 (1814) by Francisco Goya
2. The Third of May 1808 (1814) by Francisco Goya The Third of May 1808 depicts the battle between Spaniards and Napoleon’s armies at Medina del Rio Seco, Spain. The content, presentation, and emotion of the characters in the painting successfully represented the fear, suffering, and horrors of war.
The Starry Night (1889) by Vinvent van Gogh
3. The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent van Gogh The Starry Night is one of the most famous paintings of Vincent van Gogh. It portrays the view outside Van Gogh’s sanitarium room window in southern France. Paints in blues and blacks are prominent in the piece with touches of yellows and whites. It is displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Nighthawks (1942) by Edward Hopper
4. Nighthawks (1942) by Edward Hopper Nighthawks is a painting about people eating in a diner late at night. Edward Hopper revealed that the painting was inspired by “a restaurant on New York’s Greenwich Avenue where two streets meet.” Hopper tried to capture the effects of man-made lights (flourescent lights, lamp post) at night.
The Empire of Light (c.1950) by René Magritte
5. The Empire of Light (circa 1950) by René Magritte The Empire of Light has numerous versions and all depicts a street scene during night and day. Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte painted The Empire between 1950-1954. The pieces look like its early dawn or late in the afternoon, the time when the sun sets but it’s still not completely dark. You cannot really be sure whether its day or night because Magritte presented the illusion of night and day in these paintings.
