Canvas Oil Paintings - How to Make the Best Buy

Canvas oil paintings are appreciated and enjoyed by most art buffs. Apart from the beauty of these oils, the texture of the oil paint on a canvas is simply beyond words. I can spend hours gazing at an oil painting soaking in the mesmerizing experience and getting transported into another world and time. Finding the right canvas painting can tend to be a little difficult especially if you are not sure where and how to look. The following tips can help you spot a real beauty to adorn the walls of your home.

The quality of the paint used is the first thing that you must look for while purchasing oil on canvas. There is no point in spending money over a picture that has been painted using low quality dyes; the paint will soon start peeling off and you can see your money being destroyed in front of your own eyes. Superior quality oil paints will not only be durable but also bring out different textures and strokes on the canvas. In fact, high quality canvas oil can last you more than a lifetime and can be bequeathed to future generations too.

Next, look out for paintings that reflect your character and personality. Everyone does not enjoy the same kind of art. While I may like traditional and classical pictures, you may be into modern and contemporary paintings. So when looking for canvas oil paintings, make sure that you is unique, eye-catching but also something that captures your interest. This is the only way by which you will continue to enjoy the painting and look at it anew every single day. Canvas oils are textured and this is the main difference between these paintings and others. While choosing a picture, make sure that you take time to reflect and understand the textured finish on the canvas; the feel of the painting under your fingers will give you an insight into the heart and soul of the artist himself.

While buying oil paintings for your home, it is also important that you match it with the interior décor. This will highlight the beauty of the painting and also of the home. Make sure that you buy a picture of the right size; there is no point purchasing something that is too large or too small for the wall space that you have. Also avoid placing your paintings under harsh light as this can affect the brightness and durability of the painting over time. Choosing your canvas oil paintings wisely add more than a touch of beauty to your home; it brings out positive emotions and also makes you feel happy every time you look at it.

The textured finish of canvas oil paintings has always fascinated most art enthusiasts. If you too are an art buff and want to purchase unique oil on canvas, then there are many aspects that you must keep in mind to get the best buy for your money. To learn more, visit http://www.artworkonly.com/ to get information on oil paintings on canvas.

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An Art Buyer's Guide: Buy Art Online Using These Tips

Congratulations on your decision to buy art online! You are about to join a new group of art buyers and collectors who are making an effort to work alongside artists to revolutionize the way art is bought and sold. Gone are the days when art sales and purchases were almost always brokered by brick and mortar art galleries, because thanks to the power of the internet and its ability to bring people together, selling art online and buying art online is just as easy and safe if you know what to look out for. When you buy your art online, there are some risks to consider. As with anything online, the anonymity of the internet attracts some shady characters, and so it is important when you wish to buy some art online, to do so only from a reputable established online gallery. Reputations are still powerful things, and you need to verify the identity of the artist / seller and the owner of the online art gallery website, and then you can rest assured that you are about to buy art online that is legitimate.

Finding a reputable online gallery or marketplace is one of the most important things you can do when you decide to buy art online. There are many different styles of online galleries and marketplaces and then dozens of each different style, so how can you be sure you are working with a reputable website and staff? There are a few things that you can look for before you buy any art online from a website-based gallery or marketplace. First, look for contact information or a contact form for the website owner or operator; if there is no directly obvious information identifying the owner of the website you would like to buy art somewhere online, never fear! Many people safeguard their information by keeping it out of the public eye, but if you use the contact form and explain why you would like to know, you should get a response back that will enable you to go from there. Also use the contact form to send a question or comment to the site staff and see what quality of response you get back; is it a form letter or is it plain that a live person wrote a response to you? And last, look around the net at some of the major review websites and see what both buyers and sellers are saying about their experiences of buying art online from that website.

When you buy art online, it is important to protect yourself and your money. There are plenty of unscrupulous sellers and dealers out there in the world who would be happy to take your money for a misrepresented product, leaving you the buyer holding the bag so to speak. One of the best tools in a buyer's arsenal is a healthy dose of skepticism, which means that you should always be suspicious of the claims someone makes and be cautious enough to verify all information in an item's description before you try to buy any kind of art online from anyone, whether it's a gallery or direct from the artist. Most importantly, you need to find out and verify these three things before you buy art online: First, the seller's identity and if they are not the original artist, the identity of the artist as well. Next is the condition of the art; request as many pictures as possible as well as an independent report of the item's condition if this is practical. And lastly, determine if the seller has any sort of customer satisfaction / return policy or guarantee that you can use to send the art back and receive a refund if there is a problem with the art.

As always it is important to remember the saying "Buyer Beware" when it comes to whether or not to buy art online; this does not mean that everyone is out to take your money for an inferior or misrepresented product, but rather that it can and does happen and a healthy dose of caution never hurts when looking to buy art online. Make sure to browse reputable online marketplaces and galleries and to always verify as much information as you can before you buy, and you will soon be on your way to building a full and satisfying collection of fine art.

Do you want to see more info on the right way to buy art online? Utilizing sites such as Artweb.net you can find out whatever you will need to know to buy art just like a pro!

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Why Don't I Enjoy Making Art As Much As I Used to?

For a long time I've had a lot of trouble making art. I found it extremely difficult to stay motivated, focussed and confident about anything I started making.

Recently, that changed. Now I am excited to work on new drawings, paintings & other experiments and find that the biggest things getting in my way are logistical issues like time and money.

After seeing my live nightclub appearances where I've made art in front of hundreds of people, I've had friends ask me "How do you do that? Aren't you nervous? Aren't you worried about screwing it up? Aren't you scared about what people think?"

Well yeah, of course I am at some level.

But I've had those same feelings when I make work in private as well.

The thing is, those feelings are all in your mind- you can take them with you no matter where you are or who else is around, and they stem from your motives for making art. You can hold on to them, or you can change the way you think, even if you're in front of hundreds of people.

A lot of my creative friends have told me the same story about their creative lives that I've experienced in mine:

Once upon a time they made art because they enjoyed it. That was the only reason they made it really. Hours flew past as they became absorbed in expressing themselves through their artwork.

Then at some point, new ideas were introduced about what it meant to be a 'successful artist'. Essentially this meant selling work, gaining representation, winning prizes and getting exposure. Somewhere along the line, art became something difficult, anxiety ridden and basically no fun. My friends began to feel that making art was something they should do, rather than something they wanted to do. They made less work, and the quality of their work suffered.

If this sounds familiar, I'd like to suggest my belief about why this is the case.

I believe it's about the motivation behind making art, and I think it can be boiled down to Internal vs External motivation.

To sum it up briefly, it goes like this:

Selling work, being picked up by galleries, winning prizes- these are all great rewards and great signs of success, but they are all External rewards. They are rewards that come to you from outside. Because they are external to you, they are outside your control. You can't make someone like your work. So if you set out to achieve these things, you actually have no control over your success. Your feeling of success will fluctuate with what's popular, you'll either cling to what's proven to work or find yourself chasing fashions. You'll find that making art is an anxious process because you're never really in control.

The opposite to that is to base your motives for making art on Internal rewards. This is where you make art that challenges you, pushes you and excites you as an artist, without consideration for other people's opinions. Essentially you make art for yourself, you are probably more focussed on the process rather than the outcome and you are more likely to grow and develop as an artist. This is because you're trying to keep things exciting for yourself, rather than please other people and get them to buy your work.

This is an extremely brief introduction to the idea but I've found it is a profoundly powerful change in how I make art. It doesn't stop me from getting nervous about how my work might be received, but it does stop that from being my main concern.

I didn't come up with this idea myself either- it's partly based on the psychologist Mihalyi Csíkszentmihályi's concept of Flow, a state of 'optimal experience' that highly motivated artists, musicians, dancers, rock climbers and many others described to him through his studies.

So anyway, if you don't enjoy art as much as you used to, maybe you should ask yourself why you're making it, and who you're making it for.

LM.

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Where To Buy Cheap Oil Painting Art?

Oil painting art is never cheap as painters spend a lot of time and effort on each piece to get the color, texture and concept of their artwork just right. For art lovers, however, buying every piece that strikes their eye is not possible. A single oil painting can be quite expensive ranging anywhere from $1000 to about $100,000 for high end pieces. However, you can just as easily find cheap painting art for yourself that is not quite original but just as pleasing to the eye.

Garage sales and Yard sales

It's true, you don't really get high end oil painting art at garage sales but you could be surprised. Homeowners may get tired of an original oil painting artwork which they have had hanging on their walls for several years and just try to sell it at cutthroat rates. Most of the stuff will be bulk pieces that have been made by amateur artists but you could happen to find beautiful one of a kind pieces and treasures.

Flea markets

Although these are somewhat similar to garage sales, you are more likely to get real good oil painting art works at flea markets. Stall owners usually have a good eye and they bunch their good pieces together for sale to a discerning customer. Browse the entire market before buying any piece and bargain well as there is no guarantee for what you buy from a flea market.

Auction sites like eBay

These online sites do sell cheap reproductions and even original prints done by amateur artists. The only problem with bid sites is that they might not really sell you exactly what you are looking for and after the bidding; there is no guarantee that you will get the piece that you have your eye on. But it's a good place to browse and you might get lucky.

Thrift stores

Thrift stores have a huge amount of reproduction cheap oil painting art works, prints and a range of other shabby chic items that are priced ridiculously low. The only problem here is that you get it when you get it. There is no guarantee that you will find a piece that you are particularly looking for or the right frame. The pieces might not be in good condition and you might have to reframe the painting if it deteriorates.

Craft sites like Etsy

These sites usually have great art pieces but don't expect them to be cheap. The artwork is great but it is original and it can be expensive

Check out online reproduction sites

There are several great cheap oil painting art reproduction sites that sell any kind of oil painting that you want. A few points to note here is that you do get painted oil paintings not reproductions or prints. As a result, it will take about 15 days for the artist to complete the piece depending on the work involved and the size of the painting. Usually, far Asian countries have websites that produce these pieces. The advantage here is that you get original prints that are painted according to your specifications in the frame that you request at a fraction of the price that you would have to pay in your country.

If you want to learn more about Oil painting art. Stop by Arold Augustin's site where you can find about Oil painting reproductions to decorate your space.

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Are Banksy Prints A Rewarding Investment?

For many years, the ability of Banksy has been admired by men and women in the United Kingdom, and most recently, across the world. The demand for his artwork is raising every year, the fact that his work reflects what the regular man and woman is thinking can help a great deal with this. Today, genuine pieces are bought at unbelievably high prices, whilst replicas are available at reasonable prices. I'm wondering for how long Banksy can carry on and be unknown? For several years he's kept his identity under wraps.

Even with controversial political themes on topics like war, religion and politics, Banksy's intricately detailed works catch the eyes of his admirers and keep them coming back for more. Every time you look at a Banksy piece, even if it is hanging in your living room and you see it every day, you are likely to keep noticing new things about the minute details you may not have noticed before.

If you are a new Banksy fan and are interested in purchasing his original art, be prepared to search high and low as well as pay a lot of money. All of his prints are numbered and signed, and some have stamps as well as other markings so you know they are authentic. Despite their rarity, art collectors world wide are scrambling to get these astonishing pieces, especially those that have been made recently, like "Morons" (2007) and "Happy Chopper" (2008.)

Naturally, these are not the only original pieces obtainable, there's a large number of Banky originals available, you simply need to know where to go looking. All of these are incredibly high priced because they were made by one of the most beloved street artists in the United Kingdom. Plenty believe that the bulk of Banksy art is only available on the side of houses or beneath railway bridges. Even though this kind of work does exist there is also the canvas prints to choose from, usually the more mature the signed canvas the more high priced it may be. There are different versions of most prints done by Banksy himself, and their rarity and popularity (along with quality) are important in determining the price of these pieces. The more rare it is, the more expensive, and hard to find they are going to be. No matter if you are a completely new artist or you have been amassing art for many years, Banksy original art is something to be treasured for centuries to come.

Our company is one of the number 1 websites that will help you find the appropriate Banksy art or Banky prints to suit your needs.

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798 Art Zone - Beijing's Cutting Edge Art District

The 798 Art Zone is a thriving and vibrant art and fashion district in Beijing set up in an abandoned military factory complex. 798 hosts galleries, shows and exhibitions from China's leading artistic personalities and is China's cutting edge art movement. 798 is the Chinese equivalent of Greenwich Village and SoHo and has attracted visits from presidents, movie stars and royalty.

After you have seen Beijing's ancient attractions, a trip to 798 will provide an enjoyable and enlightening experience of modern Beijing. 798 has many very cool and chic restaurants and cafes that you can also enjoy during your visit there.

History

In the early 1950's the Chinese military was in urgent need of modern electronic equipment that Chinese manufacturing capacity at the time could not supply. To solve this shortage and to help speed up China's industrialization, Chinese government under Chairman Mao's leadership set up a joint venture with East Germany.

The joint venture was the 718 Joint Factory that began operation in 1957 on a 500,000 square meter site in the Dashanzi area of Beijing that was farmland at the time. The factory was one of the best in China and employed between 10,000 and 20,000 workers during its operation.

In 1967 the 718 factory was divided into smaller units or factories to improve management. Those factories were 706, 707, 751, 761, 797 and 798. Factory 798 was the largest of the smaller factories.

During Deng Xiao Ping's reforms during the 1980's, 718 was cut off from government support and forced to become competitive. Unable to survive, 718 declined in the 1990's and the smaller factories were gradually closed down and buildings left vacant.

At this time Beijing's contemporary and modern art community was loosely based in Tongzhou district which was over an hour's drive from the center of Beijing. Starting in 1995 various prominent artist left Tongzhou and set up work shops, studios and galleries in Factory 798 and 718's other abandoned factory buildings

Venues

There are many studios, shops, galleries, exhibitions, centers, works of art and places of interest in 798 and wandering around 798 visiting these venues is enjoyable, thought provoking and sometimes a little disturbing. There are too many venues too describe so I have included below descriptions and photos the ones I found most outstanding during my recent visit.

Baiyaxuan 798 Art Center

This is a gallery supported by the Baiyazuan Art & Cultural Institute and has many very impressive paintings on display. The building hosting the gallery was originally a dining hall and auditorium for the 718 Joint Factory.

Ullens Center for Contemporary Art UCCA

UCCA is a non profit art center founded by two Belgian art collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens. The center uses 8,000 square meters of space to provide an art experience that includes and combines exhibitions, programs and events, fine dining and shopping. Personally I found it impressive but felt the shopping and eating were out of place. It is extremely popular so you should enjoy it.

798 Photo Gallery

This gallery is the first in China dedicated to photography and the aim of the gallery to find and collect awesome photography and to act as a center of cultural and commercial exchange for photographers. The photographs on display at the time I was there were all black and whites and the minimalist black and white interior of the building was a great combination. The gallery also has a state of the art professional black and white dark room.

798 Space

798 Space is pretty much the heart of 798 and is located in the original 798 factory building with its unique curved roof and Mao slogans. The building has an area of 1000 square meters, can easily hold 1000 guests and is often used for contemporary art exhibitions, forums, dances, concerts fashion shows, product launches, press conferences and more. 798 Space also has a book shop and an area for showing films and videos.

Fascinating to see how 798 Space pays tribute to China's socialist past and present by combining art and politics. The remnants of factory machinery and red Mao slogans on the room together with art displays create a great effect.

China Space

This is a large gallery tucked away from the main area of 798 and normally used for solo exhibitions. When I visited, the gallery was exhibiting oil paintings by Zhu Jin, a well known artist from Chongqing. His paintings are not the type I'd hang around the house but they definitely have character.

Originality Square

Originality Square is a large square in the middle of 798 that holds outdoor exhibitions. Currently on display is the "Wolf is coming" sculpture collection and some very unusual individual sculptures.

Getting There

798 is very easy to get to by bus. Catch the 401 bus from the bus stop next to the H exit at the Dongzhimen subway station on line two. Get off at the 10th bus stop which will be the Dashanzi Lukou Nan stop. 798 will be just across the road can you can't miss the big red 798 sign.

Alternatively you can catch the subway to Sanyuanqiao station on line 10 then catch a taxi to 798. The taxi ride will take no more than 5 minutes and cost no more than 10rmb. Tell the taxi driver to go to 798 or Yishuqu. The area is famous and all the taxi drivers will know where it is.

Travel Tips

The area is open all the time but most of the galleries and studios will only be open between 11am to 6pm so try to avoid going out side these times. Many of these galleries and studios also close on Mondays.

To see most of the venues and fully take in the atmosphere of 798, plan to be there for at least three hours.

This article is Written by Brendon Lang from China Travel Go, an expert blog on travel and life in China.

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Why Get An Abstract Oil Painting?

Although a number of people do not exactly know how to judge an abstract oil painting, there are a number of reasons for why this art style has become a staple in so many homes. A person who may not have a formal training in evaluating these works of art will always receive some sort of message from any abstract oil painting. With that, homeowners have always been enticed to purchase these abstract works of art. There are a number of instances wherein homeowners would find the need to purchase abstract paintings.

One of these reasons is to fill an empty wall space. A bare, cold wall is never aesthetically pleasing. For that reason, homeowners opt to break the space by adding an abstract piece of artwork. If this is the intention, one has to take into consideration the color of wall at the same time the abstract design. Picking out an abstract oil painting which is full of bright colors will clash when it is against a boldly painted wall. It is better to have a colorful abstract painting against a wall that is painted a neutral color.

Another reason as to why one would consider purchasing abstract work of art is when the furnishings in the room do not tie together and the piece of art is utilized to harmonize everything together. In order to choose the appropriate work of art which can bind the entire room together, one has to think about a specific color which goes with all of the other items in the room. Once one has already accomplished that task, one simply has to pick out an abstract oil painting which features that specific shade.

Some people often decide to purchase abstract oil paintings because they treat them as investments. Good art pieces will fetch a higher price in time especially if the artists have established themselves in this field. This might mean that a person will have to know more about the basics of abstract work of art before he or she can become a smart art collector. Most of the art collectors who truly strike gold are those who invest their money on works of obscure painters who later make it big. Regardless of the motivation for purchasing abstract oil paintings, a buyer should always pick out pieces which he or she can personally relate to and enjoy looking at for years.

To find out everything about Canvas oil painting, visit Arold Augustin's website at http://www.justoilpainting-art.com/.

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