How to Buy Fine Art Paintings

With art festivals in full swing during the spring, summer and fall seasons, it's a good time to discuss how to buy fine art paintings. Does not knowing what to look for in a painting cause you to walk away because you do not know the questions to ask the artist?

The following information will enable yo to be an informed collector:

If you go to any fine art festival there will be many different styles of paintings to choose from. Ask the artist if the painting has been produced with archival materials. When did the artist paint this picture?

Do you know the style of painting that speaks to you? It may be a romantic style, abstract or any where in between. The colors may be muted and soft or a bright composition, with the artist using many colors to create the design.

Consider how your home or office is decorated. Will you need to use heavy, ornate frames or a more informal wood frame?

Oil paintings lend themselves very nicely to either the ornate or wood frame. For a watercolor painting, choose a light, narrow frame. It can be ornate but narrow. Personally, I like a metal frame with watercolor. There are many beautiful colors that coordinate with the painting.

Oil paintings may be painted on canvas, linen or boards prepared especially for oil paintings. Ask the artist how the ground for this painting was prepared.

Watercolor paintings may be on hot press paper or cold press paper. The paper weight is important also. It can range from 90lbs to 300lb or more. A popular weight is 140lb.

A question to ask the artist is how environmentally friendly are the materials used in the painting.

You may fall in love with a painting that is not oils or watercolor. It may be a pastel, or other medium that needs to be framed in a special way.

If you would like more information on this subject, or to comment, I would like to hear from you, just contact me at http://valleofyellowcreekartstudioblog.com. I will get back with you within 24 hours.

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Abstract Art You Can Finally Understand

Ever take a look at abstract art and walk away scratching your head? Believe me, if you haven't understood abstract art you're not alone. But you'll see that it really is so simple that you'll wonder why you didn't 'get it' to begin with! Read on.

I was enjoying some abstract paintings one day and decided to show one of the pieces to my husband. We proceeded to have a very, very short conversation about abstract art. "What do you think of this" I asked? He summed up his feelings about abstracts in one short sarcastic comment, "What's to get?" I had to laugh. He clearly could not see what was so blatantly obvious to me! He was totally clueless! I could have told him that abstracts are a study in color, composition and texture; but I didn't. I could have explained that an abstract is often an expression of emotion put to canvas, but I spared him. I could have said that abstract art is all about design and movement and depth, but I knew better than to try explaining. "Either you get it or you don't", I've often heard people say. But that answer would never do for me, because I knew that abstract art needs no words at all. I knew that the ultimate way to 'get it' was to see it in action for oneself. And I knew exactly how to show him without saying a word! I simply showed him a picture of the exact same painting in a lovely setting, "Check this out." His whole face lit up with surprise. "Wow! That looks really nice! I never would have thought of hanging that painting, but it looks really good. It's almost like it was made for that room!" Bingo! Instantly the lame duck became a beautiful swan when it was shown in the context of interior design. No words. No lengthy explanation. Just one powerful image that even my husband could understand!

But there is more to the story than meets the eye. Most abstracts are wonderfully gender neutral. And it's easy to see why. When you start dealing with things like emotion, composition, texture and design you're in gender neutral territory! That makes them perfect for spaces that you want to appeal to both men and women alike. Even more surprising yet, many of them are design style neutral as well. Abstract art can blend beautifully into a country style setting and equally well in an upscale modern loft. Abstract art is truly a design chameleon! Why do you think interior designers use them so much? They know that it's impossible to go wrong with an abstract that captures the colors, the feeling and the texture of a room. They know the secret. They know that an abstract will take on a different vibe according to its surroundings. And they understand the power of abstract art to enhance the feeling that they are trying to capture in a room.

Understanding abstract art is not rocket science. You don't have to be some kind of a meditative art guru to get it. You don't have to be sophisticated, well read or have a master's degree to get it. If you can appreciate the random pattern that Nature uses to plant her trees or the colors in a fish's scale or the amazing textures found in a common river rock, then you have all the tools you need to understand abstract art. So go ahead, take a second look, imagine them in context and enjoy the new perspective!

Cathy Robertson is an Artist and content editor for Fine Art Castle, an e-commerce store specializing in Fine Art Prints, Canvas Giclee Prints of Paintings. We are always on the look out for new Artists. To learn more, visit us at http://www.fineartcastle.com/artists.aspx

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Caring for Your Original Art

The following are some general guidelines for caring for original artwork and hand painted crafts that will keep your work beautiful for a lifetime and more.

Direct sunlight can fade and/or darken colors. Place your hand painted collectible or hang your painting so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.

Do not mount display lights directly over your hand painted item or original art. Spotlights should ideally be located several feet from the surface of a painting or a special collection display.

The best environment for artwork is moderate, including average temperatures of 70-75F and a humidity of 50%. Since we do not all live in ideal conditions, try to avoid exposing your hand painted items and original art to extremes of either heat or humidity.

Avoid fireplace smoke and cigarette smoke. For other types of dirt and dust, paintings may be dusted with a soft, clean brush to very gently remove accumulated dirt and dust. Decorative crafts can be wiped gently with a damp cloth. Do not use any detergents or chemicals. In-depth cleaning for fine art should be done by a professional art restorer and is usually only required after many decades or even centuries!

If your artwork or fine art crafts need to be placed in temporary storage, store paintings and handcrafted items at the same temperature and humidity levels as indicated above. Do not seal in plastic or glass as moisture build-up may cause damage. Sheets or other low lint cloths may be used to lightly cover your paintings or handicrafts.

If your artwork has been seriously damaged (tears, punctures or other significant damage), the repairs should be handled by a professional art restorer. Common tapes and glues may contain chemicals that will damage the art.

Follow these guidelines and your original art and fine art crafts will add beauty and joy to your life for many, many years to come.

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and consultant. Her original fine art and hand painted gifts, based on nature motifs, include garden flowers, wildflowers, trees, forests and landscapes. Kathleen’s unique miniature art can be seen at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/smallframed5x7.htm her hand painted mirrors are featured online at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/mirrors.htm and posters of her art can be purchased at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/posters.htm

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Canvas Prints As Art Investments

Purchasing canvas prints, including giclee fine art prints might one day be a valuable investment. These items have been known to become highly desired by collectors, and raise a hefty sum at auction. Although not guaranteed, such a windfall is more likely if you put a little effort into preservation and care, making accidents and destruction far less likely.

It is quite possible the affordable fine art giclee prints you purchased will suffer from changes in both winter and summer. To be properly preserved, these items should be maintained at roughly 65 degrees. Otherwise, the printing will fade and the surface begins to fall apart. If there are extreme temperature fluctuations in your house, consider moving the canvas prints to the most static location, perhaps a completed basement, closet or storage compartment well-away from direct sunlight and the extremes of an oven.

Also, light itself is a primary cause of damage to canvas prints. Just brief exposure to bright sunlight can cause the fading or discoloration of previously vibrant inks. The value of those prints decreases with decreasing quality. Bright, direct sunlight can even make prints worthless. Therefore, to protect your prints, place them in an area with low exposure to the sun, on a wall where sunlight does not directly shine.

Carefully choose the location of where you want to display your prints. You need to protect your prints by selecting a safe location. Kitchen areas can be dangerous to canvas prints because they can accumulate grease, odors, and food particles which can all be very damaging. Bathroom areas can also be very hazardous because of the high moisture content. Any other areas near water are poor choices for print display.

Your print's frame is also an important consideration. Having your print professionally framed is recommended. Framing isn't a do-it-yourself project or something to leave to a nonprofessional as the canvas is very easy to damage. And be sure to ask your framer to use glass -- it can help mitigate the harmful effects of the sun.

If your print needs cleaning or repairs, never do it yourself since this is the most common way to damage a print. Cleaning and repairs need to be done by professional art restorers, who have the knowledge and the right tools for the job.

If you ever want to sell your artwork, you will need to take good care of it. Especially heat sensitive, giclee fine art prints need to be kept at 60 to 70 degrees year round in order to prevent ink degradation and canvas disintegration. Bright, direct sunlight can degrade affordable fine art giclee prints, as well as other type prints. Therefore, place prints in an area with low exposure to the sun. Don't put your canvas prints in the kitchen, or the bathroom. You will want to make sure you employ a professional framer. Finally, take all of your cleaning and repairing needs to a professional art restorer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gray_Hamilton

Metal Art Basics

Metal art falls under a few different categories in the art world. Most people would place it in the sculpture box. Metal art is also a little out of the mainstream of art. If you think about it, the main population of artists are painters. Why you ask? Probably because the space, time, and resources that are needed to make the art.

For example, a metal artist needs a metal working shop where a painter only needs a dedicated room or studio. A metal artist also needs to invest in a significant number of metal working machines before he can begin. A painter only needs paint, brushes and a canvas. A bit of a difference huh.

There are 3 main types of metal art:
Casting
Fabricated Sculpture
Metal Junk Art

Cast Metal Art
In casting the metal artist makes a mold of an object. Next, the artist uses a furnace of some sort to melt metal. This metal can be Aluminum, Steel, Bronze or some other metal alloy. The metal artist then pours the molten metal into the mold. The object cools for a period of time and then is released from the mold. Finally the object is cleaned up and sometimes a patina is added. This type of work is very hot and time consuming with multiple steps for the metal artist.

Fabricated Sculpture Metal Art
Fabricated sculptures are a bit different. There is some heat involved, but it is normally from welding different metal pieces together. These sculptures are usually more detailed then cast sculptures. Most times the artist has an idea of what they want to build and then they start assembling it like you would a car or bike.

Metal Junk Art
Some times people even make these sculptures out of junk pieces of metal. I call this “Junk Art” while others call it “Found Object Art.” You make the call. You see this type of metal art at street art fairs quite a bit.

Out of these three types of metal art I prefer fabricated metal art. Not that I think that the art is better. To me it seems there is some more craftsmanship that goes into in. There is a process before hand where the artist has to think a little bit and plan the work.

Metal art does take a little more time, money and effort then other types of art. Part of that is the nature of the work. You need extra machines around because you are working with a tough media. You need a little extra power so you control your metal art instead of it controlling you.

Donnie Edge creates art over at http://www.fistfire.com You can check out his Metal Art, Metal Art Coffee Tables and Metal Art Chairs there.

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Artist Art Restoration Services

There are many passionate DIRT Masters at and are eager to work on your images. If you are into photos and art, there is always something you can do it:

(1) Make your photos look great - for online or for print
(2) Creative improvements - you imagine, we deliver
(3) Restore old or damaged prints - from shoe box to original glory
(4) Art gallery, catalog, auction
(5) Revenue partnership opportunities for webmasters

(1) For effective recovery of images for online use or print, we offer:

Despeckling, Denoising, Grain, noise or dirt
Sizing, cropping, Redeye corrections
Shiny complexion, improve skin tone as preferred, Finish it real,
Brightness and contrast, Fine adjustments for color cast and skin tone

Excessive shadows, Stray hair, Fixing clothing wrinkles or flaws
Removing blemishes, dirt, Adjust shadows, Reduce shakes

Air Brushing, Digital facelifts, Hollywood Glamorization

Permanent wrinkles, acne, blemishes
Altering facial features, Whiteness, perfection of teeth
Body build or shape - fill in, thin out

(2) For creative improvement of images for online or for great print results, we offer:

Improvement and production of your images for Personalized gifts - puzzles, mugs, t-shirts, Personalized calendars and cards, Personalized home décor, Posters and canvases, Frames and albums, Bound photo books, Portrait services, Personalized art - iconic art,

Custom borders, Replica magazine cover borders, Legacy's event borders, Stock event borders, Custom borders - per customer design, Graphics

(3) If you have old or damaged images, we offer - Restoration, Retouching, Colorization and Makeover

Restoration: Photo restoration, Art Restoration, photo repair and restoration, antique photo restoration

Restore photos, Remove stains, Remove tears, dirt, Restoring damages, scratches, water damage, fading, frame - album glue damage, Loss of pigments, Loss of chemical coats, Silver fish damage, Fire or smoke partial damage, intensive denoising, Photographic corrections, Deconvulation, Restore with customer borders, Portraitize, Restore to water color, oil painting or pastel shades, Bringing back moldy, torn, cracked or folded images, Despeckling, Repairing color discoloration, Repairing minor shake, Repairing bad lighting and more.

Colorization

Black & white to color, color to black & white, sepia tone conversions, Digital hand coloring, color adjustments, Color balancing, Color tones, Color tints, Color matching, Color sequencing, Selective tints, Splash of color, Artistic imagination, New color schemes, Modernization, Duo tones, Tritones, 4 colors, Contrast themes, Color ageing, Poster - colors, Portrait - colors, Resequence to formal colors, Resequence to casual colors, Resequence to fit a custom theme or an event, Glossy to matte finish or vice versa, Correction of color shifts and more.

Retouching

Resize, Crop or trim any part of the photo, Cropping for a target print, Brighten, Lighten, Darken, Contrast adjustments & balancing, Red Eye repair, Whiten teeth, Sharpen image, Adjust colors, Tonal - Color - Contrast curves, Brushing, Blurring, Sharpening, Smudging, Fetching, Healing, Dodging, Burning, Stamping, Sponging, De-blurring, Minor focus improvement, De-focusing, Noise reduction, Design with noise addition, Ageing, Blending, Distorting, Liquefying, Extracting, Level adjusting, Channel mixing, Shadow adjustments, Highlight adjustment, Fixing of clipped highlights, Add edit, or remove, caption or text, Add texture and more.

Makeover

Remove or smoothen wrinkles, Remove braces, scars, spots, tattoos, moles and other blemishes, Add and remove hair, Change hair color, eye color, clothing color, Beauty makeovers, Add a beauty spot (like a popular personality), Hollywood glamorization, Change hairstyles and hair do's, Edit photo facial expressions (bring a smile on), Change lighting and mood of the photograph, Change the background or scenery, Relocate an image (from indoors to outdoors for example) Change color or patterns for objects in the background, Remove patterns or textures from the image, Superimpose two images, Add or remove people from a frame, Add or remove objects from a page, Add or remove a cap, hair band, jewelry or accessory, Clothing and cosmetics makeover, Fit to an event or a theme and more

(4) If you are a progressive webmaster and your users post images in your site, we have revenue creation opportunities for you. Innovative partnerships that make your customers photos look great, increase visit stickiness and creating a partnership revenue stream.

(5) If you are an artist (digital, analog or fusion), a collector, auctioneer, museum, art gallery, art appreciator or a student of art, Fireia is coming soon with online art galleries, story boards, global community of art appreciators and online art catalog with a global reach and online auctions.

Kevin Rogers is an analyst and avid fan of photo services that are doing for old and aged photos like restoration, reconstruction, retouching, colorization and makeover of photos.

Contact at: http://www.fireia.com/services.aspx

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Rogers

How To Buy Art Safely Online

Buying a piece of art is a personal experience, whether it is a gift or for yourself, every piece of art you own tells a small story of how and where you got it and why you love it. Buying art online has many benefits: from the comfort of your own home you can literally buy anything for anywhere in the world, no matter what your budget is you will find something for you without spending hours trailing around the shops.

However, whilst taking advantage of the benefits of online shopping, it is important to protect yourself.

Feedback from other customers, on sites such as Ebay where this service is provided in a secure manner, is very important. Or star ratings from sites such as Amazon. Many people do not bother leaving feedback so if a service has been good enough for people to take the time to do so then is it likely that the seller is trustworthy. I am wary of sites which give testimonials. They may be genuine but are easy to fake. Customer feedback is important but it must be secure.

Check before you make a purchase that secure payment is offered, something like Paypal where no bank details are given is best. Or check that they offer more than one payment method, as legitimate businesses do, so that you can choose the one you are comfortable with. Sending a cheque or postal order may be preferable to giving credit card details, however it is slower and for trusted sellers credit cards are a perfectly safe way to pay, though always check for the little secure padlock icon on the bottom right of your screen to make sure it is a secure connection.

Before buying find out what the shipping cost is. If it is hidden be wary. Sometimes sellers offer you a 'bargain' price then charge high shipping fees to make a profit. If the cost of post and packaging is clearly displayed you can judge for yourself if it is appropriate, taking into consideration the item's location.

An important point that many people fail to consider is the seller's returns policy. Do they offer complete refunds for damaged or faulty goods, or goods that are not as they were described? Some sellers will refund you the postage costs of returning an item, some will not. Some sellers will say that they take no responsibility for items lost or damaged in the post. If no returns policy is stated at all then it may be worth contacting the seller to ask. Rather than pay money for something damaged or faulty, make sure that you know upfront that any potential problems will be dealt with.

Ask the seller questions about the item. How quickly do they respond? How full are their answers, do they know their product well? Are they helpful and polite or do they treat your question as an inconvenience? This will give you a good idea of how they treat their customers.

Ensure that you have read the item description correctly, pay attention to the specifics. If you can compare different sellers selling similar items, are the prices and the service offered comparable? Do a little background research into your item so that you understand any technical terms used by the seller. Know exactly what you are buying. If you make the mistake and buy the wrong thing the seller doesn't have to refund to refund you.

Finally, keep all receipts and paperwork and any tracking information given. Take a note of the contact details of the company you are buying from just in case a problem does arise.

There is a lot of beautiful and unique art for sale out there. When you find the right piece for you, buy safely and you will have something you can treasure for life.

Visit me here:

http://www.squidoo.com/flowerdrawings/

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